|
Post by Aileen on Jan 31, 2019 16:49:18 GMT -5
Crocodiles. They're big, dumb, and this guy totally killed one with one perfectly aimed arrow. I, Gregolas the Cursed, son of Frank and Martha, first of his name, skewer of fruit, vice president and regional manager of Aevlin's Deadible Edibles, killer of harpies and greatest bowman in all the land... ok, maybe I'm letting that Harpy kill get to my head. I'm clearly the weakest in our group, but sometimes I just get lucky! Joe definitely tag team killed that croc with me, and the others made quick work of the remaining two.
One of the crocs swam away, and the front line crew report that they can hear what sounds like a boat in the water. Inconvenient that it's not where we are, but hey- a boat would be greatly helpful! Ruskin volunteers to swim to it, and Revelor wades out into the mucky water to guard him if the croc comes back. He swims out, and unfortunately the croc sees an opportunity to get halfling for dinner. We cant see what's happening, but there is a lot of splashing, and then a cry of either defeat or celebration. It's hard to tell from a halfling.
From the darkness on the water comes forth a pretty big row boat, and brave Ruskin barely able to paddle it with one oar. Revelor drags it onto shore, and we pile in. Dear, crazy Ramne keeps our way lit by holding torches, and we soon find a passageway that appears to go South. All seems well at first, we are pretty sure we are heading in the right direction. Some party members want to go back to town with the treasure, but everyone knows I am not leaving this place without Aevlin. They couldnt drag me out if they tried. Actually, it would take very little effort on their part since I'm so weak, but still.
We are set upon by a giant Whiskers. For a moment I think maybe he suddenly enlarged, but the little guy is still in Ramne's cloak. Ceyleen tries to befriend it, and we wait in anticipation of our new pet. The weasel just looks angrier. Damn. Ruskin charges it, and the weasel snatches him up in its jaws. The front line tries to attack it but it simply bites down harder, shaking the poor halfling like a ragdoll. When it spits him out, its obvious our brave halfling is dead.
The weasel is slain, and we take a moment to mourn Ruskin. He had been a fun guy, and we would miss his antics. We could no longer make short jokes or have someone small to toss around. Oh, wait... theres that dwarf that is wandering around with our walking wounded somewhere in the mine!
We explore where the weasel came from, and find another mud filled room and nothing else. Backtracking, we return to the crossroads. As if on cue, the dwarf appears, armed and ready to go. He must have gotten board of guarding our treasure snakes. We go another direction, coming to a door. Joe checks it, and the dwarf kicks it open. I go in with my bow, and shoot a troglodyte dead. Theres another one, and it knocks on a door at the other side of the room. We've got to be close! The other trog is taken down, and we rest before pressing on.
The next door is kicked off its hinges by the dwarf, and we go in. I'm unable to shoot very well as everyone is complaining about feeling weak. I have no sympathy for them, I can barely do anything without exerting myself and they can still fight just fine. Three of the trogs are killed, and one runs away. Ceyleen says she thinks she smelled stairs, but it's hard to tell with the stench of the troglodytes. The guys chasing after the escapee come back with good news. The unmistakable sound of feet on stairs. Ceyleen was right! I will never ever leave home without a swamp druid again!
I'm barely able to contain my excitement. The fighter and the backline-cleric want to go look at the south passageway or the hidden rooms but I am adamant- we are going down the stairs. Now. Not later. After all this searching, we finally found the damn stairs!
We go down and find, shockingly, more mud. At least this time there are stepping stones, and we are able to walk across, heading to the rightward path. This takes us to more water, but Ceyleen senses something. She places her hand on a stone, and the wall turns open revealing a hidden room. All that is inside is a boat, which the stronger in our party pull out. The swamp druid and the dwarf decide to get in it and go check out the water tunnels to map it out.
As we wait for them to return, we hear moaning. I'm a little afraid of what I'll see when I turn around, but when I do I am relieved that it's just zombies. They look surprised that we are here. Hans turns them, and they start walking off. The guys finish them off quickly. The boat returns with just Ceyleen and two chests, which she drops off and then paddles back out to get our dwarf.
Joe investigates the chests. I am more interested in seeing what the heck he is doing than what is in the chests. He knocks on one, then cuts the outside like hes threatening it. Nothing happens, so he picks the lock and it opens. Lots of money, jewels, bracelets... not really my style, I'm good with the necklaces I'm wearing. He does the same thing to the other chest, but this time while picking the lock he hisses in pain.
"Poison," he tells me. "See the needle? You have to be careful with poison, it could kill you."
He tells a story about his great great granny encountering evil chest monsters and other family members getting poisoned... I am very curious about this gypsy lifestyle Joe has come from, maybe I should try it. But then again, it sounds dangerous if they're always getting attacked by mundane objects.
"What did we learn today, Greg?"
"Um... dont get poisoned?"
"That's right."
I want planning on picking any locks or taking mysterious liquids, but I guess it's good advice. I only wish I'd had a curse expert here, maybe I wouldn't be in my current position.
Hans breaks the chest with his morning star, and out pours more money. As great as treasure is, I really only care about a couple things: Find Aevlin, Clappy and Jose. Kill the ED. We hide the treasure under the boat in the secret room when Ceyleen and the dwarf return, and move on.
The dwarf breaks down the next door we come to, and we find ourselves in a huge cavern. For the first time in a while we are able to spread out. Only thing is this place completely reeks of death and decay. I thought troglodytes were bad. Then all hell breaks loose. Something comes out from behind a pillar, everyone attacks, and I can see its another zombie. The fighters take it down, and we go to loot the body. That's when it springs up and, and most of the party starts running. I cant get a shot in on it because those of us who didnt run are fighting it up close, so I can only watch as strike after strike does nothing to stop this thing. I run over to Ramne to grab a torch to throw on it when he shouts something. The once unassuming old man shoots three bolts of magic at the corpse, and it explodes!
I'm freaking out, were all freaking out. The ones who ran away return and they dont believe us that Ramne killed the thing. Joe suspected he was a druid, but he said hes not Druish and didnt understand Ceyleens Druids Cant. Hes got to be a wizard or something. Needless to say, bringing him along was the best thing we could have done, and I hope he can help us defeat ED.
We go forward to another door, and I pray that we are getting closer to our friends.
☆ Gregolas the Cursed ☆
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey Pettengill on Feb 3, 2019 21:46:21 GMT -5
Crocodiles, A Murdering Weasel, and Undead that Won’t Die.
So, the large cavern filled with stagnant water housed three gigantic crocodiles. The druid attracted them, using his uncanny ability of water-summoning. After a moment of splashing his hands in the water, the creatures lung forward at us. The archers quickly dispatch one of the beasts, and a couple of well-placed weapon attacks kill the second. The third, wounded, slips back into the water and swims away.
As things quiet down after the short battle, we hear, off to our left, what sounds to be wood banging rhythmically against stone. As if the waves created by the departing crocodile were disturbing something, possibly a boat, down the passageway that we can see from where we stand.
In a sudden burst of either insanity or bravery Ruskin, the halfling, jumps into the water and begins swimming toward the corridor. There is no sense in attempting to call him back as he is almost instantly out of sight. The little fella sure moves quickly. In a flash, I see in my mind’s eye an image of the crocodile snapping it’s jaws around him, tossing him up in the air, and then the little guy sliding easily down it’s throat. Just like a noble swallowing an oyster. With that image in mind, I wade into the water, proceeding to sink in the deep, thick mud laying beneath the surface. I move out as quickly as I can, which is not very quick, in order to provide some defensive aid to the brave/crazy halfling. As I stand there, I can see the water ahead of ripple anew with movement. And I can make out the crocodile gliding down the passageway toward the noisily swimming Ruskin. Attempting to swim myself to come to his aid faster, I find the chainmail armor too much of a hinderance and have to abandon those efforts and return to slogging my way through the mud. As I do, I hear the sounds of snapping jaws, fortunately not accompanied by Ruskin’s agonizing, death-filled screams, and the sounds of someone’s panicked scrambles against a wooden surface. Finally reaching a point where I can see down the passage, I can make out Ruskin’s heat signature, and he appears to be on top of the water surrounded by something I can’t quite make out. He is fiddling around with objects inside it, apparently attempting to get it move. It must be a boat.
Meanwhile, the crocodile has turned and is now moving in my direction. I put away my sword and draw a second draw, hoping my skill with them will prove more effective in the water than the longer blade. Whisper a short prayer to whatever god my wish to listen, I take a deep breath and submerge myself, waiting for the creature to swim above me. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fall for my ploy and dives to attack me. I’m able to avoid its jaws, but my unfamiliarity with underwater fighting, hampers my attacks. I am only able to sink one dagger into the beast. Thankfully, it decides to not engage with me any more, and I come out of the water to find Ruskin struggling to maneuver the boat on his own. Grabbing the front of the boat, I guide it back to the others.
To our good fortune the boat is large enough to fit us all. Using it, we investigate the full extent of this water-filled cavern, finding the other corridor at the far end where we first came upon it after fighting the harpy. Finding nothing of interest to examine, we proceed to the passage we found leading south. Beaching the boat in the corridor we find, we move along it until we come to a four-way intersection.
As we linger there deciding which way to proceed, a furry giant weasel comes scurrying from the right corridor. Once again Ruskin proves his bravery/insanity by rushing to attack the creature. This time, his actions do not serve him well as the animal, which stands nearly as tall as the halfling, clamps its jaws around his neck. The vicious thing continued its hold on the halfling, even as we moved into to attack it, draining it of more blood, spraying it all over the place as it thrashed about. Then, as it dropped the halfling’s now limp form to the floor, we finished the thing. Sadly, there was nothing our clerics were able to do in order to restore Ruskin to life. It was truly disheartening, looking down on the little fellow. One who had been so full of life mere seconds before, now laying there unmoving and emptied of blood. The crazy little halfling who had not that long ago been wildly splashing about in a pool attempting to catch fish. Ruskin, the Barehanded Fisherman.
We searched where the giant weasel had come from and found nothing other than a mud-filled cavern which it had been using as its lair.
We then followed the passage opposite the one leading to the weasel’s lair and after the dwarf burst through the door at the end, found ourselves in the midst of lair of reptilian humanoids that were emitting the most foul-smelling, noxious odor that I have ever breathed. It took everything I could muster to keep my stomach from revolting, but I could feel my muscles losing energy. My pack and armor seemed heavier than they had just seconds ago. This was definitely not good, and I feared my ability to defend myself in combat, let alone do enough damage in combat to these creatures.
There were two of them in the room beyond the door. One was quickly taken down by Gregolas Harpyslayer with an expertly placed arrow. The other moved to a second door in the room and proceeded to pound on the door there. I moved to take up a position to the side of the door, preparing to attack any more of these bestenched beasts bursting into the room to aid their companions while the others quickly dispatched the second of the room’s occupants.
We waited, but nothing came through the door. While we waited, the others who had evidently encountered such creatures before, identified them as being troglodytes. And thankfully, the effects of their foul stench faded as we waiting for more of them to show up.
The dwarf, tired of waiting for the fight to come to us, kicked the swollen door open, sending it crashing into the wall on the other side of the corridor that it opened onto. Beyond, the corridor led us to another room with four more troglodytes. My stomach began immediately revolting once more, and my muscles began losing their strength as well.
The battle did not last too long. We finished off three of them. The fourth fled, and from the sound of its receding footsteps, its route took it down a flight of stairs. We didn’t follow right away, allowing everyone to recover from the affects of the troglodytes’ stench. While we waited, the possibility of going back to the intersection and investigating the southern passage of the four was posed to the group. This was quickly proven to be not a viable option, particularly from Gregolas’s point of view because of his overarching focus on rescuing his cousin. Clearly family is of major importance to the archer, or is it the back pay that he was owed by his cousin that I believe I heard him grumbling about. Either way, once rested and recovered, we gave pursuit to the escaping troglodyte.
