Meet 42, Adv 10, 1/28/23

One of the players had a holy symbol taken from him at a bad wandering monster check with a dragon in the first 10 sessions with this group back in 2017. Today, he revisited that dragon and arranged to get his symbol back. :)

Follows:

By 5 Am the party was up. The weather was dry, but cold. Wind was coming up from the southwest promising a biting chill for us. Gryg referred to the map often as we left the main road and made our way into the wild mountains of the Moratian Range. We travelled up and down various paths and stretches, the sun climbing higher into the sky. The dwarves in the party occasionally called out the various heights we were above sea level and many times we were trudging up and down rough terrain, 3, 4 thousand feet up but still staying on what roadways the Thakian dwarves had carved into the hinterlands.

By the time 12:30 came and we stopped to rest, Eoghan’s legs had been cramping up. The ranger was curt, rubbing his shins and thighs. Connal tried to help him out, coaxing him to get up and stretch but was rudely rebuffed, Eoghan grumbling as he sat with Grin and ate his rations in poor peace. By 1 PM we were up and pressing on. Gryg was feeling pretty good, guiding us around places where the paths split. Eventually we found ourselves subject to much of the mountains winds. Connal refilled the skein again and the group linked up to cross a pass of stone some 300’ or so in length between two adjoining cliffs.

Once safely across we were on the north end of that mountain and out of the wind. Our reserves were spent and it was time to find somewhere to rest. Gryg and Wilhelm managed to find a cave for us to stay in. It was a hollow in the rock with more than enough of an overhang to keep the weather out as well as gird whatever light we had. We got more than enough dried brush and fallen branches to keep a fire going, and Dizzy supplied a 5# base of the coal we had gotten from House Darbeard as the heart of the fire.

We were tired, Eoghan the most. We laid out bedrolls and blankets. Dizzy heated up a shirt and had the ranger wrap his legs with it. Watches were set and the party drifted off to sleep. At some point there might have been dwarven voices in the ranges above where we were camped, but the distance and obscured cave made sure that they didn’t find us and moved on.

The morning moved on, more cold air. A few Endure Elements were handed out to make the travel less overwhelming. Somewhere after 9 AM, Wilhelm’s mountain lion grew anxious at something ahead. A Speak with animals followed and Wilhelm gave Frontari (yes, he named his mountain lion after Dizzy’s mother’s boyfriend) orders to go and take a look and then come back. Grin went with him, the two of them doing their best to stay out of sight.

We waited and then heard a roaring and calling. Giant voices. And coming fast. Frontari and Grin were first and we gathered that we had company. We ran back down the path around the next turn and then raced up the side of the mountain to the trees there. Once in place, Dizzy called out a summoning and a hobgoblin appeared. He ordered it to run back and it took off – just ahead of 2..3..5 fomorian giants! Damn. They chased after the hobgoblin and eventually knocked it off the mountain with some thrown stones. They then argued a bit and decided to go into the ravine to find it and eat it.

We moved on from here. The day moved to after noon and later in the day arrived at Fingelt…Stoutbelly mine. The guards waited for us and then they got Wharen Stoutbelly. We came in (they were sad we had no mail) and looked around. Dizzy and Connal had been here over a year ago and could see some changes and fixes to the place. Money has been spent here. We explained we were passing through and Wharen confirmed kobolds were pretty heavy around the area, but they were safe enough here.

Welcome to stay, everyone works. They could either shovel the slag pile of peel potatoes. We split the duties and fit in. Dinner came and we ate, sharing with the locals working here some of our stories, trying not to go into the dangers we faced under the kobold attacks. Resting that night we were up early enough on the 26th and Wharen led us through the mines, down 5 levels, and then eventually out of the blast doors they had installed at the bottom to the ravine we had travelled though so long ago. We thanked him and wished him well.

It took us 3 or so hours of walking the uneven ground and steep deep ravine until we came to the cave maybe 30’ above the ravine floor. We climbed up – 14’ tall, 30’ tall – odd smell from within. We proceeded with care. The dwarves could tell there was a faint slope (5 degrees), going in. It was almost 100’ to the 1st split and we listened, opting to go west. Then another 100’ feet in the dark to another split and we went right this time. Then it was over 100’ to a huge cavern.

A few hundred feet in diameter, 60 to 80’ tall. Crystals and gypsum abounded. Pools of hot steaming burning water. A 70’ long copper dragon was sleeping on a loose hoard of treasure. A wall was behind him with 2 or 3 dozen assorted busts, necklaces, and symbols upon it. We tried to attract the dragon’s attention and it took a few calls before it awoke. Gems, coins, and rocks fell from its huge horse sized head as it turned to look at us. “Who are you and what do you want?”

