Youth Group! TOEE - Meet 18, 12/07/22

Aredhel’s cell was open and after crawling out from the shadowed area, bypassed the three guards that had passed out. She could hear Furd in the next cell and after stepping out shut the cell behind here. There were 2 more here unconscious in the hall and she could see in the distance another down into the next room. Looking at the 2 guys here she found a set of keys but the angry half ogre ripped the door of his cell open.

Reconnected together they looked in the next 4 cells, eventually freeing the remainder of the party. Ophelia was missing.  Everyone was pretty beat up, battered, bruised, and they took the time to look over Aredhel’s many injuries – including the half elf’s missing ear. We suspected that we were in the basement level of the Church of St. Cuthbert. And at this time, the other temple guards were waking up. Furd picked one of them up and throttled him against the wall. Rowan and Albert were trying to get the other one to relax and answer questions but the blade to the neck and the gyrating only served to get his throat nicked – followed by a deep puncture to his chest. Fight went out of him.

We wanted some answers, where was Ophelia, what was going on, where was our stuff. The guards didn’t answer much but something went wrong when we could hear the other guard that had been down the hall had also woken up and was running. Calling for Calmert. Calmert? Terjon’s leader – the Cannon, and master of the Temple. Shit.

Furd dropped the guy he was holding and took off as fast as he could in pursuit. The party was going to shove the last guys in the cells, some choice words from Aredhel and Albert left with them.

Furd ran hard, racing to the west he looked left and right, spying a set of stairs going up. Charging there he took them two at a time, clawing and racing, hearing the other person running ahead, calling Calmert’s name. The top of the stairs was a private set of rooms, he ran to the swinging doors, misjudged the swing, and slammed into them, ripping them down and hurting himself in the process. He could see another set north of here swinging and 2 temple workers looking scared. He ran on, hitting the doors the right way and spied another set of stairs going up. And the fleeing temple guard running up them. “I’ll get you!”

He hit the stairs and ran up, 2 other temple guys here and the guard making his way to the east and through the last door. Here was Calmert, another temple guard – and Ophelia – tied in effigy on an “H” frame and set to dangle over the railing to the ground beyond. “Blasphemer!” Calmert cried out. “You shall PAY!”

Furd swung in, chains flailing, flashing and banging around. Ophelia slipped a bit but hung there, ropes in place. The half ogre tried to choke out Calmert but could not get a decent loop with his chains. The party meanwhile had caged up the last of the guards and were now running, 4 minutes behind Furd, to help their friend out.

The combat was brutal and Furd was on the losing side. The Cannon was a competent fighter and things went poor when he critically hit the half ogre in the skull with his enchanted cudgel, cracking his skull and dropping him to the ground – at 0 hit points. The other temple workers were here and they were trying to tie him to the other H frame – Calmert wanted them both to dangle over the balcony and then burn.

And from there, the rest of the party arrived. Clad in underwear, on single digit hit points, sporting stolen daggers and little else, they hit Calmert’ chamber like a wave. Albert’s knife flew out and struck one of the workers in the chest. Aredhel snatched up a metal tripod and waded in, beating and smashing the closest priest found. Pestle was scavenging for items to throw and Rowan called out to Demeter. A hyena appeared and he ordered it in and the canine charged. But it misjudged the floor and leapt…over the rail and down to the floor below where it screamed and laughed and it hit the ground broken and dying.

Albert summoned colored lights to block Calmert’s view and the priest called a blessing out, filling his followers with glory and banishing their fear. Ripping a mirror off the wall, Elmo ran in to smash one of the followers down but slipped and catapulted over the railing! Catching the end of the “H” frame where Ophelia hung, making her cry in pain as her leg was twisted. But he hung there – 15’ off the ground and managed to get a solid grip.

Pestle summoned dancing lights and then also blinded Calmert as best he could, bringing them together into a effigy of burning man. We brought the fight closer, hitting and smashing. Calmert did get a series of good hits, slamming Albert hard, the wizard brought to a single hit point. Rowan managed to get closer and poured a single Cure Minor wound into the hurt Furd – and the half ogre went to 1. And up he came. Chains flailing around he smashed one of the helpers to the group and then continued on, felling another in his effort to close to Calmert. Elmo meanwhile climbed up over Ophelia, kissing the priestess once for luck, making his way unseen to the top again.

And then the party attacked the last temple servant and Calmert in force. Knives stabbed, clubs were smashed, chains flailed. The Cannon staggered and then finally fell over. Dead. Wasting little time we dragged Opehlia back up to the ledge and cut her free. She was overcome and hugged Elmo hard. Furd took Calmert’s cudgel for now as we looked him over. We could hear other temple followers running out of the Church. Pestle wanted to get to a window to see where they were heading. Aredhel discovered a silver key behind a badge of office on Calmert’s neck.

There was another chamber that we went to look in, assuming it was Terjons. Pestle could see out a window that those who fled the temple were bee lining for the Sword and Cheese trade post. Rannos Davi. “Guys! Make it fast!” There was a desk with a small lock in the back and Aredhel went to use the key to unlock it- but triggered a trap – was pricked- and passed out.

Fuck.

It was still locked and Pestle used her Mage hand spell to turn the key – opening the top of the desk. We found some serious coin, 3 vials of healing potions, and a scroll. Healing potion went right to Elmo, Albert, and Furd who were all the worst off. The set of vestments we had picked up we tied into a bag and tossed the coins in. Albert broke the seal and it was a scroll of protection versus Demons. It seemed that Terjon before he was turned by Lareth had some suspicion but couldn’t put defenses in place before he was turned.

