Real Date: 17-Dec-2011
Game Date: 26/1
In the bunk room they find
76GP
Topaz
Dwarven Scale Armour
They explore some more and find a room with a caged dire boar.
Demonic Gnoll Scourge and his friend attack Morthos
Book of Wrath Unveiled - is this the tome they are looking for?
They free 2x tieflings who are very grateful. They were mercenaries but don't want to die so they gratefully take their leave.
Along another corridor with blood on the floor they are halted by the ghosts of dead adventurers - a human, a dwarf and a female elf. They are Valdrog, Sir Terris and Mendara. They are also very grumpy with the female elf stating that the party are weak and won't be able to complete the quest to find the mask, the blade, the tome and the bell. These must be placed on the runes east of the proving grounds to complete the ceremony.
Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts
Friday, April 27, 2012
Journal #17 - November 2011
Real Date: 19-Nov-2012
Game Date: 24/1 [continued]
They reach a chamber with rough-hewn walls and three boulders... where they are attacked by a big bronzey thing and 2x tieflings. The bronzey thing is a warder, which takes Baeshra down. Morthos and Tryn each kill themselves a tiefling in the battle. The party recover three scrolls...
A scruffily written note which read, "Deal with these adventurers...don't care how you do it. Take one of the bronze warders if you must. If they remain in the Labyrinth, they could disrupt my plans. Once you’ve dealt with them, deliver their bodies to our gnoll friends, along with the enclosed scroll - Paldemar"
The second scroll was more lavish, "Maldrick Scarmaker, Exalted Chieftain of The Blackfangs, Chosen of Yeenoghu: Paldemar offers you the corpses of these champions as a gift of ongoing friendship, that our arrangement might continue to be mutually beneficial. May you savour their blood."
The third was a map of the labyrinth directing the reader to The Well of Demons annotated with "Blackfangs"
The party take an extended rest and head back to the Seven Pillared Hall where they quiz Mother Moon about Paldemar. she says he was one of the Mages of Saren that run the Hall but he's been missing for a while. She also knows that the Blackfangs are a group of gnolls that lurk deep down below. She says it's best if they show the scrolls to Orontor (the Duty Mage)
Orontor goes on to offer the party 5000gp for information and another 3000gp to stop Paldemar's activities.
Ash does some research into Yeenoghu and reveals that he is a Demon Prince - the Demon Lord of Gnolls, no less.
Game Date: 25/1
Set off down the Road of Shadows to start journey to the Well of Demons. They encounter a large room with a well and minotaurs carved into the columns. A loud booming voice asks the party to prove they are worthy of the Blessing of Baphomet, "Mask, Bell, Blade and Tome".
They are then attacked by 2x chokers and a tentacled thingy. There is also a ghoul hiding in the shadows. Tryn slays a choker with a single hit and Asteron is grabbed by the tentacles. Ouchie.
[xp6008]
Whilst they take a short rest a spectral minotaur appears and lets out an agonised wail. They are then attacked by 4x gnolls and another with a crossbow. However, sadly in this battle, Asteron is slain. Slain to death. Dead. Gone.
[xp6248]
Game Date: 24/1 [continued]
They reach a chamber with rough-hewn walls and three boulders... where they are attacked by a big bronzey thing and 2x tieflings. The bronzey thing is a warder, which takes Baeshra down. Morthos and Tryn each kill themselves a tiefling in the battle. The party recover three scrolls...
A scruffily written note which read, "Deal with these adventurers...don't care how you do it. Take one of the bronze warders if you must. If they remain in the Labyrinth, they could disrupt my plans. Once you’ve dealt with them, deliver their bodies to our gnoll friends, along with the enclosed scroll - Paldemar"
The second scroll was more lavish, "Maldrick Scarmaker, Exalted Chieftain of The Blackfangs, Chosen of Yeenoghu: Paldemar offers you the corpses of these champions as a gift of ongoing friendship, that our arrangement might continue to be mutually beneficial. May you savour their blood."
The third was a map of the labyrinth directing the reader to The Well of Demons annotated with "Blackfangs"
The party take an extended rest and head back to the Seven Pillared Hall where they quiz Mother Moon about Paldemar. she says he was one of the Mages of Saren that run the Hall but he's been missing for a while. She also knows that the Blackfangs are a group of gnolls that lurk deep down below. She says it's best if they show the scrolls to Orontor (the Duty Mage)
Orontor goes on to offer the party 5000gp for information and another 3000gp to stop Paldemar's activities.
Ash does some research into Yeenoghu and reveals that he is a Demon Prince - the Demon Lord of Gnolls, no less.
Game Date: 25/1
Set off down the Road of Shadows to start journey to the Well of Demons. They encounter a large room with a well and minotaurs carved into the columns. A loud booming voice asks the party to prove they are worthy of the Blessing of Baphomet, "Mask, Bell, Blade and Tome".
They are then attacked by 2x chokers and a tentacled thingy. There is also a ghoul hiding in the shadows. Tryn slays a choker with a single hit and Asteron is grabbed by the tentacles. Ouchie.
[xp6008]
Whilst they take a short rest a spectral minotaur appears and lets out an agonised wail. They are then attacked by 4x gnolls and another with a crossbow. However, sadly in this battle, Asteron is slain. Slain to death. Dead. Gone.
[xp6248]
Friday, November 18, 2011
Journal #16 - September 2011
Real Date: 24-Sep-2011Game Date: 23/1
They head down a corridor and find two closed doors on opposite sides. Baeshra opens one of these doors. Now the sensible thing to do would be to just open one door and deal with whatever happens before moving on. However, Morthos had other ideas! The party now find themselves attacked on two sides! Orcs and ogre to one side and duergar on the other. Challenging, to say the least.
It turned out that one of those duergar was the mysterious Murkelmoor that they had heard mention of before. However, this news is of little comfort to Ash, Balasar and Morthos who are all killed in the mad battle.
Murkelmoor's Maul
+ Key
Chest with 260GP
+ Amulet
+ Onyx demon idol with ruby eyes (250GP)
Tryn and Baeshra find the slaves and ask for their help to carry the bodies of their fallen comrades back to the Seven Pillared Hall...
Back in the Temple of The Hidden Light of Arathis the party ask Phaledra to raise their friends from the dead. This she does for the small fee of 2500GP.
Game Date: 24/1
There is a note passed to Baeshra. The author claims to be in a position of authority and wants help to defeat their erstwhile comrades in the evil organisation. They claim that they "want out" and ask the party to follow the attached map to meet in secret.
Meanwhile, in the bar Baeshra and Tryn get friendly with a minotaur called Asteron who the party decide can join them on a trial basis. The three of them head off to the meeting location, leaving the other party members behind to recuperate.
They reach a chamber with rough-hewn walls and three boulders...
Friday, September 23, 2011
Journal #15 - June 2011
Real Date: 04-Jun-2011
Game Date: 21/1
There is a cold wind as the chapel doors are opened. within there is a minotaur statue surrounded by piles of rubble. Ash is suspicious but can find no trace of undead creatures. It gets colder as Baeshra as Balasar rummage around and try to open a door and then five wights arise from the ruins. Ash tries to turn the vile creatures but Pelor ignores his pleas - twice! There is a close fought battle in which the party take lots of necrotic damage. Ash eventually hits one of the undead creatures with a Daunting Light but is soon felled in battle. With masterful control of his Spinning Blade, Tryn finished off the wight that had downed Ash. He then goes on to stabilise Ash to stop him from dying and then kills the last of the wights.
[5400XP]
Game Date: 22/1
The party head down a some steps and hear voices, talking of "plucking out eye." Baeshra opens the door and finds a room with 3x wells... and 2x devilish figures, 2x duergar and 1x uber-duergar. The party are hit with poison and darkness spells but Ash is able cast a Cascade of Light on one of the flying devilish creatures at the same time as Tryn unleashes the devastating Spinning Blade on the same creature. Ash finish it off with a Daunting Light and it dies... But victory is short-lived as Ash is downed again! Tryn stabilises Ash (again!) but Baeshra falls at the end of the battle.
[5650XP]
The 3x wells in the room were actually slave pits and contains the slaves captured from the Riverdaun. There is a goblin amongst the slaves who calls Morthos rather unpleasant names. Morthos, being the tolerant and gentle creature that he is, promptly blows the goblin to pieces. The slaves inform the party that two of their number are missing, they were taken away by gnolls.
Game Date: 23/1
After long periods of extended rest the party are ready to move on to Murkelmoor in search of an answer to the slave trade problem...
Game Date: 21/1
There is a cold wind as the chapel doors are opened. within there is a minotaur statue surrounded by piles of rubble. Ash is suspicious but can find no trace of undead creatures. It gets colder as Baeshra as Balasar rummage around and try to open a door and then five wights arise from the ruins. Ash tries to turn the vile creatures but Pelor ignores his pleas - twice! There is a close fought battle in which the party take lots of necrotic damage. Ash eventually hits one of the undead creatures with a Daunting Light but is soon felled in battle. With masterful control of his Spinning Blade, Tryn finished off the wight that had downed Ash. He then goes on to stabilise Ash to stop him from dying and then kills the last of the wights.
