The Saga of Lucius Victorium Gnaeus (A pogre storyhour) Episode Fifteen

It has been a very long time since I have played in a campaign. I'm nearly always on the other side of the screen. Last fall, an acquaintance of mine invited me to play in a 5th edition D&D campaign. I knew the other players, but had never played a game with them. I thought I would give it a try. At worst, I figured I could chalk it up as an experience that confirmed my view my natural position at the table was as a DM.

The Dungeon Master, Erik, proved very capable and I have enjoyed playing the game very much. The campaign is set in Greyhawk, which despite my long time playing, I did not know much about. Erik reassured me that no knowledge was necessary and that he would not really be following a lot of the Greyhawk material anyway. To me, this is the right approach with a published campaign - use what you want and make it your own. My ignorance of the setting has not been much of a hindrance thus far.

I decided I was going to try my very best to be a player I would want at my table. I sought to add to the game in a fun way and be open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. I wanted to create a character that would provide the DM with tons of story hooks, if he were so inclined. I also made the decision to be human and take the cleric class. Thus was born Lucius Victorium Gnaeus cleric of Kord. I knew we were moving in a predominately human society and most people don't want to play the cleric, but it is a class I enjoy quite a bit.

I hope the other players will comment and add background information or even their own perspectives on the campaign. By the way, our dungeon master has several offerings on Dungeon Masters Guild: Erik Hawley's DMG Offerings. I can vouch for the gladiatorial school as a very fun location. I have no monetary stake in Erik's works, but fully expect a kickback in the form of XP!

As I am playing a character in this campaign, the story is told entirely from his perspective. Lucius is the son of a minor noble house, he can be aloof, and is certainly arrogant at times.

The Saga of Lucius Victorium Gnaeus

Episode One
How was it that I had landed in this cesspit of a provincial jail reduced to pining for open air and something to eat aside from the daily ration of watery gruel and the occasional chance cricket or roach?

Forgive me. Recalling those mean circumstances I found myself in, my manners have slipped: I am Lucius Victoriam Gnaeus of House Gnaeus - subhouse of Darmen, third son of Gaius Lucius Gnaeus heir to Baron Gaius Peraxis Gnaeus and priest of Kord and great adventurer! However, no one knows any of that now…

My companion, (a fickle creature of some strange feline race), and I had traversed nearly the entire continent only to land in this abysmal place. I could not believe this would be my end. I am destined for greater things - curse my chaotic companion and his unpredictable ways. Still, I knew even in those dire circumstances my natural abilities and faith in Kord would permit me to persevere!

A few days after being arrested and thrown into this place we were served a hearty stew, which I greedily devoured for sustenance. That was the last thing I remember of that horrid place.

*****Darkness****

I have no idea how long I was unconscious. That “luxurious” meal I had consumed had been drugged. My head was full of fog and I had the slight sense of spinning. I could feel the cool of a stone or perhaps tile floor beneath me. I opened my eyes and in the half light streaming in I could see I had been transported to an entirely new location. Before I could really clear my vision, I immediately noticed this locale had a considerably less offensive odor.

In the half-light I pushed myself upright and immediately perceived I was not alone. In this very solidly built cell, slumbering on a mat of straw was an enormous fellow. He had wild hair and a beard to match and was very tall and broad. Frankly, his appearance was intimidating though he slept like a babe. The light began to increase as it became clear the sun was rising outside of this place and began to stream in through a high, tiny barred window.

I could also see that my heavily barred cell was one of many in this chamber. Throughout the several cells were various folks, some humans and other races. Across the chamber was another line of cells that held some foul looking goblins. I suppose it was their presence that tainted the air slightly, because the chamber was very clean otherwise. Even the straw in the various cells appeared unsoiled.

I quietly took a few moments to say my prayers to Kord, clutching a simple holy symbol that for some reason I had been permitted to keep.

I watched through the bars as another prisoner shook himself awake. He was huge fellow too and even in the morning light I could see he was a half-breed orc. The creature shook his head a couple of times, assessed the situation, and to my amazement dashed across his cell and threw himself against the cell door. The crash was terrific. Immediately all in our little prison were awoken. The half-breed orc seemed none the worse for wear, but had made no impression on the stout barred door. He did incur the wrath of an unseen guard, who cursed loudly and ordered all to be quiet.