We had to go and now. So we left the Church of St. Cuthbert where we had defended ourselves to be sure – but also inadvertently killed some innocent and good men. Things we would have to square up with at a later date. Right now we had to avoid Rannos Davi and getting recaught.

The herdsman was close to the Church and he had a flock of some 75, 100 sheep. Rowan led the group through the gathering gloom to the field where we hid amidst the sheep. Plenty of time as we watched Rannos and some FIFTEEN of his mercenaries make their way to the Church where they eventually entered. Voices were raised and angry calls came out. Our actions were discovered. They freed the church workers from the cells and they in force, left the Church. Rannos wanted us found and his men fanned out, going door to door, looking for us.

We waited as they tried to cow the herdsman but it sounded like he was not a fan of what has been going on. Also, we discovered that 5 of the town’s children had been slain as we had not been brought to them. Once they were long gone, we went off to the Herdsman’s house and Elmo managed to get us through the door. Black Jay was an older grizzled man who had lost his wife and kids some time ago. Elmo’s father had been sent this morning along with the watch to the Moathouse to find out where we were. Auva had then been taken into custody and Burne, Rannos, and Terjon were consolidating power in the town.

He wanted us to go to Rannos in the morning but was willing to let us eat and sleep here tonight. So we were exhausted and agreed (in theory) for now and would address the issues tomorrow.

While we slept two things occurred – Albert woke up – and had the dice and had rolled it! In his sleep. It was pulsing and warm to the touch. Three rolls and then there was a flash. And found himself dreaming he was in a tower, looking over the blasted plains of Tartarus. And Lareth, broken, burned, was talking to him. He was upset with what had happened and wanted Albert to know that if he could, take his dice and eventually make it to Nulb. There, he will learn where to find the Temple of Elemental Evil would be – hidden from the world of men by Lolth and Zuggotomy. And once there – the room that has signs of his dice – roll them. Roll all of them. And if he does, great rewards and magic would be given to Albert. Albert was seriously tempted.

Meanwhile Aredhel had another vision from Hades while she slept – the lord of the underworld reminding her that he will support her. And to watch out for Albert. Be wary.

Youth Group! TOEE - Meet 17, 11/23/22

We made sure that any treasure was stored away before making our exit from Lareth’s chambers. We picked our way south through the guard rooms and at the post, decided to not go through the entire dungeon at this time, and instead head out the secret exit that sloped up and emerged some 200 yards away from the Moathouse. We waited in the gathering gloom to make sure that no one was watching us before sneaking back, limbering the horse to the wagon, and then leading it out of the courtyard and back to the main roadway.

It was after 6 PM and with only a single torch to light the way around us, made the slow slogging trip through the low road and back through the swamp heading on our way to Hommlet. We were all hurt, and tired. Spells were pretty much gone and we were struggling to stay up and awake. It was late, very late, when we finally arrived back at town. As we came down the short road to the main thoroughfare, standing outside the Watchtower and blocking the road 4 wide, were a handful of Burne’s men. They were standing there, spears at the sides, swords on the waists.

As we came to a stop and tried to address them, they were sort of slack jawed and oblivious. They didn’t reply but from the tower we could see Burne himself step out and address the party. Some barbs were exchanged and things were growing tense when he pointed at the party and said a few arcanic words…ending with “Ignitus”.

And a spray of sparks flew out, landed on the ground…and set the oil soaked earth ablaze. The fire raced across the wagon’s bottom as the fire sprung up. We were scrambling to make a decision when arrows flew from the tower – pegging Elmo multiple times and slammed into the ranger and down to 3 hit points! The spearmen were making steps forward and Elmo wanted to cut the horse free that was screaming and whinnying.

And then Burne cast a Wall of Fire and boxed the party in, walling off any escape out the back. They scrambled over the side, getting burned for their efforts. Furd charged forward to help Elmo who had gotten kicked by the horse and was stunned, falling out of the cart. More arrows flew and we were getting ripped apart. Rowan called to Demeter and summoned a Hippogriff! The eagle-horse creature flew through the hail of arrows, straight for Burne who was unable to turn the wall of fire this round as the hippogriff ripped, bit, clawed, and tore into the most wonderful mage of Hommlet.

Furd had Elmo up and they were running and he got speared for his efforts. More spearmen charged the party hoping to take them down. Burne was badly hurt before the hippogriff was torn apart and then we could see Rufus running across the field to come to us. Time to go. Rowan called a giant badger next and Furd took down one…and then a second spearman. Elmo helped kill another and we ran off north into the woods, leaving the fire and wagon behind. We hoped to find someplace to hide but the woods here were not too dense and Albert suggested using the dice to call the Hut.

At first nothing happened and then he rolled very low…and there was a sputter to all of us…And we found ourselves suddenly in day time in the woods again – but it was now 12 hours in the future. It was 10:30 on Restmonth the 13th, and we were all still exhausted, hurt, and no spells. It was obvious that someone had been in this area searching for us but did not find us. We needed to rest. It also sounded like the town was being overrun. Auva was captured? Maybe the rest of the council. Rannos’ men were convinced someone was hiding us and if we were not brought out by sunset (5:30), they were going to kill 5 children.