The stairs ended in a rough, natural cavern. It was empty, and there was no sign of where the troglodyte went. From this cavern there was another, this one mud-filled. Thankfully there were stepping stones large enough to cross which kept us out of the mud for a change. We followed the stones to a northern passage.
All the passages down here are more natural in appearance. Not of worked stone. As we wandered exploring, Ceyleen spotted something which didn’t look right. A secret door. I can’t believe I walked right past it. As she pressed the panel that activated it, I wanted to bang my head against the wall. I must have been so focused on what lay ahead of us, the fact that the corridor ended in more water, that I was too distracted to pick up the obvious clues of its existence.
Anyway, the door led to a chamber which had a small rowboat in it. And, after the druid attempted using her ancient water-summoning skills again, she and the dwarf used the rowboat, which would only hold the two of them to explore the water-filled passage.
As we waited their return, moaning from behind us alerted us to a small group of zombies coming. With the blessings of their gods, Hans and Warrick sent the repulsive undead stumbling back down the corridor. In order to keep them from returning once the temporary affects of their divine banishment wore off, we proceeded to cut them down and crush them, returning them to a more natural state of death.
Not long after we finished, Ceyleen returned alone with two chests. She dropped the chests off, with a quick explanation that the passage was a dead end leading to the holding area for the chest. Evidently the boat was just used by the cultists to carry their treasure to the chests and store it. And that was only a one person job.
Joe, the thief of the group, who has some very unique habits when it comes to practicing his craft, began going through his unorthodox style of searching for traps and picking locks. I have run into a thief or two, okay, more like a dozen or so, in Mitrik, but none of them underwent such superstitious shenanigans as this sneak-thief underwent before he managed to open the first chest. Too bad his little routine did not help with the second trap. Not only did he fail to locate the needle trap contained in the lock, but he failed to pick the lock as he stuck himself with the needle, which was most likely poisoned. Now he is likely to die.
Hans proceeded to destroy the chest with his Morningstar, rending the thing useless for carrying its contents out of here. Since there is no way for us to carry out right now, we tossed it all in the rowboat and put it back in the secret room. We will pick it up on the way out.
Leaving the treasure behind for future retrieval, we retraced our steps and came to another door that proved difficult to open, but thanks to the dwarf’s heavy boots and strong legs it opened with a little effort on his part. The opened door led to a large cavern, which proved to be surprisingly dry and more deliberately carved than the other spaces down here. In the center of the room a stone column rose to buttress the ceiling. We spread out, now that we are no longer confined by the narrow corridors we have be traveling through, allowing everyone some needed elbow room should we find ourselves under attack. Which is exactly what happened.
From behind the column another zombie advanced on us. Something did not quite seem right about it though. It definitely looked like a zombie, rotting and all, but its hands ended in claws. Then it advanced on us, a lot faster than the ones we previously fought had moved. Hans and Warrick called upon their deities to send the thing away.
For a moment I this was going to be too easy. Once they sent the undead monster running away, we would be able to destroy it as easily as we had the previous pack of zombies.
But something went wrong. The beseeched benefactors abandoned their clerics to handle the undead creature on their own. Note to self, don’t pledge allegiance to a god because they will never be there when you truly need them.
We did manage to dispatch the thing rather handily.
With the thing laying there, we began to examine the room.
That’s when everything gets really fuzzy. I think somebody screamed. I don’t know who it was. I think I turned around toward the sound. It felt as if I was trying to move through the mud upstairs once again. My body didn’t want to obey. As my head rotated I saw the zombie rise up from where it lay on the floor and reach out and grab someone by the throat. Again, I don’t know who it was. All I could see was the hideous thing standing there. My blood seemed to be frozen in my veins. My entire body began trembling.
Then there was more screaming. This time I knew it was coming from exactly. It was coming from me.
The next thing I recall, I, and several others, were back up in the upper levels. And we were all exhausted. He had evidently run from the room. After a moment’s rest, we made our way back to the room, though we were incredibly tentative when we reentered the chamber.
Those who had remained had managed to defeat the creature. And I am feeling a bit ashamed of how I had reacted. I should have been much stronger. If I can’t hold it together, there is no way I will be able to achieve the type of status one needs to have songs sung and epic poems written about them.
Gregolas told us that Ramne had saved their asses by pulling some magic out of his robes, to everyone’s surprise. The sneaky old man. He definitely did not let any of them know who he really was. I wonder what other sort of surprises he has up those shabby sleeves of his.
Revalor Flamewhisper
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Feb 5, 2019 2:41:52 GMT -5
Must say I did an amazing shot on the gator. Right in the eye. We killed the rets and sent the last one running away. I was feeling satisfied till i realized that gator is going to but my a** the moment i step a toe in the water. Thankfully Ruskin swam the entire length of the gator invested lake and found a bout. That is one brave hafling.. We're going in deeper in this sink hole called corridors when out of my right I see a HUGE f***ing weasel come screaming down the hallway right for me. I can even see a bit of foam in the corner of its mouth and its huge fangs. Nope! F**** this s*** I go screaming away from my original postion to cower behind Calieen as ruskin take my original spot. That... Is one brave Halfling. The Giant weasle then procedes to tear him limb from limb. The weasel had a death grip on Ruskins tattered body, it took its head side to side like he was a chew toy. After we killed it, it took all of us to pry its jaws open to retrieve the body. D**** thats an ugly way to go. Thank god that wasn't me. Jalas luck holds out again. You will be missed you brave Hafling. You had the must guts out of everyone as i can clearly see now both literally and figitively. I take up Gramps sitting as we traveled the rest of the way. Ive had this sneaking suspicion about him for awhile. I believe he might be a druid but after Calieen probed him for druidic knowledge she came up empty. Im on to you Paps, i know you'r hiding something. I cant prove it but on my six sense gifted to me by great great granny Jala, first thief lord, I will find out eventually. My gut has never been wrong. -----
It was typical business as usual. We found a secret door with a boat so Calieen and Magnus sail it to see what is on the other side. She then drops chests at my feet and sail off without warning. Now I'm stuck here with two unknown chest of questionable origins with people expecting me to do my job of opening things. So i go the run down of what to expect. The basic Precaution chest precaution 1: I take a knife and stab it, It passed the illusion and Mimic test Precaution 2: I give it a knock, no live beasts inside either Precaution 3: I check it out for traps, everything seems to check out. Everyone is moaning behind me but I've seen s*** like this kill people. Greg is being very impatient currently so i tell him off. Trap finding and lock picking is an art form of patiences and a healthy amount of paranoia that shant be rushed. I open the chest and theres a ton of gold and a nice looking bangle. I would love it but i already have a set going right now on my wrists and i would hate to ruin it. I then place my picks in the second chest-! OH F*****! This is it, The poison is seeping into my veins! Im on the ground! The Curse! Its here! My luck has run out! Farewell cruel world! I meet you soon Great great granny and everyone else! Tell my brother I love him and Im sorry for drugging him back in Hawk hawk..! "Ack! Choke! Wheeze. ................" ".............." "............................"
Actual, I feel ok now. I still feel sick but I'm not dying. Everyone is watching me on the ground, Greg and Hans look a mix of confusion and worry while everyone else just rolls there eyes. Sit up and point at the chest. "You see! Poison! Now what have we learned Greg." "Dont mess with Poison." "Thats right."
------------
Besides the Zombies running away in fear we make it to this large room. There this one unusually fast zomebie but nothing Hans and the other clerics cant take care of, or so I thought. Suddenly the thing we thought we killed comes back and unleashes this ungodly scream. A wave of fear washes over me and suddenly I'm sprinting down the hall before my brain comprehends that I'm even moving. It's only once my legs stop moving that I realize i was magically affected. When me and the others ninnys like me returned that we hear the whole story and how Romney save our a***. I am indebted to him and i am eternal grateful. Also I knew he was magic. My gut never fails me. It's just too bad he's very rude and a dick. Im very very glad we didn't try sleeping here.
-Joe
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Feb 6, 2019 16:35:25 GMT -5
The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh
Desolate and abandoned, the evil alchemist's mansion stands alone on the cliff, looking out towards the sea. Mysterious lights and ghostly hauntings have kept away the people of Saltmarsh, despite rumors of a fabulous forgotten treasure. What is it's sinister secret?
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Feb 8, 2019 15:17:37 GMT -5
Looking back now, I really shouldn't have drank the entire bar, but I had been excited to be in a new town and gold was burning a hole in my pocket. I felt funny after the fourth drink, but usually I had more than that and felt fine. It was clear when i woke up in the basement, tied up and under guard, that I had been poisoned.
The cultists that kept Jose, Clappy and I down there were not happy with me getting sick over and over again, but I was having the worst hangover of my life. I knew any minute the rest of our crew was going to come down and get us out. I would get my weapons and armour back, and we would go off and finish the investigation. They never showed.
We were taken to the temple of Merikka the next day, and the cultists were livid when they found the place ransacked. Apparently our people went there, killed a few cultists, and had left us behind. If I could escape, I would have, but I was sick and they kept beating me every time I so much as looked at them wrong. Jose tried to take care of me, but couldnt do very much as we both had our hands tied.
They brought us through a tunnel, and in a few days we were at a dungeon full of mud. We tried to make a run for it at one point. I think I tried to grab someone's sword, i dont really remember. They beat me within an inch of my life, and I had to be carried the rest of the way. My consciousness faded in and out, but I was able to memorize landmarks as we were taken through tunnels. Jose wasnt in good shape either, last I saw, but I didnt know where she was until we were put in the boat. I layed on the floor of the boat, and she was thrown in next to me. Bruised, bloody, barely hanging on, she gave me a reassuring smile.
The boat crossed a lake, and we were taken out on a shore at the other end, then forced to March forward. Everything was bathed in a sickly green glow, and there was a massive pile of treasure and bones. Our bonds were cut, and we were told to walk towards her. Their god, the Explicitus Defilis. She was coiled up on top of her hoard, waiting for us.
"Oh Great One, we bring you these warriors to join us!" One of our captors announced.
"Come forth, look into my eyes." Replied a very tempting voice, hissing at the end.
I didn't want to get any closer, but a boot in my back said differently. I stumbled towards it, Jose at my side, and Clappy at our heels. The Explicita was a giant snake, but its head was that of a woman.
"Naga!" Jose whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.
"My eyes are up here!" It ordered.
I looked. It was terrible to fully look upon. The eyes were like kaleidoscopes, spiraling and drawing me in. I narrowed my eyes, glaring back at it.
Jose wasnt affected either. Clappy, however, walked towards it like it was her mother. Jose watched her pet crawling towards it with a look of betrayal. As Clappy drew up to the Naga, Jose drew her hands forward, and clapped twice.
"Take them away," the Explicita said. "They are no use to me. This one I will keep."
Clappy failed us. I didnt have much time to think about it as the pommel of a sword struck me hard in the head, and I succumbed to unconsciousness. When next I woke, I was in a cell with Jose. There were children crying, and a woman's voice trying to comfort them.
"They have Clappy." Jose said. She looked incredibly sad, and I knew how much she loved that Shlizzard.
"Yeah." I looked around the cell, trying to get my bearings. "She will be okay. The others will come and free us and we will kill that snake b****."
"Language!" The womans voice snaps.
"Sorry!"
The others are in different cells. Two kids, a boy and a girl, and an older man and a woman. They were taken from town, and just like us were not charmed by the Explicita. They told us that there had been others in our cells, but they were taken away... nobody returned. All of our fates were sealed, we were to die in this very dungeon.
