Meet 24, Adv 4, 4/12/08

This was the wrap up meeting of the loose ends for the 4th adventure. It was a nice change from the almost constant combat and churning perpetual motion we were suffering through for the last handful of sessions.

As it was, the group was interested in making sure that Iohanas was dead and attended the hanging. And then they became fixated and focused on Vanir himself. He had beaten them and he escaped. And was still out there. So they were going to make damned sure that taking him down and learning what they could about him was going to be moved up the list to the top 3 things to do on a going forward.

Write up follows:

We followed the guard escorts to the courthouse where a crowd of a few hundred citizens and serfs had gathered with pitchforks and grumblings in their hearts, calling for the early death of the captured members of the Lycos Suns. We were led through the crowd to the courthouse interior, where sixty-odd people were waiting in the main room.

We divested ourselves of weapons (as requested) and milled around the room. Besides some of the local lords or their representatives, there were some prominent members of some of the families who had their children taken. Lord Artis Daernhorse came and spoke with us for a bit, commenting on the nasty business and the needs of the town and how Magistrate Cottson is down below in the "inquisiting chamber" getting answers from the slavers.

We expressed an interest to go and see and followed the Lord down into the dungeon area. All 9 slavers were here in various medieval torture devices (thumbscrews, racks, flogging boards, boots, etc…) and 4 of the Magistrate's assistants were here plying their trade along with Cottson himself. The Magistrate was a corpulent man, pushing past 300 lbs and having a large jowly face and a penchant for stylish (if tent-like) clothes. He spoke at length (like everything else he did) about the questioning and that he was ready to render findings and verdict if the party would follow Lord Daernhorse back upstairs.

Karis asked if we could have some words with Iohanas and we were granted that – where the cavalier told Iohanas that he should recognize them and that they just came to gloat.

Once upstairs we waited until the Magistrate came and told us many of the things that we had already learned on our own. But there were some other tidbits, such as: Vanir, the boss of the slaver organization, has a home here in town which the Magistrate has his men investigating now. Any holdings or treasures of letters of credit under the name of Vanir or the Lycos Suns has been seized and frozen. The employ of the slaver organization by Djohrgahd of the Wolf has been in need of slaves of specific types for about 3 years. At first heroic types filled with freedom, but he has just changed it this time around to young and innocents under age 8. Doesn't know why – something to do with a ritual. Lycos Suns had 14 employees in Umbaria – but only one office – Ponyboro. All the full time employees are accounted for as either captured below or their bodies identified except for one – Vanir.

Also, it was indicated that according to Iohanas, the wolf head medallions are not just useable near the standing stones on the Wolverton Estate. Supposedly one or two other places have been warded as well. Iohanas didn't know of such places, just that Vanir had indicated that they exist somewhere.

The last of the Lycos Suns would be hung at the neck at 8:30 tomorrow morning where they would stay for a day and a night before being cut down and placed in a potter’s grave.

Judgment and sentencing passed, the party tried asked to see if they could get down and talk to Iohanas alone and they were rebuffed as it's a state matter now. Well…could they know where Vanir's personal residence is? Hmmm…Magistrate told them, but warned them that his men were already there and gathering information. Could they go back and investigate the Lycos Suns office again? No, the Sheriff's men are already performing that duty.

Lord Daernhorse told the party that it being 6:30 now and the group’s harrowing and exhausting night and morning, it would be best to have the dinner tomorrow night and they can leave the following day to go back to Orihalcus. Group milled about briefly and we decided it was time to go and check out Vanir's home.

There were lots of Cottson's people there and we were given a hard time to go in until it was explained it was okayed by the Magistrate. Hmmm, ok. But they couldn't be allowed to take anything out of the house as it is all state's evidence. Fine, fine, fine. Whatever.

Once inside, Puck quietly (he hoped) cast Detect Magic and we looked over the place. Living room, Foyer, dining room, kitchen. All empty, all plain. Regular furnishings and other normal looking bric a brac. Kitchen had a root cellar. Ok, we checked that out. Renewing the Detect Magic spell, we looked down there. Wine rack with 12 bottles, shelves with some dried vegetables. Every bottle on the wine rack glowed. Whoa, what the hell? Magic wine?

The labels were plain and innocuous, in fact, not very good wine. What we could tell is that the liquid inside was sort of bluish tint. Similar color to healing potions. Hmmm…The party was interested in taking it, but we would not be allowed to abscond 12 bottles of wine from Vanir's basement. We swapped one of the bottles that Zoltan had on him with one from Vanir's rack and left the rest for now.

Looking upstairs there were two rooms, both bedrooms. Smaller one was a kid’s room, a girl. From the clothes we saw and some of the effects – a girl between the ages of 6 and 10. Vanir has a kid? And he moved to kidnapping kids? What the hell is wrong with this guy? Vanir's bed chamber was lived in and a bit dusty dirty. The guards had been thorough in here and stuff was scattered. In the book shelves was a marking of dust outlines that would have frames 15-20 odd books. There were 8 on the floor in here. Where were the others? According to the guards – there were 4 taken out of here and given to the Magistrate. Hmm… Still a few missing? Could they see the books? No, no you can't.

Detect magic was showing that the room although had no active magics on it, was infused as if lots of spells had been cast in here over a period of time. Last look was the ceiling above and the trap door to the attic. Had some older trunks and bundles, all searched over as well. Detect was showing the same effect of magic up here – but more regular. Looking harder we found some old evidence of chalk circles up here. Best we could tell was summoning circles. But for what?

We left and decided to ask the neighbors about Vanir. First house had an older woman answer who said that Vanir left a day or two ago. Busy man, owns a business across town. Does he have a daughter? Yes, yes he does. Thividi. She normally goes to some boarding school somewhere else like Cymbarton or Principia. Ok, we left and went to the other nearby neighbor. A younger man in his mid 20s. Was VERY disresepctful. Didn't like Karis immediately and was disparaging to Vanir. Seems they had some sort of falling out as Vanir wouldn't hire him some years ago. Daughter? Yes, she goes to a school in Principia. Doesn't know about wife, she died years ago. Vanir was gone? Good – no more Vanir, his bratty daughter or their pain in the ass dog.

Dog?

We thanked him (he didn't give a crap) and left. Karis went off to Sheriff Yolanda, Puck went to Twisted Forelock, and the rest of the group went back to the home to talk about what we learned and go through the treasures we've found. Shreiff Yolanda couldn't go to dinner tonight but would be happy to go to dine at Daernhorse Demesne tomorrow with Karis. Puck was thinking about burning down the Lycos Suns office anyway (it was being investigated and had about an 8 count of guards there) and mulled it over for a long time before coming back home and deciding against it.

While going through the coins, our newest henchmen..er..henchmen and henchorcs wanted a cut too. Kalarig and Bosvild (two slaver employed brigands with a change of heart under Puck's spell induced "be my friend" program), and Amal and Osgar, the last two orcs surviving from Detheron's summoning stone and fanatically loyal to our druidic friend. We have a large list of coins, cut stones, and tradegoods and skins and we wanted to be fair and still only account for what they were directly a part of.

It was decided that each of the four henchmen/followers would be given 10 crowns and single cut and polished piece of quartz (which Gwyn assured us was worth between 8 and 12 crowns). Everyone was happy with it and felt comfortable with the decision. The party would have to come up with something more formal on a going forward basis, but for now it sufficed.

In addition, the group divided the remaining coinage by 6, not 5 – expressing the desire to put away a portion of the treasures and earnings we acquire should we need to pay for some exorbitant expenditure or similar party total thing. Before we leave Ponyboro, we were going to deposit the coins in Lord Daernhorse’s custody and draw from him a letter of credit (we assume the moneylenders and usury would take a portion of it, but we are willing to have that high class problem).

Zoltan did the sneak across town with backpack, find way to Vanir's house, open back door without being seen, go into kitchen, down trap door, and swap the wine bottles one at a time with other cheap wine bottles he bought. After doing 8 of them, he felt he pushed his luck enough and left the same way he went in – like a ghost.

We rested and awoke the next day feeling better. Flora and Inks were helpful and the party went to the hanging where we watched the last organized people of the Lycos Suns dance the final dance and then we wandered around. Some of the shops were closed so we went to Vermyzier's Tradegoods and did some shopping there, reoutfitting Gwyn after his lightning scarred explosive attack.

Some other purchases and wandering around and good stuff went on. The orcs with us were refused service and the group was unhappy about it. We then went to see the lone weaver in town where Zoltan got a REALLY nice outfit and Gwyn was clad in homespun. Chuckle. Zoltan then went to see a gemsmither who worked off the Silverbough Demesne and requisitioned a silver headband with the green spinel set within. It would be ready in a week and the party knows we're coming back at least for tournament – so all is good.

Eventually it was dinner time and we had a first class stately dinner with Lord Artis Daernhorse and his son and son's wife, Lord Ulric and Gretchen Wolverton, Lord Ulsyr and Fadia Gunnarson, Deathspeaker Yondal, Magistate Cottson, a few other notables in town – but ALSO, a person that we saved a while ago from Kuluk's torturous clutches: Thistle Aesirson – the lamed elven cleric to Thor.

There was much catching up and for the sake of brevity and to speed things along, we highlighted certain parts of the dinner. Jealousy from the other lords of Sir Walter Slaine that he has an adventuring party at his beck and call. It is a rare thing and the party is only a boon to Orihalcus and the other lords were envious of it.

There was one other thing that Iohanas had remarked upon before his death and it was that he was to travel westerly to meet up with some druids with the wagons and kid slaves he had. Was Vanir going to be there? What druids? There was some mention of a Tehpaguar and the Circle of Thorns in Vanir's notes that we took from the Lycos Suns office – maybe that was it? We would need to follow that up one day soon.

Thistle had completed his vision quest and visited the mountain pool high in the crags of the Dusty Mountains with the lightning split tree there. He took the branch as he had dreamed himself to do so and took some of the blessed water – which he gifted to the party in a thick glass bottle saying it was from the fulfilled vision quest of his god and was considered to be most holy.

Lastly, the Deathspeaker privately told the party that the gravediggers had been working all day putting the many dead to rest that the party hacked up in the Wolverton Estate as well as near Deep Lake – and there were some items that Yondal was able to tell were touched with the Art and he was going to give the party first crack at purchasing them. All proceeds go to the Church of Hel and the families of those slain or wronged. Group was at first pissed – I mean, they killed those guys, they should get the bucks and goods! It was reminded to them that they were entitled to nothing and if they didn't want the opportunity to even know of what was found, that would be fine and the Deathspeaker didn't have to say word one to them in the first place. The group backed off and recanted their hasty comments and were happy for the chance.

Finally, Puck REALLY wanted to see the books that Magistrate had taken and chanced a Charm on the fat man but it bounced away and he felt that he pushed his luck and let it go. The party were all given medallions with our names engraved on one side, and on the other was a split crest of Daernhorse and Ponyboro, with the words "Respected Citizen" on it.

We know we are leaving the next morning and we called it a night here. This effectively wrapped up the entirety of the adventure, "For Honor and Family". We had some conversation afterwards and I had some talking today with some of the players and wanted to comment that this adventure ended differently for us than anything we had done before.

We lost. The big guy, main fight, whatever you want to call it or what Vanir was – beat us. Admittedly we still saved Hani and the other children for which that is/was a good thing but we lost the big victory and won the small victory. And that is the crux of it.