We were quiet and came up with a plan. In Jaroo’s home, there was a potion of Rejuvenation, also known as Sorcerer’s Balm. If drunk, would give the imbiber the equivalent of 8 hours of rest – and for a sorcerer, replenish all their spells. This would give us the entire repertoire of Aredhel’s spells once again which was the best bang for the buck. But we. Were. Fricking. Exhausted. Rowan was adamant that we needed to rest, even if just a few hours, before daring to sneak back into town.

So, we headed east outside of town almost 800 yards and then turned southward until we had a deep copse of trees to hide in. We set up a camp and the party rested, Elmo agreeing to keep watch. 2 hours. That was the plan.

Elmo did not hear the stalkers in his exhausted state sneak up to him and then strike him in the head, knocking him out. The rest of the party were similarly treated, hit and beaten, tied up, and we knew no more – captured.

It was some time later when Aredhel awoke first. She was in a dungeon cell, cold and damp stones. Terjon and 3 of his men were here. The Cleric was angry and wanted to know which person dared to kill Lareth. Do you know what you’ve done? The dark hope? The silver fair? Who dared? Tell him so he could instruct them on what they did.

Aredhel thought about it and then said that she did it. She struck the killing blow. Terjon was surprised and stunned. He thanked her for her honesty, and then hack the bound half-elf’s ear clean off. As she was bleeding and stunned, he told his men to beat her half to death and then have their way with her. He left her there, screaming, as we went down the hall to the next chamber.

Inside was Furd and 3 more guards. The half-ogre was also bound, but not just ropes, chains as well. We could hear Aredhel screaming and Furd was rocking and twisting. Terjon smacked him across the face with a cudgel but the half-ogre RIPPED the chains apart, used the free ends, and smacked Terjon in the head. The guards were surprised as he stood behind the priest and wrapped his chain around his throat, pulling it taut. “Back up! Now!” He commanded, grappling with the Cleric.

Terjon was pulling and trying to break the grapple but couldn’t do it. The guards made to step up and Furd pulled tighter! Terjon was spasming and kicking. Everyone was yelling. Next door, the guards were at the door, leaving off their abuse of Aredhel, wondering if they should step in to help or follow orders. Aredhel heard a voice in the gloom, a dark shadowy section of the floor, beckon her to come closer. “Come on, kid,” the voice whispered to her. “I’ve got you.” Hurt and bleeding, she crawled to the patch of night and could feel somehow that she was hidden. It was verified as the guards turned to look for her and she could see them but they could not see her. “Where is she?!”

“They’re not playing fair,” the voice said, “and we can’t really get involved,” it continued, “but that isn’t to say I’m completely without options. Thanks for praying to me Aredhel. Name’s Hades.”

Furd was keeping the guards away, dragging Terjon about, blocking blows with the priest’s body if possible. This wasn’t going to last forever and he had to finish it. The half-ogre redoubled his efforts, pulling and yanking and with a horrid crunching sound, broke Terjon’s neck and killed him. Some spiders and mushrooms fell off the dead cleric and the guards in the area all fell over, knocked out.

For now.

It was Restmonth the 13th, about 3:30 PM. We have no armor, weapons, equipment, healing, spells, or personal belongings. 4 of us are still unconscious and everyone has burns, cuts, lacerations, and trauma. BUT, we have taken out Terjon and according to the map we had seen in the Moathouse – that was 1/3rd of the foes here in Hommlet. If we could try and take out more, maybe we could free up some of the town citizens and overwhelm the last of Lareth’s people here. And we have an hour and a half before Rannos Davi and his men kill off 5 of the town’s children. It’s time to be heroes.

Meet 38, Adv 10, 11/19/22

We got heads up that Jessie Underwood and her people were staying at The Rook in Eastview, a gambling and restaurant establishment. We eventually made our way there where we had a chance to talk with Micah, the Warrior of Jessie’s party. He was getting pretty drunk at the better table of the Common Room and was willing to talk to the party. He missed his friend, Darrien the paladin, who died during the assault on the Grues. They had a plan at the start of all things to pool their resources and lease out half or a mountain, using their skills to timber, mine, and use the place to generate an income. Without Darrien, he was a bit lost. And was wondering what they were going to do now? Jessie just dropped everything. Has no interest in any further adventuring, any further money making, any further anything.

We suggested to Micah that he take a few weeks off and then look us up at Erylond. Skilled fighter, capable, and they had the chance to work with him already. He agreed to do it and wished us the rest of a good day. Jessie? She was upstairs.

We went upstairs (mostly Eoghan) and talked to the Halfling sorcerer. She was pretty distraught. Did not know what she was going to do. Misses her family. Misses everything. She seemed pretty messed up. Was more than willing to go and bury the rings with Eoghan tomorrow before the party made their way north and out of Stivil.

We rested up and Darius and Rhygar met us early on – cart and horses all ready, dead Grue strapped in place. We started off for the Farmer (former Bowman) homestead where Bjagnar and Gretta were at. Again, Gretta was done with us, but Bjagnar ran interference. A marking stone was set up and once the rings were interred, Eoghan had a moment to swap out the real wedding wings with the fake iron rings he had commissioned – leaving the entire party (and Jessie) none the wiser. We buried them over and then bid farewell, making our way north.

Travel was miserably slow. The next town was Manoria and at best a day and a half away, but the mud and thaw had turned the road to a quagmire and the horse worked hard to pull the wagon, the rest of the group struggling along. Plus we found ourselves going steadily upland, not quite there yet, but heading with surety to the Passian Hills.