As my cellmate woke I engaged him in a brief conversation and learned he was from the north. He and his brother had been arrested for fighting and later were drugged and brought to this place. Naturally, the poor soul was as lost to the meaning of all of this as I was.

The first guard came in and he was an imposing figure. He had a gladius on his hip, and wore a baldric with five silver coins sewn into the front in intervals. If he possessed a puglio, it was concealed. His limbs were protected with manicas and greaves. He informed us we would be fed and then introduced to Crixus. He would answer no further queries from the prisoners.

The half-breed orc commenced stripping all of his scant clothes off his body in some bizarre rite or protest to his condition. I had overheard his name as Thock. In his state of undress, it was abundantly clear that he was a male. Even in his nudity, he appeared capable of defending himself with great aplomb!

When the meal came in it was a porridge, but a rich dish compared to my recent fare and a generous portion too. The food was dished up by a portly halfling accompanied by a pair of guards, both wearing these unusual baldrics. As the diminutive server handed me my portion I thanked him. The halfling seemed genuinely surprised and stuttered, “You’re welcome,” in a low voice back to me. As I watched the halfling continue to apportion this fine repast to my fellow prisoners he would occasionally glance back at me, and noticing my gaze, would politely nod in my direction.

Here was an opportunity I thought. Either the halfling was so unaccustomed to true manners in such a place or he was attracted to me, or perhaps both. In either case I sensed I may have earned an ally here. How valuable an ally I would learn later.

I may as well mention, my long time travelling companion, the feline-like creature was here as well in a separate cell. I had saved the creature from slavery - much to my regret many times in the past and undoubtedly many more times in the future. Still, it was pleasant enough to see a familiar face.

Following the meal we were led into a large courtyard with numerous warriors scattered around a large dirt covered ring. There were many more warriors with the baldrics - some with one or two coins sewn in, but most with more. It came to me what had happened - I was in a Ludus, a gladiatorial school. I the noble son of House Gnaeus had been sold into slavery! I chanced a withering stare at my feline companion, for which I squarely blamed for my predicament. He was oblivious to my ire as usual.

There was another remarkable feature in the courtyard - a trapdoor, divided in the center and hinged on the outer edges. The door was perhaps ten feet across.

My attention was quickly captured by a stout warrior of middle age, but nonetheless looking very capable. He introduced himself as Crixus and confirmed my fears - we were to be trained as gladiators and if we won five mortal combats we could earn our freedom. Now, the baldrics and the silver coins sewn into those accessories made immediate sense. Crixus was flanked by four warriors who were to be our main trainers in the various arts of the arena and a lovely woman who I later learned was the wife of Crixus.

Crixus then inspected the prisoners, with apparent approval, until reaching the end of the line, where he found a slight man named Narder Bailey. The exchange was something along the lines of:

Crixus: What did you do before?

Narder: I was a kennelmaster, my Lord.

Crixus: My Lord? I am not a Lord. I am your master!

Narder: Yes master.

Crixus: Can you fight?

Narder: If I must master.

Crixus: Go arm yourself.

Crixus pointed at a large pile of wooden weapons and shields. Narder did as he was told and gingerly picked up a wooden gladius and a scutum. Crixus sauntered over and grabbed a wooden sword.

Crixus pointed his sword at Narder.

Crixus: Defend yourself.

Narder was shaking almost uncontrollably and held one shaky arm out with the gladius. Narder looked on the edge of tears. Crixus took a lackadaisical swipe towards Narder. Narder jumped a full five feet backwards.

Crixus: Defend yourself!

Crixus again took a half-hearted sword cut at Narder. Narder again leapt five feet backwards, tumbling on his rear. Narder jumped up and dusted himself off.

Crixus: That’s enough of this.

Crixus motioned at the large trapdoor and a warrior stepped forward with a key and unlocked the sizable portal. Two warriors roughly handled Narder directly in front of the exposed pit.

Crixus: Now you have to defend yourself. No jumping back this time.

Crixus again swung his wooden sword and Narder again jumped back - directly into the open pit. There was a brief, echoing cry of surprise followed by the distinctive crunching sound of broken bones and thud of flesh.

Crixus turned and shrugged and threw his sword back towards the pile of weapons. “Who the hell bought him Lucilla?” Crixus asked the attractive woman. She responded with a quick glance up and shrugged her shoulders.