[5400XP]
Game Date: 22/1
The party head down a some steps and hear voices, talking of "plucking out eye." Baeshra opens the door and finds a room with 3x wells... and 2x devilish figures, 2x duergar and 1x uber-duergar. The party are hit with poison and darkness spells but Ash is able cast a Cascade of Light on one of the flying devilish creatures at the same time as Tryn unleashes the devastating Spinning Blade on the same creature. Ash finish it off with a Daunting Light and it dies... But victory is short-lived as Ash is downed again! Tryn stabilises Ash (again!) but Baeshra falls at the end of the battle.
[5650XP]
The 3x wells in the room were actually slave pits and contains the slaves captured from the Riverdaun. There is a goblin amongst the slaves who calls Morthos rather unpleasant names. Morthos, being the tolerant and gentle creature that he is, promptly blows the goblin to pieces. The slaves inform the party that two of their number are missing, they were taken away by gnolls.
Game Date: 23/1
After long periods of extended rest the party are ready to move on to Murkelmoor in search of an answer to the slave trade problem...
Friday, June 3, 2011
Journal #14 - April 2011
Game Date: 21/1 (cont)
The portcullis raises, suprising the party members who were dithering around arguing over how to approach the portcullis. Two duergar step out of the keep and take on the might of Baeshra and Balasar, they then phase step back out of the way and shoot beard quills at the fabulous B&B. Two more duergar rush forth and engage Tryn and Ash. Morthps whips out an Eldritch Blast followed by Ash's Divine Glow and battle is joined...
[4995XP]
After a short rest the party cross the chasm via the bridge and find a guard post on the other side with 3 more duergar in. For some nefarious mysterious reason Morthos decides to explore on his won while the rest of the party battle the duergar. Only when Morthos returns does the party have the combined strength to finish of the enemy.
[40GP, 3x100GP rubies]
Monday, January 31, 2011
Journal #13 - January 2011
Real Date: 15-Jan-2011
Game Date: 21/01 (cont)
The party enter the fortress after dispatching the orcs and find an armoury wherein they decide to disable whatever weapons they can before moving on. They move on and hear the sounds of a forge and decide to attack on two fronts. They battle the orcs and a duergar blacksmith named Irwal. Unfortunately, two of the enemy get away towards the end of the battle. They find Irwal's chamber and strip it of the goodies they find...
[106GP, 206SP and a sceptre with a skull on the end]
[4625XP]
They decide to head back to the Seven Pillared Hall to take the sceptre to Gemdar and to rest and recuperate. Gemdar offers 300GP for the sceptre but the party refuses this offer on principal, holding out for more. However, Gemdar is sticking to his guns and won't budge on the price he offers.
Game Date: 22/01
[4825XP]
They continue forth and make their way back to the portcullis at the entrance to the Horned Hold where they see 2x duergar on guard and the portcullis restored to its original sturdy self...
Friday, January 14, 2011
Journal #12 - December 2010
Real Date: 11-Dec-2010
Game Date: 20/01
The party decide to take their prisoners back to the Seven Pillared Hall and hand them over to Orontor. They also show Orontor the letter they had found from Krand to the Blood Reavers. Orontor tells them to summon the Ordinator, which Ash promptly does, but with some trepidation. A black-robed and figure materialises on the dais and inspires awe in all who see him. He is wearing a mask in the shape of a stylised human face.
Ordinator Arcanis raises his staff and immediately obliterates the prisoners, steps back and disappears again without a word.
Rendell says that Dreskin in the hall has a contract to sell goods to the Duergar Glimmerzhul Clan, who have a presence in the hall.
Ask and Tryn talk with Dreskin and offer to do a delivery for him for a cheap cost for the first mission.
Meanwhile Balasar and Baeshra wander into a less reputable inn and end up challenging Brugg to an arm-wresting challenge. Balasar impresses Brugg with his prowess but Baeshra puts in a poor show and is easily beaten.
Ash, Tryn and Morthos take the Life Drinker Scimitar they had found earlier to Gemdar Curios to sell. After much arghuing he agrees to buy it for 900GP if they will perform a task for him - find a Drow Sceptre that is in the possession of the duergar. He will pay handsomely for it's "return" to him but won't say any more than it's in the Horned Hold. If they want a map then he will sell it to them for 200GP. They agree to the proposal - after all, they still have 700GP more than when they walked into his shop and a mission to accomplish with the promise of more riches.
Game Date: 21/01
On to the Road of Shadows they come across a chasm which is approximately 300' deep which they manage to cross and a frew hours later they reach the end of the map, finding themselves on an unmarked trail. After stumbling along for a while, Tryn realises they are close to their destination and leads the party to the Horned Hold. There are two bridges which lead across a moat-like affair to a fortress.
Orcs are spotted lurking in the fortress so the party decide a full-frontal assault is what's in order! Balasar hurls his acid breath at the portcullis and battle ensues. Balasra takes many attempts but eventually manages to rip the portcullis from the wall and the remaining orcs are killed.
Game Date: 20/01
The party decide to take their prisoners back to the Seven Pillared Hall and hand them over to Orontor. They also show Orontor the letter they had found from Krand to the Blood Reavers. Orontor tells them to summon the Ordinator, which Ash promptly does, but with some trepidation. A black-robed and figure materialises on the dais and inspires awe in all who see him. He is wearing a mask in the shape of a stylised human face.
Ordinator Arcanis raises his staff and immediately obliterates the prisoners, steps back and disappears again without a word.
Rendell says that Dreskin in the hall has a contract to sell goods to the Duergar Glimmerzhul Clan, who have a presence in the hall.
Ask and Tryn talk with Dreskin and offer to do a delivery for him for a cheap cost for the first mission.
Meanwhile Balasar and Baeshra wander into a less reputable inn and end up challenging Brugg to an arm-wresting challenge. Balasar impresses Brugg with his prowess but Baeshra puts in a poor show and is easily beaten.
Ash, Tryn and Morthos take the Life Drinker Scimitar they had found earlier to Gemdar Curios to sell. After much arghuing he agrees to buy it for 900GP if they will perform a task for him - find a Drow Sceptre that is in the possession of the duergar. He will pay handsomely for it's "return" to him but won't say any more than it's in the Horned Hold. If they want a map then he will sell it to them for 200GP. They agree to the proposal - after all, they still have 700GP more than when they walked into his shop and a mission to accomplish with the promise of more riches.
Game Date: 21/01On to the Road of Shadows they come across a chasm which is approximately 300' deep which they manage to cross and a frew hours later they reach the end of the map, finding themselves on an unmarked trail. After stumbling along for a while, Tryn realises they are close to their destination and leads the party to the Horned Hold. There are two bridges which lead across a moat-like affair to a fortress.
Orcs are spotted lurking in the fortress so the party decide a full-frontal assault is what's in order! Balasar hurls his acid breath at the portcullis and battle ensues. Balasra takes many attempts but eventually manages to rip the portcullis from the wall and the remaining orcs are killed.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Journal #11 - November 2010
Real Date: 10-Nov-2010
Game Date: 19/01
Arranis never makes it back to Tryn and the others. Instead, a tiefling warlock named Morthos turns up and claims that he found Arranis as he lay dying and with his last breath sent Morthos to find Tryn and gave him a potion of healing that he had bought in the hall. Tryn gives the potion to Ash who then heals the rest of the party.
After lamenting the loss of their friend, they move on and encounter another goblin - Chief Krand himself, who they had taken by surprise. He is finished off by an Eldritch Blast from Morthos - the parties new best friend!
At the next chamber, they attempt a rather cunning plan and station themselves at different entrances and all enter at the same time, declaring "Krand is dead! Surrender or die!". Naturally, there is a big fight but it is quickly over.
[1350xp/5=270xp each]
In the next room they meet and surprise more goblins and humans gambling. The two goblins surrender and are inimidated by Morthos intio revealing that any slaves that come through their hands are sold to the duergar.
[950xp/5=190xp each]
Treasure
Krand
5x 100GP gems
450GP
500SP
Letter - a contract to buy Riverdown slaves for 1000 GP which is signed by Murkelmor Grimmerzhul and dated 2 days ago.
Armour - +2 power bonus to saving throw, daily power = free action (given to Tryn)
Gamblers
2x 100GP gems
72GP
Scimitar +1 (to attack and damage) Life Drinker (Critical = +d6 necrotic damage)
Game Date: 19/01
Arranis never makes it back to Tryn and the others. Instead, a tiefling warlock named Morthos turns up and claims that he found Arranis as he lay dying and with his last breath sent Morthos to find Tryn and gave him a potion of healing that he had bought in the hall. Tryn gives the potion to Ash who then heals the rest of the party.
After lamenting the loss of their friend, they move on and encounter another goblin - Chief Krand himself, who they had taken by surprise. He is finished off by an Eldritch Blast from Morthos - the parties new best friend!
At the next chamber, they attempt a rather cunning plan and station themselves at different entrances and all enter at the same time, declaring "Krand is dead! Surrender or die!". Naturally, there is a big fight but it is quickly over.