It was 4:30 when we realized we were not going to make the way station place between the two towns. So the two rangers and the druid worked on setting us a decent camp and then we lit fire, tried our best to warm up the food, and realized we had gotten soft from all the good and city living as of late. A troupe of merchants did eventually join us, heading south from Manoria. Headman was named Nivers and gave us a clean report heading north to Manoria. A tribe of orcish Firvanir were about and they did shadow them, but left them alone for the most part.

We rested and the next day, both Eoghan and Gryg woke up in a foul mood. It was Airmonth the 15th and to brighten things up, Wilhelm suggested we go and hunt for some fresh meat this morning. Eoghan wanted nothing to do with it, but Gryg agreed. The two of them went off and Dizzy was wondering what was up with Eoghan. “Nothing. What’s up with you?” Ok..gonna leave the testy ranger alone.

Hunting wasn’t giving them anything definitive for a while until maybe a half hour out, the two trackers came upon a game trail. It was pretty big and little else in the area, so they followed it down until they came upon a spot with overgrown brush. Some growling just ahead. And then a wedge shaped head came out. Fuck, a skunk.

A four and a half foot long angry GIANT skunk. The ranger hoped to charm it…it failed and then grey angrier. Gryg tried to scare it off, shots fired – and nothing fazed the now angry skunk. Wilhelm hoped to Calm the animal, but the spell fizzled and it was now foaming mad. It charged at us and Gryg went to climb a tree, smashed his head on a branch and fell down. Wilhelm was unsure what to do but then ran as the skunk closed, whirled around, and gave the dwarf a direct blast of the potent and cloying musk.

Oh. My. God.

Blinded and moaning, Gryg tried to run ahead and stumbled and sobbed as the skunk chittered and growled at him. Wilhelm stayed hidden until the skunk went back. He then took a length of rope and tossed it again and again to Gryg who eventually grabbed it. He asked the druid to go back for his crossbow which he did, but got musk on his hands for it. The two of them were hacking and choking, puking and spitting. And Wilhelm slowly led the dwarf back west to the party.

“They’ve been gone a while,” Dizzy commented after an hour. “Should we go look for them?” Eoghan was in no mood and suggested they wait longer. “How long?” Eoghan grunted a non committal answer and the party continued to wait. It was 10:30 when the sad pair returned. The smell was enough to get the group horrified. Plus it was noted that Gryg’s clothes were actually being eaten by the skunk’s spray, holes and rents in the fabric. We pooled our soup, had him strip naked, and then some hole was dug and create water was put in place. The two of them did their best to clean up but this was going to take a few days to get it all gone. Wearing a different set of clothes, we led the dwarf ranger again on the road, the party slogging through the mud northward.

We were going very slow. We arrived at the midpoint waystation about 3:30 and decided to just rest here. Without Gryg’s help, gathering for the camp took a bit longer but we eventually settled down – making sure Gryg was far enough away. Once more we ate poorly heated food and grumbled at the length of the trip so far and the mistroubles they’ve had.

And then the wandering orc tribe showed up. They were respectful and wanted to trade with us – good iron or steel knife? We had one and they gave us 3 pelts and 3 polished lapis lazuli stones for it. They went on their way and we tried to rest up.

Eventually a group of dwarves from Ironcamp came through, headed by a Contar Reeteresbeard. A distant cousin of Gryg, we shared some talk of the road and the parties pooled their watch together. Nothing else untoward happened and we woke up again heading north and on our way to Manoria. Eoghan and Gryg were even more frustrating today. In fact, the dwarf had gotten in a back and forth with Dizzy when he tried to climb on the wagon, tired of walking and being left behind the party. He got kicked off the buckboard for his efforts, slamming his chin to the wood before getting filthy. “I told you to stay off!” Gryg wiped himself clean and grumbled the whole way.

We pressed on and it was after dark, 7:30 on Airmonth the 16th, when we finally arrived at Manoria. Situated on a rise of rock and walled about, home to maybe 800 people, the place was pretty seedy. A stately Manor house sat at the highest perch in the place. The guards let us in even though curfew had closed the gates. The main inn in town was the “Dead Horse” and there might be rooms there. A few of us went to check it out but the Inn did not have a stables there- only a hitching post. We instead went to the stables here at the main gate and arranged to have out wagon and horse tended to.

Gryg meanwhile had spoken to the proprietor of the place and learned that there were no rooms right now. Lots of whores were about, Gryg rebuffed them. He did order a beer which the guy filled by DUNKING a mug into some open trough behind the bar and handed it over. Gryg held it, and refused to drink.

The group all got together, Gryg making sure the group did not order anything, and they learned that the Widow Percy sometimes has rooms to rent. We got her address and went to a well maintained upper class home just on the north end of Manoria. The Widow Percy was happy to rent to us, 3 rooms, 48 bits. We paid and she shared some dinner with us, regaling us of her past husband, Lars, who was a wyvern hunter in his younger days. She too participated, but mostly her skills were used in helping to harvest the reptilian’s tail venom. Seems that Lars was well liked and had sponsored lots of the building of this town. We also got the impression that the Widow Percy was more than capable of handling herself if need be. We shared back with her and the evening ended up being very pleasant.