*****

Following the unfortunate demise of Narder, we were all instructed to choose weapons from the pile. I chose a shield and a stout piece of lumber fashioned into a long sword. Once so armed a group of goblins were led out to the courtyard. One of the trainers announced that we would all be matched against a goblin to prove our worthiness of training. We all were successful in defeating the goblins.

I feared that my outstanding combat skills and excellence in melee had so far outshone my fellow prisoners that I might be promoted directly to gladiator. Cursing my physical genius in conflict, I realized if my training were cut short I might not have the opportunity to escape this place.

A few of the other prisoners had done nearly as well as I in the combats. The barbarian brothers had dispatched their foes with ease and another prisoner demonstrated solid fighting skills, but I was surprised by the ineptitude of Thock, the half-breed orc. Thock was an imposing figure, but once loosed in combat he was clearly incompetent. His swings were mighty, but the goblin effortlessly dodged them. It was even more shocking to see a couple of the goblin’s blows were taking a toll on Thock. Thock finally connected and put the goblin down, but the display was so sad I was embarrassed for him.

During my combat my halfling cook friend was watching furtively from the edge of the courtyard. I gave my erstwhile ally a subtle salute, which he returned in kind. As so often happens, the little person was enamoured with me.

Following our fights we were being escorted back to the cells. One of the guards motioned for me to come with him on a different path. Some of the other prisoners grumbled mightily about me being singled out. I was half expecting this: Invariably, my great skills and general excellence above the rest would land me an audience where I would be promoted before my companions. It is a price I often pay in life for my naturally superior physical and mental abilities. As we passed into a dim room, and my eyes adjusted, a rush of relief flooded into my body as I had been led into a bathing chamber. Instructions from the guard were unnecessary as I joyfully washed myself and soaked in the joys of a true bath. All too soon, I was summoned out of the bath and escorted back to my cell.

*****

Following a rest we were once again led out to the courtyard where it was announced we would undergo training. The pace of the training session was invigorating, but rigorous. When it was my turn with one of the trainers I asked him if Crixus ever let a gladiatorial slave buy their freedom. He replied explaining that one must win five combats. I replied that I might be able to deliver a substantial amount of money if Crixus might entertain such a proposal. Now, I knew perfectly well it was unlikely my estranged family would bail me out, and truth be told, I did not want them to. However, I needed time to think and find a way out of this mess.

My training partner contemplated what I had told him and then explained that the financial expert was actually the wife of Crixus, Lady Lucilla. Would she entertain such a proposal I inquired. I would not burden her with an audience I quickly explained, I just wanted to send her missive to explain my proposal. The trainer thought for a moment and then said he would send pen and paper to me for the message after training. Once again my charm and subtle manners had won the day.

*****

Following the training my fellow prisoners and I were separated into two groups by the trainers. Then Crixus appeared and announced the final test for our groups would be in the morning. The two groups would be pitted against each other in mortal combat to determine who would win their baldrics. My group consisted of myself, the feline creature, Shen, a half-elf who used a quarterstaff in combat, Thock, the near-blind, half-breed orc, and a seedy-looking elf. The other group had some decent members including the huge northern warriors, the highly skilled fighter and a couple of others.

It was clear that the trainers had divided the group as evenly as possible given my overwhelming talents.However, what they had overlooked is that the contest was one-on-one combat. Clearly, I was going to win, but the rest of my group was going to have a rough time. I could see the fear in their eyes. I knew I had to save these people.

We headed back to the cells. This time it was just our “team” going back to the cells. I am not sure where they took the other warriors. Back at the cell we agreed we had to come up with a way to escape. Preferably we would make a break during dinner or when we were being transported between the locations.

That night at dinner the halfling chef told us the best way out. He told us if we could figure out a way to dive down the pit in the central plaza the trainers would assume we had died. He also mentioned something about saving his sister and some gem, but I really did not pay much attention beyond the possibility of escape. Then, Shen piped up that he had a dweomer called “feather fall” that he could cast as we fell that would bring us down slowly and gently.

I quickly told my companions my plan. I would distract the regular gladiators and guards while the seedy-looking elf and my feline-like companion furtively left the room and went out to the courtyard and picked the lock of the pit and flung the doors open for our escape. I performed my part of the ploy perfectly ands soon had the guards and others in rapt attention with my tale of great riches. The feline creature and elf snuck out and after a few moments.