Don't beat yourselves up, as you did great and ended up fulfilling your goals and did it heroically. And as I have heard from three players so far – now they have something new and serious to focus their hatred/anger on: Vanir. Djohrgahd is still out there but he is faceless and even though we know some of his history now, we have not traded blows with him yet. But Vanir? His name has been on our minds since Thadar first mentioned it to us when we dragged his simpering ass out of the K'Tharkian encampment and HE is the controlling personage of the Lycos Suns.

Meet 23, Adv 4, 4/5/08

The party was anxious for this night as the last one was almost entirely combat and high energy - and then they had been taken out by a decidedly superior enemy. So they were curious, what was going to happen tonight?

I placed in a situation to decide to make a tough choice - be heroes and go out with no hit points and spells and energy against a dozen armed and cruel slavers - or don't. And they chose heroics. I was proud.

Write up follows:

We awoke slowly, so very slowly, and in a great deal of pain. The first attempts to stand were often disastrous, our bodies slumping forward and falling back to the mist soaked midnight dark earth. The whimpering cry of Gregor was plainly evident, the young boy having dragged himself through the dark, the mud, and the falling mist while chained to a 20 lb iron ball till he collapsed at Karis' side.

It was about two odd hours after Vanir's final spell incapacitated the entire group and the erstwhile mage portalled out of the standing stones. The entire party is low on hit points, spells, energy, and rest. Detheron wandered around in a daze, plying his skill and craft with poultices and bandages on just about everyone. Gregor talked about the groups' heroics and how afraid he was. Hani had been taken, snatched up by the wolfen thing shortly before Vanir decimated the party.

Besides the party and their animal companions and the young boy Gregor, there were also three other people here with us. Kalarig, the charmed archer that Puck had run interference with one of the groups arrayed against us while trying to enter the woods. And two of the originally summoned orcish warriors Detheron had called forth with the summoning stone still lived and fared well enough; named Amal and Osgar.

Kalarig informed us that he had been forced to "lead" the other party through the woods and could not return the party fast enough to help out during the battle, but after everyone had gone, he was able to double back and tried to enter the tentacle field to save his friend, Puck. Sadly he was caught and he too lost consciousness.

The party heard faint noises coming from nearby, the odd thud and muffled howl. Slow searching while the rest of the group got medical attention revealed the center of the menhirs was raised, had an old low stone altar on it, and was encircled by seven large 5' x 5' flagstones set on the earth itself. The noises were coming from there and sounded like people banging and calling for help. Karis and the two orcs, Amal and Osgar, checked under the stones one at a time until they found one that had a hollow beneath it.

Within was a cairn under the ground where 6 people had been hidden. They were filthy, smelled, and were suffering from lack of food and slight dehydration. An older man in his 60's, a woman in her 50's, two men in their late 20's and two women in their early 20's were taken out with much thanks and hand wrangling and bless yous. The older man identified himself as Lord Ulric Wolverton, and his wife Gretchen. His chauffer Gran and valet Packley were the two other men, and the two other women were his wife's lady-maids Kirka and Lyann.

The group spoke briefly with Lord Ulric who had Gran escort the two women and his wife back to Wolverton Estate. He then sent Packley to find someone called Deathspeaker Yondal and have him come here as soon as possible. Lord Ulric was surprised as he learned the party was the adventurers from Orihalcus but were not out searching for him or his family. They had been waylaid 3 days ago just outside of town and taken here where they were kept with little to eat and drink. Earlier that night the two dead slaves had been alive and been lardered with Lord Ulric and his people but it was only for fifteen odd minutes and then they were taken out and some sort of ritual went on above and the men were screaming…oh the screaming.

The group told Lord Ulric that his man Lornwylf might not be "honest" and it was discovered that the steward had been employed about 2-3 years ago. It was here that Lord Ulric went into a bit of story and history about his part in everything.

He doesn't keep slaves, but has a few indentured working his lands. A few years ago he was forced into a business arrangement with the Lycos Suns thanks to some blackmail information they had against his holdings. To keep the peace and protect the hundreds of people working his lands and employed under his demesne he was forced to provide a "way station" for the transportation of illegal slavery.

Ulric knows it was wrong. Said he was double crossed/blackmailed by Vanir and Lycos Suns but he didn't have a choice as if he tried to refuse to do business – they would hurt him, his family, and the people working for him. There was some old magic site on his lands and Vanir wanted to rent it out. Spread tales and stories about it being haunted, spooks, etc. They had some druidic contact named Tehpaguar and his coven, the Circle of Thorns, come here a bit over a year ago with some really big wolves and did something to the trees. Doesn't know where they live. Rarely if ever come to town. When they were done though, at certain times of the month unless you had one of those bronze amulets, you found yourself wandering home. About 50 of those were made he remembers

One of the most poignant things that Ulric said was: "I know I've done wrong. Not by having my hands stained with blood…but by doing nothing at all. If good people do nothing, then they aren't being good people after all. I can see by the sparks in your eyes that you're gonna turn me over to the Magistrate and I can't in good faith deny your reasoning behind it."

The party assured him that they wouldn't, as long as he used his influence to help make sure that Vanir and whatever "bloody" business they had to do wouldn't get them in trouble. Ulric seemed relieved and resolved and went on. "I'll face my punishments if I have to…but I did what I had to do, and made what deals with the devil Vanir I had to to protect my son from the hangman's noose. A man might do bad things, but a father won't see them as such when it comes to his child."

"Oh, Djohrgahd…where did I go wrong?"

Zoltan, who was picking through the many many many fallen bodies here stopped, tilted his head, and said in forced calm tones, "Eh…what did you just say?"

"Me? I was talking about Djohrgahd. My son."

Even NPC's can whip out the 500 lb gorilla at times.

Expanding on the tale at this point, Ulric told us about his son. Djohrgahd married a girl named Magda and they had a son named Ulsar. Ulsar contracted scarlet fever and died at age 4 and Magda died of grief afterwards. Djohrgahd drank a lot and joined up with some sorcerous types where they went on some adventures. They hit it big somewhere a dozen years ago and had some books and money. Two of them pissed away some time with some teamster and slaving business (Vanir and someone else). Djohrgahd owed one of them a pile of money for something and after Ulric stopped giving his son money, Djohrgahd took to stealing, gambling, and thievery.

Seems he got caught ripping off one of Delarrin's impressors 4 or 5 years ago and killing the Baron's nephew in Principia and would have gotten hung but Ulric sent the money to pay the debt and fine and had Vanir handle it and smuggle his son out, the slaver acting as an intermediary (so the family name wouldn't get dragged in). Djohrgahd grew to hate Ulric and there was a falling out about 2-3 years ago just before Delarrin's death. Vanir kept coming by and through Djohrgahd's name, commissioned the land, the wards, the use of the place, and tying the aging tired lord to the location and threat of illegal slavery.

Hasn't seen his son in a few years, Gretchen thinks her son died years ago. The Baron Umbaria still has a price out on Djohrgahd's head – 5,000 crowns – for the death of his nephew. And to date, no one knows Djohrgahd's familial name and Lord Ulric would like to keep it like that. Djohrgahd has been going by the moniker of Djohrgahd of the Wolf for years now.

There is some talking and stuff after this and then torches can been seen approaching. It is Deathspeaker Yondal and two of his apprentices. The Deathspeaker is a serious and weary looking man in his mid 40's with a tonsure and thick crow's feet. He looks at the party's hurts and Lord Ulric’s and the group fills him in on what happened.

When the story gets to the two men on the side of the menhir tortured and stapled there, he says they are in bad shape and their spirits are not at rest and they need to be taken down. The two apprentices do so. Deathspeaker goes around the party and casts Cure Light Wounds on everyone once, bringing some small measure of relief to everyone. Gregor is still wondering where is his sister? And the group talks about Vanir's parting words of blood of the innocents under the morning sky.

What do we do? Where did they go? How do we track them? We are tired and have no spells and healing and are all wounded. Ulric offers to let the party have horses from his stables if they want them to go and find the child. But the question is where? Kalarig is asked but he was hired to guard the woods and has no idea about a second camp or rendezvous place.

There is some looking at the two dead slaves and Deathspeaker Yondal asks Lord Ulric if he'd be willing to pay the price and the old lord nods his head and says he would. Yondal takes his hands in his own and prays to Hel to channel the blood of the living into the mouths of the dead so they may speak and Lord Ulric stiffens and the two dead slaves shudder and sit upright mouth's slack. Yondal informs the party they could get maybe 3 questions of the dead and that's it – and they should be ABSOLUTELY sure of their question – as they dead can only answer what they knew in life.

So the party asked some questions and learned that they needed to: "Head towards the setting sun for one hour hard ride, where the ground is cleft and deep, filled with the waters of the Stormlord Aegir – there with the bark sentinels standing silent with boughs heavy – you will find the sister of Gregor bound and frightened in a wagon of like minded children."

And: "The blue robed mage is most likely angry and rushed. The last twelve count of men still unslain most likely bend back and knee to hasten their departure from the place where these bodies had lived before coming here. They know they must race against the passing sun and the threat of discovery."

There was some thinking and outside of Cheshire Lake and the Millhouse, there is a LARGE lake called Deeplake - and according to the local apprentices here, the north and east side are heavily wooded. And it's about an hour from here. Bingo.

It was about 4ish now and sun rise is closer to 6/6:30. We are wounded and need to go to Wolverton estate to get horses, and most of us don't know how to ride, so we are cutting it close – IF we go after Hani now. We have also learned from the Deathspeaker that the local militia is embroiled right now in a strange rash of kidnappings all over Ponyboro. It's all connected. And as we discuss it – we realize that being a hero is about making tough and heroic choices.

Choices like riding out into the misty pre-dawn exhausted and weary to finish off the damned Lycos Suns and save the children. It’s little argument - we go.

The clock ticks as we make our way closer to Deep Lake and lose ourselves in the woods. We skirt the perimeter for a while until Zoltan, wearing the leather cap with the wolf's head on it has his hearing enhanced, and can make out the sound of the slavers nearby and "breaking camp".

Some scouting and recon follows until we learn there are three wagons already limbered and yoked to oxen and horses. One of the wagons is a slaver wagon with 9 children between 5 and 7, and there is a 10th, a girl chained to an iron ball there as well. The two other wagons are travel wagons and there seemed to be 12 or so slavers here – one of them Iohanas himself! From the looks of it, they should be going in less than 5 minutes.

The group sketches out a swift battle plan and then executes it. Puck charms one of the drivers (of the slaver wagon), Zoltan sneaks UNDER one of the travel wagons, Karis and the two orcs storm the left side of the camp. The slavers are surprised for the most part and the group makes good headway against them at first.

Crossbows fire and animals snarl and Kalarig does his thing with the bow and the party withers a few of the slavers away in the first minute. Then Zoltan disables the wagon with a grappling hook and tied rope against one of the wheels and Puck's Meteor scroll is read and flaming rocks start sailing throughout the camp. The enemy spellcaster magic missiles the party but she is targeted with quarrel and meteor until she is slain and falls into Deeplake.

Iohanas is battered and one of the wagons is set ablaze and the "charmed" driver draws his bludgeon and starts whacking the other slavers! With the great devastation in just a few minutes, 4 dead, 5 wounded (one of them Iohanas – badly) the others give up and drop weapons and the party trusses them up. There is talk of slitting Iohanas' throat now but it is discarded as not a good time. Kids are freed – one of them IS Hani who clings like mad to Karis, refusing to let the half-ogre go and sobbing hysterically.