We rested real well, even Eoghan and Gryg were in a fine mood. Wishing her well and agreeing to come back this way if need be, the group went off to the stables, made sure the horse, wagon, and cargo were ok, and then by 8:30 AM on Airmonth the 17th, left Manoria behind riding north through the Passian Hills, knowing it was 2 and a half days to Iron Camp assuming the road was good and no issues on the way.

Meet 37, Adv 10, 11/12/22

At the Pipe and HONEY (not hunt!), we cobbled together a number of plans and contingencies – hoping to rely on Dizzy for as many buff spells as he could get out. Eventually the Falsers showed up along with 3 of their trusted half-orcish companions: Ralf, Hrelf, and Rulph. We added them to our planning and it was pretty obvious that we should be in good shape.

Before 11:30 we arrived at the site in question and the 3 half-orcs proceeded to entice every street thug and squatter to move on. Some coins were given to the watch in the area to look elsewhere. Dizzy was consecrating the area, holy water splashing about. A light spell was hung in the street to preclude the need for torches or lanterns which alerted more locals. Which had the Ralf trio wander around and get them to leave.

Malted was in 1 alley across the way, Uke another. Gryg was positioned behind Uke. Dizzy was in the street but not too close, Wilhelm on the other side of the street. Leaving Eoghan, Connal, and Grendel to man the area in front of the suspected undead. Uke cast a spell getting the exact time and Dizzy went on with spells on Connal and Grendel, giving them resistance, as well as an enchanted weapon. The Ralf’s were told to hold their ground and then, Midnight.

And the undead coalesced to a 7’ tall free floating apparition. And it was numbingly cold. Gryg shot, the enchanted bolt flying out in hopes to pin the undead there, but it missed and went down the alley! Rulph went running for it as we hit and fired. Spells shot off, 4 magic missiles from Malted ripping the undead wraith along the edges. Uke tried a Disrupt undead spell but it missed. Dawn blade swung along with Grendel’s now magic sword. Connal realized that his silvered master’s staff did hit – but failed to do more than half damage. Dizzy was going to magic weapon the staff.

When the undead ripped the air above Uke and Gryg and dropped the amorphous blob of Horace’s animated and flayed skin on the two of them – where it immediately tried to hold them in place. Fuck! Distracted, it couldn’t get a real shot on Connal but we poured on another cycle of attacks. “Why aren’t those two Ralphs in this fight!?” Dizzy called to Malted who shouted back amidst another magic missile spell, “Wait! Something’s coming!” He pointed at his two orcs, “Stay there and be ready!”

As more of the wraith was ripped away, Rulph grabbed the enchanted bolt from the alley and was running back to the party. Pulling, twisting and ripping, Gryg managed to get partially free of the skin as the group slammed at the wraith some more. And then from the sewer grate a horde of rats, over 100 or so in number boiled free and charged the group. “There!” Malted called out to Ralf. “There! Stop them!” Ralf waded into the mass of vermin, axe swinging back and forth like a scythe, bodies flying. But he was getting bit and slashed and the wraith ripped the air over the party again.

And the entrails and wolf guts spilled out and flopped on Grendel – wrapping around the elf scion’s arms, neck, chest, legs – trying to suffocate him. “Get it off!” Rulph finally made it back, tossed the bolt to Gryg, and then using his knife, pulled out at the skin over Uke and stabbed, stabbed, stabbed! Gryg took aim and fired – this time the enchanted bolt hit the undead – pinning it to this spot spatially for the next 4 rounds! Huzzah!

Seeing Ralf getting overrun, Malted changed tactics, called out to him orc, “Cover up and clench them!” and then ripped the air open, hurled a bit of sulfur and guano, ignited it magically, and intoned, “IN VAS FLAM GRAV POR!!” And a fireball in the middle of town ripped into the rat swarm, burning maybe 40 of the vermin’s bodies away, and allowed Ralf to get up – smoking and singed – but standing!

Wilhelm called on Frey and summoned a black bear who waded into the fight next. Grendel was losing consciousness and the party hit the wraith with another series of attacks. Another sewer grate burst open and more rat swarms entered the street and raced towards the group. Spells flew, blows were struck. The wraith grabbed at the summoned bear, sucked a level away, and then plunged its talons into its chest and crushed its heart, drawing strength on the kill of the ursine.

The swarm hit Dizzy, Eoghan, and Hrelf, rats biting and ripping. Rulph and Uke managed to rip Horace’s skin apart and Gryg fired two more bolts at the wraith, both dipped in holy water, spiriting more of the etheric figure apart. With Grendel now out, another wave of energy flowed out and two humongous rats came from the sewer over here. Wilhelm called for his own swarm and with a final blast of spell and steel – the wraith was vanquished and faded away – ending the ambulatory questing of the guts and allowing the party and the Falsers to finish mopping up the area. It was a fucking mess – burned rat bodies, ectoplasm everywhere. A few vials were taken and the Falsers invited us back to their factory to heal up, rest, lie low, and share a drink. We agreed.

It was a surprisingly good time. At least 50 gnomes joined us and thanks were given (as well as some gnome sex). They also gave us some magical healing candy as a thanks and said that if we were ever afoul of the law (Captain Arsin), to just come here and they’d help us dodge the watch. They also expressed admiration to Connal and Eoghan – two humans, 1 missing a hand, at the front line doing this. We slept in and were up the 13th at 10 AM.