An alarm cry sounded from out on the courtyard and soon the elf and my feline-like companion returned. The guards in the dining room were brought to action and I had to make a decision. I bravely led the group running out into the courtyard, directed the pit doors to be opened, which the feline had failed to do. As our group was on the edge of the pit guards were coming at us from all directions. As they closed in, we jumped...

*****

As all five of us dropped into the pit plunging to certain doom, the half-elf invoked his spell and we floated gently down and landed on a pile of corpses, bones, and junks.

Everyone kept absolutely still. We were about 400 feet below our pursuers and although they were out of earshot, we all played dead. After a few moments, the trapdoor above us slammed shut. I said a prayer and cast a light. We rummaged around the corpse/junk pile and found a few usable items. We also discovered we were not in a terminal pit, but instead an underground complex. There were four rough-hewn passages leading away from our landing spot.

Footprints and disturbed dust were found to lead down one of the passages and we quickly established a marching order. The feline convinced the group that he should lead a fair distance ahead of the party to scout. Having the feline lead the group armed with only a bag of sling bullets seemed foolish to me. I held my tongue though. Afterall, I hoped like a canary in a mine, tragedy might befall the feline first.

After a short distance there was a loud sound up ahead and the feline came rushing pell-mell back to the group. He explained that a large group was coming our way and described the sounds of their conversation. Someone explained it sounded like draconic. We all quickly took up defensive positions.

*****

The four kobolds wandered directly into our ambush. The fighting was fast and furious. The feline was struck a couple of times and was heavily wounded. The half-elf, Shen was proving invaluable as magical bolts sprung from his fingertips gutting one kobold and badly maiming another. Even the Half-orc Thock had some value in this combat as he knocked one of the humanoids out with a wooden weapon. The wounded kobold was quickly killed and its remaining companion ran away.

We secured the living Kobold with bindings and brought it back to consciousness. After a very one-sided parley, the Kobold agreed to show us the way out. He warned us that the Kobold warren he came from was an obstacle in our path. He proposed that if we killed the Kobold chief he could take over the tribe. If we allowed him to recruit warriors he would also make sure there were only about ten other Kobolds defending the lair. He also implored us not to kill the females and young.

I was trusting a half-orc, feline creature, an elf, and a half-elf with my life already. Why not trust a Kobold too? You undoubtedly are having great sympathy with my plight at this point. A warranted emotional reaction to be sure.

The Kobold led us to an area outside the domain of his warren. We were to wait a few hours as he led as many of the warriors away from the place as possible. Then after our rest we would launch our attack!

The Saga of Lucius Victorium Gnaeus

Episode Two

Well rested, and completely at the mercy of the trustworthiness of a lowly kobold, our motley band readied ourselves for an assault on the kobold warren. It somehow seemed appropriate that we were engineering a coup that would result in the greatest coward in the whole kobold community being crowned.

As the appointed time neared for our assault I suggested a preliminary scouting and suggested that either my feline companion or the elf Elros run reconnaissance.

“I do have a name you know,” my feline companion responded to my suggestion.

“Oh yes, of course you do. I can reassure you my friend - ‘feline companion’ is a term of endearment,” I said.

“You don’t even know my name, do you?” my feline companion’s green eyes glared balefully at me in pure kitty disgust.

“You are wrong in your indignity. We have travelled the continent. I saved you, by the grace of Kord, from slavers. We have shared time in bonds.” I was stalling.

“And, still, you do not know my name!” the rising quality of my feline companion’s voice was both abrasive and slightly alarming.

I searched my mind. Surely I had heard his name at one time. I was befuddled. Finally, it came to me! “Swamp Edge,” I pronounced proudly.

“No,” my feline companion snarled. “But, I admit you are closer than I expected - it is Edge.”

“Ah, perhaps Edgy or Elros or both can go quickly and furtively explore our target and report back?” I suggested for the second time.

“I’ll go,” Edgy replied. “And it is Edge.”

“Of course, a term of endearment, I reassure you,” I demurred. The truth was Edgy was a far more descriptive name for my fickle, feline companion. I quietly resolved to continue to use it.

