The hidden

THE HIDDEN
06 THE DRUID
SEGMENT 058
“THE SIX FULL MOONS”
5/04/14

LHARVION 5, 999

DM NOTE: Jared from my gamer’s Grotto edition of The Hidden has come to watch this group today and decided to join. He will officially start at the next game.

The sun is setting and the group is uncertain at what to do. Several of the moons are already in view. They do not know where to begin. Where is the mad druid?

They decide to go back to basics. He has employed goblins before- go rouse some goblins.

Many of the goblins see them coming and flee their shanty homes in Old Town. They are not as dumb as the group had hoped. But on the fifth “home” they have some luck. This poorly built and structurally weak building has a resident. Tom Garvin knocks on the door and Fuzzy steps up. RAF stands behind him for extra support. The goblin can be heard inside grumbling. He opens the door and lets out a loud “Epp!” and slams the door nearly hitting the bear.

The bear rises up and throws its weight onto the door. Not only does he take down the door, but the building is nearly pushed over. The front timbers are leaning at least 25 degrees now where they were relatively straight before. The animal companion spots the goblin trying to sneak out of a back hole. The bear gently nips and grabs the goblin by the seat of his pants and pulls him back to the front door where RAF is waiting for him.

“Where is the crazy druid?” demands RAF.

It squeaks and rattles off something in goblin which no one understands.

RAF offers the goblin to the bear in common. The goblin in common screams “NO! No Bear!”

RAF holds him in the air and dangles him before the bear. “I no know not-ting!” yells the panicked goblin.

“Your people worked for the druid. You most certainly know something bear snack.”

“No Know.”

“No no or you do not know?” quips Truth.

“No nothing. Gab Grubeater know.”

“Grubeater….how quaint.” If Truth could roll his crystal eyes he would. He is not much for these tactics and tries to loose himself looking at his forearm. A section of metal seems flimsy and out of place.
“Who and where is this Grubeater?”

“Grubeater…. Is grubeater. Across the path.”

RAF starts to the next shanty…. Across the footpath. “Bring him.” He says. “Maybe he knows more.”

Witt knocks on the door of this shanty and once more the bear steps up. No one answers the door.

“If no one is home I may take that as you lied to me little goblin.” RAF suggests.

The goblin swallows very hard and begins to sweat.

Cy and Tom Garvin look about the back of the building- just in case this one has a rear exit also. They see none but the corner of the building hovers over the swamp with thick brush.

The bear breaks down this door also. Persia goes in and sees nothing. In the back corner is a hole so she walks to it with caution. She peers in and sees a pack moving very slowly. She grabs it and pulls. It pulls back with a yelp. Out comes a goblin over burdened with a large pack with many possessions.

“Grubeater?” asks Persia.

In goblin it seems to say no.

“You are Grubeater.” Says RAF. And he pulls the first goblin into the cabin. Truth walks away from the group. He peers down the bridge to the other side of the river channel.

“I will keel you!” snarls Grubeater at the other goblin.

RAF sees a new source of entertainment and means to the truth- “I can’t have both of you running around and warning your friends about us. Only one can live. I wonder who?”

The two goblins look at the warforged slack jawed. Then, at the very same moment they begin to speak in near perfect common-

“Drobin aberrations full moons six total raid city destroy family clans evil druid psycho” they say with overlapping desperate screams.

RAF looks the two of them then the others. He is waiting for one of the others to help sort this. Truth…. Where is he?

“Each said his name was Drobin which is a start.” Says Cy.

“One called him a druid and the other a psycho.” Offers Tom.

“Both are correct.” Follows RAF.

“Both said aberrations.” Adds Witt as he walks over to Grubeater.

“So which wins?”

“Both know the truth. We need but one.” Says the Cleric of Death. The Karrnathi cleric places his palm on the head of Grubeater whom howls in pain.

Even as his eyes whiten and his skin becomes pale and frail, the other goblin begins to repeat everything and more very quickly. Grubeater yet lives but falls to the ground twitching and jerking in pain. “Take him outside.” Commands the warforged fighter. He then steps up to the near dead goblin and crushes his head with his foot.

Two minutes later- they have learned that Drobin, a crazed druid, works with aberrations doing incredible and insane things to people.