Leaving the Falsers we returned to the Third Breech where we were talking to Dizzy about where we were going to go next. Ironcamp? Eoghan suggested we check his parents’ house and see if the Recordkeeper had an answer yet on the elven champion Grendel wanted to know about. But we were hearing a catchy tune in the background, going on and on. And then Dizzy grew upset at the 3rd playing of it as he recognized it was a minstrel’s tune excoriating him!

Freya knows how to work a shaft

Hairless as a slug and about as daft

A roger with a giddy slump

And shaky as a horse’s rump

Dazed you are when getting jerked

And muddled in the dark you lurked

Shorn of locks and feeling fuddled

Wailing babe and acting muddled

Stunty dwarf had been so giddy

Looking to leave and acting shitty

Lost at sea, key with no lock

Weakest of the Ragnarock

The Reeling faint unsteady git

Easy to spot the piece of shit

Oily smooth from scat and jizz

Birdbrained wobbly silly Diz!

Filled with euphemisms about fucking and dizzy, along with a number of crude comments on his appearance – he went to the hammer dulcimer player found out that some patron had arranged to have the song played in a bunch of places and paid the minstrels well for their time. Thinking it was Lord Rockhome, Dizzy was going to take the dulcimer and smash it but was dissuaded real fast. We left, Connal detoured north to the Rockhome Demesne, and the rest of us going with Eoghan to his family.

The monastic had to wait a bit to get an audience with the lord who did allow it – 5 minutes tops. He tried to talk about what they did and killing the wraith, and Lord Rockhome was not sure what that had to do with him. It was then that Connal learned that Kridi, the Cleric, was the one who patroned the Dizzy song. Some insults were traded and then Connal offered, “If you’re done being a dried cunt about it.”

(*record scratch noise*)

Audience ended here and Connal got the feeling that besides burning a bit of that bridge, that in 3 or 4 days there’ll be a minstrel song about him around town as well.

As for Eoghan, we met his family. Dylan was horrified at Eoghan’s missing hand. You’ve thrown your life away. What are you going to do? You had a gift and it’s gone now. Gone! His mother Leila was more worried about him and hoped he was ok and sister Seren again turned it around to how it affects her. Dylan thanked his son for getting his debt cleared up but was just too hurt (personally!) that his son was no longer a Bowyer. He left before it got more heated.

As for information, we did have it. According to the packet the Recordkeeper from the Passian Traders got for us – the Champion’s name was Byrag Dragonsbreath. Half-elf, 46 years ago he won 2 championships in a row and then one of his dalliances got Fadia Maexoff, daughter of a local merchant house and now former virgin, pregnant. He was tried and ordered to produce a dowry and then marry the girl before she showed anymore. He had been spending his winnings freely and only had some of the coin needed. So he pawned his sword but kept one of the family gems from the hilt.

Records show they were hastily wed and then went north to another location of the Maexoff family shipping and trading locales. Ironcamp? Thak? Madar? We weren’t sure but we were going to go up that way anyway for Dizzy. We could find out a bit here and then maybe with some luck, somewhere else get more information. We contacted Darius who was willing to drive with us and Rhygar north and then eventually get the Grue body to Sorton and the Vault of the Heorot. We would need to get food, water, ask about the Maexoffs, maybe the Falsers? And Eoghan wanted to bury the rings while we still could. We were leaving tomorrow the 14th at 9 AM – so we had some time today to get done what we needed to (it was a bit after 1:30 PM).

Youth Group! TOEE - Meet 16, 11/9/22

We went north to the barracks, normally would sleep 12. It was quiet now, but we could hear voices faintly through a door on the east wall. And to the south was an open area. Looking around the foot lockers and other places, we did uncover 4 garnets of decent quality and the room to the south was a store room and pantry. Not wanting to get caught out, we gave everything a fast search and once over before figuring it was time.

We went to the east door, readied ourselves, and burst in. And holy hell, it was Lareth’s chamber! The Lieutenant was here as well as 2 other guardsmen. We struggled to organize ourselves as the guard’s ran at us and Lareth called out a spell – attempting to Blind Elmo! The ranger managed to just dodge out of the way and the Dark One’s voice was trying to get us to hold our actions, his voice befuddling to us. The nearest guards blocked the door and we had Elmo, Ophelia, and Furd try to engage them. The first guard went down and then Lareth’s voice ensorcelled 2 of the party members and the Lieutenant ran forward to engage.

“Get to him!” the party called out and summon spells and magic missiles flew. Carl, the summoned orc, engaged the Lieutenant as the party struck down the second guardsman. And then Lareth pointed to Ophelia and Commanded her to Die! And she did! The Cleric fell over unconscious, struck dead for a solid minute. A zombie was summoned and as it went to attack Lareth, the Dark One smiled…and assumed control of it! Hurling it back at the party. Albert dismissed it with a wave. Ophelia and Elmo crowded into the Lieutenant, blows ringing against armor. Furd was staggering from the Dark One’s almost constant droning and beguiling.

Albert called forth a 4 count of large beetles to annoy and distract the Dark One while Rowan called to Demeter and an eagle appeared, further crowding the battlefield. Elmo went down from Lareth’s voice and Furd redoubled his attacks, taking the Lieutenant out! Huzzah!

Albert summoned a Giant Rat that launched itself at Lareth, getting a series of bites on the Dark One. And more importantly, the plague rat gave Lareth a chronic case of Leprosy. Nice! The party poured on the attacks, arrows flying, swords swinging. Elmo got a solid blow and crumpled over while Lareth tried to cast a spell on himself. Furd got knifed hard and the party staggered to the finish, taking Lareth down! On his death, a shudder ran through the moathouse grounds and a spray of fungi and spiders appeared around him.