[1350xp/5=270xp each]
In the next room they meet and surprise more goblins and humans gambling. The two goblins surrender and are inimidated by Morthos intio revealing that any slaves that come through their hands are sold to the duergar.
[950xp/5=190xp each]
Treasure
Krand
5x 100GP gems
450GP
500SP
Letter - a contract to buy Riverdown slaves for 1000 GP which is signed by Murkelmor Grimmerzhul and dated 2 days ago.
Armour - +2 power bonus to saving throw, daily power = free action (given to Tryn)
Gamblers
2x 100GP gems
72GP
Scimitar +1 (to attack and damage) Life Drinker (Critical = +d6 necrotic damage)
Journal #10 - October 2010
Real Date: 09-Oct-10
Game Date: 19/01
The party spend some time exploring and getting to know the environs of the hall. Tryn chats with Vadriar the Sage who explains that the most senior official in the hall is Ordinator Arcanis.
Ash approaches Orontor, a senior human figure around 30 years of age and of a sour disposition, asking if there are any employment opportunities. Orontor is impessed when Ash regales him with the tale of the rescue of Rendell and he promises to meet the party at a later date to discuss a possible job.
Later, Rendell tells the party that, to find the Chamber of Eyes, they should leave via the Dragon Door and follow the Prospector's route and turn left after the fire-staring eyes - a big door with an eye on it.
Game Date: 20/01
Set off for the Chamber of Eyes and reach a door with a lintel. Baeshra opens the door to look inside and beyond is a chamber with statues and voices. The party form a subtle plan and Baeshra knocks on the door and says, "we bring slaves". The answer comes back, "we aren't expecting any?"
Tryn finds another way into the chamber complexbut encounters two hobgoblins. One dies quickly at the hands of Tryn and the other is frozen by Arranis and then quickly dispatched. During a lull in the battle Ash heals the wounded.
Then Ash and Baeshra smash in the door to the complex and run into a goblin on the other side. Tryn and Balasar battle a bugbear. Baeshra goes off alone and encounters two duergar that floor him. Deeper inside the complex are more goblins and a warcaster. Arranis freezes the warcaster and is actually the last one left standing. In this darkest moment of need, Kelemvor himself intervenes and raises Tryn whi stays to look after the other fallen party members while Arranis goes looking for help back in the Seven Pillared Hall...
Game Date: 19/01
The party spend some time exploring and getting to know the environs of the hall. Tryn chats with Vadriar the Sage who explains that the most senior official in the hall is Ordinator Arcanis.
Ash approaches Orontor, a senior human figure around 30 years of age and of a sour disposition, asking if there are any employment opportunities. Orontor is impessed when Ash regales him with the tale of the rescue of Rendell and he promises to meet the party at a later date to discuss a possible job.
Later, Rendell tells the party that, to find the Chamber of Eyes, they should leave via the Dragon Door and follow the Prospector's route and turn left after the fire-staring eyes - a big door with an eye on it.
Game Date: 20/01
Tryn finds another way into the chamber complexbut encounters two hobgoblins. One dies quickly at the hands of Tryn and the other is frozen by Arranis and then quickly dispatched. During a lull in the battle Ash heals the wounded.
Then Ash and Baeshra smash in the door to the complex and run into a goblin on the other side. Tryn and Balasar battle a bugbear. Baeshra goes off alone and encounters two duergar that floor him. Deeper inside the complex are more goblins and a warcaster. Arranis freezes the warcaster and is actually the last one left standing. In this darkest moment of need, Kelemvor himself intervenes and raises Tryn whi stays to look after the other fallen party members while Arranis goes looking for help back in the Seven Pillared Hall...
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Journal #9 - September 2010
Real Date: 11-Sep-10
Game Date: 13/01
Tryn investigates the pit and finds nothing... except pain when he falls 30 feet straight down. Ash decides that it is a good move to deconsecrate the evil temple and paints the holy symbol of Pelor on the walls. For reasons best known to himself, Arranis decides to send a Magic Missile whizzing into the rift and then plays with a blue glowing circle that is inscribed on the ground in front of the rift. he soon regrets this as excruciating pain rips through his wizardly body.
The party head back up to the previous level to go and face the ochre jellies again, much to the protestations of Ash who thinks they should just be left alone and would be a waste of time. They spy a message on a door that states "Stay Out! Really!". Ash thinks that would be a good idea but Baeshra kicks the door in. Beyond the shattered remains of the door there are a set of stairs heading downwards covered in fungus. At the bottom of the stairs is a pool in a large chamber with an island in the middle of it.
On the island can be seen coins and other valuable stuff. There are ripples on the surface of the water so Tryn
decides he should shoot a slingbullet at it. Balasar jumps across the pool to the island. Ash thinks to himself, "How hard can this be?" and then promptly throws himself in the water as he fails to make it across to the island.
Ash is attacked by a blue slime and is quickly killed, with his last words being, "I didn't even want to go in there!"
On the island there is a shield, a potion and a message scroll. There is a map of the area showing the location of the Shadowfell and a couple of message parchments. The first message reads,
The second message is much more intriguing and reads,
This message is signed... “Chief Krand of the Bloodreavers.”
[750xp/4]
Treasure
Potion of ?
Shield of ?
Game Date: 15/01
Back to Winterhaven, where Ash's body is deposited with Sister Linora along with a large amount of gold (500GP).
The party head off to see Lord Pardraig whilst Ash is being seen raised by Sister Linora. Pardraig hands over the reward for completing the Keep quest and, once told of the Thunderspire message, asks the team to investigate further.
The party make some enquiries at the inn and Valthrun talks of the history of Thunderspire Mountain, claiming that a city was built there by the minotaurs. He goes on to explain that this valley was once ruled by the minotaur lords of Saruun Khel around 300 years ago. He also mentions that he has heard tell of the Seven Pillared Hall and the Labyrinth as well as the secretive mages of Saruun
Game Date: 17/01
Before leaving town the party sell off a bunch of items that they had accumulated in recent adventures. After much careful negotiation they decide to allocate each party member 100GP and to leave 1913 GP in the party "fund".
They then set off for the village of Fallcrest, which is on the way to the Thunderspire Mountain and home to many of the party. They split up to visit various friends and relatives.
Game Date: 18/01
They set off to investigate the Bloodreavers of Thunderspire. They reach the entrance called "The Minotaur Gate", which is the entrance to Saruun Khel which leads to the Road of Lanterns, a twisty-turny road which you should never keave for fear of getting lost for ever. The road ends in a massive chamber known as The Seven Pillared Hall which has a number of buildings and alcoves dottend around. The first building encountered is the Custom House wth an ogre named "Brug" on guard. There is a human with him who has the superior air of soemone in charge, more likely the power behind the scenes.
The party make their way to the Halfmoon Inn which is run Eva Halfmoon - a relative of Tryn's, no less! After some happy reunions, Eva says that her nephew Rendell has gone missing and hasn't been seen for some time. She offers free lodgings if the party can find him.. When asked about the Bloodreavers she says that they are a band of hobgoblins that lurk in the area. Whilst listening to the general chatter in the room, there is mention fo "Bloodreavers" and the "Chamber of Eyes".
Tryn spies a few hobgoblins heading down a corridor and quickly rounds up the rest of the party to follow them. After exploring the maze of corridors they find a room and Tryn hears voices beyond the door and learns that Rendell is being held captive by some hobgoblins. The party take on the hobgoblins and are victorious, with Baeshra showing particular skill in this battle against the boss.
Treasure
Shock Staff from boss hobgoblin (Lightning weapon, +8 vs AC)
5x flails from other hobgoblins
Rendell explains that he was following the hobgoblins and also mentions the Chamber of Eyes. He leads the party back to the hall and is happily reunited with his mother, Eva Halfmoon.
Game Date: 13/01
Tryn investigates the pit and finds nothing... except pain when he falls 30 feet straight down. Ash decides that it is a good move to deconsecrate the evil temple and paints the holy symbol of Pelor on the walls. For reasons best known to himself, Arranis decides to send a Magic Missile whizzing into the rift and then plays with a blue glowing circle that is inscribed on the ground in front of the rift. he soon regrets this as excruciating pain rips through his wizardly body.
The party head back up to the previous level to go and face the ochre jellies again, much to the protestations of Ash who thinks they should just be left alone and would be a waste of time. They spy a message on a door that states "Stay Out! Really!". Ash thinks that would be a good idea but Baeshra kicks the door in. Beyond the shattered remains of the door there are a set of stairs heading downwards covered in fungus. At the bottom of the stairs is a pool in a large chamber with an island in the middle of it.
On the island can be seen coins and other valuable stuff. There are ripples on the surface of the water so Tryn
decides he should shoot a slingbullet at it. Balasar jumps across the pool to the island. Ash thinks to himself, "How hard can this be?" and then promptly throws himself in the water as he fails to make it across to the island.
Ash is attacked by a blue slime and is quickly killed, with his last words being, "I didn't even want to go in there!"
On the island there is a shield, a potion and a message scroll. There is a map of the area showing the location of the Shadowfell and a couple of message parchments. The first message reads,
“Remember, don’t wet the nodule—unless Kalarel is not receptive to the offer. Then, wet it only from a distance, and then, turn and run. Water will bring the creature out of its dormancy, and it will consume anything it can reach.”