The slavers also had numerous tradegoods and skins and lots of spendable coin and low value gem stones – which we took with glee. While leading LOTS of the long line of people back to town, we were met by Sheriff Yolanda and 12 of her mounted militia who told the party of the kidnappings and then Wolverton's man coming and telling about a circle of stones and a ritual and Lycos Suns and slaves and heroes and she just KNEW the party was involved.

We came back to town as heroes and outside of the courthouse in Town Circle the saved children went on their way to their frantic families who came out of the crowd to claim them and thank the party. Deidra emerged and with Gregor and Hani now with her, hugged Detheron fiercely and the two of them were lost alone in the crowd for a while in their embrace and passions.

Puck, now with TWO friends – Kalarig and Bosvild, figured he'd help the burned and denuded Gwyn by casting "Hairy" on him – but he did it IN public, in front of 6-700 people: peasants really, who really don't like mages. Fuck. The dwarf grew 12" of hair everywhere – but there was mixed reactions from the crowd. It was figured best that the party retire and rest (they needed it) and Magistrate Cottson would be "questioning" the slavers during the day and then talking with Lord Artis Daernhorse and the other 4 noble families of Ponyboro.

Group went to the house and Flora was happy to see them and the group all crashed except for Puck who went to speak with Dardis at the Orphanage of the Wilted Leaf, about the magery and the ritual that happened and what not. Didn't get much info – and was suggested that he might get more info at some sage in Cymbarton.

At his point we all retired to the peasant house and we all rested. Woke up about 4:30 in the afternoon feeling betterish. We went to the Temple of Frey where we were then told we had to speak with Magistrate Cottson afterwards. And that’s where we ended up ending it.

Good job everyone, we achieved a small victory – but not the big one. And that’s ok too.

Meet 22, Adv 4, 3/29/08

This was the penultimate face off at last not only with the Lycos Suns, but eventually with Vanir - one of the higher ups in the organization that had wrongfully enslaved the party. The group was excited and vowed to not quit until they made it to the center to save the kids and bury a swrod in Vanir's neck.

The biggest wrinkle I had was the fact that the party cleric (a druid) had actually no 1st level spells at his disposal - which meant there was no healing save for what draughts, potions, and charms they had on them. This meant that we were going to be VERY close to a party kill should something go wrong.

And we were very close to that point many times. The end result of using an enlarged Evard's Black Tentacles on the group had been planned by me long before this adventure ever started. Vanir was 10th level (against a party of 4th level characters) and out classed them easily. But he wasn't here to waste potential adventurers - he was here to do a ritual that so far had been taking some of the Lycos Sun's members close to two and a half years to achieve. And this was not the end of it! So it was already planned that after "x" rounds of combat (assuming they got their in enough time actually get there before Vanir and his merry band left - an all to possible outcome) the ritual's energy was going to end and it was going to be time to go. Hence the Tentacles.

I was happy how it worked out - and for the first time, unlike Thadar, this was an enemy that the party actually HATED. A living person they could identify...and hate. Nemesis.

Write up follows:

The game resumed where we left it two weeks earlier: Karis surrounded by 2 thugs, the half orcish girl with the sickles down near the hippogriff, and 5 more thugs emerging from the woods ahead of us – a couple of them with bows. We still can't see or hear anything deep in the woods, but as we figured – since people are coming OUT of the trees ahead of us to stop us – we are doing the right thing.

The surrounding combat was short and bloody, Karis cutting one of the two around him down and the rest of the group moving into position. Molaris, the half orcish woman, leapt on the hippogriff and slammed both of her sickles into its flanks just under its wing – causing it to start forward and flee the battle. Spells and slings and crossbows were fired – and the enemy half orcs returned the favor with bow fire of their own – bleeding away more precious hit points from our half ogre knight.

The summoning spell for the hippogriff ended, and the quasi-airborn, rider bearing flying creature disappeared with a puff of smoke and Molaris slammed to the ground with a snapping thud and crunch after rebounding off a tree bole. Some animal assaults finished the woman off as the rest of the party finally got close enough to make short work of the three surrounding Karis. The combat ended and the party took a moment to ready themselves before going forward once more.

Puck gave Karis the charm necklace and the erstwhile half ogre pulled one of the two remaining charms free – healing himself almost back to full! Bolstered now and the group ready – we reloaded crossbows and slings, drew ourselves into formation, and marched onward.

The feeling of magic being worked was tingling at the end of your senses, unnerving you and making you feel jittery and pressed for time. The party responded by storming into the trees until there was another feeling of slowing down and the medallions growing warm – and then our ears popped and we marched on. From ahead of us someone snarled, "Loki, damn it! They have medallions! Take them down!" and the woods came alive once more with the hoot of brigands and the twang of bowfire.

Arranged in a triangular formation, four spear and sword wielding leather clad toughs waved their weapons and attacked Karis (who rode ahead to meet them), two others hung back and fired their bows, and the last one stood his ground and waved his arms over his head, chanting out Loki's name and blowing an alarming horn. Acting swiftly, Zoltan sent a sling bullet arcing out – smashing the horn from the priest's mouth and shattering the business end of it.

Puck fired off a magic missile which wended through the trees and slapped the evil cleric punishingly. Karis took down one of the milling fighters, Deathknell his enchanted broadsword tolling loudly on each kill, the group moving forward into position. The cleric was snarling, looking in the dim light for the mage who "missiled" him – unable to see Puck. So instead of getting him – he called upon his dark god and called forth some aid – specifically – a hellhound! The slavering 220 lb mastiff gave Zoltan a fierce gaze and let forth a burst of fire that the bard/thief barely leapt over in time, twisting his body away from the heat of the otherworldly flames. Detheron and Smokey charged forward to help.

Karis tried to run the priest down who let forth a curse – covering the half ogre with boils, affecting his limbs with a stiffening as well. Arrows were shot, Gwyn worked his scimitar, Puck got into better positions, and Smokey was badly wounded – outclassed by the flame dripping hell beast. The fight continued onward blow by blow until Karis missed the Loki priest and rode past – the cleric calling forth a blinding ball of darkness to engulf the knight!

Zoltan drew upon his bardic magic and sent forth a globe of light to cancel the priest's darkness. The priest was going to do something to the bard most likely deadly when Puck had drawn close enough to fire off another spell – this time Charm Person. The wave of eldritch energy snaked out – but it did NOT hit the priest! Instead – he centered his ensorcellment on the archer instead! "You hate Loki!" Puck roared, pointing to the priest. "Kill him!"

The archer wasted no time and at the range of 7' – shot two arrows into the shocked priest ending his life- and making the hellhound fade away as well. The remaining fight ended swiftly and the new friend introduced himself as Kalarig – mercenary and archer in the employ of Vanir to keep prying eyes out of the forest.

There had been an alarm horn blown and according to Kalarig – the bulk of the defenders would be rallying forward – a mix of thugs, half orcs, and two orcs mounted on war wolves. Crap.

Puck had Kalarig run off to intercept this last threat/grouping – and lead them on a wild goose chase through the forest and away from the party's approach. We were given exact heading to go through the trees and then Kalarig was wished well and sent off to help us out.

We sucked down most of the last of our potions, some of them given to Smokey, and we readied ourselves for the assault to come. Wavering light could be seen through the trees ahead, sort of green and blue and sickly looking. We could also hear chanting and screams of children. But most frightening now as we ran on were the soul wrenching torturous howls of someone, or someones, being dealt the most agonizing terrorizing pain ever.

The trees appeared to be thinning far ahead and with the ambient light of the ritual and torchlight ahead – there was the odd sign of menhirs (standing stones) at the distant line of our sight. Grimly expecting the worst ahead, we charged onward.

From the trees and above us, arrows began firing out – pecking at Karis and resounding off his shield and armor. The enemies were difficult to see but enough of the party knew what was up there and slings and crossbows were fired off – knocking enemies from the trees and making short work of the half orcs hoping to stop us. Some alarms were shouted and blown but we were too close to the ritual site now for them to escape should they attempt to. As soon as the way seemed clear, Karis had his lance ready and raced toward the standing stones.

A thief jumped out of the trees and slammed his stiletto into the knight's back, hurting him badly, before making it to the ground. Detheron shot a flaring light at the thief's eyes and blinded him as Gwyn dealt with the last bow wielder behind us. The group could hear the terrified cries of Hani and Gregor from the stones ahead as 6 thugs came out of the area armed with swords and maces.

And then something leapt on top of the menhirs – something that wasn't altogether human or animal. It was covered in a midnight pelt of matted fur and its ears were overly large and hung off the back of its lupine skull. It had human like hands with 3 inch curving talons as it growled and jumped down ahead of thugs, foam spittle on its lips as it tilted its head back and howled. – and then they attacked.

The group ran to catch up and help Karis who lowered his lance and charged the entire group of 7! The pointed end of his heavy lance slammed into the wolf creature, blowing out the back its shoulder. The man beast instead dragged its claws across the horses' neck and bit Karis as he charged past. Two of the mace wielders raised their weapons high and called on Fenris to bless their companions – while the 4 sword swingers tried to hack the staggering Karis from his steed, the half ogre using the last of the Heimdall Charms to heal himself.

Zoltan had to wrestle with his fears before daring to race onward and attack – the fear of disease and worry that the man-wolf might be a lycanthrope scaring him. Detheron called on Frey once again – summoning another hippogriff to help the party! Gwyn was out distanced by his friends, the dwarf unable to keep up. The wolf creature pulled the lance free from its body and dropped it – the horrible wound visibly closing instantly. Double crap.

Karis whirled Deathknell overhead and was about to be surrounded by all 7 – one of them the wolf man, when Puck got himself in position and read off one of the scrolls he had. Lightning bolt! The stroke of energy appeared just behind the wolf man and thundered outward – passing through him, the nearest sword swinger, one of the priests – then it struck the end of the menhir and rebounded BACK – going once more across the priest, the sword swinger, and the man wolf who ducked low to avoid the majority of the impact.

Three of the enemies went down and the reek of cooked flesh filled the air. Way to go Puck!!!

The party ran closer to take the fight to the last of the defenders when tragedy struck. One of the two sword swingers around Karis worked his way close enough to thrust upward under the knight's shield – and slammed 8" of his broadsword into the half-ogre's chest. Giving him a mortal wound. Karis felt his strength fading and pain filled his body – without medical or magical help – he was going to be dead in the next hour.

Slings and crossbows fired and we were struggling to get to Karis when two things happened – the wolf man shook his head and stood up (right near Smokey and Zoltan) – and the chanting of the ritual ended and a voice from within the circle roared out, "We've done what we came to do here!"

Zoltan threw himself at the wolf man and buried one of his new dragon inspired silver daggers into its back, causing the creature to snarl angrily. There was a blast of smoke and flame and a figure appeared.

The wolf man jumped towards the menhirs (dodging Zoltan and Smokey's parting shots) and scooped up a small figure that was wriggling and screaming – like a 5 year old little girl. Gregor's voice screamed out, "HANI!!" as the wolf man ran off.

The figure that had appeared was a man in midnight blue robes, a scintillating azure gem circling his head like an orbiting halo, cowl around his neck. He looked just past middle age, wrinkles on the corner of his eyes and mouth. He frowned at the group, one hand holding a 3' wooden knotty rod, other hand balled into a fist.

About 8 final thugs emerged – half with bows, half with swords. Around the wizard's neck was one of the bronze headed wolf amulets like you have now. He snarled, "You've become a greater nuisance than I would have expected, slaves…but I will say, your work is impressive." The last comment directed at the numerous dead bodies the party has strewn about the nearby forest.