"Our friends will come for us," I told them. "They will get us out of here."
That promise didnt seem to hold much weight, but it was all I could give them. Our days were filled with pain and fear as men and troglodytes came in to torture us. They would threaten to hurt the kids, but we took the beatings instead. Every time we would try to sleep and rest up from our injuries, they would come back and taunt us and question us and beat us. I didnt know how much blood I had left to bleed, or how long I could go without a bite of food. The stench of the Troglodytes nearly did me in every time they came in. I had been a slave before, back in Darkshelf in the mines. This was worse. At least the Bugbears fed us.
I lost track of our days. There was no more sleep/wake cycle. There was only the beatings. Every time I heard the door at the end of the corridor open, I readied myself for more pain. This time, though, it was not a door being opened so much as hacked down. There was a great amount of noise, and then footsteps and voices approaching. I sprang to my feet, running to the front of the cell before collapsing I'm front of the bars. Jose joined me, gracefully tripping over my prone self.
"Aevlin!"
Gregolas ran over to our cell. I had never been more happy to see my cousin, I honestly never thought he of all people would come looking for me, he always hated me when I would drink. I guess I more than learned my lesson this time, though. I didnt know any of the others with him, except for Hans and Wharruck the clerics. They had half elves and an elf who called herself a swamp druid. They also had a dwarf with a big axe, I'm assuming he was the one that bust the door down. And lastly, they had an old man with a ferret or something, holding a torch.
We all told them what we knew about the Explicita, which the party told us they were calling the Ereptile Dysfunction. They let us out of the cells, and we told them we would show them where to go to get to its lair. I walked with Jose out back while Wharruck entertained the kids. We didn't make it very far before we hear slithering coming towards us through the mud. The party up ahead starts fighting giant centipedes, and I can only watch as they keep getting bitten. If I had known there were all these vile creatures down here I would have warned them... I really wish I had my bow!
I see Gregolas put his bow away when they get too close, and he backs off the front line. What in the world is he doing? Greg is one of the strongest guys I know and has a sword, why is he stepping out of battle? The dwarf and the swamp druid take several rounds of bites, but they dont seem to care. These are real heroes, not idiots like me who gets kidnapped from partying too hard.
After the centipedes are killed, I try my best to recollect the way to go, but everything starts looking the same. Mud and tunnels, tunnels and mud. We end up having to backtrack after finding a dead end, and come to a big chamber that unfortunately contains troglodytes. The team battles it out once more, and one of the half elves falls dead.
"Noooo!" Gregolas screams. Clearly the guy was a friend.
The last troglodyte gets away, and a couple of the guys run off in the darkness to track it. They come back and report it went too far, and went down one of three tunnels- they dont know which. I remember coming to three tunnels at one point, and which one we went down.
"The big one! We went down the big tunnel!"
Gregolas calls me and Jose over to him, and I look down at the dead half-elf he is standing over.
"Take his bow and arrows. Jose, take the armor."
It's so sad to see a life taken so needlessly. Especially a half-elf. Apparently he was a thief, and a very strange one from what they were saying about him. Rest in peace, Joe. Thank you for the bow.
We go down the big tunnel, and come out by a lake. I know that the Explicita waits for us on the other side. There is a small dinosaur looking thing chained up on the wall, and our guys brutally kill it. Judging by the bodies picked clean around it, I probably would have been his dinner at some point had they not rescued us.
We find the big boat on the shore, the same one Jose and I were in before, and fortunately it fits all of us who are still fighting fit. I'm not in the best condition, but now that I have a bow in hand I am more than ready to go down fighting this monstrosity. Before we get in, the old man Ramne tells us to gather around him. He casts some spell, and then we get in the boat and take off.
A ball of fire comes careening towards our boat, and explodes in a dome around us. Whatever Ramne did is making a protective shield around us. Where did they find this guy?
Halfway to the shore, something rocks our boat violently. Majestically rearing out of the water is Clappy. We probably should not have let the cult get its hands on our Shlizzard. She shoots out lightning, and well... I dont know what we expected. This isnt the first time we've been caught on a boat with Shlizzards attacking. Wharruck and Gregolas fall unconscious, electricity ripping through their bodies. Ceyleen paddles faster, and we make it to shore. Jose says shes going to jump in the water and restrain Clappy, but I talk some sense into her. Clappy is under the ED's control, our best bet is to kill the ED and hope Clappy is still friendly to us after.
I check on Gregolas. He doesnt look good, but we stabilize him. Hans tells me that Greg's strength was diminished by a curse back in town... hes been fighting in this dungeon barely able to lift a backpack let alone a sword. Theres no time for more of the story, the ED is waiting for us behind the pillars. We charge the shore, recklessly heading for victory. Or our doom.
I get in range of it, and shoot. The arrow flies true, and it pisses her off. The dwarf and Ceyleen attack from the opposite side, and shes really angry now. She bites Ceyleen, and yet the poor swamp druid fights on until shes on the ground bleeding out. I rush up behind the pillars, and go to shoot. My leg caught on a rock, and all the beatings and starvation caught up to me. I went sprawling, my arrow flying off to the side, and landed face first on the ground. I hit my head so hard that I couldnt get up, and could only lay there in pain and frustration. I wanted to kill that thing so badly, but this dungeon has bested me.
The ED casts a sleep spell, and most of the party is down. Ramne runs up to the fight, and slaps the dwarf awake. I watch as the brave, burly dwarf sinks his axe into the naga. Its finally dead. When we get out of here, I am buying this dwarf a drink.
I unsteadily get to my feet and go to the treasure pile. In a chest, I find all of my belongings. I strap on my armour, my glowing sword, and take back my bow. I finally feel like me again.
We take the treasure and go back through the parts of the dungeon the others never got to. We are not waylaid by anything, clearly the end of the power of the ED has released all of her servants. I stand outside a room keeping watch as some of the party tries to take a chest off a platform. Mud began falling from the ceiling, trapping them. Luckily they all made it out before the whole room flooded. We also found a pump room of sorts, being run by zombies. They didnt see us so we moved along.
I joined the dwarf, Revelor and Jose for a little more looking around. We came to a room where a cleric seemed to be waiting for us. Unfortunately, not the healing kind. He had an assistant named Steve who it turns out is a wight. Jose warns me to be careful, but I charge in at it with my sword.
Revelor and Magnus the dwarf kill the cleric, and then help me with the wight. Its extremely difficult to hit or damage, and I'm growing weary swinging at it. It grabs Jose, and suddenly she cannot do anything. It's as if shes completely forgotten how to use weapons or fight. She stands there staring for a bit, and Clappy is looking up at her waiting for a command. The wight attacks Magnus, and it's clear it does something to him too. He suddenly goes still, no longer swinging his axe. The wight gets Jose again, and she falls dead. I dont have time to cry for my lost friend, the battle is still at hand and we are losing. Revelor runs from the chamber.
"Run!" The dwarf says to me, holding off the wight. "Go, run!"
As I run away I can hear the wight finish the job. Tears sting at my eyes as I follow in Revelors wake, Clappy at my heels. The door slams behind us, and Jose and Magnus are sealed in forever.
Ceyleen tried to keep Clappy as her pet, but the Shlizzard found the swamp to be too enticing not to explore on her own. If you love something, you should let it go, and we all had a soft spot for the Clap. Ceyleen is going to try to befriend her once the remnants of Jose's spell fades. I just hope Clappy doesnt create new and more dangerous species in this swamp while she is loose.
We returned to a changed town. Everyone was more or less normal now that the cult no longer had a hold. Ramne went back to his hut in the woods, and took only a bottle of some love potion and a magic ring. He deserved far more in payment than he asked for, we would all be eternally grateful for his help. I hugged him and thanked him for coming to save me and keeping my friends and family safe. He told me to go away, but I think I saw a trace of a smile. I am going to send him a fruit basket every month for the rest of his life, hes earned it.
It's been a long few days. It almost feels like its been two months. I am ready to take on whatever life throws at me next, and looking forward to getting back to picking things off with my bow. Gregolas finally got his pay from me, I hate to think that he went through all of this just for 10 gold pieces. He and Hans are going to try to find a cleric to break his curse. As I see it, he does just fine for the weakest man on earth. Did I mention he killed a Harpy?
I am going back to the Golden Grain Inn with the crew. First round is on me.
>>------> Aevlin of Nyrond <------<<
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Feb 10, 2019 2:07:53 GMT -5
Jose --------
I cant believe we've been captured. The worst yet is our friends never found us. They were so close, they were right above our heads. Soon after they make us march through days upon days of tunnle. They put Clappy on a leash and muzzled her. Avelinn whispered to me about running while she distracts the guards but i cant, i cant leave her by herself. We got into this together, we'll get out together. They have purposely bound me in iron today. They had a series of "incidences" starting on the first day of the march. I had been gnawing at my binds for the past couple of days between there watches while we lied trapped in the tavern. On the first day i broke free from my bindings, grabbed my guards knife and stabbed him in the throat. I was quickly overwhelmed and subdued. They learned quick to switch to chains but that didnt stop me, not by a long shot. Me and Aevlin were beaten every chance we got so they could break our wills and weaken us. I think they held back on me. I think they believed i was a cleric or they worried that i would expire under the beatings. In the dead of night i I refused to walk one day. When the guard came over i strangled him with my chains. Another beating and after that they shortened the chain length and placed a chain collar that connected to my wrists so i couldn't do it again. By day they ended up carrying me in order to keep me from trying anything else. By night I would nurse Avelinn wounds the best i can but my care is pathetic. on the last day of the march I snapped. If they are going to treat me like an abused dog then I'll act the part. while we sat there watching the guards eat one of them came over and I growled at them. He laughed at us and he foolishly got right in my face. That was a mistake. I pounced on him and then bit into his hand. I ripped off a couple of fingers but i had my revenge against the beater. Let's just say i was punished. They placed a muzzle on me the next day and made a crud wooden cage. They could'nt trust me anymore to act human among them but at least they no longer spoke or touched us anymore, too afriad that Aevlin might be just as crazed and not chancing an encounter with me.
I was thrown into a board next to Aevlin. Bruised, bloody, barely hanging on, she gave me a reassuring smile and i returned it. "You still in there? I thought you went mad. That was gross what you did to that guy" "Yes. yes it was but they they thought twice on touching us now did they."
The boat crossed a lake, and we were taken out on a shore at the other end, then forced to March forward. Everything was bathed in a sickly green glow, and there was a massive pile of treasure and bones. Our bonds were cut, and we were told to walk towards her. Their god, the Explicitus Defilis. She was coiled up on top of her hoard, waiting for us.
"Oh Great One, we bring you these warriors to join us!" One of our captors announced.
"Come forth, look into my eyes." Replied a very tempting voice, hissing at the end.
I didn't want to get any closer, but a boot in my back said differently. I stumbled towards it, Aevlin at my side, and Clappy at our heels. The Explicita was a giant snake, but its head was that of a woman.
"Naga!" I whispered. Ive only heard of them in hushed whispers and ghost stories. This was bad.
"My eyes are up here!" It ordered. Before we could reply she wrapped us up in her slimy coils and forced our heads up.
I can barely recall what happened next. It was like i was consumed by the colors. I could feel her worming her way into my mind, She crawled her way into my memories and tried to make me believe that she was the true goddess of nature. Just as I felt like i was going to slip in and give up I remembered the trees of Ekbir. I snapped out of it immediately and started to thrash which wake Avelinn up as well.
"These worms are uses-less, lock them up with the rest of them. I'll keep that one." She tosses us to the ground and i watch in horror when Clappy waddles to her side. How dare she. I cant remember what happened next.