RAF kills him and goes to talk to the others. “What was that goblin’s name?” asks Persia.

“Never got it. Sorry.”

THE HIDDEN
07 SIX MOONS
SEGMENT 059
“THE FAMILIES COME”
5/04/14

LHARVION 5, 999

Truth has been thinking about the first lesson given to him by the gnome scholar- Assimo ir’ Lenni. Four scrolls of what looks like random slashes and dots mixed with images. One scroll lists the 13 Dragonhouses. The other three list a base line for creatures. There are things that he knows as Dolgrims and Dolgaunts. There are Mind Flayers and Beholders. So many creatures. It makes his head hurt trying to pronounce the words. Learning Xoriat will not be easy.

He stares into the darkness at the other side of the bridge. He has caught some of the “interrogation” and knows RAF and Witt can handle it well enough on their own. It is hard to concentrate on anything. The images keep swirling in his mind…. And the itch. His arm and back itch. He guesses it is more of the urn’s ashes that are stuck under the metal plates of his composite body.

He hears a scream from a goblin so he figures the interrogation is nearing its end. As he is about to walk back he believes he saw something at the edge of the bridge. He looks closer and sure enough- something small is in the brush watching him…. And the others. He charges across the bridge and takes down the goblin spy before he can free himself of the brush and flee.

They now have a discussion of what to do with their knowledge. Stay and defend the city from a possible attack by goblins and aberrations or seek Drobin’s headquarters. RAF likes this best. Before they get too far into the discussion- like where exactly the druid’s hideout is, they hear something coming.

Looking, they see three goblins walking down the path towards the bridge. The group moves to attack and discover there are many more off the trail sneaking in the tall water grass and cotton tails. Tom and Cy hold back to attack at range as the others charge forward to control the bridge. The goblins are attacking from all angles and ways as their sheer numbers nearly overwhelm the group. RAF’s incredibly thick plates of metal make their attacks nearly pointless (DR 4) but they try anyway.

Then Cy spots something over the water- a floating ball with sticks on its head. Tom clarifies it some- a baby beholder! (Gauth but close enough) It’s ranged attacks against ranged attacks and melee vs melee. Even with the Gauth, they take down the fourteen goblins and seize the moment.

Persia finds a map on a goblin. She hands it to Truth whom looks at it. It looks nearly exactly like his but one of the ruins on the river is circled and in very crude common written- Druid.

Now, just maybe, they know where the druid is hiding.

THE HIDDEN
07 SIX MOONS
SEGMENT 060
“THE FAILED INVASION”
5/04/14

LHARVION 5, 999

They decide to save Drobin’s hideout for the next day since it will require a boat and pilot to reach it. They decide to do all they can to mess up his plans for tonight. They march down the path into the swamps. Tom and his bear look for tracks of the goblins and follow them. Occasionally they leave a path to take an animal trail that leads to another path.

In time they encounter another group of goblins. As they attack them they are flanked by five aberrational grells. These brains with a beak and tentacles mess up Cy very badly even as the goblins keep the group pinned down. RAF is forced to leave the goblins to confront the floating horrors. In time the creatures are defeated and they do some quick healing and repairs.

Four moons are full and line up with two more full moons rising higher into the sky. Soon all six full moons will line up. Little do the group suspect what will happen in 32 days due to this alignment……

Later in the night they spot a bright light within a thick fog. Witt decides to check this out and sneaks into the grass. It is a trap as a man howls like a wolf as the death agent reaches the light spell on the branch and many Dolgrims attack.

The group hurry to Witt’s aid and save his life as the creatures attack. After the last of the creatures are defeated they decide this may not be the best tactic and return to Yrlag to hire a pilot to attack the druid in the morning.

THE HIDDEN
07 SIX MOONS
SEGMENT 061
“THE FAILED INVASION”
5/04/14

ZARASH’AK, “CAPITAL” OF THE SHADOW MARCHES
LHARVION 10, 999

The Ghallanda hotel for those that can pay the price. It is well kept, climate controlled and can offer anything or anyone the clients want.

“I WANT THEIR HEADS!” Screams the Emerald Claw leader Lord Vollax.

“Let me. I have a score to settle with them.” Suggests Lord Grudgemaker.