This…was…Vanir.

Together we raised our voices and the party charged out. Battle was joined and arrows flew. Karis was all alone and struggling against overwhelming odds – Vanir within his sights. At that point the wizard pointed his rod at Karis and intoned the magical words – and a stream of red crackling energy flared out and struck…Deathknell, his sword! The enchanted blade shuddered and then shattered! The impact from the destroyed magical item rocked both Karis and the hippogriff backwards and the party was in shock at what happened.

Detheron withdrew a scroll of warp wood and hurled the spell's energy at Vanir – twisting the powerful rod upon itself and ruining the artifact. Then Puck withdrew the second Lightning Bolt and arced it at Vanir. Some of the energy swarmed upwards INTO the floating ioun stone as he dodged out of the way, and then the return stroke the same thing happened – after it passed through another thug and ended up TOO close to the hippogriff and hurt Detheron's summoned ally. Nearby archers shot Puck, hitting the mage and causing him even more terrible pain.

Karis was fighting for his life – swinging his second blade, Wyrmsteel Discordia, at the wizard – the mage's ensorcellment strong enough to turn the knight's weapon aside. Sling bullets soaring and the approaching party caused the mage to shift his tactics and called forth a wall of thick ice, 10' tall and bitterly cold, to appear in a convex arc AROUND the party and cut them all off from Karis and him and his people. Damn it to hell!

Karis was getting beaten up real bad and nicks and chops slammed around him. The group argued about firing up a blessed bolt of Sutur and killing him – but no one knew if it would get through the wall of ice or not – and if so, would it hit him? Gwyn was given directions to run around the wall and ready himself to take out the mage. Zoltan circled the wall too, throwing his AC to the wind and charging one of the bowman who shot the bard – but did not shoot the tiring half ogre (noble effort Zoltan!).

Detheron and Smokey and Fodder emerged from the behind the ice wall from the OTHER direction and joined the hippogriff in engaging some of the enemies on that side – anything to keep the onus off Karis. Puck climbed a tree (tired and 3 painful wounds meant he was moving REAL slow at this time) and pulled out Melf's Minute Meteor – ready to fire it off.

Vanir, on seeing the mage up the tree, called forth a tremendous gust of wind – which rocked the trees and knocked Puck from his perch – giving him another painful wound. Detheron used the summoning stone he had acquired long ago from the feral orc shaman, and cast it to the ground – causing four hide wearing, axe sporting, strong backed, slope jawed orcs to appear in a flash of light. They all turned to Detheron, bowed and said, "What is your bidding, Shaman?" Detheron sent them to attack the fighters around Karis and the tide of the battle swiftly changed around the knight.

Zoltan tackled the lone bowman and there was a struggle of slung chain and axe as the bard and archer fought. And then Gwyn was in position and fired the Blessed Bolt. A rising crescendo of gathering energy sucked into the area and then like the finger of god (someone quoted Indy with, “Close your eyes, Marion! No matter what, close your eyes!”) it stroked out and impacted one of the summoned orcs and the unexpecting Vanir.

The damage was devastating to the surrounding area, smashing one of the menhirs and knocking the lintel stone off the top and into the circle beyond. The orc was consumed but Vanir was able to duck low and avoid a direct hit – and even his ioun stone took the brunt of more of the streaking firebrand. But Vanir lived. Smoke and dying flame streaming around him, he eyed the dwarf critically and he was pissed.

He called forth his own magics and blasted Gwyn with his own lightning bolt. It tore through the dwarf (some of the impact diminished by the dwarf's blue dragon scale mail armor) but the high temperature energy shaft electrified the hero and caused the 6 flasks of oil in his backpack to explode – turning the very wounded dwarf into a living inferno.

Detheron used his last potion of healing on the half ogre and Puck tried to climb the tree again – his strength failing as he slipped to the ground. And there were still a number of enemies at Vanir's beck and call and the furious mage to deal with.

Some sort of energy was leeching from the area within the circle as the passage of time ended the ritual and Vanir grimaced, yelling, "Back! Back! We've done what we needed to do here! Everyone go!" He then whirled an enlarged spell which caused a tremendous swath of writhing tentacles to burst from the earth and snatch the party members legs and arms – pulling them down and to the earth. Only Zoltan was able to avoid the initial tentacles and he ignored the thug he was fighting to charge Vanir and surprise backstab the exhausted mage.

Vanir was hurt badly and Zoltan was caught in the flashing tentacles and dragged down. Puck tried one last gambit – calling on the use of his ring of Pain. It was a struggle of wills but the exhausted mage had used the ring recently and was weak and tired – and this time his will was NOT strong enough – and the ring fired its energy – not at Vanir – but doubled back on Puck and now with 6 painful wounds, the sorcerer passed out.

The group was being pulled lower and lower, the tentacles encircling throats and chests – smothering the group. Vanir glowered at them as he looked westward, "You've tried my patience, slaves. But I don't have the time to deal with you now as I'd like. It's a shame you can't be of use to Djohrgahd anymore, you've certainly become capable."

Karis then threatened to chop the mage up and would hunt him down until his dying day, and feed the bloody bits to the animals. Vanir chuckled and shrugged, "You talk with spirit, slave. That is good. It is spirit that is required of course. The rest of the body, well, not so much."

He then pointed to the top of one of the menhirs where the party could see two bodies chained to the stones. They were wearing slave collars and manacles, their chests have been carved open, entrails removed and lay in ropes around them, legs have been broken, ribs cracked, hands twisted and every finger snapped. And their dead and horrified faces were those of two of the self same slaves the party had been with when they were first captured four plus months earlier.

Vanir then took a fist sized glass globe from his inner pocket and held it up so the party can see two tortured twisting blue/green faces within beating on the walls and screaming silently. He put the globe away, the last of his people leaving the menhirs behind, the party choked and blacking out. He finished with, "This part of the ritual is done, slaves. Harvest is taken. Next step, blood of the innocents under the afternoon sky. So much to do. Busy, busy, busy. I am such a slave driver. HAHAHAHAH." Then the air in front of him rented open and he stepped through the portal and was gone.

And the group one by one lost consciousness.

And that's where we left it.

I hope everyone had a good time. The party did great. Don't sell yourself short. I fudged NO rolls – and all your heroics were done on your own recognizance. This was a difficult foray as when I originally wrote it, I had expected the group to have better healing (ie: Detheron) at their disposal – but our druid had NO 1st level spells at his call from the moment we started back at the Lycos Suns Office! But the party still did wonderfully.

Gauging a fight before it occurs is a difficult task as a DM, more so at the lower levels than higher ones, as it can seem like a cake walk – or a death trap. Total party kills (TPK's) do happen but only when something goes horribly wrong. Given the way your party entered this fight, there was some concern to that happening.

Meet 21, Adv 4, 3/15/08

The group had the upper hand at the first part of this meeting as they didn't get the sheriff involved and instead went in on their own. It gave them the leg up and surprise - and allowed them to get the needed amulets they needed for the foray into the forest and face against the Lycos Suns at long last.

It also meant that the goodies found were not "lost" to them and gave them some books and other magical gear which would and will come in real handy in the days to come.

Write up follows:

We convened on the grounds outside of the Lycos Sun's Office after getting ourselves as ready as we were going to be. Zoltan met us in the shadows and told us that we had roughly 20 odd minutes before the watch would be returning to this street – and anything that was going to come up or be noticed from the road would need to be finished before then, or we'd risk legal problems with the militia and Sheriff.

Detheron took Deidra's keys and marched the party right through the main gates, up to the office and then inside. We fanned out and looked over the office/waiting room while Zoltan informed us that when he was in here earlier, there were 2 guard dogs. No such animals made their presence known now. In fact, Gwyn scented oil. Lots of oil.

Hasty whispered conversations followed about leaving, getting sheriff, sneaking around back, changing plans. Our bard/thief wandered his way around the receptionist's office and back towards the file room. The lamps in the hallway were lit, but turned down low. And the file room was trashed, numerous drawers pulled out and soaked with oil. In fact, a line of oil stretched from the file room and down the hall.

Arsonists.

Detheron said he wasn't leaving unless he had the children or knowledge of where they were and began to search the adjoining hall. The group divided roughly into two, one set of Zoltan, Puck, and Gwyn checking out the back of the offices and hallway there, and the other of Detheron, Karis, Smokey, and Fodder on the front halls.

Gwyn checked out the file room, small window shuttered and closed. Zoltan cut a swath out of the rug to try to break the oil line should it be set. Detheron and Karis wandered slowly down the dim hall, passing a few doors and noticing ONE of them was opened, light coming from it…and noises. Noises like people wrecking the place. Showtime.

Without preamble, Karis looked inside the room, noted three people dousing cabinets with oil, and then drew his sword and cut down the first thug from behind. The half orc roared in agony and alerted the other two who took out weapons of their own, and moved to engage the knight. Smokey and Fodder entered the room and Detheron manned the hallway – especially when he heard MORE noises. Coming from upstairs.

Fuck, company was coming.

Zoltan, Gwyn, and Puck had been examining one of the back offices when they heard the fight break out and they ran towards the sound of battle; weapons and spells bristling. Fodder had stopped the wounded thug from escaping out the window while Karis was engaging the next two. The first two thugs came from the second floor and tried to take the stairs when Puck, after making sure that they didn't have a trail of oil leading up to them, set them ablaze with a burning hands. One got badly burned, other lightly. Then more came and Zoltan sling stoned one in the leg breaking it.

Smokey took down one of the two fighters in there and Karis and a half-orc stood off on one another. Meanwhile, Gwyn, being dwarvish and shorter, didn't make the fight, instead looking down ANOTHER corridor – the corridor where the oil trail was leading – the corridor that lead to teamster offices – the corridor where another 4 arsonist were dousing the place with oil. Crap.

More of the thugs were coming down the stairs and Puck fire handed them again – this time the back one with oil on his cloak screaming and howling as he went up like a torch. One of them dove down the stairs and tackled the mage – slamming 15" of sword blade into the mage's gut and backing him into the wall by the larder. Sling bullets went flying. Screaming and howling was rampant. Another one dove down the steps and jumped onto Detheron, stabbing the druid and driving him backwards into a frantic struggle. Smokey was called for and Karis was left to face the last fighter alone – the two mighty half breeds dealing punishing damage to one another.

Gwyn engaged the 4 unaware arsonists from the back, meeting the first guy in a head on charge. At the last moment he slid to one knee and hacked at the arsonist's legs, dropping him to the ground and booting him in the head. The other three came out and the man on the ground snarled, "Get him you damned fools!" as he struggled to stand. One of them dove at the dwarf but the fighter held his ground and blows were exchanged. His scimitar, "Elfsplitter" was coming alive with greenish light and dripping flames from the runes as one of the three coming into view was a half-elf. Oh yeah, Gwyn was looking forward to this.

Puck was taking some serious damage while he tried to force the arsonist away and Smokey ripped the one off Detheron and tore him to shreds. More fighting went on and another at the bottom of the stairs crowded the hallway. It was getting tight. Fodder pulled one of the badly wounded arsonists into the room and proceeded to tear his throat out – the war wolf holding his own. Karis took down the half orc finally. Zoltan ran past the fighting and took to the stairs, hoping to see who else was up there.

Gwyn dropped another one to the ground, leg sweeping the arsonist and hacking at his booted foot. The 1st one he dropped stood back up, identified as Forgan, the leader of the bunch, and took out a hand crossbow and fired it. The dart stabbed Gwyn in the forearm and the dwarf ripped the small quarrel free, his superior dwarven constitution staving off the soporific poison on the head. He tried to engage the half-elf who was nervous from the enchanted scimitar but couldn't land a blow hard enough.