The second message is much more intriguing and reads,
“Greetings, Kalarel. I have recently learned of your activity in the area and have an offer for you. During your time in this region, if you should capture any humanoids, we are eager to buy them. We have duergar allies in Thunderspire in need of slave stock. If you are interested, send an envoy back to me. My messengers will show the way."
This message is signed... “Chief Krand of the Bloodreavers.”
[750xp/4]
Treasure
Potion of ?
Shield of ?
Game Date: 15/01
Back to Winterhaven, where Ash's body is deposited with Sister Linora along with a large amount of gold (500GP).
The party head off to see Lord Pardraig whilst Ash is being seen raised by Sister Linora. Pardraig hands over the reward for completing the Keep quest and, once told of the Thunderspire message, asks the team to investigate further.
The party make some enquiries at the inn and Valthrun talks of the history of Thunderspire Mountain, claiming that a city was built there by the minotaurs. He goes on to explain that this valley was once ruled by the minotaur lords of Saruun Khel around 300 years ago. He also mentions that he has heard tell of the Seven Pillared Hall and the Labyrinth as well as the secretive mages of Saruun
Game Date: 17/01
Before leaving town the party sell off a bunch of items that they had accumulated in recent adventures. After much careful negotiation they decide to allocate each party member 100GP and to leave 1913 GP in the party "fund".
They then set off for the village of Fallcrest, which is on the way to the Thunderspire Mountain and home to many of the party. They split up to visit various friends and relatives.
Game Date: 18/01
They set off to investigate the Bloodreavers of Thunderspire. They reach the entrance called "The Minotaur Gate", which is the entrance to Saruun Khel which leads to the Road of Lanterns, a twisty-turny road which you should never keave for fear of getting lost for ever. The road ends in a massive chamber known as The Seven Pillared Hall which has a number of buildings and alcoves dottend around. The first building encountered is the Custom House wth an ogre named "Brug" on guard. There is a human with him who has the superior air of soemone in charge, more likely the power behind the scenes.
The party make their way to the Halfmoon Inn which is run Eva Halfmoon - a relative of Tryn's, no less! After some happy reunions, Eva says that her nephew Rendell has gone missing and hasn't been seen for some time. She offers free lodgings if the party can find him.. When asked about the Bloodreavers she says that they are a band of hobgoblins that lurk in the area. Whilst listening to the general chatter in the room, there is mention fo "Bloodreavers" and the "Chamber of Eyes".
Tryn spies a few hobgoblins heading down a corridor and quickly rounds up the rest of the party to follow them. After exploring the maze of corridors they find a room and Tryn hears voices beyond the door and learns that Rendell is being held captive by some hobgoblins. The party take on the hobgoblins and are victorious, with Baeshra showing particular skill in this battle against the boss.
Treasure
Shock Staff from boss hobgoblin (Lightning weapon, +8 vs AC)
5x flails from other hobgoblins
Rendell explains that he was following the hobgoblins and also mentions the Chamber of Eyes. He leads the party back to the hall and is happily reunited with his mother, Eva Halfmoon.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Journal #8 - August 2010
Real Date: 22-Aug-10
Game Date: 12/01
With barely time to draw breath after rescuing Baeshra from the gelatinous cube the party are attacked by some extremely smelly rotting corpses which threw lumps of their own corrupted flesh as an attack which caused Tryn's flesh to start rotting as well. Ash manages to Turn them and they back off a distance whilst taking some serious sparkly radiant damage. Balasar and Tryn continue to pummel away at the corrupted corpses as Ash uses his Lance of Faith to shine forth the divine glory of Pelor upon the unclean spirits. Arranis deals the death blow to the final corpse with a might Magic Missile.
[750xp/5]
The next few rooms contain a pair of plain-looking sarcophagi and a chest within which there are three amulets. One of which is rather shiny, in a nicely magical type of way, and the other two have the names of Sir Keegan's children inscribed on them. Also in the chest are some wooden practice swords and a hairbush with a mother of pearl handle.
Treasure
1x Amulet (Safewing +1) = Arranis
2x Children's Amulets (450GP in total)
1x Mother of Pearl Handled Hairbrush
After an extended rest to get Baeshra back on his feet and a lengthy review of maps scrawled so far they head off and find a room they hadn't so far investigated. And what a room! Rivers of blood and a Priest of Orcus accompanied by skelewags.
Treasure from Priest of Orcus
1x Mace
1x Dagger
[975xp/5]
The blood within this temple flows to the centre and down into a pit. The pit has four chains descending into the darkness, slick with gallons of blood. The only way forward is down so the party attempt to climb down the slippery chains with varying degress of success with Ash, Arranis and Balasar falling into the darkness and landing badly in a pool of blood fifty-plus feet below. Arranis and Balasar are fairly quick to recover themselves, but Ash can't find his footing.Which is particularly bad news as this is the temple to Orcus with Kalarel himself presiding over the ritual to open the rift and bring Orcus and his minions into the world. Kalarel had been waiting for them and opens fire with his diabolical powers. Tryn bravely takes on a wight all by himself while Balasar, Arranis and Baeshra fight Kalarel and his minion skeletons. Ash eventually makes his way out of the pool of blood and joins the fight as the skellybones slowly fall one by one and Tryn single-handedly dispatches the wight. Kalarel is on his own but he is stood in front of the rift itself and black tendrils of nether-worldly nastiness lash out at anyone who passes too close. Kalarel tries to draw the party towards him but they are wise to the trap and continue their long-range hit and run tactics... until, with a cry to the glory of Orcus, Kalarel falls. Before he can hit the ground, though, a black tendril wraps itself around his body and drags him into the rift.
Success! Kalarel and his death cult have been uncovered and maybe even eradicated. To prove to Edric in Waterdeep that the job has been done Ash takes Kalarel's Prayer Book with the intention of showing it to Edric and then destroying it.
[Encounter = 1350xp/5]
[Quest Bonus = 2000xp/5]
[Misc Bonus = 750xp/5]
Aaaaaand rest...
Game Date: 12/01
[750xp/5]
The next few rooms contain a pair of plain-looking sarcophagi and a chest within which there are three amulets. One of which is rather shiny, in a nicely magical type of way, and the other two have the names of Sir Keegan's children inscribed on them. Also in the chest are some wooden practice swords and a hairbush with a mother of pearl handle.
Treasure
1x Amulet (Safewing +1) = Arranis
2x Children's Amulets (450GP in total)
1x Mother of Pearl Handled Hairbrush
After an extended rest to get Baeshra back on his feet and a lengthy review of maps scrawled so far they head off and find a room they hadn't so far investigated. And what a room! Rivers of blood and a Priest of Orcus accompanied by skelewags.
Treasure from Priest of Orcus
1x Mace
1x Dagger
[975xp/5]
The blood within this temple flows to the centre and down into a pit. The pit has four chains descending into the darkness, slick with gallons of blood. The only way forward is down so the party attempt to climb down the slippery chains with varying degress of success with Ash, Arranis and Balasar falling into the darkness and landing badly in a pool of blood fifty-plus feet below. Arranis and Balasar are fairly quick to recover themselves, but Ash can't find his footing.Which is particularly bad news as this is the temple to Orcus with Kalarel himself presiding over the ritual to open the rift and bring Orcus and his minions into the world. Kalarel had been waiting for them and opens fire with his diabolical powers. Tryn bravely takes on a wight all by himself while Balasar, Arranis and Baeshra fight Kalarel and his minion skeletons. Ash eventually makes his way out of the pool of blood and joins the fight as the skellybones slowly fall one by one and Tryn single-handedly dispatches the wight. Kalarel is on his own but he is stood in front of the rift itself and black tendrils of nether-worldly nastiness lash out at anyone who passes too close. Kalarel tries to draw the party towards him but they are wise to the trap and continue their long-range hit and run tactics... until, with a cry to the glory of Orcus, Kalarel falls. Before he can hit the ground, though, a black tendril wraps itself around his body and drags him into the rift.Success! Kalarel and his death cult have been uncovered and maybe even eradicated. To prove to Edric in Waterdeep that the job has been done Ash takes Kalarel's Prayer Book with the intention of showing it to Edric and then destroying it.
[Encounter = 1350xp/5]
[Quest Bonus = 2000xp/5]
[Misc Bonus = 750xp/5]
Aaaaaand rest...
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Journal #7.5 - Supplemental
The story so far...
In Waterdeep the party were sent by Edric, High Priest of Pelor, to Winterhaven to investigate reports of a death cult being setup by Kalarel. Bonus reward if party brings back evidence that the cult has been destroyed.
Upon reaching Winterhaven they are sent by Lord Pardraig to sort out the local kobold infestation. The party eradicate a few bands of kobolds and then attack the lair itself, behind a waterfall, defeating their goblin leader, "Irontooth". With his dying words he calls out to Kalarel, proving there's a link with the death cult. Irontooth had a letter from Kalarel on his body which said that he was close to opening a rift to allow the minions of Orcus to come through to feast on the living. They take his head back to Lord Pardraig as evidence and collect their just reward.