“No. We have drawn too much attention to ourselves. We cannot even use our undead servants at this point. No- we need to do this in a different way.”

“Then how?” says the large black man.

“A third party.”

“Hired Thugs sir?” asks Quintos, the man servant to Lord Vollax.

“No. They will not do. Neither will the Web of goblin thieves. We need outside help.”

“Assassins?” offers Grudgemaker.

“hummmmm….. no but I like it. But people will ask who hired them if that damned warforged defeats them. No- we need something there….”

“Droaam is rumored to be massing for a war. Perhaps their restless warriors?” suggests the man servant.

“perhaps….. hmmmmm…… yes. Who do we know in their country?”

“I know of two that may be able to help us. One works for the very government.”

“Excellent…. Then let Droaam be our instrument for revenge.”

The two lords hold up their drinks and return to the main room where six human and ½ elven women await them. These same six women will be found in the alley ways of the city the next day. Dead with horrified looks on their face.

THE HIDDEN
08 DROBIN THE CRAZED
SEGMENT 062
“TO HUNT A DRAGON”
5/18/14

LHARVION 13, 999

ZARASH’ AK, CAPITAL OF THE SHADOW MARSHES

“Sir- there remains one more woman for your pleasures if you wish.”

The muscled man with green flame tattoos on his back remains seated. He is intently focused on a book before him.

Quintos, his elven man servant, has blood splattered on his body. “She is a very lovely ½ elf.”

“You may play with her. This is more entertaining than a whim that leads to a woman’s screams.” The Emerald Claw priest says as he turns a page.

“The journal of that strange warforged?” asks Quintos with mild distain.

“It is strange… even for its kind but clever. I suspected he had help and according to this journal, he did.”

“Which professor?”

“No professor. Quintos….. find Grudgemaker. We’re going Dragon Hunting.”

THE HIDDEN
08 DROBIN THE CRAZED
SEGMENT 063
“THE BARD AND THE ROGUE”
5/18/14

LHARVION 5, 999

Malachai and Rodie leave the Golden Dream, a tavern that serves Cyrian food and drink. The two arrived in Yrlag just a few hours ago. They decide to learn more about the river side town by walking through the dock area.

The two human adventurers watch as the fisherman begins to return from their trips and the merchants begin to haggle with them to close the day. Rodie notes the numbers of goblins that lurk in the shadows. Neither of them thinks highly of the creatures.

There are several groups of ½ orc law enforcement groups on the dock. Their presence merely keeps the goblins and other possible threats hiding and lurking in the shadows.

They choice an inn to spend the night at. From here, they can see the eerie glow of a fire elemental that is trapped on an island with a lighthouse in the bay. House Tharashk’s primary location in Yrlag can also be seen here. It seems very busy- even as the sun goes down.

In the morning they note some activity on the docks. The usual fisherman and merchants activity begins. There are rumors of goblin activity and strange creatures during the night. One pilot speaks of a group of adventurers he suspects fought the creatures. They have saved the town and the docks before.

The two continue to speak to the pilot for another ten minutes before several warforged, a shifter, a bear, a human and a catfolk come down the docks. They appear to be walking directly at them… or possibly the pilot.

“Well- speak of the Demon and Devils…..Here they come now.”

“Sorry to interrupt but we were hoping to hire you again.” Says Truth.

“Looking to go into the swamps again and fight more goblins or maybe the Claw again.” Suggests the pilot giving his two new friends a wink.

“No. The goblin attacks were set up by a crazed druid. His name is Drobin. Ever hear of him?”

“Nope.” Says the pilot.

Malachai considers it but cannot recall ever hearing the name but knows that not all druids are “good”. Sometimes it is a twisted view or perception of what is natural and some just are evil in nature. Truth listens to him talk but then returns his attention to the pilot.

Looking at the map Truth and the group found on a goblin, he figures 4-5 hours to reach it. As they continue to work out details the two new would-be adventures befriend them. They have no love of the Emerald Claw either which is good enough for RAF. With the suggestion by the pilot to join together they do. But first, they want to resupply.