Detheron and Smokey tried to get the thug off Puck who was bleeding real bad, forcing the criminal to give way but not able to take him down. Zoltan saw one dead thug up here still burning, lots of old records, and stored hay. There was a loft and lift and he went to go investigate it. Gwyn was struggling against the half elf and disarmed the fighter while another one stepped forward to take his place. Hearing the combat in the back of the building and Gwyn's roaring, Puck left the one arsonist to the druid and his animals, took out his crossbow, and ran/staggered bleedingly to help his beleaguered friend. Karis checked out the hall and Detheron said that they "had this one!" and the half-ogre ran to help Gwyn too.

The thug fighting Smokey and Fodder and Detheron suddenly booked for the side door, forcing the druid and his companions to give chase. Tables and chairs went flying and the arsonist burst out the back door JUST ahead of the druid and the bear – emerging into the night air.

And then from the hay loft 15' above, Zoltan took a flying leap and landed bodily on the fleeing thug, smashing him into the unyielding metal railing and breaking his neck in the process. Hoping the watch was STILL not nearby, they hastily dragged the thug inside and shut the side door again.

Puck emerged and shot one of the fighters against Gwyn in the chest but the dwarf was struck by another poisoned xbow bolt and this time he went down passed out. Forgan was loading up again to shoot Puck when Karis arrived and jumped over the dwarf – trying to push the two fighters down the hall and away from the unconscious dwarf. Forgan shot again, this time fumbling and hitting the half elf and knocking HIM out. Puck shot off a magic missile spell to slam Forgan twice. The arsonist leader was REAL pissed. One poisoned bolt left.

He shot and Karis went down, but not before he ripped into one of the last fighters still standing. Another magic missile resounded and one of them took down the mortally wounded fighter, the last hitting Forgan who grabbed the fallen man's sword and tried to step forward to take out the sleeping Karis. Gwyn woke up at this point and ran to defend his friend and the battle ensued back and forth until Forgan was laid low and Karis was awakened.

They dragged the half elf to the 1st office and trussed him up a bit, setting the animals to watch his unconscious form. Then they looked over the others and checked them out. Each man was divested of his money pouch and at least 5 of them were wearing…bronze wolf headed medallions. Jackpot. Some of the rooms still had not been checked and the party fanned out. Where were the kids?

Some doors were locked, others opened, but they checked what they could. Teamster offices and equipment room, broom closets and company kitchens, accountant's office, manager's office, and it seemed the FIRST office was Vanir's and Detheron had taken some folders with some poignant paperwork in it as well as a wand marked as "Sabrefrost's Wand of Ice". There was one door that was not openable and even with the keys, failed to budge.

Zoltan stepped forward and it took some time, but the lock was picked and we beheld another office. Description read:

"This large room looks like it hasn't been used much lately. A sumptuous desk of hand carved cherry and covered with whorling scrollwork and dragon clawed legs has a plush and padded leather chair tucked in behind it. A bureau with similar artisan care is to the left of the desk. A thick and comfortable beige leather couch takes up part of the area in front of the desk.
A bar with a half dozen crystal goblets and twice as many carafes of colorful liquors is near the barred and shuttered window. On the walls are some strange pole devices with curved "C" flanges and spiked bars. There are also some slave manacles on display for some reason. Lastly, hanging over the back of the desk is a 6' wide tapestry depicting a monstrous grey and green dragon clawing out the ground, it's tail flattening a number of thatched homes and its burning breath setting fleeing people ablaze.
A double door closet is in the back corner but someone has strung a chain through the handles and locked it."

Puck used his magic sight and was able to tell us the desk was magical, the closet front was magical (and most likely fire related), and there was something magical in the bureau. Zoltan went to the closet and checked out the lock on it carefully when the air in front of it was split open and a large disembodied mouth appeared and intoned "DEATH AWAITS ANY WHO DARE TO OPEN THIS CLOSET. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED."

Oh yeah, the thief was intrigued.

But he decided that it would not be a good idea and instead went to the desk, looking it over. As he was checking the locked drawers, another magical mouth appeared and roared, "VANIR! STAY OUT OF MY OFFICE AND AWAY FROM MY SCROLLS!" Zoltan was beaming. He took out the picks and went to town on the desk drawers until he popped it open and saw three leather scroll cases and a large gem, a green spinel. I mean…3 leather scroll cases! Nope, no spinel in there. Rubbing the lump in his wrist pouch he flipped the scrolls to Puck who gave then a looksee and read them and then realized he wasn't feeling so good and…damn! Contact poison!

Puck went from "bright young sorcerer" to "mentally challenged barely capable of handling a spoon without injuring himself" in 10 seconds. Yep, this wasn't good. However, the scrolls were arcane and read Lightning Bolt, Lightning Bolt, and Melf's Minute Meteor – and they were penned by someone with some decent magical acumen. Nice.

Then it was time to open the bureau and Zoltan had some real difficulty in getting the lock to open. So Gwyn took a shot and it and dagger jamming the tumbler and twisting it didn't work it either (the thief was cringing!). So it was Karis's turn with the war axe and a press shove effective roll of a 20 on a Str check and the door was burst opened. We saw half a dozen silvered steel daggers shaped like dragons with the tails as blades, the wings as crossguards, and the bodies and heads as hilts and pommels. There was a leather cap with a flayed wolf's head on it and there was silver charm necklace with three charms hanging from it – each charm looking like a rainbow with a set of crossed shields in front of it.

So what to do now? Closet? Party said yes, but not through the front door if we could help it. Then Gwyn had a great idea. He still had the auger with him and was willing to go BEHIND the wall in Vanir's office and get through to the closet's interior that way! This was we could see if there was a problem on the inside and whatnot. Good idea dwarf.

While he was drilling, party was questioning the half elf. Karis did most of the talking and it was revealed that Iohanas was in the Wolverton Estate in the trees. Then went on about no way goody two shoes can get to him or Vanir. Vanir too? Nice! Enough men to stop us. They have the wolf spirit. Some ritual is going on. Get Fenris on our candy asses. Karis was getting nasty with the half elf but he had some pangs about his knightly code and had to stop his attempts at torture to get information as he knew Tyr would frown on his actions.

But they continued to question and learned the kids were there as well. When the ritual they are doing is done, then Vanir and Iohanas will be gone, gone like ghosts. As the argument got more heated, Karis drew Deathknell and plunged the blade into the snarling half elf, ending his life. The group talked about what they had learned and Gwyn got through the wall. Dehteron called on Frey to slow the poison affecting Puck who got his mental skills back. Puck looked with detect magic into the hole and saw there was magic inside the closet – but the fire elemental thingies was on the front of the closet.

Bingo.

They took down the wall with axes and crowbars and knocked stuff off the shelved in there – but when they got in they found three books and a sword. Two books were labeled "Dargan's Folley – The Dungeons of Sir Dargan" – Volumes I, and II of IV. One was labeled "Perton's Cannon on Thanatelix – The Scourge of The Vermillion Guard". The sword was a beautiful piece: Molybdenum Damascus Steel blade, wire wrapped hilt, greenish hue to blade. Written plainly on the blade were the words "Wyrmsteel Discordia". Group grabbed the treasures and talked on the options.

Do we go to the Sheriff now and rouse the guards? Not enough time it seemed and there was a ritual going on. Sounded like it was going to be worked on and then they were all going to leave. Also we had 5 amulets, enough for us – not for the mustered militia we would get. How would they get through the wards? Detheron was very serious about going NOW and it was agreed on that it was the better choice. It was about 10:50 now and we all began downing our healing potions and draughts, getting back some much needed HP and strength. Puck took his potion of rejuvenation getting his spells back and the party left the Lycos Suns and went off towards Wolverton.

Karis detoured BACK to the house we had been staying at to get his steed and lance, knowing he would catch up. We went onto the Wolverton lands and past the serfs homes – the serfs there closing shutters and locking doors as we grimly passed. Around the back we went through acre after acre of tilled lands until we made it to the trees and made our way in at last.

As we went into the densening woods the medallions we were wearing suddenly grew warm and our ears popped and then they cooled down. Neat! We were in! And then someone nearby snarled "Sweet Fenris" and fell out of the tree! Holy crap a sentry! Surprised at our appearance. Party attacked him quickly and as they took him down, another one jumped out of the trees and attacked Karis (both of them had been half orcs so far) and then a THIRD one started firing arrows at the group and a fourth one was blowing a horn.

Damn it – so much for surprise!

In the darkness, the two still in the trees were impossible to find and they fired arrow after arrow at the party. The two on the floor were taken out and with horns blasted, group decided to leave the two behind and press on. Gwyn and Zoltan stayed rear guard and the two of them shook the two from the trees with sling bullets and crossbows while the rest followed Karis along.

As they were getting deeper there was a roar of "charge" from ahead and about a dozen came out of the gloom and ran at the party. About a third were half orcs with spears and swords, most of the others had torches. All had swords. One was a female half orc with a pair of sickles. Battle ensued. Spears were tossed and Karis was struck a few times but ran down one of them with a charge, horse trampling another. Puck tried to charm person the female orc but the spell broke against her will. Detheron called on Frey and summoned an ally – and a Hippogriff appeared in a flash of light and began tearing into the enemy.

Karis was surrounded and fought against being torn from his horse. Meanwhile the half orc with the sickles leapt on the horse's back and stabbed Karis in the face before sliding free. Charm Person was called for again, and again it bounced off her will. She screamed "Kill the mage!" and spears were thrown, but not many, and she charged towards Puck and Detheron. Smokey and Fodder were working on the left flank with the hippogriff as they were ripping the half-orcs and thugs to shreds. The girl with the sickles was real close at this point when Zoltan and Gwyn finally arrived and slings and scimitars and crossbows flared.

The enemy were being taken down one by one and the party took some hurts, and the hippogriff was then ordered to attack the orc girl and mowed her to pieces and then ANOTHER 5 thugs ran into view from ahead with swords and spears drawn while Karis was struggling to take down the remaining two around him.

And we called it a night here. It is Workmonth the 2nd between 11:30 and 11:45 at night. We are in the Wolverton Estate and racing as fast as we could towards the heart of the forest. We know we are going in the right direction as they enemy is piling ahead of us. We have little if any healing left except for the odd potion or two and we've been up and on the go for 15 odd hours – the last couple of them rather stressful and exciting!

But our course is clear and heroic work is afoot. There is an enemy ahead of us and foes to strike out at and at the end of it is not only the noble deed of saving Gregor and Hani, two innocents caught in this deceitful web of rituals and betrayal - but also members of the Lycos Suns; specifically Iohanas and the leader of the organization Vanir. And it's times like this that heroics and adventuring parties do what needs to be done.

Meet 20, Adv 4, 3/8/08

After the last meeting, I tried to keep the group together this time, and they did a decent job staying as one group for me. This was their 2nd day in town so they did a lot of investigating and walking about, piecing together what they know with what they are learning - and getting closer to the discovery of what they were up against.

Wasn't much combat or fighting in this - but the group was happy to let the 20's relax for a while.

Write up follows:

After listening to Inokis and Flora chat away over breakfast, the party discussed their plans and objectives for the day. It was simple (they usually start off like that): Visit Thadar's family and return the bronze medallion to them (we have the address), Pay a visit to the Lycos Suns Office here in town (they are listed/chartered as a teamstering organization), Pay a visit to the Wolverton Estate.