------- Joe -------
We freed Gregs Cousin and i was Amazed to find that the Druid is also a fellow sister. She shares the J! She's very cold for a hippy through. She keeps on saying that we are not related but we must, we share the J! Our family is not related by blood but bound together with our names and the stings of fate so she's family even if not by blood but by fate. I wonder if she shares the curse as well. Probably not if she still lives. I look back at Greg to see him talking joyfully with his cousin. It reminds me of me and Jarvis. I hope he's doing well. He's always been the more confident between us. Im sure he's doing fine. I always will love you my bother. We're getting squeezed through a tight tunnel now. I don't like this. ... It happened so fast. Suddenly were alone and then the tyrogodites come out of the wall. They have us surrou-. "Joe!" Why is greg screaming for me? Why am i starting to feel cold. Is there a draft coming from outside? Why is my shirt starting to feel wet. Why cant i stop shaking? I place my hand to my shirt and it comes back red. I look down and I see more red, from shoulder to hip, The stone axe is covered in red. I have my hand on the wound, trying the close it. To comprehend. My vision is growing fuzzy. Oh... Its because.... i'm..already dead.....
(THUD!)
i'm so cold... so tired.... Greg? Hans?Jaris? Is that you?
I see a tall woman outside a brightly colored tent. she picks me up form where i lied. I instantly start to cry. I know what this means "Is that you...Granny Jala?"
"You've done enough. Come home now." she takes me inside the tent and I'm greeted with many open arms and familar joyful faces. All adventuring thieves of the Jala line who fell doing what they loved. Where we all go once we have truely lived. Im home again.
----------- Jose ----------
Im standing near the slainned half elf thief named Joe. He was cut right down the middle, his ribs shattered and his guts shredded. He was at least given the mercy of a quick death. Greg is sobbing over him, shaking him and calling his name. They had bonded together and it is obvious the theif was frail. He is very much dead and can no longer continue. I feel bad i was so dimissive of his claim of family dispite him being very very wrong. I crouch down to Greg and place a hand on his shoulder. "Your friend is gone. It was a quick death. He died without pain. Im sorry for your lost." I give him a hug before quickly breaking away. "You cant help him anymore but he can still help us now but i want your consent." he knows what i mean and as grisly as it is we must endure and survive. I take his armor as Aevlin takes his bow. We will finish what he came down here to do. I grab the theifs bag and immidiantly i feel something trying to crawl under my skin before i shake it off. I check the bag and theres a large golden statue of a pile of beans. Sigh, why did no one tell me the theif had cursed garbage on him. Would have been nice to know.
Me and the swamp Druid Caleen bonded on the boat. Its felt like it's been awhile since i was able to speak to another druid. I told her my worries for Clappy and reassured me she would help get my friend back. I promised her that if anything happened to me that she should take care of Clappy. She's the only one who can manage him and she needs someone who can understand her It tore me up inside to see Clappy attack us. I was ready to dive in and finish this myself. He is my charge and it is my responsibility to take care of her but everyone manage to talk me out of it. The battle.. was a mess. Avelinn twisted her ankle and was stuck shooting from the ground. Caleen put up a good fight but she went down quickly. I cant remember what happened next. I must have passed out for the next moment I'm staring up into Romeys old face and his weasel. I must have missed the entire battle because that hideous Naga is dead. Immediately i start searching for Clappy and i find her crawling onto the shore whimpering. I scoop her up in a big hug and start crying. Thank god she's ok, we're ok.
I don't know why we are still searching. We have everything we should leave. Im sick of this horrid place. As we were walking down the hall way I noticed a chilling thought. The body of the fallen thief is gone. I don't have time to say anything of that regard because everyone is trying to clean out the place as fast as possible. Without a theif its become impossible to disable traps or scout out dangers. We reach a door that hasn't been searched. Me, Aevlin, someone else, follow the dwarf through the door. Hans decides to stay behind, i don't blame him and i would as well but if Aevlin in going in then she needs support. I regret following the Dwarf. He's led us to our demise. A White and a high level cleric laid beyond that door and now there is no escape. The syth is the only weapon i have against this undead. Just as Aevlin was about to be touched i pushed her out of the way and its ghostly hands passes through me. It steals my life energy and I'm left weak and helpless as i did before becoming lost in Ekbir woods. Clappy runs away, afriad. Thats good, be free. I look back at Aevlin. She pleads for me to run away. I smile at her. I know thats not possible for me. I don't belong among civilized folk and she knows that as well. "Live a good life." It hand grasps at me again and this body i knew becomes a shell and i know no more. The last i see is Aevlins tears and i feel a smile on my face........
***** I awake once again rejoining the cycle of nature deciding what creature i should be in my next life. I hope maybe a dog, maybe an owl. I don't know. I'll figure it out when I'm called.
------- ? ? ? --------
I stand before the body of my dear fallen twin far away from the swamps, from the dank and misery. I've wrapped him in sheets and have placed a gold piece in his hand. Family costume dictates that we burn as they lie but a fire in a tunnel is not a good. A fire in a tunnel is NEVER a good idea. (he watches into the distant moons) Joe always believed in the family curse. Me not so much. I think it's what we like to delude our selves that our family is just unnaturally unlucky just like how we are also naturally lucky in being in the right place at the right time. Joe knew the cost of going on this quest to reclaim our relics. before we reached hawkhawk i told him to stay behind. That he wasn't well enough to make this trip but he scolded me for considering him as he said "a glass tippper". I don't know what he meant by that. He's always came up with weird s*** to say. I could never think of him as is weak or incompetent. I actually admired his tenacity in the face of overwhelming difficulty and danger. I bet he told everyone in that group about me. he always loved to hype me up that how big and scary his bother is. He never was on for secrets. (Him still feeling that head ache after that last night in Hawkhawk.) Well i guess it's time for me to finish what we started right. (he strikes the match) Well, you started this journey sooner then thought you would. You once agin have beaten me to it. You always was the on to start these things. Well, you take care of everyone over there I'll take care of the breathing people here. See you on the other side little bro. (he flicks it onto the corpse and walks away as the fire glow warms his back) Now, I'm going to need some money and a ride. (He sees a merchant carriage in the distance.)
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey Pettengill on Feb 10, 2019 22:29:56 GMT -5
Ramne Saved Our Butts Again, But Still Not Everyone Made It Out Alive
So, I am alive. Surprisingly so considering what we faced, and the not so wise to do some further investigation on our way out of this vile temple.
Following the defeat of the undead creature that didn’t want to die, more rats found their way into the chamber as we attempted to find any secret doors or compartments that the thing might have been protecting. Of which, there proved to be none. The rats were dispatched with relative ease by the others.
There was a door in the wall opposite the one we entered through, which was hidden from sight by the pillar in the center of the room. Beyond it we found a corridor with two doors in it. One at the far end, and one just to the left.
Taking the one to the left, we found an area full of cells. In the cells we found several prisoners, including the two companions of the group I have joined who had come to rescue them. Also imprisoned were two children, a merchant, and the wife of a man who had been converted to this evil cult. Luck was on our side and there were no real locks on these cells. The prisoners were so weak, tired, and undernourished that they could not effectively escape on their own.
From the freed prisoners we learned something of the cult, and the creature that the cultist’s worshipped. It is, was, a naga. A creature with he body of a gigantic serpent and the head of a human. A creature with the ability to charm others with its gaze. That is how it is controlling the cultists. I hoped that my natural resistance to magical charms, which I have inherited from my father, Ryfortin Whispersong, They also vaguely recalled where the creature’s lair was and agreed to lead us there. That definitely cut done the amount of time to bring low this cult.
With their guidance, we backtracked the way he came. We returned to where we entered the passageway after crossing a mud-filled chamber across the stepping stones. Going past this, we found a couple of offshoot caverns, but continued to follow the passage to the northwest, until it led to a larger mud-filled chamber with an opening in the north wall. As with the other chambers, the mud was deep and thick enough to slow our progress through it. And as we made our way through, we were attacked by some giant centipedes, which proved rather vicious with their bites, but fortunately not all that damaging. The did prove a bit elusive due to this familiarity with the environment meant, making it more difficult to dispatch than the rats. But we finally did overcome them.
On the other side of the chamber, the passage exiting it led both northwest and east. The freed prisoners could nor recall which way to go from here. Their memories were extremely vague as to the exact path to get to the naga’s chamber. To me, the logical way for us to go was to the northwest. It seemed that to go east would be to take us back to where we had been, bringing us around in a circle. Finally we came to a consensus, and thanks to my logic and persuasion, we headed northwest
The corridor eventually brought us to a cavern so large that it was beyond the ability of our light to fully illuminate. As we neared it, we could smell the stench of troglodytes. It was overpouring, more so than from the guardroom we had encountered previously. So powerful that it could only mean we had come upon their lair. We proceeded cautiously, know they had to be near and girding ourselves for the battle to come.
To our complete surprise, however, the troglodytes had been camouflaged, concealing themselves against the walls, and we found ourselves surrounded what seemed to be a dozen of them. One threw a wicker basket at the dwarf who was in the lead and it broke upon impact with his solid skull, releasing a vicious mudviper. The serpent immediately attacked the dwarf, and the troglodytes gave it a wide birth was the attacked us from the sides.
It proved to be a vicious battle, and Ramne took a couple of a couple of strikes from their stone-headed battle axes before Hans managed to move in from of him. They almost seemed to be focusing on him, as if they knew he was going to be crucial to our being able to defect the creature which this cult was devoted to worshiping. Joe, the thief with the peculiar style, succumbed to a trog attack. I did not acquit myself very well during this fight. I proved unable to land any successful attacks upon these, until the end where I managed to finish off one with a well-placed dagger thrust.
While the rest of us focused on the trogs, the dwarf single-handedly battled the mudviper. He took a lot of bites from the serpent, managing to withstand its venomous attacks, probably due to his race’s legendary natural hardiness. If that’s the case, then I wish I had some of their potent blood flowing through my veins as well. By the time we were finishing the trogs off, he was laying he snake’s head open with his axe.
Unfortunately, one troglodyte managed to get away from us. I and Ceyleen tried to follow us, but it quickly outdistanced us and we lost it in the darkness beyond our torchlight. Not even our Elven sight allowed us to catch sight of it once we got beyond the torchlight. We went to the end of the chamber, finding two narrow opening which curved back southward and one large opening which went to the east.
We decided we didn’t want to get too far away from the others just in case it had gone to gather reinforcements. Returning, we waited a little while as Hans tended to the dwarf. No trogs arrived for a second round.
We headed back towards the far end of the chamber, ignoring the two offshoot passages we had discovered earlier. Fearing the troglodyte may have warned the naga of our pending arrival, we did not want to give it any more time to prepare itself for our arrival than was necessary. As we entered the larger passage heading east out of the cavern, we could smell fresher water, not the stagnant, muddy swamp water that we had come accustomed to during our exploration. As we drew closer, the prisoners grew confidant that we were close to where they had been taken before Explicita Defilus.
At the end of the passage, it opened up into an enormous cavern filled with water and illuminated with a soft greenish light from a lichen growing on the wall. At the far end there was a landing with a huge pillar on it. Just a little ways away, on a beach, was a boat. Our way to the landing, and our possible death. That was if we didn’t die before we made it to the boat.
Because there was one problem with the boat. Between us and it there was a lizard changed in a small alcove. As we approached it menaced us, but it was a chain which prevented it from coming fully into the passage. It was possible elude its grasp by staying close to the far wall. Yet, while it was possible for us to evade it, Wahruk and the dwarf were not thrilled with leaving it alive should we have to make a hurried escape through here. If so, it would probably not be possible to hug the side of the corridor to avoid the monster. So they proceeded to slaughter the thing before anybody could release it to come after us. While it may not have been a very heroic action to take, I do agree it was prudent. And at times like this, planning for ones survival takes precedence over ones visions of heroism.