I looked to Elros. The elf simply shrugged his shoulders. Perhaps he had surmised that Edgy was expendable. An evaluation I had to admit, I was not entirely at odds with.

Edgy slinked off into the darkness towards the warren.

*****

“He’s taking too long,” Thock complained. Edgy had been gone a number of minutes, and I admit, I was growing concerned too.

“Let’s give him two more minutes and then we will go in,” Shen the Half-Elf suggested. Thus agreed, we prepared our blind assault on the warren.

As we were just about ready to head in, Edgy came stumbling back towards us. He quickly reported that he had been undetected. Praise Kord! He also reported that he had gutted one of the guards. Naturally, he had not concealed the body and so we could brook no delay. He also reported a human was being held prisoner by the kobolds - aloft in a cage.

A quick plan was formulated: Edgy and Elros would quickly move ahead of the group and take up positions flanking the chief’s building’s entrance. The rest of us would follow quickly with as much stealth as we could muster, and when hostilities broke out I would cast Light of Kord.

That was the extent of our plan. I made several foolish assumptions as my companions nodded in accord with the scheme. I assumed we would try to lure the enemy out of the shack to face flanking assaults from the rogues. I assumed we would fight defensively and force the enemy to come to us, to avoid being overrun.

You know the old saying about what happens when you assume something…
In this case, Thock would be the “you/u” in this age-old truism.

*****

The rogues quickly moved ahead. I could see very little even with the numerous cooking fires that were spread around the enormous cavern we were entering. I did, however, hear the throaty growl and then ROAR of Thock and the pounding of feet as he charged ahead.

“Cast Light! Cast light!” Shen excitedly said. I did so and a radiant light announced our position to the entire cavern of ne'er do wells. I just managed to watch Thock crash into the crude stone building as the flanking rogues looked on in surprise. The din that quickly rose from the building was akin to a night soil cart crashing into a noble wedding. The rogues recovered from their initial shock and ducked into the building too.

Shen and I rushed forward to help. Our progress was arrested by a horrifying sight: two kobolds with wings were flying towards us toting heavy rocks. I shudder to think what unhappy mates created these abominable mutations. Let’s just say, I am willing to bet - the bat was the unwilling participant in this unnatural coupling. I called down a Bolt of Kord on one of the flying monstrosities, but even encumbered, the nasty imp dodged the divine lance. Shen followed suit with his Marvelous Missiles of Unerring Flight - one of the flying kobolds was struck down and crashed to the cavern floor.
The remaining airborne kobold dropped his slate and struck poor Shen directly atop his head!

I weighed whether to cast another Bolt of Kord at the creature, heal Shen, or attack the kobold which was coming towards me from the direction of the chief’s building. I resolved to save my companion and rushed over, and with the blessing of Kord, healed the half-elf. Shen winked his thanks and unleashed another set of Marvelous Missiles of Unerring Flight knocking down the other flying abomination. Elros had emerged from the building and struck down the kobold that was coming after me.

Shen and I went forth into the building. The scene resembled an outer kitchen on butchering day. Blood and gore made the floor slick. Prostrate on the floor was the half-orc barbarian, Thock. An orc appeared over him readying a killing blow. A pair of female kobolds were whimpering in the shadows. Warrior kobolds, a hobgoblin, and an orc lay lifeless in the muck. The remaining orc tumbled down after being struck by Edgy from behind. Suddenly, the sound level lowered as the melee subsided.

I went over to administer healing to Thock, who was still breathing. The rest of the group began gathering weapons. Edgy proceeded out of the building and lowered the cage, which contained a human in plate. I rushed after my feline companion, concerned any social faux paus he might make might lose us a valuable ally. The gentleman was thanking Edgy profusely for his rescue when I arrived.

I quickly introduced myself and learned the man’s name was Calodar. He had an accent from the realm that I recognized, but could not quite place. Calodar explained that he had been captured by orcs and transported to the kobold warren. He was also in a hurry to gain his equipment back and marched toward the remaining building in the cavern to retrieve it. Edgy ran ahead of us and entered the shack. I stayed with the man so he could see his way. I asked him where he hailed from and replied that he was from Nurle. I had heard of it, and had a generally positive impression of the place.

We exchanged other pleasantries and explained in general terms why we were in this place. He said he was looking for an item and I said we were looking for a way out after being imprisoned. We left the explanations with these polite vagaries.