What was to be accomplished at each was still more fluid, but as for destinations – this was our itinerary for the day.

We cleaned off the last of our plates while Inokis went back to the Hall of Records as per Puck's order – and Zoltan grabbed the young man and asked him try and find a copy of a map of the town if at all possible. He promised to try. It was time to leave, and dressed in street clothes (for the most part), weapons either left here or sheathed, we checked the address to Thadar's family house and left. Zoltan volunteered to stay behind – uninterested in the slaver's family and a bit preoccupied. Instead, he sent Flora out to the bakers to get a dozen honey buns if possible. The buxom girl agreed and left.

Thadar's family has a nice 2 story thin home near the candlemakers outside the Gunnarson Demesne. The yard is fenced in and is grown with ivy, trellises, and a rather impressive if small herb garden. Two children were playing in the yard – a 9 year old boy with tousled brownish/black hair and a cute 5-year old blond girl clutching a corn husk doll – both of them were kicking a grass stuffed leather ball. A woman was tending to the garden, roughly 28, shoulder length brown hair, attractive and happy. She watched the group approach warily, ordering her children onto the porch and asked who the group was and what they wanted.

Karis spoke politely, saying that they were travelers from Orihalcus and wanted to talk with her about her husband. She said Thadar hadn't been home for 3 months plus now and the group said that was alright, wanted to talk about him. She paused and debated with herself and let the group in – children following. While Deidra went about getting water, bread and cheese from the kitchen, the party sat down in the living room and looked around. House was nice, cluttered, and had a definitive woman's touch. In fact, little if anything of Thadar's presence was seen in the home.

Hani, the 5 year old, crawled into Gwyn's lap and showed him her doll named Mister Spoon and asked him some pointed questions about why he was short and his beard. Then she began to braid the dwarf's beard and laughing while he spoke with her. Gregor, the 9 year old, was a rather fast talker and volunteered much info like his dad is real strong and can pick up and ox and mom works at the orphanarium and Hani is a brat sometimes and he doesn't like schooling because they teach him how to write letters and all that. Karis and Detheron then impressed Gregor with their own strength and the family seemed nice.

Deidra brought in some refreshments and started to chat when the group suggested that she send her children upstairs. She did so and the kids thanked the party and when she came back down, you could tell she knew something was up. Karis handed her the bronze medallion and Deidra said little at all for a while. Then the group told the newly made widow of her husband being captured by kobolds and was imprisoned there and that they were there and freed him, but he had been badly wounded by them…And now sadly he had died but his thoughts were always with his family and their well being.

The kids were still listening at the top of the stairs and Gregor raced down in full tantrum mode, yelling and crying that kobolds and bandits couldn't kill his dad because he was so strong and whatnot. Deidra tried to bring the wild boy upstairs and his flailing feet kicked holes in the plaster walls – while Hani was sobbing softly on the top stair. The mother got them both in their room and quieted down a bit before coming back to chat with the group some more. She was in shock and answered some questions. Gumrid (Thadar's friend who had escaped the kobold's/set free) came through town 3 weeks ago, but left immediately which was not like him; saying nothing to her or mentioning Thadar's whereabouts. She admitted she hated the house and was at a loss on what to do. She works at the Blessed Children of the Wilted Leaf, an orphanage sponsored by the Temple of Frey, and didn't need the party's offer for coinage. Mentioned Vanir by name as Thadar's boss. She was doing her best to keep it together but was failing to maintain her composure and the party wished her well and she thanked them for their generosity and kindness – as most people would have kept the medallion – and then the group left.

It took them a few minutes to compose themselves after the emotional visit. They then decided to go back to the house and get Zoltan to bring him with them to the Lycos Suns office. Met Flora who said that stew would be ready later, and she was off to pick up the fork/knife for the bear – and that Zoltan was eating lots of honey buns in his room. Zoltan opted not to go with the party to the Lycos Suns, saying that if he had to make a "private" visit later – would be better if the Lycos Suns had no idea what he looked like.

Group went. Lycos Suns was almost across the street from the Twisted Forelock Tavern and about 4 buildings down from the Sheriff's office (damn – real close!). It had an enclosed yard that could house about 20 cattle - was set up like a two story warehouse along the rear part and a single story office in the front. Group went in. Waiting room, large and nice – office beyond with three people in it – two women, one man – all human.

Man identified himself as Meir and offered to help. Group said they were looking for work. Some bantering back and forth. Thadar mentioned – as well as Orihalcus, Principia – and F Keep. Then another guy came out of a nearby office and took over. 6' tall, 190 lbs, brown hair, handsome, nice clothes, orange/brown silk scarf like a cravat around his neck. Said he was Iohanas.

Detheron remembered him from the journals – and Karis remembered his face – this guy was driving the 2nd wagon – equivalent in rank to Thadar – on the trip they were all enslaved for. Various sized gorillas came out – but no 500 lb ones this time (I referred to them as Rhesus Monkeys) so a wrangler came in identified as Gunther and asked if there was any help needed – Iohanas said no – and the group was figuring to leave – when the watch came in – a 4 count of guards, asking if all was ok as one of the cowhands motioned for them to come in as some trouble maybe at front desk. Group was courteous and left.

We wandered away from the Office and headed back to house for lunch – giving the encounter lots of thought. Met up with Zoltan, group grabbed armor and weapons this time – as well as Fodder and Smokey (who was apparently eating or had recently eaten lots of honey buns) and the group filled the bard/thief on what happened and wandered on their way towards the Wolverton Estate.

Went back and forth on merits of going to check out the woods out back – or front door to confront Lornwylf. If there were caravans of slavers coming in – they had to come in the back way as driving through town would cause problems. Woods were large and very thick and was decided any slaver signs of holding places or whatnot would be there. Afterwards they would go to front door and talk to Lornwylf (and Puck would charm the heck out of the Steward at that time).

Took the road to Seneshia until they were far from town and wandered off the road into the thickening woods. It was pretty overgrown and there were signs that some of the forest had been replanted in the past. Group was making some good headway and walking along and then Flora stuck her head around the corner of the kitchen wall and said, "I repeat, are you hungry again now? Because the stew won't be done for another 2 hours!"

Um…what?

It was now 20 after two and there was at least a half hour gap of time between us walking in the woods and now - back at the house. Flora said that we just sort of wandered in the front door, went to the main room, sat down and ignored her questions and calls the first time or two.

Ok.. what happened? Lots of discussion and it was figured that the woods were warded somehow and we stumbled into it. Were we ensorcelled? Doubtful. And not teleported home – as it takes about a half hour to walk back from where we were. We rechecked our stuff and went back to the Wolverton Estate. This time we went further up the road – a good ¼ mile before wandering off the path and looking around. Detheron was using most of his woodlore and Speak With Animals – having Fodder scent the area – and they found old horse spore AND an area where there was a flattened bit of underbrush and some old ruts.

Ok – this was better. Zoltan took point about 60'-70' ahead of group (max distance the party trusted things in the dense woods) and still keep some LOS (line of sight) with the thief. And we went in. Detheron heard lots of the forest creatures chattering – something wanted to fuck, something was hiding from the group, and some birds were discussing the benefits of thermal pockets and air speed and whatnot.

And then Zoltan sort of stopped, turned around and wandered back towards the party with a blank expression on his face. Karis picked him off the ground and held him, shaking him and Zoltan snapped out of it. Ok – sort of found out where the border was. Puck fired up a detect magic and wandered slowly in that direction – saying that he didn't see it.

Until he said suddenly, "Hey!" and then stopped, turned around, and wandered back towards the party a blank expression on his face. Stopped him and woke him up too. The ward was triggered when he passed into or over an area and it was large – but can't be seen until he passes into it. So it was not a glyph – but definitely a ward. Glyphs do damage – wards protect a larger area.

Ok – now what? Group wanted to get in. Zoltan tried to "cloak" his way in – but even at 50' in, he turned around and walked out and had to be stopped. Then it was – what about Fodder/Smokey? Speak was still up – so the companions were sent in one by one – and the ward didn't affect them at all. Ahha! Ok – how to use that?

Group decided to make Karis go to sleep and have Smokey drag the ogre in to a landmark tree (two oaks growing into an "x" shape). So Zoltan fired up his violin and sang a song of sleep and Karis – AND Gwyn both passed out! Alright! Carefully Smokey grabbed Karis by the back of his armor/underpadding and dragged the unconscious half-ogre into the warded woods to the tree. Then he licked Karis' face until he woke up.

And the group watched as the knight wandered out of the woods with a blank expression. Damn. They woke him up and it was now what? Dwarf was still asleep – so it was – what if it was the ground that did it? So they had Smokey CARRY the dwarf into the same area – and the bear put the dwarf in the tree. And then the dwarf's enchanted sleep wore off and he stepped out of the tree and twisted the hell out of his ankle and limped out of the woods with a blank expression and he was woken up.

Damn damn. One idea left. Just have Smokey drag Zoltan in as far as he could. Hmmm – not our best plan, but group was getting desperate. Zoltan lied down, and Smokey grabbed the back of his armor in his teeth and dragged the thief in. Once over the ward, expression went blank and he was leaping and jumping to be let go.

Zoltan tried everything and Smokey kept stopping him. Eventually it got violent with claws and even a knife drawn and emotionlessly stabbing at the bear to let him go. But it didn't work and Smokey followed the thief out – surly and pissed. Bear down 6 hp – Zoltan mauled for 11. It was 4:30 about now and we decided to just leave the area and go back to talk to Lornwylf (charm his ass) and rethink on the wards – as it was obviously nothing we could do – and we would need someone to show us, or learn a secret way in.

Detheron healed most of Zoltan's wounds and the group went up to the Wolverton Estate. One guard at gate, two at the manor house. We were told Lord Ulric Wolverton and his wife Gretchen were at business in the south and party should come back. Group was willing to talk with Lornwylf who came to the door.

Steward spoke to party who made up some story that they wanted 20 wagons of timber dressed and cut sent in some time to environs west of Orihalcus. Lornwylf said there was an outstanding order already and nothing could be taken for 7-8 weeks for first delivery. Some sort of figure of 1500 crowns for half up front with 1/20th for each successive wagon – but should talk to Lord Ulric. And then Puck tried a Charm spell but it seemed to fizzle (Lornwylf suddenly developed a headache and looked around suspiciously – but Puck had cast his spell from behind Karis/Detheron's back so was not seen). Group figured it was ok to leave – feeling the Steward was a bit greasy for their tastes and didn't trust him. And then they went back to house for dinner.

While eating, Zoltan went to the Twisted Forelock where he grabbed a chair by the window facing the Lycos Suns Office and watched the place carefully. Rest of group hung out and had a good time chatting and getting frisky with Flora (mostly Gwyn) – and then there was a knock at the door. It was Deidra – with an apple pie. Wanted to come by and thank the party personally for their kindness. Her sister Ingrid was watching the children now – Hani was asleep and Gregor had calmed down.

She was invited to dinner and Deidra spent most of her time next to Detheron and they chatted about Frey and orhpanage and the mood at the table was light and friendly and fun and the party was having a genuinely great time.

Meanwhile, Zoltan watched the two secretaries and the front man leave – each of them carrying a wooden box of paperwork with them. Then 4 stablehands/cowhands left awhile later. And around 6ish a burly looking guy left – most likely the guy identified as Gunter. But no one matching Iohanas' description. Yet.