They discover a band of humanoids digging near a crater and after a battle they find the bound and gagged figure of Dauven Staul who says that the humanoids had been looking for an artefact of some kind. Back
in Winterhaven they hear about the Keep on The Shadowfell built on a rift to the underworld and how Sir Keegan went mad and slaughtered nearly everyone there, including his own family, before he was subdued
and banished to the depths of the keep. They are told by Elian that "a door has opened and darkenss lies beyond".
They make it to the Keep and encounter goblins, zombies and more goblins. They hear that Balgron is the leader of the forces at the keep and he had ordered the digging for the artfefact. After killing Balgron
they head back to fight more zombies and find some sarcophagi which spew forth more skeletons with reinforcements coming from a room dedicated to Bahamut. In another room they discover the coffing of Sir Keegan himself and have a conversation with with the undead warrior only discover he hadn't gone mad but had been posessed by the will of Orcus. Sir Keegan gives his sword, "Aecris", to Baeshra.
Back in Winterhaven they hear that the dead are walking so they set off to the burial ground to investigate. After battling zombies they defeat Ninaren, a dark elf priestess, who had been spying on them in
Winterhaven.
They head back to the keep and penetrate further into the depths and find themselves battling more zombies, hobgoblins and a giant spider.They explore further and spend some time messing around in a room with
statues and getting Baeshra trapped and freed in the nick of time. There is another battle with smelly zombies which becomes even more tricky when they are dazed by a homunculus lurking out of the way.
The last we saw the adventurers, Baeshra had just, in the nick of time again, been rescued from a gelatinous cube...
Upon reaching Winterhaven they are sent by Lord Pardraig to sort out the local kobold infestation. The party eradicate a few bands of kobolds and then attack the lair itself, behind a waterfall, defeating their goblin leader, "Irontooth". With his dying words he calls out to Kalarel, proving there's a link with the death cult. Irontooth had a letter from Kalarel on his body which said that he was close to opening a rift to allow the minions of Orcus to come through to feast on the living. They take his head back to Lord Pardraig as evidence and collect their just reward.
They discover a band of humanoids digging near a crater and after a battle they find the bound and gagged figure of Dauven Staul who says that the humanoids had been looking for an artefact of some kind. Back
in Winterhaven they hear about the Keep on The Shadowfell built on a rift to the underworld and how Sir Keegan went mad and slaughtered nearly everyone there, including his own family, before he was subdued
and banished to the depths of the keep. They are told by Elian that "a door has opened and darkenss lies beyond".
They make it to the Keep and encounter goblins, zombies and more goblins. They hear that Balgron is the leader of the forces at the keep and he had ordered the digging for the artfefact. After killing Balgron
they head back to fight more zombies and find some sarcophagi which spew forth more skeletons with reinforcements coming from a room dedicated to Bahamut. In another room they discover the coffing of Sir Keegan himself and have a conversation with with the undead warrior only discover he hadn't gone mad but had been posessed by the will of Orcus. Sir Keegan gives his sword, "Aecris", to Baeshra.
Back in Winterhaven they hear that the dead are walking so they set off to the burial ground to investigate. After battling zombies they defeat Ninaren, a dark elf priestess, who had been spying on them in
Winterhaven.
They head back to the keep and penetrate further into the depths and find themselves battling more zombies, hobgoblins and a giant spider.They explore further and spend some time messing around in a room with
statues and getting Baeshra trapped and freed in the nick of time. There is another battle with smelly zombies which becomes even more tricky when they are dazed by a homunculus lurking out of the way.
The last we saw the adventurers, Baeshra had just, in the nick of time again, been rescued from a gelatinous cube...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Journal #7 - April 2010
Real Date: 10-Apr-10
Game Date: 12/01
The party enters a room which contains statues and in the center has a statue of a titan on a raised plinth. Baeshra approaches one of the smaller statues in a corner but is hit by a blast of dragon force breath and is knocked back a distance. He approaches again from the other side and the same happens again... and again... and he is knocked around the room like a pinball. The Titan statue in the center swings around with its sword and barely misses Baeshra. The room looks like a memorial room with cherub statues at the exit which hold vases aloft. Arranis Twists the Arcane Fabric in order to rescue Baeshra from his pinball antics before he is killed and deposits him in front of Ash to perform the healing rituals.
Tryn manages to climb on board one of the dragon statues by triggering a trap and then running as fast as his little legs can carry him. He then disarms the trap and Baeshra decides to test it... with dire results! It isn't disarmed and Baeshra finds himself being hurled away again, taking more damage. Tryn then disarms it properly and, for some brave but foolhardy reason, Baeshra tests it again. This time it is safe. The party then spend some time messing around with the statues trying to figure out exactly what they are all about. Baeshra decides to approach the exit, passing the cherubs with the vases and trips a trap which encases him in a force cage. The added twist with tghis trap is that the force cage is filling with water from the vases and Baeshra will surely drown if they can't get him out in time! The water is very swirly and Baeshra is on the point of drowning before Arranis finally manages to discern the magical qualities of the trap and they disarm it - by tipping one of the statues over. Simple really.
The damp but happy-to-be-not-drowned-to-death Baeshra listens at the exit door and hears shuffling feet. Naturally, they open the door without further ado and are confronted with yet more zombies - these ones seem to stink a bit more than others they've met. The battle with the zombies proceeds apace when party members start becoming dazed for no apparent reason. Arranis spots the cause near the ceiling - a homunculus. There are loads more zombies to contend with but they are eventually dispatched along with the dastardly homunculus.
Treasue
176GP
A "really roomy" bag
Experience: 200xp each
Tryn finds a room thorugh a small tunnel which contains the remains of lots of bodies and various items on uninterest. They venture further onwards and Baeshra is trapped by a gelatinous cube... not Baeshra's day, really! Ash use the mighty Cascade of Light spell to deal massive damage and it eventually dies with help from the other members of the party. Baeshra, again, was close to death...
Game Date: 12/01
The party enters a room which contains statues and in the center has a statue of a titan on a raised plinth. Baeshra approaches one of the smaller statues in a corner but is hit by a blast of dragon force breath and is knocked back a distance. He approaches again from the other side and the same happens again... and again... and he is knocked around the room like a pinball. The Titan statue in the center swings around with its sword and barely misses Baeshra. The room looks like a memorial room with cherub statues at the exit which hold vases aloft. Arranis Twists the Arcane Fabric in order to rescue Baeshra from his pinball antics before he is killed and deposits him in front of Ash to perform the healing rituals.
Tryn manages to climb on board one of the dragon statues by triggering a trap and then running as fast as his little legs can carry him. He then disarms the trap and Baeshra decides to test it... with dire results! It isn't disarmed and Baeshra finds himself being hurled away again, taking more damage. Tryn then disarms it properly and, for some brave but foolhardy reason, Baeshra tests it again. This time it is safe. The party then spend some time messing around with the statues trying to figure out exactly what they are all about. Baeshra decides to approach the exit, passing the cherubs with the vases and trips a trap which encases him in a force cage. The added twist with tghis trap is that the force cage is filling with water from the vases and Baeshra will surely drown if they can't get him out in time! The water is very swirly and Baeshra is on the point of drowning before Arranis finally manages to discern the magical qualities of the trap and they disarm it - by tipping one of the statues over. Simple really.
The damp but happy-to-be-not-drowned-to-death Baeshra listens at the exit door and hears shuffling feet. Naturally, they open the door without further ado and are confronted with yet more zombies - these ones seem to stink a bit more than others they've met. The battle with the zombies proceeds apace when party members start becoming dazed for no apparent reason. Arranis spots the cause near the ceiling - a homunculus. There are loads more zombies to contend with but they are eventually dispatched along with the dastardly homunculus.
Treasue
176GP
A "really roomy" bag
Experience: 200xp each
Tryn finds a room thorugh a small tunnel which contains the remains of lots of bodies and various items on uninterest. They venture further onwards and Baeshra is trapped by a gelatinous cube... not Baeshra's day, really! Ash use the mighty Cascade of Light spell to deal massive damage and it eventually dies with help from the other members of the party. Baeshra, again, was close to death...
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Journal #6 - March 2010
Real Date: 07-Mar-2010
Game Date: 09/01
...whilst spending the evening at the Wrafton Arms in Winterhaven the party meet a wandering shaman buying provisions. He introduces himself as Nororin Loreweaver and declares his intention to rid the area of the evil kobold and goblin menace. This is a natural fit for the party's aims, so he decides to grace them with his presence. Ash is drawn to the man, sensing in him a pure purpose, so tells him more of the party's aims regarding the death cult.
Game Date: 10/01
The party head back to the keep and make their back down towards the area with the fear-inducing runes. Ash tries the pass-phrase to see if it disarms the traps. Tryn decides to test the theory and finds that the answer is a resounding "NO!" as he springs the trap. A blood-curdling scream ensues from either the rune trap or Tryn (hard to tell which) but he just manages to recover his senses to stop himself being affected. In a bid to bypass the trap Baeshra tries to jump it but fails miserably, landing in a crumpled heap of legs, arms and various pieces of armour and weapons setting off the trap and succumbing to the fear.