With that potential threat addressed, we made our plans on the beach. We left the merchant, the woman, and the two children on the beach. Providing the children with a dagger each, should they need to defend themselves, and some more rations. Then Ramne called us together into a tight group and cast a spell around us. He told us to make sure that we all remained close to him on the trip across the water. Of course, we didn’t have all that much choice. There really wasn’t going to be all that much room in the boat. Afterward, Ramne told us he had cast a spell called minor globe of invulnerability around us to protect us from some of the spells which might be cast at us. Of course it would have been pretty nice knowing that beforehand. It would have kept me from nearly soiling my underclothing when we found ourselves under attack by a small orange orb which exploded as it reached us into a massive ball of fire. Thanks to Ramne’s spell the flames did not touch us shaping itself around the sphere with which he had protected us.
In response, Ramne retaliated with a bolt of lightning which struck the naga, though it was not enough to kill it. From the boat, we atched Explictica Defilus move away from us and hide behind the pillar, preventing Gregolas from getting any shots at it.
We were about halfway across this underground lake when the boat was suddenly struck. Hard. Something large, under the water, rammed us. I looked around, trying to see what had hit us, wondering what we were going to have to fight next, while at the same time trying to devise some plan of attack once we hit the beach. Then this large, reptilian thing rose up out of the water, like a dophin.
“Clappy,” cried the other former party member that we had rescued. Her face lit up. Joe and hope filled her voice.
Then the scaly bastard discharged this sheet of electricity which struck us. The pain was excruciating. No blade thrust, arrow piercing, nor any other physical weapon assault felt as painful. Every part of me just wanted to die in that instant. And I thought I was.
But I didn’t. Wahruk and Gregolas, however, were not at lucky as the rest of us. They collapsed. I checked on Wahruk. He was alive, just barely. Gregolas, on the other hand was not as lucky. The thief with the peculiar ways had not been able to handle the electricity.
I did my best to stabilize Wahruk, without giving into my own pain, while preparing myself for the fight ahead.
Jose was rambling about needing to save Clappy. She was responsible for what Clappy had just done to us and she had to do something so that Clappy didn’t do anything to hurt us again. She had to deal with Clappy. I wasn’t sure what she was mumbling about, and I couldn’t put too much of an effort into trying to figure it out. We were nearly on the beach.
“When we get out of the boat, half of us go to the right,” I said, trying to stay focused and take some charge of the situation. “I and the rest will go around the left side of the pillar. Best to attack it from two sides.” And as the boat grounded itself, I leapt out of the boat and headed around the left side of the pillars. Aevlin moved in that direction with me. The others moved round to the right side of the pillar.
Aevlin took a shot at Explicita Defilus. The arrow struck true. I advance on it, but the monster moved as fast as the electricity that had struck us in the boat and attacked the group advancing on the other side of the pillar. It attacked Ceyleen, sinking its fangs deep into the swamp druid’s gut.
I charged in, hoping to gain some advantage by coming up behind it, and…then…every…thing…went…black.
What happened I only learned after I was awakened. The creature cast a sleep spell, which my father’s heritage was not strong enough to prevent me from succumbing to such a minor magical affect. Everyone of us fell to the magic. And once more Ramne saved our arses. He blinded the naga by casting light on its eyes. He then woke Magnus the dwarf who finished the monster off with his battle axe.
With the beach area secure, we ferried those we left behind to join us so we could rest and tend to our wounded. Aevlin and Jose found a chest containing their belongings. In addition, we found a good amount of treasure for ourselves, of which Ramne claimed a ring and a potion.
After sufficient rest, we began making our way out, picking up the stashed treasure we had left behind and checking out some of the chambers we had bypassed. One contained a chest which was bolted to a platform and locked. Magnus attempted to open it with his axe, which caused the ceiling to fall in on us. Fortunately the mud didn’t do any harm, other than making it difficult to walk out of the room. Then we found a room of zombies operating a pump, sending water to the level above. We found the troglodyte who had escaped our earlier encounter. He had gone into one of the two side passages which led to a hatchery. He had bled out there from the injuries he had sustained in battle. We proceeded to eliminate the eggs and young, preventing the foul creatures from doing more harm to innocent beings traveling trough the swamp.
Lastly, we explored the corridor beyond where we had found the prisoners. The door at the corridor’s end led to a chamber with not much of interest in it. Beyond that we found another chamber. This one contained a man who identified himself as Garath Primo, the cleric responsible for this cult. With him was a shadowing creature which he sent to attack us. It was a hideous undead thing, a wight, something that I was not going to be able to do any harm to because I had neither a weapon of magic nor of silver which are the only things which can harm such a creature. Aevlin and Jose, who were wielding a magic sword and a silver sickle, attacked the wight. Magnus and I charged Primo. Primo attempted to cast a spell upon the dwarf who managed to resist it. Magnus proceeded to bury his axe into the cleric. My attacks missed, further frustrating me as I proved so inadequate in our battle with Explicita Defilus. Primo then attacked with his serpent headed Warhammer. Then he attempted to cast another spell. This time I managed to strike true with my dagger. Not only did I interrupt his spellcasting, I did enough damage to kill the cleric.
Magnus grabbed the warhammer, hoping that it was magical, and proceeded to attack the wight. The undead thing had finished of Jose and was giving Aevlin a difficult time. As the two squared off against the undead, I searched the Primo’s dead body finding nothing more than a set of keys.
As I looked up, I saw the wight strike Magnus and watched him grow paler. He was now fighting with Jose’s silver sickle. He roared at Aevlin to get out of here, putting himself between the wight and her. Respecting the dwarf’s bravery and sacrifice, I took his advice and began running for the exit, watching Aevlin at first hesitate, apparently fighting an internal struggle to decide whether to flee or stay. She eventually decided to join me in escaping this deathtrap.
My heard felt as if it were in an ogre’s grip at the thought of losing such a good companion who had saved my life not once with the wight, but twice by striking the final blow against Explicita Defilus. I shall definitely need to compose an ode to him. Perhaps Magnus’s Last Stand.
Revalor Flamewhisper.
|
|
|
Post by whunyer on Feb 17, 2019 19:29:35 GMT -5
Well I continue with this “group”. The monestry has made it clear I am to return no time soon, but should send support for my orphans I brought in to be raised by the brothers and sisters in the Abbey. This new idea these people have may have some value in that this old mansion will be a good location for a new monestary (and maybe a pizza franchise). I have profited so little from these adventures- the lion share of treasures going to pay for very expensive training for a few. But,I must carry on,those kids now depend on my upkeep payments. I might of been better of selling them for slaves, but how could I. They deserve the same chance I had to be raised in the Abbey
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Feb 19, 2019 12:28:05 GMT -5
I'd been an archer ever since I was young. My father taught me, and I'd taken to it like a fish to water. He also taught me how to use a sword, and to hunt and fish my own food. I loved fishing most of all, it was the only peaceful activity I had, but he wanted me to be a fighter. So I became the deadliest archer in all of Nyrond.
My cousin Gregolas would stay with us sometimes, and we would practice shooting. I was always better, but he was the stronger of the two of us. We would make targets out of apple's and whatever we could find. Eventually apple's weren't challenging enough for me. It was when we started shooting strawberries that I was blessed with a vision that would forever shape our futures.
"Greg," I held up an arrow that had run through three strawberries in a line, impaled in a row along the shaft. "I have an idea."
Aevlin's Deadible Edibles was a bigger hit than my family could have anticipated. The market for fruit baskets is remarkably high, especially in times of strife. We would set up shop in towns all over Nyrond, wherever there was death or celebration, we cornered the market. That's how I ended up in Darkshelf, where bodies were mysteriously being found mangled and the counts were high. Gregolas came up from Geoff to manage the store while I set off with a group of adventurers to check out the mine. And now after many mishaps and fruit baskets, we found ourselves in a new place, with an opportunity to acquire property in a corner of the world that Deadible Edibles has yet to reach.
---
We journeyed to Saltmarsh a couple weeks after training in Hochoch. We got word that there was good treasure if we went to check out a haunted house, and we're not afraid of no ghost, so we went. It was a pretty fishing town by the river, and I felt instantly at home. We went to the tavern, of course, and I went to the bar out of habit. The barkeep of the Salty Cod was friendly, but so was the one in Orlane, and we all know how that turned out. I ordered an ale.
The barkeep and my companions gave me odd looks as I inspected the beer, sniffing and then sipping to taste for poison. I'm not making the same mistake twice. I took the ale and made a round of the room, looking for odd marks on peoples necks. More strange looks, but no cultists from what i could tell.
There was an extremely drunk guy that my crew decided to talk to. I listened for a moment until Jaris called me over to the bar. I sit with him, and he tells me about what brought him to our group, other than his late brother. Hes looking for the Sword of the Undead. Sounds spooky, I don't know why anyone would want that. We get to talking about what happened back in Orlane and why I'm being so twitchy in this bar. I didn't know Joe, but my cousin did. I just know I used his bow in the final fight against the Ereptile Dysfunction. I ask if he wants it back as I'm just carrying it as backup, but he says no. Joe is gone from this world, his belongings were just things.
We can hear the old drunk loudly recounting his tale of going in the haunted mansion. Something about going in the kitchen and being attacked by rats and some guy with unholy fire eyes. Ghosts oooozing out of the walls. Jaris tells me he thinks it's a vampire. Why is it always vampires?
"Hey forest babe," Wahruck said to Ceyleen. "We're going to the temple."
She turned to the cleric, and I've never seen her look so pissed.
"If you ever call me forest babe again, I'll take my scimitar and cut your tongue out."
The two clerics scampered away before they angered the swamp druid further. The old guy finished his story... maybe.
"So that's my.... *hiccup* tale."
I started clapping and my crew joined in. I missed half of what the guy was saying, and I dont know how much of it was even true. Ceyleen called the barkeep over and asked about accommodations. She asked for a damp room, but settled for dry when he gave her a weird look. After settling up the tab, Ceyleen and Jaris joined me for a trip to the fishing supply store.
I bought a fishing rod, line, bait and a box of salt, enough to fill a shaker. I miss fishing, and it's a sure way to get food if we are going through a marsh. I am loving this town so far- it's high summer, warm, and everyone is happy. A nice change from Orlane. We ran into Wahruck and Hans after leaving the fishing store.
"Nice rod!" Hans says.
"Thanks you too!" I reply without thinking. Oh no. I want the earth to swallow me up.
"We're going to the town council to ask about the house." Wahruck tells us.
We tell them that we got rooms at the Salty Cod and are going to stay for a couple days probably. I know some of them want to go to the market.
"Hans, can you check my room for me?"
He gives me a weird look but agrees. Ceyleen tells me shes sharing with me and wont let anyone kidnap me. I feel safer knowing I have people looking out. I dont want to go through that again.
We go to the council and Wahruck asks if we can get a deed to the mansion to turn it into a temple and pizzeria. They say that if we can clean it out and find what is haunting it, they can work something out. Who's going to say no to a pizzeria? I have something else in mind... the house could be a good location for a Deadible Edibles franchise. I may even let someone else claim the name... Wharuck's Deadible Edibles, Temple and Pizzeria, maybe?
The council tells us there's a rumor that the house was the home of an alchemist 20 years ago. It was creepy when he first disappeared, but only got more sinister every year. Now it's pretty damn haunted. On the other hand, it is surrounded by really nice farmland. It's definitely in our best interest to liberate the house from whatever evil it contains. If we fix it up, they will give us the deed. Good deal.