While Detheron was sitting at the table, his noticed that Deidra was wearing an herbalistic mixture most likely as some sort of low level acting aphrodisiac and it was affecting her and him to a lesser degree. The pie she brought over was delicious and about 7:30 Flora announced that she wanted to go and see the play at the Rampant griffon, The Damsel of Daggerdale – and the group should take her since she's been waiting on them for the last two days. She told Detheron he didn't have to come – and to stay with Deidra to keep her company.

Party got the hint and left Deth and Deidra alone in the house – and within a short time, the two of them were engaged in one another's arms and she was relieving herself some pent up frustrations and Detheron was happy to be a part of it – having some connection and attachment to his new friend and lover. Conversation followed and Deth learned more about Deidra and her marriage to Thadar. Was rarely home, and he made too much money as a teamster. She asked him point blank if he was a bad man – and Deth had to think on it before saying no – deep down he wasn't a bad man.

They spent time alone with one another and chatted and she asked when he was leaving and he said in a day or two – but he would be coming back – and she was happy and wanted him to. Then she said she should be getting home as it was after 8:30 and late and Ingrid would be wondering about her.

Zoltan spoke to Eydis and told the thief lass/bartender to let Gilof and Hrod know that if he needed to go and pay a visit to the office across the street – would there be a way to make sure that the watch was diverted and not paying attention? She said tentatively sure – but would be at best for 15-25 minutes tops. Zoltan said he'd tell her when that was needed.

Then he wandered out – walked the perimeter of the office. It was dark. He then timed when the streets were most bare and guessing on the distance and elevation – cloaked himself into the Lycos Sun's Office. He waited, senses tingling – it was quiet – except for what he guessed to be one..no…make that two guard dogs somewhere not too far away inside the place. Fuck damn fuck. This was NOT something he wanted to face now. Zoltan cloaked himself OUT of the office (this was the third time today – and cloak still worked) surprising some guy who was on the way to the Forelock, and then wandered back home.

He got home in time to see Deidra leave and Detheron at the front door with only a cloak wrapped around himself and a loincloth on. The two men joked for a while and Zoltan was told the group was at the Rampant Griffon watching the play – and they shared some info for a bit when around 9ish there was a frantic knock at the door.

Deidra was back, eyes covered in tears and screaming that someone had broken into her house, sister was badly wounded, and kids were missing, and if Detheron would PLEASE come to help. The two adventurers grabbed their gear and bear and wolf and ran out of the house and through town, Zoltan snagging two guards and getting them to follow.

They got to the house and front door had been staved in and lower floor was a wreck. A woman, a few years older than Deidra was on the floor, a bloody blanket wrapped around her midsection – pulse weak and face pale. The guards took a good look and one went off to get more help and a physician, one stayed and checked for clues on the lower floor and outside. Zoltan went upstairs- no kids – all three bedrooms were ransacked and wrecked.

Detheron checked over Ingrid who was hanging onto life weakly. He called to Frey and healed her – she had a dislocated jaw and a sword thrust to her gut. She had a bloody rag clutched in her hands and she regained consciousness and Deidra was amazed that Detheron was a healing priest! They spoke to Ingrid who said 4 or 5 bestial men burst in and she tried to fight them off but there were too many and too strong. Said they wanted the medallion but she didn't know what it was. The two kids were brought down and stuffed in bags and she was stabbed while fighting with the boss, some tall man, snatching a bit of cloth from him as they left her bleeding to death in the living room. Detheron looked at the bloody rag she was holding and in the parts that she was holding protected under her hands – it was some sort of orange and brown silky material.

Iohanas.

Zoltan was told to check in Gregor's room for a box he keeps under his bed – as most likely medallion the party dropped off before would be in there. He looked – box found – medallion not.

Detheron told Deidra to stay with sister. Deidra begged Detheron to please find her children. Detheron swore he would do so, Zoltan agreed. She looked at the two men and asked if they knew something about where her kids might be? They told her her husband's former employer Lycos Suns might be involved. Her eyes grew fierce and she ransacked her kitchen and came back with a thin key ring – saying it was her husband's copy of the keys to the fucking Lycos fucking Suns fucking Office.

Detheron and Deidra shared a fierce kiss and then the two adventurers left – Detheron running to the Rampant Griffon – Zoltan to the Twisted Forelock. Deth got the group out of the play and explained swiftly what happened. Party was aghast and ran back to home to get their gear and move it fast to Lycos Suns Office. Zoltan went to Eydis and told her he needed that favor/diversion from Gilof and Herod NOW. She told him five minutes and wished him luck.

And the group gathered in the shadows just shy of the Lycos Suns Office with purpose burning bright, a mission to perform, and vengeance in their eyes.

It is 9:30 PM on Workmonth the 2nd when we called it quits for the night. The next meeting is the 15th and as the party made noises about – it's time to start rolling the d20 and dishing out some payback.

Addon, Adv 4, Aftermath

After I had written the post report, I was getting a number of emails and comments from the party that that was great and Zoltan was wonderful and we should have him rip off lots of towns everytime - which was the entirely wrong message I wanted them to get!

So a few days later, I wrote up a small story that took place at the breakfast table in the morning after the rumor mongers and gossips made their rounds.

Follows here:

FOLLOW UP - 1st MORNING CONVERSATION IMMEDIATELY AFTER AWAKENING THE NEXT DAY:

Workmonth the 2nd, the party awakens to the smell of tea and cider and some sort of cinnamon porridge cooking as Flora and Inokis are chatting animatedly in the house's main kitchen. "Good morning, sirs," the comely wench offers, curtsying briefly.

Inokis waves, head bowing once as he struggles to work the too large piece of jam slathered bread he had bitten down his throat. "Morphenurn," he manages to get out as he works his jaw.

There is a full basket of vegetables and groceries, testament to Flora's already early morning visit to the market. "Breakfast is ready," she supplies, passing a stack of wooden dishes closer to you as you take a seat at the trestle table.

"I was just telling Inokis here some of the excitement the criers were shouting this morning. The Sheriff is up in arms and there is a mustering of extra patrols by order of Lord Daernhorse and Lord Gunnarson."

She begins skinning the dirt off a handful of carrots as she continues her tale. "According to the criers, there was a daring robbery last night at the Rampant Griffon, during the second act of the performance of The Damsel of Daggerdale. Someone or someones snuck into the Rampant Griffon and made their way to the room of the Dowager Felitharn from Seneshia."

"Seems she was enroute to Cymbarton with her late husband's son, Krellic, who was down in the theatre watching the performance. She was fatigued and retired early but said she awoke shortly after ten when in her dream filled terror, she realized that her wedding band, and other jewelry from the late Lord Felitharn had been stolen from her while she slept."

Flora shoves the carrots to the side and takes out some leeks, cutting the stringy greens off the tops before slicing into the thick body of the vegetables. "Not only that, as if losing your late husband’s gifts from some sneakthief isn't bad enough, her wall safe was opened and their money was taken as well. Including…if you can believe this, royal stamped platinum bars!" She looks up, surprise on her face at her own recanting. "I mean, taking platinum bars is like taking it from the Baron, the Count, or the King!"

"Supposedly they checked over the entire hotel and couldn't find the stolen goods or coinage which has the noble families up in arms over it. Magistrate Cottson has been personally charged with finding out who perpetrated this daring theft and to bring the culprits to justice. I am given to understand that Quilaric, the owner of the Rampant Griffon, is making personal restitution to the Dowager Felitharn for her loss and is at odds over what occurred. Especially since it has been some time since there has been any theft of note at the Griffon."

"There is a one-hundred and twenty-five crown bounty on the thief or thieves if any tips lead to their discovery and capture. According to the crier, the Dowager and her husband's son are leaving Ponyboro this afternoon and are expected to air their complaints directly to Count Cedric Sedaris and his Dragoons when they arrive in Cymbarton."

Inokis nods deeply. "Not surprising, given that there are stamped bars involved. Don't think the Baron Umbaria is going to be able to ignore this one." He takes another bite of his bread, "Any word on how many bars were stolen?"

"No," Flora answers. "The crier didn't say. But even if it's a few – those things sit in the banks, right?"

"That's true. It's a medium of exchange that the credit system between the banks is based upon. It's like…you have 10 apples in the cupboard to eat, right? And you know you need 7 to make a pie – so it's ok, because there are 3 still in there. Banks work like that. But what if 4 of the apples aren't there, but you have to make the pie? There isn't enough apples sitting around to allow you to do it – and at some point, someone is going to want to know – where are the damned apples?!"

Inks laughs, Flora follows, and the rest of the party joins in while the conversation moves on to what you are planning to do today and how soon before you get out the door to visit Thadar's wife, Deidre and her children.

Meet 19, Adv 4, 3/1/08

The party had the luxury of doing more town adventuring which was a nice change for them. They visited places and had adgendas and interacted with the populace in a way they had never had the luxury of doing before.

When I do town adventures, I often use the party as aids for LARPING and give them characters to play - making sure that everyone gets a chance. Normally it works out pretty well and everyone gets a laugh, but when you give up the reins of the cart to someone else, even after coaching them on what to sort of say, you have to expect them to run the damned wagon off the road.

That happened here. I had Matt and Jason play the leaders of the thieves guilds and wanted them to try and get Zoltan to join their guild - membership being about 150 crowns. They decided that they were going to take this into a different direction and wouldn't take no for an answer - and that the price was over 200 crowns! This lead to the Zoltan Theiving Spree that had just about every dice roll go in the theif's way as possible.

He netted more swag in an hour than the group had done in three times that amount of time slaying bad guys. Mind you, there are ALWAYS reprecussions - but for this night, Zoltan was truly the king of thieves.

Write up follows:

It was roughly Workmonth the 1st at 11:00 AM when we reconvened, scattered all over Ponyboro on a number of personal missions.

Detheron penned a missive to Matriarch Cassandra Silverbough, Highpriestess to the Temple of Frey where he asked the hard working Matron to contact him later for an audience. He then spent some time in the temple in prayer to his lord until a response arrived. Noting its contents and pocketing it, he wrapped up his time there and moved on to get some meal at the local tavern – the only place he remembered being mentioned – Eight Acres Black.

Gwyn, already at the tavern if you remember, watched Puck leave and then spent some time sitting here listening to the locals and sucking his ale slowly. He heard about the mill house, the local's opinion on the Coopersons and got a taste of the local looks and opinions all the while feeling like there was no need to walk around the strange town in the rain. So he sat there and waited until lunch time at which point he ordered a thick slab of hamsteak, some local bread, and had the entire affair slathered in freshly ground mustard seeds – eating the impromptu sandwich with gusto.

He was approached after a time by a man named Jullof – about late 30's, large framed, a craftsman of some sort. Some verbal sparring followed where it was learned that Jullof was looking to hire a lumber team for the Wolverton Estate and there was some interest in hiring out of towners as well as either half-orcs or dwarves (as they are pound for pound – good workers). Gwyn commented a bit on the fact of "Too many damned elves" around here and listened to the spiel – deciding it had merit. It was for 6 weeks worth of work – starting in one week, pay at 3 commons/day and all meals included. Anyone who needed a place to crash would be allowed one, but the pay would be reduced to 2 commons/day.

Puck wandered around the town circle, looking for fountains or statues, but finding none really – before asking direction a few times for the apothecist. Slogging through the rain, he followed the road toward the Silverbough Demesne, passing the temple of Frey, until he picked his way off the beaten trail to Thanasta Silverbough's Apothecary. There were some noises inside as he knocked and then an elven-ancestored woman opened the door, holding what looked like jewelers tools and her blouse splattered with blood. He was escorted in, told to sit in the cramped and narrow shoppe, while she went back to the dentistry she was performing on the man here.