Heroditis (as its name it had given to us) talked to us for a while. He remembered Dizzy and was willing to be entertained at our request to get the holy symbol back. He offered up the earrings, eventually the dragon agreeing. We talked about its time, getting a brief glimpse on what dragons do and their place in the scheme of things. He did not know of the Terror dungeon and was dismayed to learn about Grues – he and his other dragons eradicated them over a century earlier – they have no place here and if left unchecked can wipe out a decent sized province in a short while.

Then we talked about the dungeon, showed it a copy of the rune stone, and were surprised when it transformed itself into a human with an inrushing of exploding air. He suspected that mountain dwarves, the Gorokian empire, might be involved in the dungeon as it doesn’t make any sense. Also, where was it? And more importantly – when was it. Heroditis let us know that the amulet didn’t just let them into the terror dungeon, but it also brought them to a particular time. Some 200 years ago.

They gave us a bit of concern and answered a few questions about our thoughts of the cosmology of the dungeon. Heroditis wanted a little something from everyone, as a token of appreciation of his time. Something interesting, religious even. One by one we traded various items to the dragon and it came up in casual conversation about the Sovereign Lands and the kings there.

And then we mention Lord Emberwine and how the dragon was a sovereign as well. And was most likely still there and stuck in his kingdom/prison. And this got Heroditis very interested. He transformed back to a dragon, told the group thanks, and wished them well. Then he went to the cave entrance and flew up and away.

Most likely to go to Emberwine’s 4 or 5 year abandoned dragon’s lair hidden somewhere – and now open to another dragon who might know exactly where to go.

We felt pretty good and made our way towards the entrance, it was 11:15 Am on the 26th and we were a good 2 days or so from Thak at least.

Youth Group! TOEE - Meet 20, 1/11/23

 Right after this I threw my back out and had to take 2 weeks off of playing either group. Welcome to your 50's!

While we bashed the last guy to submission, the party took stock of the chamber. Chambermaid and archivist crying on the way to the stairs going up. Pestle had snatched the candle from their hands with the mage hand spell and we were debating on going upstairs or down. We could hear voices coming from both. Albert had gone to the two and were yelling at them to let them know where Burne was when someone from up the stairs shot down – slamming an arrow into the wizard! The party ran to get away when another arrow slammed into the chambermaid, killing her.

Unable to see up there for sure, and knowing that some archers were up there waiting on us, we felt we were at a standstill. Pestle and Aredhel hatched a plan and the gnome used her mage hand to force the candle up the side of the steps until it made it to the top. And then Aredhel firebursted it, burning the archers up there.

We charged up the steps to the 2nd level. Furd was up there and tackled one of the archers with Elmo and Rowan and his animals followed next. Clubbing and hitting followed and the archers were hit and hit hard, with Furd kicking one of them over and down the stairs. The party followed up until everyone was on the 2nd floor. The stairs continued up but there were two doors on this floor. Aredhel and Ophelia thought the south of the 2 doors was Rufus’ chamber. The other door we didn’t know. We suspected and could hear voices on the 3rd floor up so we figured briefly to check out this floor.

The north door had something moving faintly behind it, the south door did not. We opened the door and it was indeed the fighter’s chamber. A look around showed a few things, some coin, but under the bed was a dead woman. Dead for a week. And in the armoire was a dozen or so fetishes that Rufus had taken from other women. OMG – he was indeed a monster. We had to take him down too.

Before going up, Aredhel fired a Flare up the stairs and we could see a barricade up there and a number of people well placed and waiting. As for the north door, there was a bang on the door – and we figured – let’s go. From up the stairs they lit a fuse and let a 3 gallon barrel with burning bounced down at us. Elmo caught it, and then hurled it up the stairs where it went over the barrier – and then it exploded. It set others up there on fire and burst another bomb – and we charged up. A few guys were dead and 2 were still there, one blown on the next stairs up.

Elmo’s invulnerability potion and Furd’s potion of Stoneskin kept both men at the forefront and alive. The group charged up and brought the combat to the 3 guys hurt but still alive. Rowan’s animals Hamburger and Snookums hit as well. Damage and hurt flowed around and when it was over, some healing was given. We could hear Burne and Rufus upstairs but something was coming out of the closed door downstairs and heading its way to us.

We looked down – and it was a 11’ tall stone golem. And it was heading up the stairs towards us. Crap. Plans were given and Pestle said that she’d stay here on this level and run around the center of the tower (were 2 small rooms were) – attracting the golem and keeping it from going up to the next level. Meanwhile we were going to hit the stairs hard and Furd, Elmo, and Rowan (riding Hamburger) would strike hard and first.