Back at the Salty Cod we had a nice dinner thanks to Hans. He thought I was going to catch us fish for dinner but I had to explain to him that the fishing gear was for adventuring, and it had be pretty rude to make our own food when the tavern offers food. Before bed, Ceyleen and Hans scoped out my room, finding nothing. Jaris suggested I sleep under the bed, but I had no desire to do so. At least if anyone broke in I had a badass swamp druid to fight them off.
We made it through the night, and got up to head to the house. We walked down the old coast road with an entourage of townspeople following us cheering and giving us honey biscuits. They were delightful. When the house loomed into view, the entourage stopped following and wished us luck. The rest of the way there was still a pleasant walk. I really, really like this place.
The house stands on a cliff and is beautiful. Its clear that its sat abandoned for a while, and the windows are all broken. It would definitely look amazing if we fixed it up. We go up the driveway and find the gate open. Jaris checks it for traps, but it's clearly not. We go in and find a well by the rear of the house, which we look in. Its 15 feet deep and has water at the bottom. We cant tell if it's been used recently. Wahruck drops a pebble in. Nothing happens.
We walk around and find the front door, a backdoor off of a patio overrun with weeds, and a side door. I suggest we knock-knock-dash and see if anyone comes to the door, but Ceyleen just walks up and knocks on the front door. Nothing happens, so we go in. The entrance hall is huge and must have been beautiful once, but now its overrun with weeds and moldy. Cobwebs, varmint droppings and trash are everywhere.
"Damn teenagers!" I hiss, tripping over a beer bottle. O'Coors Lite. Ew.
We head down a corridor, and Jaris does his thing on a door. I hear squeaking behind us, and the sound of a horn blowing. When I turn around, Ceyleen is on the ground being attacked by rats. Her scimitar fell from her hand. What the hell happened? I draw my sword, facing the rats. One bites me, and I am certain I'm going to catch rabies. The others finish off the rats as they run away squeaking.
Jaris gets the door open, and we check it out. Theres two armchairs with the stuffing all pulled out, and a semi-nice fireplace. Hans goes to check it out, and is immediately jumped by a huge spider. It attacks and bites him, but Wahruck quickly slays it. Hans pulls out a loose stone, and finds a small metal box. He gives it to Jaris to open. Step one- give your thief the box. Step two- cut a hole in the box...
Jaris gets it open and theres a ring inside. We put it in my magic bag along with all our other knick knacks. We go to the room across the hall and find a long table with broken china and chairs, but not much else. Another door leads to the remains of a kitchen. This is where the drunk guy said he was attacked! Its moldy, theres cooking equipment piled in one corner, and broken stairs. Jaris walks over to the sink, and five giant centipedes attack from the floorboards!
Fortunately we kill most of them, and the rest run back into hiding. We decide to go up the stairs. We come into a hallway, and can see more stairs to the east but are mostly collapsed. Turning the corner, we run into a group of goblins. They are armed with short swords and spears, and squinting in the bright daylight pouring in. Ceyleen casts something, and one of the goblins is staring at her while yelling in goblin. I cant understand a word. The goblins surrender, and Ceyleen goes up talking to one in its language. We search the bodies of the ones that died, and find very little. Ceyleen tells us that they were in here to get out of the sun, and didnt find very much from what they had explored thus far. She now has a new friend, the goblin named Ramone.
I'm beginning to believe this place isnt haunted at all. It's just those damn teenagers. Then again, it is daytime... perhaps the real scary stuff happens at night?
>>------> Aevlin of Nyrond <------<<
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Feb 23, 2019 17:28:16 GMT -5
Ceyleen's pet goblin Ramone proves to be very useful. Every room we came to he would open the door and go in, always excited to see what's on the other side. In one we find a set of mens clothes, and an empty chest. In another, a chest full of moldy papers relating to the purchase of the house and a big bed. I decided to scare Ramone by doing a running jump onto the bed, hoping I could launch him. He was too quick and got out of the way so i just ended up with a face full of dust.
Ceyleen found a small box with diamonds in it under the floorboard. Jackpot! In the old master bedroom Folke decided to put on an old robe that hung in the closet. Mold spores fill the air and he coughs, looking quite Ill. He hurriedly took it off and put it back where he found it. The boots on the other hand, Wahruck takes.
It is clear we cant trust the floors in the house when Folke falls through the hallway down to the first floor. We had to retrace our steps and go back up another set of stairs to get to the next rooms. The first room we are attacked by two giant spiders, which we quickly dispatch. The next room has a questionable looking floor so we send Ramone in. That's when Nylen gets pissed.
"You are using him as a slave!" He accuses us.
"No, he likes it!" I turn to the goblin. "Right, you like your job?"
The goblin says nothing. He doesnt understand common.
"I was a slave to them once. What's the difference?" Maybe we are wrong but part of me just really hates goblins.
Ramone goes in the room singing some awful goblin song, checking everything out. The moment he approaches the window he falls through the floor. Ceyleen ran downstairs to get him. Folke falls through next, but Nylen makes it closer to the window. The elf tells us something had been leaning against the glass and scratched it- not a ghost!
The next room Jaris starts picking the lock. Folke and Wahruck find something, a key! They put it in the lock Jaris just picked, and turn it. It opens. Theres a half naked man on the floor, bound and gagged! Jaris goes in with a rope around his waist, gets to the man, and puts the rope on him. Folke pulls at Jaris's command. The poor guy being dragged let's out a muffled scream as a large splinter gouges his leg, and then the floor gives out. Jaris and the man plunge down to the lower level. I can see Jaris stand up and flip off Folke for letting go of the rope. We run downstairs to them.
Jaris accuses the guy of being a werewolf before Folke even takes the gag out of his mouth.
"I'm not a werewolf!" He groans. "My name's Ned!"
"That's exactly something a werewolf would say!" Jaris gives him a suspicious look.
I untie Ned while Ceyleen checks the back of his head. Theres a huge bloody lump where someone clearly hit him with something.
"I was drinking at the Filet of Dish when someone clubbed me over the head!"
Wahruck pulls the splinter out of Ned's leg.
"Who else was there? Were you drugged?
"I don't remember!" He is flustered with my questions. "I'm from Berle. I came to have drinks as I always do, got attacked, and now I'm here."
I tilt his chin up, checking his neck for any marks. He looks weirded out, but I ain't playing no games.
"Its fine, dont worry about it." I tell him.
"Can I have my clothes?"
Folke and I retrieve the clothes we found upstairs, and Ned gets dressed. We decide to bring him back to town and see what we can find out at the bar. We start walking off the property when I realize we are just walking back to town with a goblin in tow.
"Ceyleen, I really dont think we should bring the goblin back to town. Some people may not be so understanding."
The swamp druid looks disappointed but I'm sure her time spent among normal people has taught her that not everyone is accepted in most towns.
"I'll tell him to stay in the woods and watch the house." She says.
We go to the Filet of Dish, and everyone recognizes Ned. Theres cheers from some of the guys, and someone says they haven't seen him in a couple days.
"We saw those guys hanging out here that night.... shady looking fellows."
If they saw shady men why did they say nothing?
"Ned, you didn't close down the bar!" A drunk says loudly. "You always close down the bar!"
"Yeah. I totally got Aevlin-ed."
"Ha, Ned!" The barkeep laughs. "Nobody could possibly be as stupid as Aevlin!"
I choke a little on my beer (not poisoned, as far as I can tell). Does everyone in Greyhawk know what happened in Orlane? My mother will disown me.
The drunk guy starts singing about Aevlin the Drunk, and I excuse myself from the party to go check the back alley.
"Here's the tale of a girl so dumb,
She tried to drink the whole damn bar.
Her pockets they were filled with gold,
Beer and wine was flowing.
She drank and she drank,
But little did she know,
The beer was good, but the wine was laced.
Her friends went out and left her there
In a room with a shlizzard and a druid.
The cultists came about midday,
And found the sleepy trio.
A Shlizzard in her bed and a druid on her face,
They took her to the base-ment."
There was more, but it was demeaning and really bad. I couldn't believe how many of these drunks knew the song and that i was some kind of drunk legend. I found nothing in the alley, and went back in to find everyone leaving.
We took Ned back to the Salty Cod to get drunk. The plan was that if we could get him in the state he was taken, perhaps his drunk memories would resurface. Jaris asked if I want to arm wrestle, but I know it would end badly- hes clearly stronger than I am. Instead I sat at the table with Ned and got drunk. Because that's what I do, apparently.
---
Ned was gone when morning came, but he left a note with the barkeep thanking us for saving him and praising Wahruck. If Wahruck weren't my sponsorship for my training for my fighting career, I would run far away. The man is crazy. But Ned really liked him.
We took my horse Stompy and the cart back to the house this time. Ceyleen went to where she left Ramone, and couldnt find him. After some searching, we found his body. Dead, with a dagger wound.
"He's in a better place, now." Jaris said. "I'll take care of his body."
We went back to the house, leaving Jaris behind for the moment. I heard crackling soon, and turned around to see Jaris coming back to us.
"I took care of it!" He announced, sending a thumbs up. The trees all went up in flames behind him. I guess he forgot that you shouldnt burn a body in the forest, especially in the dry season.
We explore the rest of the first floor that we had yet to see. Theres an old library where the wizard finds some old books. A parchment falls out of one that is completely illegible due to rot, other than the words "beyond skeletons". Another room looks like it was a study, and has a writing desk that has been looked through by someone else. The middle drawer however is locked. Jaris fails to pick the lock, so Folke yanks it open by force. In it he finds a secret compartment, containing a small glass vial of a spicy smelling liquid. He puts it in his backpack.
Finally we come to a large room with a door that leads to the patio. Nylen tells us he sees a secret door in the floor, but when we draw into the room, a voice booms from above.
"Welcome, fools. Welcome to your deaths."
I barely know where I'm going, but I tear our of the room screaming. Ceyleen and the wizard are right there with me, freaking out and running. I cant go back there! I don't want to die! Soon we gain control of ourselves, and walk back to the room. I dare myself to go in, but Ceyleen and the wizard refuse to step through the doorway.
Nylen opens the trapdoor, and we go down. I'm walking behind Folke with my glowy sword out when someone jumps out of the darkness, stabbing at him with a dagger. It's Ned!
Folke and Wahruck take him down. Why did Ned betray us? Judging by the dagger, hes the one that killed Ramone. Why would he frame himself? This raises too many questions. I watch Wahruck pull his dagger out of Ned's eye socket, cackling.
"I thought you were a cleric?"
"Of the God of vengeance!"
"Oh... that makes sense. Now I know why you sponsored me."
I guess I'm just a pawn of his church now. Hey, at least I got good training out of it.
The room we are in looks like a barracks room, with 10 beds and a bunch of food and cheap ale. It's obvious that its human men living here due to the mess. A door at the end of room, barred shut, is marked with one word. DANGER. Folke walks towards it, and goes to open it.
>>------> Aevlin of Nyrond <------<<
|
|
|
Post by Jeffrey Pettengill on Feb 25, 2019 21:39:37 GMT -5
Getting Back in the Swing of Things
It is clear that I missed out on a lot when I left the group in the lair of the serpent god, who wasn’t really a god of any sort, but some sort of naga, a snakelike creature with a human head. Not only taking down the evil, but also on a good amount of gold and magic items.
Despite that, it was the right decision to leave and get back to Hochoch to find someone to help me hone my skills. My skills will the short bow are improving, as is my with the longsword. Still have to put in a lot more work with using the dagger. My marksmanship with it are pretty good, but I need a lot more work with it in hand-to-hand combat. Particularly if I intend to use it as a second weapon in a fight. It will definitely prove more advantageous when I have to drop my short bow and have to engage someone one on one to draw a sword and dagger than to try and shift a sword from my back to my arm.