There then appear a horde of zombies shambling down the corridor towards Tryn. Arranis Twists the Arcane Fabric and whisks Tryn out of the way and then sends Magic Missile one after the other into the horde as Ash Turns the undead and obliterates three of them. The battle continues as Balasar runs away, leaving the spell casters and thief to fend for themselves. They acquit themselves admirably as Ash obliterates three more of the zombies while Arranis continues to hurl MM after MM and Nororin swings mightily with his battleaxe. A Thunderwave from Arranis floors two more zombies while a Lance of Faith from Ash finishes the last one off.
Meanwhile, Tryn deftly jumps another screaming rune...but Ash and Bash both make a goblin's ear of their attempts but eventually make it. The group find a room with a set of stairs leading down and see figures on guard at the bottom. The retire to the corridor behind then to heal before tackling the guards. Tryn finds a secret door and points it out to Balasar who operates the opening mechanism by bashing it. The small room they have found makes a perfect hidey-hole but Tryn soon notices something strange about the back wall - it is shimmering and they can hear the sound of moaning coming from behind it. Tryn, ever the cautious one, sticks his head through the wall and is soon followed by the others as they face a room full of zombies. Ash is quick to act and manages to Turn two of them, causing the glory of Pelor to radiantly smite the unclean
fiends. Tryn is also mightily blessed with skill and dispatches one in short order. There is then a pitched battle
in which Nororin and Arranis acquit themselves admirably.
This room is an armoury and upon the rack is an inscription,
"A wondrous treasure valued by all, sought by many. Found in both victory and defeat yet never at the bottom of a treasure chest. It marches before you like a herald and lives long after you are gone. Of what do I speak?"
The party are quick to decipher this riddle and boldly announce their answer, "REPUTATION!"
The armour on the rack glows and before thier eyes transforms into what they know immediately is magical scale armour. The rest of the items in the room are rusted and useles... Balasar is nominated as the recipient of the armour for his valour in combat and the fact no-one else can or wants to use it.
Experience: 63xp each
Game Date: 11/01
After an evening's rest they head down to the 2nd level of the keep to challenge the guards they had spied the day before. The guard challenges them and Ash responds confidently with the what the party believe to be the passcode they had uncovered from the graveyard, "From the ground magic was found..." Unfortunately, this strategy is mistaken as it seems this passcode was actually a way to pass word that Ninaren had been slain! The guard raises the alarm, shouting "Tell Kalarel Ninaren is slain!"
There are twelve hobgoblin guards to deal with and Ash starts with a Bless spell to enhance the parties abilities, but to little avail when Balasar is slowed. However, Arranis responds with a Flaming Sphere which he deftly rolls around the room doing damage where he can. Somewhat away from the melee there is activity and the party notice a giant spider being herded forward. It leaps and closes the distance attacking Tryn and Nororin. Ash heals Nororin and use the Divine Glow spell to smite the spider and to bolster his friends. Tryn manages to strike the sorely wounded spider and then Nororin jubilantly delivers the death blow. The combat with the guards is soon finished but two manage to run away.
Experience: 186xp
Treasure: 27gp 10sp
They had back to the secret room to lick their wounds and rest, making themselves ready for another day's adventuring at Shadowfell Keep.
Game Date: 09/01
...whilst spending the evening at the Wrafton Arms in Winterhaven the party meet a wandering shaman buying provisions. He introduces himself as Nororin Loreweaver and declares his intention to rid the area of the evil kobold and goblin menace. This is a natural fit for the party's aims, so he decides to grace them with his presence. Ash is drawn to the man, sensing in him a pure purpose, so tells him more of the party's aims regarding the death cult.
Game Date: 10/01
The party head back to the keep and make their back down towards the area with the fear-inducing runes. Ash tries the pass-phrase to see if it disarms the traps. Tryn decides to test the theory and finds that the answer is a resounding "NO!" as he springs the trap. A blood-curdling scream ensues from either the rune trap or Tryn (hard to tell which) but he just manages to recover his senses to stop himself being affected. In a bid to bypass the trap Baeshra tries to jump it but fails miserably, landing in a crumpled heap of legs, arms and various pieces of armour and weapons setting off the trap and succumbing to the fear.
There then appear a horde of zombies shambling down the corridor towards Tryn. Arranis Twists the Arcane Fabric and whisks Tryn out of the way and then sends Magic Missile one after the other into the horde as Ash Turns the undead and obliterates three of them. The battle continues as Balasar runs away, leaving the spell casters and thief to fend for themselves. They acquit themselves admirably as Ash obliterates three more of the zombies while Arranis continues to hurl MM after MM and Nororin swings mightily with his battleaxe. A Thunderwave from Arranis floors two more zombies while a Lance of Faith from Ash finishes the last one off.
Meanwhile, Tryn deftly jumps another screaming rune...but Ash and Bash both make a goblin's ear of their attempts but eventually make it. The group find a room with a set of stairs leading down and see figures on guard at the bottom. The retire to the corridor behind then to heal before tackling the guards. Tryn finds a secret door and points it out to Balasar who operates the opening mechanism by bashing it. The small room they have found makes a perfect hidey-hole but Tryn soon notices something strange about the back wall - it is shimmering and they can hear the sound of moaning coming from behind it. Tryn, ever the cautious one, sticks his head through the wall and is soon followed by the others as they face a room full of zombies. Ash is quick to act and manages to Turn two of them, causing the glory of Pelor to radiantly smite the unclean
fiends. Tryn is also mightily blessed with skill and dispatches one in short order. There is then a pitched battle
in which Nororin and Arranis acquit themselves admirably.
This room is an armoury and upon the rack is an inscription,
"A wondrous treasure valued by all, sought by many. Found in both victory and defeat yet never at the bottom of a treasure chest. It marches before you like a herald and lives long after you are gone. Of what do I speak?"
The party are quick to decipher this riddle and boldly announce their answer, "REPUTATION!"
The armour on the rack glows and before thier eyes transforms into what they know immediately is magical scale armour. The rest of the items in the room are rusted and useles... Balasar is nominated as the recipient of the armour for his valour in combat and the fact no-one else can or wants to use it.
Experience: 63xp each
Game Date: 11/01
After an evening's rest they head down to the 2nd level of the keep to challenge the guards they had spied the day before. The guard challenges them and Ash responds confidently with the what the party believe to be the passcode they had uncovered from the graveyard, "From the ground magic was found..." Unfortunately, this strategy is mistaken as it seems this passcode was actually a way to pass word that Ninaren had been slain! The guard raises the alarm, shouting "Tell Kalarel Ninaren is slain!"
There are twelve hobgoblin guards to deal with and Ash starts with a Bless spell to enhance the parties abilities, but to little avail when Balasar is slowed. However, Arranis responds with a Flaming Sphere which he deftly rolls around the room doing damage where he can. Somewhat away from the melee there is activity and the party notice a giant spider being herded forward. It leaps and closes the distance attacking Tryn and Nororin. Ash heals Nororin and use the Divine Glow spell to smite the spider and to bolster his friends. Tryn manages to strike the sorely wounded spider and then Nororin jubilantly delivers the death blow. The combat with the guards is soon finished but two manage to run away.Experience: 186xp
Treasure: 27gp 10sp
They had back to the secret room to lick their wounds and rest, making themselves ready for another day's adventuring at Shadowfell Keep.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Journal #5 - February 2010
Real Date: 07-Feb-10
Game Date: 08/01
Balgron's chest yields 560gp and a mysterious wand
[Encounter Experience = 175xp]
The party head back down towards the zombie infested area by way of the rune trapped corridor that Tryn previously fell foul of. Thinking to himself, "what could possibly go wrong?" Tryn tries to disarm the trap but unfortunately sets it off again and finds himself fleeing in terror, running as far and as fast as he can away from the terrifying rune. Tryn eventually calms down so they decide to take a different route and they find a room with a number of sarcophagi. They are inscribed in Draconic, but are still unreadable by the dragonborn members of the party. The engravings on the sarcophagi are human in form. As they pass the last of the sarcophagi the lids crash to the ground and a horde of skeletons emerge, with two of them looking much stronger ("meatier") than the other eight. Balasar takes two of them down pretty quick with his Dragon Breath and slices another one, sending the bones crashing to the floor. Baeshra kills another one and mightily cleaves a "meaty" one. Arannis kills two more with his Flaming Sphere spell while Ash blasts one with the divine might of Pelor, Turning the Undead to dust... And then more skeletons appear! Baeshra decimates another "meaty" one as Arannis rolls his Flaming Sphere into two more skeletons, burning the bones to dust where they stand. Whilst Ash continues to call upon Pelor's might (to little effect, "why hast thou forsaken me, oh Lord of The Morning?") Baeshra and Balasar mow their way through the remaining skeletons ably assisted by Tryn and Arannis. Baeshra moves into the next chamber to see where the skeleton reinforcements are coming from and finds an altar to the Dragon God, Bahamut - "The Platinum Dragon" as he is known, for none shall name him and live. Baeshra pays homage to the altar, the light emanating from this room bathes the corridor and the skeletons retreat, leaving the party alone.