The group slammed the top where Burne, Rufus, as well as the captain of Burne’s mercenaries and another 2 as well. Combat ensued with Rufus holding the front line with the Captain off to the side. Screams and cried followed and Burne fired 4 magic missiles at Furd – hitting the fighter hard. We did note that the Captain was the guy yelling “Hooray” earlier and a few times. Rowan summoned a bear to the fight and Elmo got sliced and struck. Aredhel’s spells ripped into the enemy. Pestle was running ahead of the golem, coaxing it to stay on the 3rd level and chase her.

After dimensioning dooring the bear attacking him away, Burne made 4 mirror images appear around him. Furd then grappled the Captain, begging him to stop fighting and just stop. They wrestled about as the party hit and slashed. Rowan went down from a hit by Rufus and Elmo hit the fighter back. Ophelia healed Rowan, getting him up again. More acid splash was tossed about and Albert tried to get around the battlefield. Pestle was still running but she was getting tired and her pulse was pounding. She was still running for now, but it wasn’t going to last. Hurry up guys!

The battle continued on and Rowan had summoned 2 animals to join the fight – and the bear again! Speaking of the bear, Snookums got a triple critical on Rufus, ripping his throat open and killing the fighter instantly! Huzzah! Burne’s images were being popped away when Albert drank his potion of Keen eye and hurled it at the wizard – striking him dead on! We pushed on and Burne dispelled magic, banishing both of the summoned monsters. And Albert hurled another knife, and the Keen eye potion was still working, slicing the wizard open and killing him. The Captain and his 2nd both lowered their weapons and agreed to work with the party. The Captain (Charles), sent his 2nd down to help Pestle to lure the golem into the center room and then out the other door – once it was unable to see the gnome, it just stopped giving chase.

Finally done – we took stock of what was going on and where we were going to go next. Like Rannos Davi – and end the threat to Hommlet!

Meet 41, Adv 10, 1/14/23

One by one, the party arrived at Shebara Dizzrae’s home, got a warm breakfast, and gathered themselves up for the trip to Thak. Dizzy’s mom and Frontari made sure that the party was as ready as they could be and after a round of hugs and well wishes, invited everyone to come back at any time if need be. Dizzy and Frontari traded some harsher words, quietly and apart from the others, and ended it with a threat and some promises.

As the group met up with Vigmilrud, a caravan leader who was going to hire the group to make the trip westward to Thak, Wilhelm and Gryg went off to the Hunter’s Guild where they had the chance to look over the animals there. After some time looking about, they each made the purchase for the mountain lion and a wild boar respectively.

Once all together, we left on the 21st and along with the caravan. Multiple wagons, laden with trade goods. We made our trip slowly and with care. Vigmilrud stopped the wagon often, making sure the mountain ponies were fed and watered. Everyone took their turns and we made good time. The weather stayed dry and the road was in good repair. It took 2 solid days to get to Thak and upon arrival, we got paid for our efforts. We made our way throughout town to the Darbeard Demesne and eventually had a chance to go in and meet with Donna Donnegarten.

She remembered us (Dizzy and Connal) and welcomed us in. Conversation meandered about and we learned that Fingelt’s Mine had been reopened – paid for and overseen by Wharen Stoutbelly. We were hoping to get a map to lead us to the Mine as we were looking to go to someplace near it. She demurred and said that she could not do that, and would have to be kicked up to the Darbeard’s to make that call.

She put us up here at the Demesne for tonight as Tropor and his family had gone to rest. We showered and washed up, getting to the mess hall where we had a good hot meal and some company with the locals. Laughter and jokes followed and then we rested getting a great night sleep.

We met with Tropor the next day and caught him up on our lives and activities over the last year plus. We did ask about the mine and he balked a bit about getting us a map until we managed to convince him that we were not going to interfere with the mine or its operation. Eventually he agreed and on the end of it all, gave us a copy of the map, and on Airmonth the 23rd, we were on our way.

It had been 5 days now with no rain and we knew it was going to be 2 hard days travel (3 if we were with a caravan), with a day and a half going off the main roads. We left Thak after getting rations and made our way into the Moratian Mountains, travelling further westward and upward. Gryg was the main reader of the map and was sure that by the later afternoon arrived at the proper turnoff. Not wanting to go into the wilds now, we camped here and rested.

Watches were set and even though some weird zombie wandered towards our camp fire before falling into a ravine and dying there. It was 5 AM on the 24th and we were going to get ourselves into the mountains and head off to Stoutbelly Mine.