They go to the House Cannith facility to get repair oil and other potions. Syrus d’Cannith meets them at the entrance. Malachai tries to influence the mage wright into giving them a discount. The mage notes a few questionable comments by the bard. Cy distances himself from the bard some and successfully gets a small discount.

Before returning they wander the docks further. Truth tells the team that is going to the ship to check on something. Being used to his strange disappearances they let it go and go to the docks to find out any other gossip or stories.

THE HIDDEN
08 DROBIN THE CRAZED
SEGMENT 064
“LADY SILVERMANE”
5/18/14

LHARVION 5, 999

As suspected, Truth doesn’t go back to the ship immediately. He walks about and goes to a better neighborhood and tries to contact Lady Silvermane. When he first gets there she doesn’t answer her door. Curious about this, he pulls out the spare key and lets himself in.

The small rented apartment is neat and clean. The warforged looks about. Memories move about within his mind. They start in Breland and come to traveling across Eldeen and some of Droaam before reaching Yrlag.

He steps into her bedroom and peers about. He sees jewelry and looks at it. It is a necklace he had wanted to buy her in Sharn. She bought it but said it was a reminder of her time with him. Though it was hers, it was important to him.

Together, they were searching for answers involving the Draconic Prophecy. Soon, new ideas came. These hard to understand emotions for Truth led to her revealing her true nature. She was in fact a Silver Dragon. He was a warforged that was built to aid scholars. As a warforged, his concept of emotions was difficult to understand and she wished to help him. She offered him a chance to learn more than he could as a librarian aid warforged. She offered him- Zorlan.

He remembers the night with the necklace. She asked him to put it on her. What happened next is still not clear to him. Polymorphed into a human being, he and she explored things no warforged could ever do. Ever since then, he has followed her lead. He even changed his name from Books to Truth. Much of this had to do with the mercenary named Deckix.

Before he can think further on this subject he hears her enter the apartment.

She is surprised by his being there and hopes there is nothing wrong.

There is.

“The Emerald Claw has your Journal!?!” she exclaims.

“Yes.” He says quietly.

“The same journal you began in Sharn years ago?”

“Yes.”

“So he now knows everything you did about the Prophecy? Everything I told you about it?!?”

He cannot even look at her. He notes the floor and looks at her shoes. Blue velvet. Blue like her eyes.

“What else was in that journal?”

Why is the color important? The pain and shame he feels is…. Different. It is deeper than betraying his friends. Why does she affect him so?

“You. Us.”

Her eyes glow and flare. She is furious. Reddox would certainly kill him and her if he knew.

Truth decides not to her about his deal with Assimo ir’ Lenni. If she is this upset about the journal then how will she respond to learning the language of Insanity…. The Xoriat.

Two hours later, Truth returns to the boat. Some of the group had returned already. Nothing is said about where he was.

THE HIDDEN
08 DROBIN THE CRAZED
SEGMENT 065
“TOR d’THARASHK”
5/18/14

LHARVION 5, 999

Cy, Persia and Malachai with Rodie are heading back to the boat. A group of ½ orcs in law enforcement outfits come their way.

Clear they are heading to cut them off, Cy stops and waits for them.

“There you are. We have been looking for you most of the day.” Snarls the lead ½ orc. “I understand you are treated as local heroes with many of the dock people. I was not aware heroes cause 1000’s of gold pieces in damage with fires and magical attacks.”

“Can we help you?”

“I am Tor d’Tharashk. I am Tuskin’s replacement. I am in charge of the docks now.”

“Where is Tuskin?” asks Cy.

“He…. Is on a vacation of sorts.” Says the ½ orc with minor embarrassment. “House Jorasco cannot explain it so he was asked to step down.”

“What is wrong with him?” asks the inquisitive bard.

“Rumor has it his mind is not his own.” Says Persia.

“Correct.”

Malachai fast talks the ½ orc into revealing a bit more. Tuskin escaped his room last night. They are looking for him but he disappeared with the goblin activity. Several groups of goblins caused random acts of violence last night. Rumors of aberrational creatures being seen also during the chaos.

The new ½ orc in charge is frustrated with the bard and storms off before he says anything else that may make him or his family look bad.

Uncertain what to do, the group decide to sleep on the boat (for a small charge  ).

THE HIDDEN
08 DROBIN THE CRAZED
SEGMENT 067
“DROBIN’S THUGS”
5/18/14

LHARVION 6, 999

Several hours after dawn the ship is working its way down a water branch from the main river. Malachai is humming a song to pass time. RAF is sharping his weapons. Truth is thinking about blue eyes. The pilot is flirting with Persia whom is ignoring him. The rest of the group is merely taking in the sights. The hanging moss and vines that hide the tree tops from view.

The boat suddenly comes to a halt as it has hit something within the water. RAF is the first to reach the bow of the ship but it is Tom Garvin that first spots the nets that have caught the ship and Persia that spots the first of the Bullywugs within the water. Fifteen of the frogmen rise to attack the ship.

RAF takes great pleasure in cutting them down as the bard encourages them and marshals their abilities. The creatures do not last long. Soon they free the ship of the nets and move on knowing they are heading the right way.

The pilot is more careful from here on and stops as the waterway becomes too narrow to continue. Soon the group disembarks from the boat. It is not long before Tom locates a trail recently used by many humanoids. The prints suggest goblins, humans and either large ½ orcs or whole blooded orcs. It’s all good figures RAF.

Before long they spot a small stepped pyramid. Everyone recognizes it except for the bard and rogue whom are informed these can be found in the swamp and lead to a vast underground maze. Intrigued, he begins a tune about adventure, fame and fortune he used to use during the closing days of the war. RAF goes directly to the pyramid despite repeated warnings by Truth and Cy.

At about ten feet from the first step a bunch of dolgrims leap out of the tall grass and attack. Cy charges ahead and surprises the leader and takes him down in one shot. The remainder doesn’t last long.

Malachai asks more questions about the maze below. He is informed of the glass rods that work here as keys that match same color energy barriers. This intrigues him and he looks forward to going down into the maze.

THE HIDDEN
08 DROBIN THE CRAZED
SEGMENT 068
“MAZE O”
5/18/14

LHARVION 6, 999

They reach the end of the spiral stairs and light torches and caste spells of light. Then they immediately break up into three groups. RAF, Truth and Cy go one way, Malachai remains at the bottom of the stairs and the rest venture in a different direction.

RAF and Truth find a long room with a lever built into the floor. They are uncertain whether to touch it or not. The others come to a door and nearly fall into a pit trap built at the base of the door. They manage to knock down the door and Rodie hops across the narrow pit and slides the door over it creating a bridge. As the others begin to cross it he looks in and spots a large statue within the next room. It appears to be a well-built male human with a missing eye and many scars on his body. He cannot translate the words on the base.

In the other room, Truth decides to pull the lever. They can hear a grinding sound as something is moving but nothing seems to happen. Disappointed they look deeper into the large room and spot a trapdoor at the back end.

The Marshal Bard does his best to keep track of everyone and remain within his powers influence with the group. He is concerned when one group disappears across the man-made bridge and the others call out. Truth has opened the trap door and a swarm of undead rats are attacking him. They bite and claw at his metal and wood body. Cy steps up to help the artificer.

The others meanwhile are searching the statue and find several secret compartments. There is gold and silver and some potions of Bull’s Strength. Rodie finds a strange rough iron circle with a diamond shaped cutout in its center. It radiates magic so he keeps it.

Persia finds a thick large curtain and decides to check it out. It leads to a very small room where several chained skeletons are. Looking at the bones, they guess them to have been orcs when alive. She disturbs the bones accidently and a ghostly shape appears. It resembles an orc warrior. Tom Garvin summons up a flaming sphere which the spirit ignores but becomes angered by the spell. It is wailing and Rodie feels the need to leave the room- immediately. J Witt stares into the creature’s eyes and finds himself weakened and disoriented. They move back quickly but the spirit continues to attack (the fire is still within the room with the bones).

Finally they get the spirit to back off after the fire has left the room but the group is confused. Rodie ran out of the room but a ½ orc wearing his clothes have run back (yes- a changeling and no…. the group fails to react to this). The spirit is calmed and disappears. That is until the others join them and RAF learns of it. He immediately goes to the bones and begins to kick them around to provoke the ghost. It comes and attacks as he had hoped. In time , they do take it down.

They exit the room and move deeper into the maze while searching for Drobin and his people.