We went through everyone’s belongings, some healing was parted out, and pockets what gems and jewels we could find. We took the lone die from the Lieutenant, Albert noted it was different than the one he had. Rolling it summoning a small hut with the Lieutenant’s belongings within, including a spellbook that the party took.

We catalogued all we had found, gathered up loose coins and what not, and it was 5:30 on Restmonth the 12th as we debated doing whatever we needed to still here and then leaving or not. Either way, we wanted to be gone before the caravan and Rannos Davi’s men showed up tomorrow.

Meet 36, Adv 10, 11/5/22

Discussing what we had learned, we figured it would be best to visit the areas in the trades and look the area over. As had been indicated, there were more city watch walking about, scaring the locals, but not saying what they were looking for. We went up and down the block, passing Last Road, and figuring that if there was a body in the area, it would be around here.

At one point we went off the main thoroughfare and looked about the side places, circling around Outer Road where the transients made their home. Dizzy was on his own, going in and out of the industrial areas, passing along the back and yards, and dodging calls sent his way. He was looking for any thief presence or markings. The other party members were talking to the guys in the tannery, chatting with them as they fished piss out of the sewers. We did learn that there are patches of green slime down there…so no, let’s not go in the sewer.

Dizzy got lucky and found a guy at the 2nd floor watching him who canted back to him. Asked him to come up and the dwarf went up and met with Lester. Lester was a member of the Silver Nobles thieves guild some years ago but had been removed from the guild for his penchant for starting fires. Street name, Scorch, he was a bit of a drunk and misunderstood Dizzy presence, thinking he was a scout looking to bring him back to the fold. But he did hear the scream and it was right there in the street.

A gnomish hooker named Tweet had been killed down here last night. Head clean removed. A bunch of other gnomes came afterwards, angry, took the body, cleaned the area, and left. It’s why the watch never found anything – plus the gnomes don’t trust humans. Dizzy paid him for his knowledge and he left.

Shared information, we decided to go to the Falser’s Confectionary. A name drop of Tweet had us attract the attention of Malted and Uke who came out to meet with us. We explained who we were and they invited us back to their office where we talked a bunch. Malted, the elder brother, was more abrupt, while Uke was more genial. We did get their agreement to help if need be and discussed what the undead might be. Wraith? Ghast? Thought was it was free form for now but was gathering parts for a body. Turns out they were the expert that Captain Arsin had approached yesterday for info. And they told us of the dead wolf in the Coliseum 3 days ago. So we had Horace’s skin from the graveyard, then the wolf’s guts from the Arena, then Ifhi the smith’s blood from Smith Street, and then Tweet’s brain from Last road.

They checked out a map and looked beyond the wall of the showing 2 homesteads, the first one human run, the one beyond that half orcish family. Falsers figured to test out if the undead would kill on the human homestead and if it did, they could set up a trap for it at the orcish homestead. We said maybe we could find it before then. Why bother? Use the humans as a litmus test and if it happens to them, then we know. He did give us a flask of holy water and we thanked them for their time, promising to come back if we discovered any information.

Going back to the area, Dizzy helped us find the exact spot based upon what Lester had told him. The cobbles were clean, no sign of blood, more testament that this was the correct area. Wilhelm asked his cats to look around and they commented that this was a bad area. They were freaked out. Suspected the undead had done the deed here.

As a lark, Dizzy cast Detect Undead and we found out that we were IN the area that it was. It was here. Now. An amorphous blob, maybe 10’ tall, 15’ around, about 2’ off the ground. It wasn’t moving or doing anything. It existed inside the walls of the buildings nearby the alley as well. Gryg postulated that it wasn’t moving or active or anything because it was NOT midnight yet – and it seems this thing moves on about 12 to 3 in the AM and kills in that time. We wanted to set up and come back. Marking the area with Flamechalk, we headed back to the Falsers where we convinced Malted to help us out.

He and his brother and a number of his “friends” (thugs) would come that night and help keep the area clear for 15, 20 minutes or so starting just before midnight – so we could take care of the undead spirit whatever it might be. Wilhlem liked the Falsers, commenting, “I can really relate to these guys.” We also learned that the Falsers had dealings with us before – liked Shimlagesh and thought Darius was a fucking joke. Who could argue?

It was 7:30 and we were going to go to the Pipe and Hunt, the local tavern behind the Falsers where we would pass the time and wait, and plan on what we were going to do.

Youth Group! TOEE - Meet 15, 11/2/22

One hell of a fight with a series of ghouls where it worked out that every party member was eventually paralyzed by the ghouls - and only the passage of time had the 1st 1 paralyzed finally able to act as his wore off as the last one was affected. Youths and I had a wonderful encounter here.

Follows:

A detect evil let the group know that nothing was here as of yet, but we would hopefully get an alert before Lareth and his followers would show. The group moved the bookcase across the chamber and then lifted the huge countertop near the south east door to act as a barrier for the fighters to stand behind. Still feeling clear, the party opted to look in the far south west door first – showing a narrow closet like room with maybe 30 skins of water (?) on pegs hung around the chamber.

The central door was opened and had a scree of stones fall out, but more importantly, a rope slithered up and then through a hole in the wall! Almost right after we heard the sound of falling metals and bells. Alarm! “Burn those books now!”