Calodar and I strode into the crude stone building and found Edgy rifling through a pair of packs. Calodar went to the far wall and hefted a mighty greatsword. Calodar placed the enormous sword in a back scabbard and remarked, “There should be a bag of uncut gems in one of those packs.”

“I did not find any,” Edgy replied.

I highly suspected Edgy was lying, but said nothing. Afterall, Calodar had a generally favorable impression of the feline. No sense in ruining it prematurely. Edgy would invariably do so of his accord in time.

*****

Calodar was introduced quickly round to the rest of the group and it was agreed we would not wait for the return of our kobold conspirator. The kobold had upheld his first part of the bargain, no sense in waiting to find out if he would remain complicit. A quick discussion yielded that Calodar thought the item he was seeking lay in an orc encampment some travel distance away and the way out was through the encampment too. A joint venture was quickly called for and the stalwart group quickly set off into the dark tunnels.

Travelling some distance we came to a chasm bisecting our tunnel. There was a large wicker-style basket with four ropes attached to it lashed to our side of the chasm.

“What was this for?” Shen inquired.

“Oh, when they brought me this way they had four flying kobolds lift me across in this basket,” Calodar explained.

This explanation astonished me on a number of levels. First was the matter-of-fact way Calodar explained his spanning of the gorge. It was like a farmer pointing to a mule to explain how he got to chapel - no big deal. Second, Calodar had completely failed to mention there was an enormous chasm, probably in the neighborhood of one hundred feet deep and twenty-five feet wide in our path. Had he mentioned this back in the kobold warren, we might have scrounged something to help us bridge this gap. I was starting to understand how this gent in plate was captured by orcs....

We agreed someone would take a long segment of rope, climb down the chasm, climb up the opposite side, and secure the rope on the opposing side. Edgy volunteered. No one objected. Edgy skillfully traversed the chasm and Elros quickly scooted across the gap as well. Next came the half-orc, barbarian Thock - two-thirds of the way across there was a SNAP and Thock was tumbling down. He whirled his arms and tried to gain purchase on the chasm wall with no success. Shen once again came to the rescue and cast Fortuitously Falling of Featherly Descent and saved Thock. Thock eventually made his way back up climbing the chasm wall after numerous missteps and crashes. Repairs to the rope were made and the rest of the group made it across intact.

Edgy had been trying to get the group’s attention as he waved a collection of small white bones around. “Look at these!” he exclaimed. “Very strange, very strange,” he muttered.

Others in the group examined the bones carefully and did note that they were unusually clean and bright white. It was as though the bones had been placed in a mild acidic bath. I was alarmed as to what this portended. But, there was nothing for it - our path lay ahead.

*****
As had become our standard, Edgy worked the dark passage ahead of the group. After a short while we heard a muffled whine. We rushed ahead with light and saw Edgy stuck in a quivering mass of translucent jelly appearing very much like a fly in amber. This gurgling, undulating mass was heading towards us with our feline companion enveloped within.

Edgy managed somehow to escape behind the square-shaped beast, but the beast kept slithering towards us. I wondered if its alien intelligence somehow knew it had us trapped by the chasm that was to our immediate rear. I called down a Greater Glorious Bolt of Kord down on the creature that not only caused tremendous damage to the beast, but made it much easier to see and attack with the glowing nimbus of light that surrounded it.

I fully expected to hear the howl of an angry charge coming from Thock and his weapon digging into the jelly. Instead, Thock retrieved a javelin, that looked much like a river reed in his hand and tossed it at the creature. Thock was willing to charge an entire warren of kobolds, but threw a stick at a disadvantaged enemy! Trying to parse Thock’s system of combat strategy was clearly beyond me.

Elros followed up Thock’s meager contribution with a sling bullet.

I endeavored not to let this boon of Kord go without taking advantage of it. I hefted the battleaxe I had taken from the dead orcs in the warren and charged the beast. A mighty swing sent amoeba-like matter spraying the sides of the tunnel. My god’s will surged through me and I made another massive swing chunking pieces of the beast about. The beast seemed unstoppable and continued towards me.

With tentacle-like pods it reached for me. I jumped backwards. It reached for me again. And this time - I was enveloped. I was encased in this jelly-like substance and could feel an itching, burning sensation on my skin. