Rhun's Greyhawk ALPHA Campaign (tToEE) - PART III

[Legildur]

"I think you must be forgetting that mighty gem Ragnok retrieved from the fireplace," Kurt reminds Trevor, himself more interested in the outcomes than the loot.

However, he does collect the fire creature tome for the Church to study more closely when he can get it to them.

"Do we push on? Or retire to Hommlet for a piece?" Kurt asks the group.

"I presume that if we go back the way we came, and then keep going, that we would then likely find the Water Temple. Or we continue up this passageway," he offers (at BA66). "Though that possibly leads towards the main temple."

[Leif]

"I guess I did forget about that gem. Oh, well, I hope it's formidable enough to make up for the scarcity elsewhere. I'm all for retiring to Hommlet or continuing onward, whichever."

[Boddynock]

"Hommlett! says Ragnok irritably.

"I've told you - I have business there. We're not prepared for what this place will throw at us ... and we're not going to do our respective gods - or the king - any good by dying!

[Thanee]

Dara uses up another of her spells to determine whether there are any magical auras in the rooms they just searched or among the items they acquired there.

[Scotley]

Verdis happily assists with the detecting of magic. "I could continue on a bit, but if you all are ready to retire to the village for a while, so be it. I confess a beer and a decent meal sounds pretty good about now."

[stonegod]

There appears to be nothing for us here, unless some sage wants that foul text. Let us return.

[Leif]

"That makes it unanimous, does it not? If so, then, by all means, let's get to skedaddling back to Hommlet!"

[Rhun]

You gather your gear and your hard won loot (what little there is, in Trevor's opinion - the fact that it is more than he has seen in his life not withstanding), you make your way back out of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Back past the bodies of the bugbears, the hacked and burned corpses of the trolls and their pets, up to the first level of the dungeon and directly up to the Temple Proper. The entire area is oddly quiet as you make your way out into the rubble strewn coutryard; of course, you've undoubtedly slain a good portion of the Temple's strength.

That fact, though, means that your task will only be more difficult during your next intrusion. As chaotic and unorganized as your opponents have seemed, they can't ignore your latest victories. With two of the four elemental factions destroyed, you are certain that even the "greater Temple" must respond to your righteous crusade. Still...that is for another day.

It is only about noon when you leave the Tmple, and it takes just over an hour to make your way down the rutted dirt track to Nulb. You decide to pass straight through the wretched village, making your way back to Hommlet. Encumbered as you are by loot and armor, night falls well before you make it to your destination; indeed, when the lights of Burne's tower come into view in the dark ahead, you are only a couple hours shy of midnight.

Tired and dirty, you make your way straight to the Inn of the Welcome Wench. The brightly lit, fenced yard in front of the place, and the painted sign showing the buxom, smiling girl holding an overflowing flagon of ale, is one of the most welcome sights you have ever seen. You make your way up the front steps and into the great taproom of the inn. The cloying scent of pipesmoke reaches your nose, and you breathe a sigh of relief as you take seats around a rough-hewn trestle table, nestled between a cluster of age and smoke darkened tree-trunk pillars that support the ceiling overhead.

Only a few folks are about at this time of night, but Ostler is still up, pouring drinks behind the bar. Spotting you enter, he calls out with a smile. "Ah, the heroes have returned. And looking rather weary, haggard, and worse for wear by my reckoning! Ha!" He gives a hearty laugh, and then snaps his fingers and points to your table. "A round of ale will do you well. And for dinner...how does some roast venison, with mushrooms and shallots, and garlic mashed turnips sound to you?"


FYI, I've done a poor job of tracking each PCs encumberance, but some of your PCs are carrying 100 or so POUNDS of coinage on them...let's make sure they stop at the moneylenders so you can trade some of that in for platinum and gems. Or spend your coin...either way.

I know there is all sorts of contradicting information as to the positions of Hommlet and Nulb and the Temple, but since we've previously established it is about a day's travel, we will stick with that.

[Leif]

After leaving the temple, but before the party reaches even Nulb, Trevor wants to make something clear: "I want you to know that I am not dissatisfied with the riches we have gained. In fact, it seems rather a bit more than I have seen collected in one place at any time in my life! Still, it is rather a meager sum for which to trade one's life. And I think that our efforts and our blood have earned a good deal more than we have. In fact, I'm not even sure that a king could pay us the sum that we have earned."

Upon reaching the "Welcome Wench," Trevor is mightily gratified by the sights, sounds, and especially the savory smells. "Yes, indeed! I feel as though I could eat an entire haunch of venison by myself! Feed us well, Ostler, if you please?"

[Legildur]

After the long day's march, Kurt's bowed shoulders and back straighten as Hommlet comes into view. He pats the young soldier on the back with his gauntleted hand. "Young Trevor, wealth is not all that need drive a man," he says. "The work we have done in the Temple is wealth for the soul, and the gods look favourably upon us - otherwise you'd not be still alive," he adds with a grin.

On reaching the Inn, Kurt sits heavily and relaxes, waiting patiently for the excellent service to look after them.

[Rhun]

A round of the Wench's special ale is quickly poured and brought to you, foaming over the tops of the large ceramic steins in which Ostler serves it. The walnut-colored liquid is served cool from the inn's cellar...hints of caramel, chocolate and hazelnut are all evident in the thick, malty beverage, and you find it extremely refreshing after the trials of the last few days.

The cook makes haste, and a short time later, Alice (one of the Wench's serving girls...a blonde slip of a girl who you are amazed can actually lift the serving platters that she delivers) brings out your food. The venison is perfectly cooked, tender and juicy, and loaded with sauteed mushrooms and shallots. Large wooden bowls of Ostler's famous mashed garlic turnips are provided, drowned in butter. Loaves of crusty black bread round out the meal, and soon the only sounds are the clank of dishes from the kitchen behind the bar, the low conversation of the few villagers, and those of your group enjoying a fine and well-deserved meal.

[Leif]

"Mmmmm, 'twas not in vain that this hart died! No, indeed. I'd say that hs supreme sacrifice will be richly rewarded, just as the fruits of the sacrifice are a rich reward to us." Then Trevor experiences one of those rare moments of silence, which causes some concern among his companions, who all look at him questioningly to see if something is the matter, but they are both relieved and annoyed to see that the silence was only due to his mouth being full. "Ahhh, yes! Verdiis, pass that dark, heavy, delicious loaf this way, please?"

[Scotley]

The warlock passes the bread. Then pushes back from the table patting his full belly. "My friends I must say that this is most welcome. I am certainly pleased to be away from that dark place. I need to purchase some more bolts and light. What else do we need to accomplish before we return?"

[Legildur]

Kurt chews on the moist bread for a few moments. "I don't understand why you persist with that heavy and cumbersome crossbow when you can call on that eldritch blast at will," he mutters to Verdis as he ponders a few things.

"As to what we should achieve, well we have some idea about what we still face. So it is my intention to prepare ourselves for that and to return at the earliest opportunity to continue the work of the Invincible One."

[Scotley]

The warlock only smiles knowing that sometime the blast is best and that other times the crossbow is the right tool for the job.

[Rhun]

As you continue to eat and drink your fill, the few patrons that are in the taproom slowly filter out, leaving just your group. It must surely be well after midnight now. Goodman Gundigoot approaches, smiling. "I'm guessing that you'll be wanting rooms, eh? How many do I need to have prepared? Or there is always the common area, if coin is an issue."

[Legildur]

Kurt smirks uncharacteristically at Gundigoot's supposition about their coin. While not inherently interested in the loot for it's waelth, he does realise that it will help reource further forays into the temple, and to rest comfortably in the interim. "I believe three rooms will suit?" he suggests to the others.
ooc: how many can you fit in one room?

[Boddynock]

Ragnok leans back in his chair and belches politely.

"Great grub! Excellent ale!"

He then stands and says, "I'm for bed. I could do with a good sleep. And a single room, please - this lot snore like you wouldn't believe!"

With that he follows the innkeeper upstairs, and settles in for the night.

Rhun

But not to sleep! As soon as he's sure he's unobserved, he takes out the gem and examines it more closely.

[Leif]

Trevor, ever the frugal soul, considers briefly the advisability of sharing a room with one or two of his friends. Then he remembers Verdis's snores and Ragnok's gas, and decides that individual rooms might just be for the best.

[Thanee]

“I suppose we can afford a room each,” Dara says. She is also glad for the hospitality even at this late hour.