Two flasks of oil were poured on the books dumped in the room with the flasks and they were lit as the group got together spells and weapons at the ready.

But coming through the door 2 minutes later was not Lareth and his people – but one, two, three ghouls! And the necro-ghoul as well! Not quite ready for this fight (thinking we were going to fight Lareth), the party scrambled to make the best of it. Ophelia called to Athena to help turn the ghouls – but her prayers were not strong enough to repel the flesh eaters. Magic missiles and arrows fired and then the lead ghoul closed to the barrier.

And Furd answered the call. The Half-ogre ran out to meet him, sword swinging, sailing over the ghoul’s head and missing twice before the undead returned the assault – ripping into the fighter. And paralyzing him! Furd! Elmo shot his crossbow as the group cursed long and hard. Albert summoned a handful of flying beetles to distract the necro-ghoul and Aredhel fired off a disrupt undead spell, stripping some flesh off the lead undead.

The next ghoul leapt onto the barrier and struck Elmo three times, eventually getting through his armor and then paralyzing him! Elmo!

With both main fighters out more magic missiles were shot and the Necro ghoul staggered from the impact – she returned the favor by firing a darkness spell at Albert – blinding the bearded wizard and everyone within 20’ The dark was countered by a light spell and Albert had a weird strobe effect going over his head as we could all see again – and see a ghoul had closed to us!

Albert summoned another creature – getting Jimmy the kobold who attacked the Necro ghoul while Ophelia buried her enchanted sword, Grace, into the wounded ghoul – killing it! Huzzah! For return, the next ghoul struck Ophelia and the cleric to Athena was frozen. Ophelia!

Aredhel was having problems getting her spells to land and Jimmy found himself paralyzed as well. Jimmy! Another magic missile shot off and the necro ghoul opted to flee – leaving the last ghoul to continue to assault the group. Through the door Furd could see Lareth’s people finally coming and he was grunting and moaning in fear. Albert raced across the room as Pestle was paralyzed next, Pestle!, and shot off a hold portal spell at the door – slamming it closed and locking it in spectral chains a few minutes. “Guys!”

Rowan fired off another arrow and the ghoul was wounded even more. Aredhel suffered a series of attacks and the half elf was paralyzed next. Aredhel! 5 of the 7 party members were now frozen and the door was about to be bashed open. Albert had tried to knock Furd backwards into the door, hoping to block it with his body, but couldn’t budge the fighter. Instead Albert tore the hold portal spell from his book and read it aloud – sacrificing the spell but once again rewrapping the door in spectral chains for another precious few minutes. Rowan fired again, hurting the ghoul but was struck in return, also paralyzed! Rowan!

Albert and the ghoul faced off as we could hear Lareth’s people trying to pound the door open. The wizard dodged to the side but was hit hard and was frozen in place – also paralyzed!!. Albert. 7 for 7!

THEN – it had been 10 rounds, and Furd…could move! Hearing the door about to give way, the half ogre picked up the 8’ long huge 400# plus counter and SWUNG it. The ghoul ducked under, but the counter finished its swing and slammed into the door, jamming it closed still for now!

And then the ghoul leapt upon Furd and tore at him again…paralyzing Furd again! NO!!!

And then again…it had been 10 rounds…and ELMO…could move! The fighter took aim with his cross bow and shot…striking the ghoul and finally killing it! With no time to spare, he ran around the room grabbing every chair, desk, table, and case he could find and piled it in front of the doorway to slow down Lareth. As he was doing that, the rest of the party one at a time regained the ability to move and helped out, before opting to get the hell out of here. Each of us was wounded, some of us terribly, as we ran from this room (again) and then off to the north.

We opted to go east from here to the old bugbear area, hoping the ghoul we had turned hours ago had gone…and hopes that Lareth and his people would imagine we went up to the surface again.

We were hurt, and the pile of healing potions we had just gotten were used as well as a number of spells from Ophelia and Rowan. Pestle and Albert studied a few spells just to make sure we were ready before we decided it was time. Our hope was that Lareth’s people might be out wandering around looking for us, making the leader alone for now. We hoped.

It was almost 4 PM on the 12th of Restmonth when we started the walk back. Eyes peeled and weapons ready, we knew the necro ghoul was still about as well as a single ghoul. We made it back to the main chamber and noted a few things. The books had burned (over half), but some seemed to be missing. Also, the skins of water were all missing. Weird. We went through the south west door and there was a faint “fishy” smell to the air. The passage also split, south and south west. Furd was sure that Lareth’s people came from the south west (no fishy smell that way), so we went.

The passage was pretty long, at least 70’ and ended at a door. Normally a guard area, but was currently unmanned. Nice. Through it we could see a long passage that went west quite some distance (maybe outside?) and a door on the north wall. Spying a deck of cards, Furd took them and we all went north. As we travelled we could hear some conversation up ahead and we tried to sneak up. Even though we did make a little noise, whoever was up there wasn’t paying attention.

We came to a sitting room. Fireplace, a few low chairs and benches. Well armored guy talking to 2 lesser armored guys. We quickly spaced out and then charged in. Furd took one down swiftly and the party ganged up on the other guard and then eventually the sergeant. They were surprised by our attack and could not prepare for it, quickly overwhelmed and then put down. Hoorah.

Rowan updated his club to a morning star (thanks Sergeant!) and we checked the north passage, quiet and ready to move on.