She was extracting his tooth and listened to Puck's talk of headaches and head colds. A leeching was recommended (declined) as well as a haircut (accepted) and then Thanasta went about making up an elixir for Puck, telling him to drink it soon, every hour and he would be better. Puck left disgusted, feeling that if she was a "closet" mage – she was also an idiot and instead looked around for the glassblowers.

Karis rode with Guthorm, learning some of the places in town as well as some of the history of Ponyboro – their trail taking them around the outskirts of the Gunnarson Demesne and their horse farm. The Gunnarson's have a nephew/niece or the like with druidic contact/skill as well as one of them who is a king's man (ranger) – and this has given them some benefits in regards to husbandry over the last half dozen years. The half-ogre also learned that besides the Sheriff, mounted, and standard town militia – each noblehouse maintains their own private force as well (usual around 15-30) – and we saw a 6 count of them with the Gunnarson/Ponyboro tabard later on. The Wolverton, currently on the hardest time – relies on the town militia to patrol their grounds as Lord Ulric had to disband the private militia recently (2 years agoish).

Zoltan went to the Twisted Forelock where he rested and relaxed, the tavern set up smaller and different from the 8-Acres Black, the crowd a bit seedier. He kept his ears peeled for an Eydis, and discovered her to be a waitress waiting tables. After getting her attention with a call for new ale, he canted to her a bit and she in time – set up a meeting for him tonight (at 5) back here to meet with her bosses. Zoltan thanked her and finished his meal before leaving.

Deth came in to 8-Acres and watched Jullof leave Gwyn's table before joining him. They compared notes while the druid ordered a meal and some raw mutton to bring back with him and Gwyn glossed over how long he had been sitting there having a good time (even though there were no games yet for him to get in on).

Some conversation followed and Deth decided he was going to go home to see to Fodder and Smokey and Gwyn non-committedly said he'll be home soonish.

At the Glassblowers, Puck watched as the master was making some sort of bottle, 4-6 apprentices hanging around, as well as some locals which included a half dozen followers to Thor. He cast detect magic and spotted a number of things all over the place before singling out an apprentice with enchanted sandals. The youth, 17, thought Puck wanted to buy some glass ware, some sort of globe or flask with thin walls that would explode better when filled with oil and set on fire. The shoes were mentioned a few times and the youth said they were not for sale and eventually got bothered by Puck, declining to do business and asking him to leave and telling some of the other apprentices of the strange man. Puck left and hungry now, wandered home to get a free meal from Flora.

Karis' ride brought him around the back of the Wolverton Demesne and along the side of the Coopersons where he saw the wide fields and Guthorm mentioning something along the lines of 50k in sheep – the largest flock in the barony. Yolanda caught up with them, and lunch was suggested so they went to 8-Acres Black and grabbed a meal and some conversation – most of it about the Cooperson who seem to have some problem – as the two running the Demesne are stewarding it as Lord Cooperson passed away and his son and daughter (Beldric and Serilinis) are running it now. Although good business heads, neither are knighted or lorded – something is holding it up in court in Cymbarton.

Eventually the party reconvened at the house on Daernhorse's Demesne and traded info, talking, sharing notes, and finalizing plans for the night which involved: Karis' date with Yolanda at the Rampant Griffon to see a show at 7 PM, Zoltan's meeting with Eydis' bosses at the Twisted Forelock at around 5ish, and Puck wanting to go and see a man named Dardis at the Blessed Children of the Wilted Leaf Orphanage who was some sort of entertainer there (and could juggle fire according to Flora). Gwyn and Deth were going to hang out and chat with Flora all night (and Inks when he showed up later).

Zoltan went and made it to the Forelock on time. He talked for a bit with Eydis who led him then to see Herod and Gilof, two headmasters of the Ponyboro Thief Guild (played by Matt and Jason – way to go larping and helping me out guys!). The gypsy was not treated well and his home was laughed at, as well as Keohn. There was talk about not being a freelance artists and must join a guild and then something went wrong. Zoltan was told he can't leave the table and Gilof needs a gift for his time, money. Talk to me you need a gift. And Zoltan offered his meager pouch with maybe 6 crowns in it and they wanted know where the rest was (it was in Orihalcus) – and Zoltan tried to run for it by cloak flinging himself but Herod was a touch faster and daggered Zoltan's cloak to the table and stuck the thief/bard with a 2nd blade and it was nighty night for Zoltan.

He awoke a while later (hour and a half to be accurate) naked and his gear spread out while two toughs, Gilof and Herod, and a thief-mage was going through the stuff of our battered bard. He was told he was stupid and has a problem now. These thieves were holding the entire adventuring guild responsible for what they considered to be Zoltan’s impertinence and a price of 200 crowns was mentioned. It didn't look good as he was hit again and again when he didn't answer fast enough.

Zoltan was a bit cocky and offered to get the money if they would let him go – they decided to – giving him 72 hours to pay them – they were keeping the cloak until then. The gypsy said he could get double for them – so now it was 400 crowns (incidentally - this was NOT the way I expected this to go) and they said if he failed – he was dead. Zoltan asked if anyplace was under protection – but Gilof and Herod failed to hear it and the matter was closed. Then Zoltan was knocked out and he awoke later thrown in a muddy ditch outside of Gunnarson's Whiskey – a distillery house.

Karis' date was going well. Yolanda was dressed wonderfully and with a bodyguard or two following, they went to the Rampant Griffon to get dinner and see the play. Some conversation ensued and more was learned about the power play in town. The 5 houses get along well enough, but some matters are swept under the rug. Karis asked in a roundabout way about problems with a particular house and lordship and getting them in trouble and what not – and Yolanda told him that if it came to her and she had to get involved – it could be taken out of her hands and the Magistrate (Cottson) could make the matter disappear. If Karis needed to prove something “wrong” he should get her when the damage could not be "hidden" if that was possible – and Karis seemed to understand her implications.

Puck wandered to the Orphanage where he met with Dardis, a heavy-set man who worked there. There was some verbal sparring back and forth about songs and trading and stuff like that and Puck tried to ray of frost to prove his skill but Dardis dispel magicked it and then it was “set the impertinent neophyte in place” time.

Was told about the need for secrecy from the townspeople and common folk. Delarrin's issues (the former count) and the last 14 years of the scattering of the mages and the art. And Puck's needed to stop thinking he was hiding his spellwork in town – as he wasn't. If he was caught – they would burn him at the stake, no questions asked. It was recommended he should join the mage's guild in Cymbarton as soon as possible – and when able to, take the Test.

Puck asked about it, and Dardis told him that the Test challenges a mage in what he knows and what he's capable of doing and what kind of a person he is. Not everyone takes it, as it is dangerous and could be deadly to those not ready or able to master the skills involved. But for those who do take the test – they learn much and it helps them out tremendously in the future. Puck talked with Dardis for a while and eventually left – smarter and richer in knowledge.

A messenger from Matriarch Cassandra summoned Detheron to visit the priestess at the temple of Frey where he spoke with the Matronly woman for a while. She was no nonsense and offered him 6 minutes to talk about what he wanted to. So Deth pulled out the chalky bluish stone/egg we had and she keeled backwards in surprise – saying it was a blue dragon egg. She asked him if it had been hit by a bolt of lightning or the like and he said no – and she said that's a good thing – as if it did – it would incubate the egg and two months later it would hatch which would be BAD. Besides having a baby blue dragon here – a dragon birth does two things: 1) a raw influx of magic sucks into the area which would alert anything affected by that sort of thing that something like that happened (normally, dragons hatch far from civilization – so no one ever knows about it) and 2) it sends a beacon to dragons that a birth occurred who usually want to come and INVESTIGATE it. Yeah, you know – invite a pile of blue dragons to pay a visit to Detheron wherever he is.

Cassandra took the egg off his hands.

Then, our “gorilla” wielding druid whipped out the sundered unicorn horn which fired up the Matriarch again. She immediately hit him with a "geas" to go and find whoever did this to the unicorn and exact vengeance in name of Lord Frey AND to find the tortured beast wherever he/it is and try to repair its horn to its body once more. It takes lots of magic to sunder a unicorn's horn and a wizard/sorcerer is most likely culprit. Once horn is removed – THEN the unicorn can be "bled" and its fluids harvested – unicorn blood is a component in many rituals - some/many of them necromantic.

Finally – Heimdall's Bulwark. Could it be recharged? Maybe – roots of Yggdrassil, pure pool like god's tears, magical places- a holy site to Heimdall (try Principia). There was mentioned a temple south of here on the Blackwater River – far south – 140 miles plus. Place of power.

Detheron left smarter and returned to the Daernhorse Demesne.

Zoltan, figuring no place is under the guild's protection, started with breaking into the 1st building he saw – the distillery. Wandering around for a while he realized a guard dog was within and left. (I am glossing over LOTS of detail here by the way). Rethinking of his mission – he struck out for the grandest building in town proper – the 4 story hotel - the Rampant Griffon. There was a show playing there – so most people SHOULD be downstairs seeing the show – leaving their rooms untended to and filled with riches.

The thief/bard avoided the back door, climbed to the second floor, found an unlocked window, went in, ripped off about 30 crowns worth of junk and then picked his way up to the richer rooms on the 4th floor. It seemed that every hotel guard was NOT on duty (damned dice loved Zoltan tonight!) and he went into a room at the end of the hall (by the way – there was a lot of lock picking and the like). Some stuff in here, but couldn't get into the wall safe so decided to try another room. Snuck in and there was a woman asleep on the bed. The dice clattered and effectively Zoltan had achieved a “32” on his move silently so he could have done the "ha-cha-cha" on the 70 year old woman and she would have stayed asleep. He stole her mink wrap, earrings, rings, jewelry, and then hit the wall safe – successfully cracking this one. Snagged 220 crowns, 220 nobles – and 10 platinum bars. With the jewels, he had more than enough – so he considered himself SUPER lucky and left out the same door, back down to the 2nd floor, back out the window and made his way BACK to the Twisted Forelock.

The rest of the group met with Inks who came home tired with lots of info.
*Pherrid works for the Lycos Suns and not for the Wolverton Estate – but was contracted on the Wolverton Estate by Steward Lornwylf to handle animal husbandry.
*Vanir is co-president of the Lycos Suns – for about 8-10 years. There is another but no name appears on any tax records. Most likely a silent partner.
*There are no poisonry books per-se not written by Cruros, but the Silverbough archive might have. Will check there tomorrow.
*Address for Thadar Teamster, wife Deidra, and kids Gregor and Hani was given.
*Address for Lycos Suns was given.
*There is no record of a Djohrgahd but that is not surprising as there was no family name, profession, or anything given.

That wrapped up Inks and the party went to sleep.

Zoltan met with Gilof and Herod who were surprised to see him back. He gave them the mink, jewels, and 5 of the platinum bars as payment (keeping the other 5 and the coin) and he was welcomed to the Ponyboro Thieves Guild and given a membership coin.

By the way – there will be LOTS of fallout from Zoltan's escapade – but that's the next day.

And that wrapped us up – we pick it up on Workmonth the 2nd – our 2nd day in town. We most likely only have one more day –and we still need to do/visit at least 3 things on our list of party agenda:
1) Thadar's Family and return the bronze medallion, talk with them.
2) Lycos Suns Office – visit and see what their face operation is and get some info.
3) Wolverton Estate even if Sir Ulric is not here and see the estate grounds without being bothered.