I managed to relocate the party once I was finished my training. They happened to be waiting for a couple of the others to complete their necessary training as well. I am glad that I am back with them so that I am able to repay them the money they kindly loaned me for my training.
We have traveled to a small coastal town called Saltmarsh in order to investigate a supposedly haunted house. Some investigation led us to the house, which sets on a cliff. There was no trouble getting inside, and we headed straight back into the house, ignoring both the east and west wings as well as the stairs leading to the upper story.
The female druid, who was not part of the party when I left, and evidently not the one they had been searching for when I took up with them, had a charmed goblin with her. I was not too fond of the idea of having the goblin tagging along, but I tried to stifle my racial prejudices to keep from stereotyping this goblin. Just like humans, I assume, individual goblins can act in ways different than how others of their race may behave.
Most of the rooms we checked were empty. There were some spiders and a box containing a ring was found hidden within a fireplace’s chimney. But there was little else of interest.
Making our way upstairs we found the stairs leading further up to the attic had a gap in them, making it impossible to go further up until a way of bridging the gap was found. With that path cut off for the moment, we proceeded to check out the rooms on the second floor.
As we approached each door, a new party member, one with apparently felonious talents and the apparent brother of the late Joe who perished within the underground temple to the reptile god outside Orlane, would examine the door for traps and then see if the door was locked. If it was not locked, then the druid would, with the caring as her kind can spare non-animal beings, would send the thing into the room. Every time she ordered it to risk its life I felt bile rising up in my throat.
The first room contained only a chest. Inside it were some clothes and a pouch with a few gold coins which Warhuk took possession of.
The next room we checked also had a chest in it. This one contained only moldering paperwork regarding the house’s purchase, but we could not really make anything out of it. The was also a page which turned out to be a clerical scroll, which Wahruk took. Whatever spells are written on it, he is keeping to himself.
In another room we came upon a wardrobe which held a cloak and a pair of boots. Wahruk put the cloak on and released a cloud of yellow mold. It sent him into a little coughing fit, but there was no realm harm caused by the spores.
As we started to make our way across the balcony leading from the west wing to the east wing a section of it collapsed dropping Ceyleen to the first floor foyer. While she was injured, she was still alive. We were now faced with about a seven foot gap to cross to get to the other wing of the house. While it looked like we might be able to jump the distance, there was really no reason to take the risk of anyone missing it and falling to the floor. So we decided to go back down the to the lower level the way we had come up and then take the foyer stairs back up on the other side of the gap.
Another room contained two spiders which the others defeated. In the fireplace there was a fist-sized crystal. Doesn’t look like it is worth much, but I’m really no expert on appraising the value of anything.
In the next room the floor proved unsafe in spots. As Ceyleen prepared to order the goblin into the room, I finally spoke up. “You cannot keep sending this creature into potentially dangerous situations. You’re treating him like a slave.”
Ceyleen, Aevlin, and Jaris tried to justify their use of him in such a cruel manner claiming he liked it. And that it was justifiable because goblins have slaves.
Despite my attempts to convince them that what they were doing was wrong, Ceyleen ordered the goblin into the room once more. The poor unwitting victim of their cruelty them proceeded to fall through the unsafe floor. Folke then went into the room, and it collapsed under him as well.
Ceyleen at least had had the sense to go downstairs to check on the goblin.
I then entered the room, hanging to the right wall and testing the floor with each step before planting my weight fully on the floor. Using such precautions I made it to the window. The window looked out over the cliff at the water. As I examined the scene and the window, I noticed some scratches on the windowsill. It looked like something had been set there, and moved about on it. This is clear evidence that someone recently had proved to have a physical presence in the room.
The next room’s door was locked. Jaris proceeded to work on the lock. As he did, Folke and Wahruk spotted something on the windowsill at the end of the corridor next to the door. Once the door was unlocked, Folke tested the key and it proved to fit. Very curious how the key to the locked door was in such an obvious place. Almost as if it were in a place for us to find it.(
Inside the room was a bound and gagged body, and what appeared to be more unsafe floor. After some really bizarre decisions and actions on the part of our stealthy companion, they dragged the now conscious individual out of the room, injuring him as a splinter buried itself in his leg.
Freeing him, he introduced himself as Ned. The tale he told us was one of being knocked unconscious as he was drinking in a local tavern. (There was even a sizeable lump on the back of his head.) Something in his story wasn’t setting right, but we were unable to put our fingers on it. I was definitely wondering why if he were rendered unconscious in town, why would they bring him all the way out here and leave him bound up for a couple of days?
Ned asked if we had any spare clothes he could borrow, since he was standing there in his underclothes. We gave him the clothes we had found in the chest, which turned out to be his after all. (How convenient.)
Descending back to the first floor, we checked the two rooms under the ones we had just been in with the unsafe floors. The first contained semi-circular patch of mushrooms growing in front of a fireplace. They didn’t look harmful, but one can never really be sure about what sort of harmful magic such things may have placed on them. I harvested some with the intention of taking them back to town to see if some cook might be able to tell if they were edible, and if so, to have something prepared with them. I really wasn’t about the sample them without someone more skilled, which one would have thought would be Ceyleen the swamp druid. But evidently if it isn’t from her swamp she is clueless.
As I was packing them away, the newest member of the party, a clearly not too experienced Elven magic-user asked if she could try one of the mushrooms. I was hesitant and tried to dissuade her from eating them until we found out whether or not they were harmful. She continued to insist, and it was clear she was not going to be steered away from this course of action. With a sigh of resignation that you cannot protect the foolhardy from their own irrational behavior, I relented and gave her one of the mushrooms, which she promptly put into her mouth.
Fortunately for her, her rashness proved non-fatal.
I then examined the fireplace and its chimney and potted a concealed area within the chimney. It contained a leather pouch. Retrieving it, I found within it a piece of amethyst which appeared to have more value than the chunk of crystal and the diamonds we had found earlier.
The last room provided no clues nor anything of value.
After searching this last room, we concluded it might be best to head back to town and attempt to solve the mystery of what happened to Ned. Before leaving, fortunately a little wisdom did prevail and Ceyleen was convinced that it might not be wise for us to show up in town with a goblin in tow, especially one that was not trussed up like a prisoner. She convinced the poor beast to stay in the woods nearby and keep an eye on the house.
Back in town, our investigation proved to be pretty fruitless. There were no witnesses to the assault on Ned. I pretty much allowed the others to do the questioning, finding a quiet spot to enjoy a modest glass of wine and watch the crowd for anything suspicious. With no luck at the tavern the assault was supposed to have occurred we went back to the inn where we had rooms and finished off the night.
Ceyleen and Aevlin tried to ply more information from Ned by trying to get him drunk, though with no avail.
In the morning, we came down to find that Ned had left a note for us. Which Ceyleen read and promptly threw back at the innkeeper.
Upon returning to the rotting mansion, we proceeded to search the west wing.
The first room was a library, where we managed to find three books of note on magical studies which might provide some profit should we be able to find the right market for them.
The next room was a study where, hidden in a compartment in the locked central drawer, which Jaris proved unable to open but Folke pulled open by sheer strength, was a small vial containing a rose-colored liquid which gave off a spicy aroma.
The last room was a large living area with doors leading out to a patio. The Elven magic-user found a golden earring, which she immediately put on.
As I looked around, I noticed something on the floor which looked out of place. As I moved to examine it more closely I noticed it was a trap door. I was just about to open it when a chilling voice filled the room.
“Welcome, fools. Welcome to your deaths!” This was followed by cruel, heartless laughter which nearly froze my blood. Part of me wanted to run screaming from the room, and it took everything within me, plus just a little something extra from the ring I had found on my brother’s body, to stand my ground. Unfortunately not all of us managed to steel ourselves against this as Aevline, Ceyleen, and magic user succumbed to the fear and ran from the room.
I opened the door, revealing a stairway down into darkness. Unfortunately, due to the angle, I was not able to see where exactly the stairs led.
As we stood there assessing the situation, debating about whether to all go after our three frightened companions or to split up with some of us descending the stairs to investigate what was down those stairs and the rest going after them, the three of them returned. However, only Aevlin found the courage to come back into the room. Ceyleen and the magic-user stood in the doorway, refusing to come any further. This sort forced our decision.
Folke led the others down the stairs.
I elected to stay upstairs to provide some protection for the druid and the magic user. I will admit, I was not thrilled with being the one to remain upstairs. Particularly when the sounds of combat came up the stairway. But in all good conscience, I could not leave these two unprotected.
The sounds of combat did not last long. Then nothing else.
Perhaps we should go see about finding another way down. If this way is secret, there should be one that is not. It is better for us all to be together. No good really ever comes from separating the party. And if these two are nor going to go down these stairs, we need to find another way down and connect back up with them as quickly as possible.
Nylen Starbow
|
|
|
Post by whunyer on Feb 26, 2019 13:03:04 GMT -5
Well here we are. A moldy damp old house full of rats and centipedes. The only "horror" in this place was a very real assassin, who tricked us into thinking he was a captive in this place. Held by some mysterious unknown captors. I even gave this poor bastard 3 gold pieces, pilfered from his pouch. We fed and liquored this prick back in town until he was quite drunk and he left us. Only to appear again in a secret chamber under the patio. He's dead know and hangs in their chamber as a warning of what is to come to all the "spooks" haunting this house.
|
|
|
Post by dragonforgotten on Feb 26, 2019 17:04:01 GMT -5
-After Joes death-
Im back in hawkhawk with money back in my pocket and my a*** sitting at a table surrounded by booze, my head is resting on the table staring at my reflection in the bottle, thinking. With my left arm in a sling only free hand nurses the bottle. I cant believe he's gone. How many times have we've gone through with this? Too many to count. Its funny. The Luck of Jala is suppose to be a blessing, so why does it feel so much like a cures. Im just tired...
I shot up groggy and startled by the slamming of the doors. A group of adventures. I don't think anything of it, there not really my style and people seem to not like me in the first place. Besides, I'm tired, too tired of everything. Then i hear them talking about my brother... It's them. I get up from my chair, suddenly life coming back into my body. I grab the shoulder of a tall man standing next to a fightery girl with a bow strapped across her back. "Excuse me, But wouldn't happen to talking about my brother." he turns around and I feel his eyes burn into me, surprise written on his face. "Joe?!" He practically shouts as my ears twitch back. Everyone else attention then swivels from the bar to me with jaws agaped. I sigh, visibly tired. "No, twin. Names Jaris." everyone visibly deflates. I pull up a seat with them. "I sent his body to the otherside but I need to know. How did he die? I need to understand so i can move on." Guilty looks go all around till the man I spoke to, Gregoles speaks up. "It was an ambush. They caught us off guard and unfortunatly they targeted him first." I fall silent taking this in, letting his words wash over me. "I see." I look outside the window. "I knew he couldn't survive the dungeons but i still let him go. I thought this time would be different." I take a swig from a bottle. I look at their numbers and I notice they have no trap expert among them. "You lot seem to be short on skilled men. Mind if I tag along."