Tryn opens the door to the next room and finds a raised dais upon which is a single coffin. There is a human figure engraved upon the lid that Tryn was reaching for... but it bursts open before he can reach it and a mightly skeletal warrior rises and declaims loudly that "The rift MUST stay closed!" He quizzes each party member in turn to seek th truth of their words. Baeshra and Ash are quickly conving in their open and honest responses, but Balasar and tryn take longer to convionce the skeletal warrior of their pure and just intent. Ash decides to ask the undead warrior about Sir Keegan, the knight who had gone mad and killed everyon in the keep all those years ago. The answer they receive shakes them to the core - this IS Sir Keegan! He didn't go mad, he had been possessed by the will of Orcus and forced to kill everyone, including his own family. Sir Keegan hands his sword (named "Aecris") to Baeshra and asks him to use it in battle to redeem it's honour and asks that the party seeks the "Platinum Dragon's Boon." He also says that the goblins are digging in vain and that he doesn't know the use of the mirror that they found earlier. Aecris was given by Elyder to Sir Keegan when he was knighted.Leaving Sir Keegan to sleep the sleep of the undead, the party move back into the altar room and try to figure out what "The Platinum Dragon's Boon" is... until Tryn finds five figurines of silver and platinum hidden in the altar. Aha!
Having reached a logical breakpoint in their quest, they decide to head back to Winterhaven to rest and recuperate overnight but they find the gates closed. Lord Pardraig says that dead villagers are rising from the grave and that people have gone missing. To show his generosity, Lord Pardraig pays for the party to stay at the inn for the night.
Game Date: 09/01
They enter the grave yard and are soon attached by a skeleton horde while Arannis investigates this blue glowy thing in a far corner. There are some dog things at the doorway of a big mausoleum and a dark elf at the doorway of a smaller tomb. A dog thing does some necrotic damage to various members of the party but the skirmish is soon over. The female dark elf was Ninaren who they had met on a previous visit to the inn... she had been the spy in Winterhaven. She had a note on her body which read as follows:
I received your report on the strange adventurers. Next time you see them, put an end to their meddling. Mix the blood of ten people with the elixir my messenger brings. Then trace the following pattern on the ground of a graveyard and pour the liquid into the lines. That should supply you with a force to thwart them. Return all their possessions to me, especially any rings or jewelry they may be wearing. I am very interested in those rings.
I’m very close to completing my work and cannot be interrupted. As you already know, if you do come to the second level of the keep, the pass phrase is “From the ground, some magic was found.”
They head back to the town for a well-deserved rest...
Game Date: 10/01
...and then back to the Keep the following day...
Monday, February 1, 2010
Journal #4 - January 2010
Real Date: 17-Jan-10
Game Date: 06/01
The party head back up the stairs and stake the door shut, deciding to explore further on the level they came in on rather than plumb the depths of the undead horde they fear below. They hear some goblins arguing and discover three of the ugly spuds accompanied by two drakes. Naturally, a fight follows... The room the goblins had occupied was heavily excavated. Amongst the gold and weapons on the goblin bodies they find a holy symbol shaped like a dragon's claw.
Treasure Haul
22GP
3x Shortbows
3x Crossbows
40x Crossbow bolts
Treasure Haul
22GP
3x Shortbows
3x Crossbows
40x Crossbow bolts
Experience: 125xp each
After an extended rest whilst on watch with Arranis, Ash hears the distant sounds of battle. He asks Arranis but he can't hear it... and neither can anyone else in the party. Ash also feels colder and is suspicious that this might be a targeted attack on him but isn't sure... maybe he's just more sensitive to the memories of the keep than the others and can hear the echoes of battles long fought? Time will tell...
Experience: 60xp each
Game Date: 07/01
Exploring further they hear more goblin voices behind closed doors and formulate an elaborate plan to draw them out with halfling taunting whilst the burly fighters hide behind the doors, ready to ambush anyone that comes out. The plan works insofar as Tryn gets shot in the arse with a crossbow bolt! A second attempt at the ambush draws out a hobgoblin who is quickly dispatched in one round, thus proving that it WAS a good plan after all. They rush into the room from which the hobgoblin had emerged and find a torture chamber with more goblins.
After finishing off the goblins they find one imprisoned in a cell. They question the wretch, named Splug, who says that Balgron had ordered them to dig but doesn't know what for. Bartering for his life and freedom he completes as much of the map as he can for the party and tells tham about Balgron and his goblin retinue of five elite warriors and eight normal fighters. They set him free after Ash tries to bluff him into believing that he has cast a spell on a rope to bind him that will explode if he betrays them.
Treasure
55GP
55SP
Treasure
55GP
55SP
Experience: 125xp each
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Journal #3 - December 2009
Real Date: 06-Dec-09
Game Date: 05/01
After resting overnight the party decide to head to the burial ground to find Dauven Staul. They take most of the morning to get there and emerge into a clearing near a large crater. There are humanoids in the depression along with two small dragon-like creatures. A gnome calls out to the party to come and look what the workers had found. Naturally, they suspect a trap but go along with it anyway... There is a pitched battle in which Baeshra is taken down almost instantly by the small dragonoids, but the party are triumphant. They investigate a crate and find amongst the gold and silver a small mirror. They also find a nearby body covered in a sheet. The body turns out to be a bound and gagged figure that announces himself as Dauven Staul. He points out that this band that was working here were looking for an artifact. The party decide that Valthrun back in Winterhaven might know what the mirror is and if it was what they bad guys had been looking for in this dragon horde.
Treasure Haul
65GP 13SP
Experience: 120xp each (Total = 705 xp each)
Back in Winterhaven they notice that the locals are now all acting very strangely, they seem to be extremely troubled and worried about something so they make Lord Pardraig their first port of call. Pardraig hands over the final 50GP of the reward he had offered for Irontooth's head and says that he hadn't noticed any strange bahaviour in the town.
Next stop is the inn where they bump into an acquaintance of Darcorious from back home, Balasar, who informs Darco that he is needed by his family because their home is being attacked. Darco decides to leave and Balasar stays with the party in his stead.
Ash, Tryn and Arranis go to speak to Valthrun to ask about the mirror. Valthrun explains about the ancient empire of Nerath and tells them that there is an old keep to the north of the town built on a rift to the Shadowfell. The rift connects to the sanctuary of Orcus and was built to keep the undead at bay. The mirror may be a key to pass through the rift. He goes on to explain that 80 years previously Sir Keegan, the commander of the Keep, betrayed it's inhabitants and slaughtered nearly everyone that was within. Sir Keegan was eventually beaten but was merely banished to the depths. The keep as eventually abandoned when everyone thought the threat had abated and it was left to go to ruin...
They then go to speak to Sister Lenora who directs them to Elian who says that a door has opened and darkness lies beyond!
Game Date: 06/01
Set off at dawn towards the keep and take a spooky track off the main road eventaully finding a clearing near the ruin. There is evidence of tampering at the entrance to the ruins, with paths cleared. There is a stone staircase leading down into the darkness, a chill breeze accompanies them on their descent.
There is a room at the bottom of the stairs with a goblin at the far side who starts taunting Tryn. There is a minor skirmish and Balasar falls into a pit trap. More goblins pop up and there is more battle, settled by the party splitting in two and taking the enemy on two fronts, winning the day.
Treasure Haul
43GP 21SP
Experience: 135xp each (Total = 840 xp each)
Tryn gets bored while the rest of the party decide whether to clear the current level they're on or two explore further down... Tryn sneaks down the stairs while no-one is looking and the next thing the party know there is a scream from down below! Ash is first down the stairs and catches Tryn and stops him running off, it seems as though he is being compelled to run away in a blind panic. Ash finds that they are in a room full of zombies!
In a truly dazzling display of holy might, Ash calls upon the divine light of Pelor to turn the undead and is miraculously favoured when all but one are turned! The final zombie is blown to smithereens as Ash once more calls upon Pelor and his Lance of Faith.
Game Date: 05/01
After resting overnight the party decide to head to the burial ground to find Dauven Staul. They take most of the morning to get there and emerge into a clearing near a large crater. There are humanoids in the depression along with two small dragon-like creatures. A gnome calls out to the party to come and look what the workers had found. Naturally, they suspect a trap but go along with it anyway... There is a pitched battle in which Baeshra is taken down almost instantly by the small dragonoids, but the party are triumphant. They investigate a crate and find amongst the gold and silver a small mirror. They also find a nearby body covered in a sheet. The body turns out to be a bound and gagged figure that announces himself as Dauven Staul. He points out that this band that was working here were looking for an artifact. The party decide that Valthrun back in Winterhaven might know what the mirror is and if it was what they bad guys had been looking for in this dragon horde.Treasure Haul
65GP 13SP
Experience: 120xp each (Total = 705 xp each)
Back in Winterhaven they notice that the locals are now all acting very strangely, they seem to be extremely troubled and worried about something so they make Lord Pardraig their first port of call. Pardraig hands over the final 50GP of the reward he had offered for Irontooth's head and says that he hadn't noticed any strange bahaviour in the town.