---
I ended up joining them in there quest in salt marsh. Don't know why, just did. What did he get out of this group? Some people are cool, some i'm still trying to figure out. We're investigating this haunted house along the ocean cliffs, possible ghost n vampire s***. As the group is chatting up an old drukard I call the bow girl over, Avelins her name. She sits by me at the bar eyeing my empty glasses, ten in total. She's pretty average looking with her long dark hair. I would even call her cute but I'm too busy mourning to care about women right now. "You've got good tastes in booze." She tells me looking at the empty bottle. "Thanks." I shift in my position drinking from a fresh bottle of whisky. "Ive been wanting to know? Why did you decide to join our group considering your brother." I remove the bottle and stare her in eyes, level headed despite the acholoh. "Don't know. Maybe I just want to see what he saw in you lot but besides." I take a swig. "Besides my sentimental mournings theres also another thing." I place the whiskey down onto the bar. "Im looking for a particular objects of power, two in fact. I was tasked with finding the sword of Undeath while Joe was tasked with finding the Blade of Evil Colors, a dragon slaying sword. They've belong to my ancestor and we need them back in our hands. Once a theif of our clan claims them and rises to the top then we'll all be free. Joe was aiming for that. Now it's my turn. You get me." She nods slowly. "That sword sounds spooky." "It is. Heard it could cleave vampires in two." I notice her eyes dart about, her hands folding nervously into each other. The body language of someone afraid. "Your a lot different then... your brother." she tells me. "I think you mean different from other thieves. Of course. Im not ruled by my desires like others of my cut. Im usually more fun to be around but as you can tell Ive been in a bit of a mood if you catch my drift. I cant seem find joy in anything as of late. Guess death does that to you." I catch her trying to ask further but i cut her off. "enough about me, You've been twitchy though out the entire conversation. Drink some gin and tell me what happened." She then begins to tell me her entire adventure and then to her unfortunate imprisonment. She didn't get to know my brother, he died minutes before she was freeded but she did pilfer his body for his gear. It seems the bow on her back was his, his old one must have broke but his gear was vital in her overcoming that monster. "do you want it back?" she offers. I shake my head. "No. He's gone from this world and his belongings are just things now." I glance back at the table to see the party has wrapped up their talks. "It was a pleasure speaking with you but it's seems times up and it's back to work." I stand from the far and glance at her again as i hang in the door way. "Id try sleeping under a bed for a change. Makes it very hard for someone to shank you in such a position." She gets up and jogs up to me. "Why don't you come with me and Cayleen for some shopping. We're a stocking up before the trip." I smile. "Sounds like a plan."
---------- There are definitely rats so far, no ghosts. It's been pretty dull so fair besides the goblin. I like Ramone, doesnt seem to like me. Pitty. We found a man in a locked room, completely rotted out. made it to him just as easy. he looks to heavy to carry, I'll just tie the rope around and let the muscle do the work. oh... opps. Now the guys screaming bloody murder and the babies past the door are tell me to pick him up after a piece of wood impaled the mans legs. Fine... As soon as a bend to pick him up a hear the familiar breaking of old floors. I grab onto the man, waiting for Folk to pull us up. Then he lets go and i fall flat on my back. I flipped him the bird when his face peered through the hole.
-- The mans name is Ned. He was robbed then tied up in the room. The money walruk found belonged to him. For a cleric he's a very... distasteful person. He's methods bother me. Unsurprisingly Walruk left out the part that we found his gold after giving his cloths back. Im not going to say anything, I've done things worst, but i don't steal from people who already have been kicked down. brought him back to town to the bar he last visited before his mugging and abduction. No one saw a thing. Thats suspiouse As soon a Avelin mentioned her name story's start going around. Avelin the Drunk, the girl who drank the entire bar. It's a catchy tune but Avelin doesn't seem to be feeling it. Word of her exploit has apparently spread throughout every bar across the realm. She looks ashamed and since coming to the town she's nervous of sleeping alone at inns. That cant do, that cant do at all. I think after this salt ghost business i think I'll relieve her of her title. Me and Joe didn't just write the book on wild parties, we are the kings of wild parties. Our expoilts are things of legend! We partied so hard in a town we set the last bar on fire our dancing and merry making was so extreme before Joe drugged and ditched me in hawhawk. Theres going to be a new legacy in the history of parties. I checked Neds leg but it will be fine with rest. Walruk said i should try being a cleric one day, i don't think i will. Ive seen and done too much. besides, I failed my test when i let this desire consume me. ---
We returned the next morning to find Remon dead by stabbing. He shall be avenge but for now he deserves a proper send off. I tell the rest that i got this and a light him up. Burn where they fall is our custom dictate after all. I pray that with his soul freed from his body and finds his god. When i come back the group is pale face and Calieen is horrified and red in the face. What? I turn around to see some of the forest alit in fire. I forgot about the trees. Sorry nature.
---
Finally something happened. A voice shut shouted at us out of now where talking about our deaths. I gave a snide remark back but he didn't care to respond. He did weird things to a couple of the party but regardless we went down into the bunker and look who we find. Our boy Ned holding a dagger. He cut him down pretty quick. I didn't want to hear his excuses. You've been Avenged Ramon. It is then we discover an underground network of caves which connects to an underground harbour. Looks like this goes deeper than we thought. --------
Who idea was this and why the heck did I agree to this!? Im fending off multiple smugglers by myself, getting cut to ribbons as I dance about. If I bloody live I'm not volunteering for this type of s*** every again! I can feel my strength wanning. Im going to die here! Suddenly their attention is drawn elsewhere and there they are. Reinforcements have arrived! One of the smugglers make a mad rush for me till suddenly he's cut down. As he falls I see Avelin behind him, covered in fresh-blood and..umm.. I can feel my ears heat up and I have to turn slightly away from her. She's not in her bulky armor as normal, half naked with a light top and torsers but her midrif is exposed. "thanks for saving my a**." I mutter quietly, trying not to look at her but i find myself catching quick peeks on her curves as I mentally slap myself. I force myself to look away red in the face, praying she doesn't notice with how c**** the weather is and how dark it is outside. "No problem! Got to kill captain hook now and loot his corpse." She dashes off as i sigh relief, heart still hammering. It seems i forgot that she's is indeed a lady under all that armor.
-Jaris
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Mar 6, 2019 14:40:01 GMT -5
The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh The Sea Ghost Preparations Boarding the Sea Ghost Main Deck Crow's Nest Poop Deck Forecastle Lizard Men's Quarters Galley Stores Ships Stores Ship's Galley Captain's Cabin Crew's Quarters Cargo Hold Bosun's Cabin Mate's Cabin The Secret Cache A voice from inside the walls? ended play on Starday, Brewfest 1, 576 at 7:00 am our plays on RPGGeek rpggeek.com/plays/thing/46874?userid=1168080
|
|
|
Post by Aileen on Mar 7, 2019 20:42:51 GMT -5
It feels good to be homeowners, but this place is a dump. Fixing the floors and all the things that need to be done is going to be expensive. I would like to not nearly break a leg every time we run drills with Ceyleen. The swamp druid has become our trainer, making us gather everything we need, run to the secret cave, and get the dinghy launched as fast as possible in the event that we have to intercept a smuggling boat. Those who don't stay on house duty, the elves mainly, patrol on Brandi the boat with our two Saltmarsh guys Will and Tom.
"Do you have a five?" Ceyleen asks, sitting cross legged on her armchair, her new skunk draped across her shoulders.
"Go fish."
She draws a card, and then glances up at the window looking over the harbor. She snaps to attention.
"Did you see that?"
"See what?"
"A flash..." she stands up, placing the cards on the table. "There it is again- time to go!"
We leap into action, running like mad women to gather our gear.
"Ballard, Rivaldi- let's go!" Ceyleen shouts, springing down the stairs, jumping over a broken step. "Wahrruck, put some clothes on!"
We make it to the boat in record time, but in various states of undress. Mostly Wahrruck, who is wearing a glorified loin cloth. I had been ready for our other plan where me and Ceyleen were going to disguise ourselves as "ladies of the port" and get access to the ship.
"Aevlin..." Ceyleen shakes her head. "Just don't get stabbed."
We row out and follow the sounds of battle to a big ship. Ceyleen lights a torch, and we can see a really nice smuggler vessel. Its name reads The Sea Ghost. We pull the RockSand up to the anchor, and Wahrruck climbs up the chain. I follow him, trying to avert my eyes. As soon as we are on the deck, I draw my sword, giving us a bit more light.
Across the ship we can see what looks like the captain fighting Nylen and our new half orc friend Garak. We rush forward, but come face to face with a bunch of lizard folk and a guy in chainmail with a hook for a hand. Jaris looks a bit beat up and relieved that we have arrived. Ceyleen freezes some of the lizard men in place as we are pretty surrounded, but one of them and hook hand guy attack. Hook slashes at me with his glowing broadsword, cutting into my exposed midriff. I immediately regret my outfit choice. I fight back, dueling with him and feeling very pirate like. I could get used to this lifestyle, I don't want to grow up to be a ranger anymore- I want to be a pirate!
We finally kill Hook and the lizards, but one tries to run away. I kill him just as he tries to jump overboard. We all gather below deck, and I immediately start looking for some rum. I find ale, which I drink. The lizard man and Hook really beat me up pretty good, especially with that broadsword, so drinking helps me feel a little better. I know I may regret it later, especially when the ship starts moving.
Jaris starts talking to the air above Ceyleens head, saying he sees a tiny dragon. None of us see anything.
"What did you smoke?" I ask him.
"I didnt! There's a tiny dragon above Ceyleen's head!"
We move on to explore the other rooms, Jaris trying to talk to the dragon that definitely is not there. He had been pricked by a poison needle when he tried to open a chest, maybe it was a hallucinogen? In the master cabin, we find a caraffe of red liquid, which i taste. It's good wine.
"Pass the caraffe around," Nylen says, watching Jaris talking to thin air. I give him the wine and we all drink.
I find a bottle of Brandy and down it. This boat is great! The guys find a map, and we look it over.
"SM?" Wahruck says. "Oh, Saltmarsh? I thought it meant..."
"Thought it meant what?" I slur
"Nothing." The priest claps me on the shoulder.
Nylen opens up a chest, a blade trap cutting him in the process, but the 1000 electrum it contains was totally worth it.
We go down into a trap door in the floor and find more chests and hammocks, and what appears to be the latrine. In the chests are some greasy playing cards that nobody wants, and dice. I take a couple out but just keep rolling ones, so I hand them off to Jaris.
"They're cursed!" I whisper.
Theres another interesting find, a little book of names of ladies of Saltmarsh, their addresses and some comments.
"Sally... angry that someone got the pole she ordered." Wahruck reads.
I had that pole installed in the cave...
"Aevlin! You're in here!"
"What?!"
"Says will drink anything... does anything for gold."
Sure enough, my name is on the freshest page, along with "swamp elf". Wahruck holds onto the book.
In another cabin theres a big, beautiful parrot in a cage. I run over to it, trying to get it to talk. I offer him some sausages, but it just keeps squawking "pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!"
"I don't know what eight is!" I tell it. "Ceyleen, talk to it! I want a parrot!"
While Ceyleen tries befriending the parrot, I wander over to the table where theres a flagon of another kind of alcohol in it. Opening it up, it smells like cider. I take a swig. There's a moment where I think I'm going to keel over- this is strong stuff!
"Guys, I found the good stuff! I'm saving this for later!"
"I was thinking of turning this into a party boat." Jaris tells me.
"I knew I liked you!" I pinch the thief on his cheek as I walk by him.
We find the motherlode of goods inside a cramped area, wrapped in oil skins and rope. Broadswords, morning stars, shields, javelins- all kinds of goodies! There's also a note about producing iron goods at the same rate as before... I'm not sure what they're talking about, but it sounds like evidence the town will want. As I'm shoving things into the bag of holding, I realize Jaris has somehow stolen a few electrum pieces from the bag without me noticing, and is offering it to the supposed invisible dragon. Maybe he has really lost it?
The last room we come to, we hear a voice calling out in what sounds like elvish. I can't tell if it's the drunkenness, but I can't tell if the voice is coming from belowdecks or the walls. The combination of all the alcohol I mixed together and the gentle rocking of the boat sends me running back up to the main deck. Once I've successfully stopped getting sick, I will go see who this mysterious elf is... but, for now, I'm wondering if the pirate's life is really for me.
>>-----> Aevlin, Hero of Nyrond <-----<<
|
|