Next stop is the inn where they bump into an acquaintance of Darcorious from back home, Balasar, who informs Darco that he is needed by his family because their home is being attacked. Darco decides to leave and Balasar stays with the party in his stead.
Ash, Tryn and Arranis go to speak to Valthrun to ask about the mirror. Valthrun explains about the ancient empire of Nerath and tells them that there is an old keep to the north of the town built on a rift to the Shadowfell. The rift connects to the sanctuary of Orcus and was built to keep the undead at bay. The mirror may be a key to pass through the rift. He goes on to explain that 80 years previously Sir Keegan, the commander of the Keep, betrayed it's inhabitants and slaughtered nearly everyone that was within. Sir Keegan was eventually beaten but was merely banished to the depths. The keep as eventually abandoned when everyone thought the threat had abated and it was left to go to ruin...
They then go to speak to Sister Lenora who directs them to Elian who says that a door has opened and darkness lies beyond!
Game Date: 06/01
Set off at dawn towards the keep and take a spooky track off the main road eventaully finding a clearing near the ruin. There is evidence of tampering at the entrance to the ruins, with paths cleared. There is a stone staircase leading down into the darkness, a chill breeze accompanies them on their descent.
There is a room at the bottom of the stairs with a goblin at the far side who starts taunting Tryn. There is a minor skirmish and Balasar falls into a pit trap. More goblins pop up and there is more battle, settled by the party splitting in two and taking the enemy on two fronts, winning the day.
Treasure Haul
43GP 21SP
Experience: 135xp each (Total = 840 xp each)
In a truly dazzling display of holy might, Ash calls upon the divine light of Pelor to turn the undead and is miraculously favoured when all but one are turned! The final zombie is blown to smithereens as Ash once more calls upon Pelor and his Lance of Faith.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Journal #2 - November 2009
Real Date: 01-Nov-09
Game Date: 03/01
After the previous encounter the party rest for a short time to heal up and then they continue their on their quest. After a few hours Ash's keen hearing alerts him to the rushing of water and the noises of an encampment stirring. Luckily they hadn't heard the arrival of the party so they retreat a short distance to prepare for their attack on the Kobold camp. The party make their plan and attack, but they had been preparing for their arrival with their leader standing inside a stone circle with runes inscribed on the ground. During the fierce battle that ensues Arannis takes down with some superbly timed Magic Missiles a fleeing Kobold that was going for reinforcements, screaming that "Irontooth" must be warned.
Treasure Haul
4GP 17SP
Experience: 115xp each (575 xp total)
Tryn stealthily follows the trail that the fleeing Kobold had tried to take and finds a cave hidden behind the waterfall. He reports back that this is most likely the Kobold lair the party were looking for. They decide to head back to Winterhaven to rest and recuperate overnight. Whilst there they persuade Lord Pardraig to give them a 50% advance on the reward (50GP). They rest for the night with no interruptions.
The next day (04/01) they set off on the road after a hearty breakfast and reach the kobold lair again with being attacked on the road. No surprise really as they had cleared out all the Kobolds on the previous day.
They enter the cave behind the waterfall and the alarm is instantly raised and so begins the hardest battle the party have yet faced... The leader of the Kobolds is a fearsome goblin named Irontooth who is extremely tough and uses a double headed battleaxe. He is ably assisted by a number of tough henchmen and a priest as well as the usual kobold cannon-fodder. The party fight effectively, barely moving from the entrance to the waterfall deciding instead to stand their ground and letting the enemy come to them. This time the battle is almost taken to the wire with Tryn and Arannis both flirting with death in their own ways.
True to form, Irontooth is the last of the bad guys to fall to the spells and weapons of the party and with his dying breath he utters exhortations to Orcus and to Kalarel which gives the party confirmation that the kobolds were working with or for the person that they had originally came looking for - Kalarel, the leader of the death cult.
On Irontooth's body they find a key and a message from Kalarel which talks of a spy in Winterhaven who has been on the lookout and also says that Kalarel is close to opening a rift which will allow the minions of Orcus to come through to do his bidding and feast.
Treasure Haul
420GP
Dwarf sized chain mail (which is probably magical)
Experience: 250xp each (1250xp total)
Game Date: 03/01
Treasure Haul
4GP 17SP
Experience: 115xp each (575 xp total)
Tryn stealthily follows the trail that the fleeing Kobold had tried to take and finds a cave hidden behind the waterfall. He reports back that this is most likely the Kobold lair the party were looking for. They decide to head back to Winterhaven to rest and recuperate overnight. Whilst there they persuade Lord Pardraig to give them a 50% advance on the reward (50GP). They rest for the night with no interruptions.
The next day (04/01) they set off on the road after a hearty breakfast and reach the kobold lair again with being attacked on the road. No surprise really as they had cleared out all the Kobolds on the previous day.
True to form, Irontooth is the last of the bad guys to fall to the spells and weapons of the party and with his dying breath he utters exhortations to Orcus and to Kalarel which gives the party confirmation that the kobolds were working with or for the person that they had originally came looking for - Kalarel, the leader of the death cult.
Treasure Haul
420GP
Dwarf sized chain mail (which is probably magical)
Experience: 250xp each (1250xp total)
Monday, October 5, 2009
Journal #1 - October 2009
Real Date: 04-Oct-09
Game Date: 01/01
The party are in the pub in Waterdeep having their weekly adventurer's meeting when an acolyte of the temple of Pelor rushes in to pass a message to Ash. The message is from Edric, Ash's mentor, who then beseeches Ash and his friends to travel to Winterhaven to investigate reports of someone called Kalarel setting up a Death Cult in the area. Edric tells the group that there will be a bonus reward if they bring proof that the cult has been destroyed.
They set off on the road to Winterhaven the following day (02/01) and are attacked by a band of kobolds who show unusual resolve and fight to the death rather than run away when it looks like they are losing.
Treasure Haul
2x Dragonscale Shields
2x Short Swords
1x Sling (+10 sling shot)
5x Spears
5x Javelins
34x Silver
When they reach Winterhaven they start to quiz the locals and try to pick up any rumours. They hear of someone called Dauven Staul who disappeared and never returned. They also meet Valthrun the farmer and Ilian the dwarven smith. Ilian revelas that Dauven Staul had asked about a local burial ground so he asks the party to go and look for him there. Ilian mentions the Raven Queen.
Townsfolk
Delphina Moongem - Market Square
Fair Coalstriker - Smith
Valthrun the Prescient
Lord Pardraig
Bearwin Wildersun
Sister Lenora
Rond Gelfen
Ninaren
Lord Pardraig tells the party he will pay them 100 GP to sort out the kobold menace and gives them a map to their lair.
Naturally, the party are attacked on the road by another band of ferocious kobolds who refuse to surrender or retreat. After a fierce battle to the near death the party triumph over the leader, a priest who was carrying a black dragon figurine which had obsidian underneath and with was engraved outline of a skull with ram's horns. Arranis recognises this as the symbol of Orcus, Lord of The Undead, and it is worth approximately 80 GP.
Treasure Haul
Black Dragon Figurine (80GP)
5 GP
23 SP
Total Party Funds
5 GP
31 SP
Experience: 220 xp each (1100 xp total)
Game Date: 01/01
- Blast - Human(?) Dungeon Master - 666th Level (Mark)
- Ash - Elven Priest of Pelor - 1st Level (Kopic)
- Arranis - Eladrin War Wizard - 1st Level (Jordan)
- Baeshra - Dargonborn Paladin - 1st Level (Jason)
- Darcorious Shadowing - Dragonborn Warlord - 1st Level (Kieran)
- Tryn - Halfling Rogue - 1st Level (Mike)
The party are in the pub in Waterdeep having their weekly adventurer's meeting when an acolyte of the temple of Pelor rushes in to pass a message to Ash. The message is from Edric, Ash's mentor, who then beseeches Ash and his friends to travel to Winterhaven to investigate reports of someone called Kalarel setting up a Death Cult in the area. Edric tells the group that there will be a bonus reward if they bring proof that the cult has been destroyed.
They set off on the road to Winterhaven the following day (02/01) and are attacked by a band of kobolds who show unusual resolve and fight to the death rather than run away when it looks like they are losing.Treasure Haul
2x Dragonscale Shields
2x Short Swords
1x Sling (+10 sling shot)
5x Spears
5x Javelins
34x Silver
When they reach Winterhaven they start to quiz the locals and try to pick up any rumours. They hear of someone called Dauven Staul who disappeared and never returned. They also meet Valthrun the farmer and Ilian the dwarven smith. Ilian revelas that Dauven Staul had asked about a local burial ground so he asks the party to go and look for him there. Ilian mentions the Raven Queen.
Townsfolk
Delphina Moongem - Market Square
Fair Coalstriker - Smith
Valthrun the Prescient
Lord Pardraig
Bearwin Wildersun
Sister Lenora
Rond Gelfen
Ninaren
Lord Pardraig tells the party he will pay them 100 GP to sort out the kobold menace and gives them a map to their lair.
Treasure Haul
Black Dragon Figurine (80GP)
5 GP
23 SP
Total Party Funds
5 GP
31 SP
Experience: 220 xp each (1100 xp total)
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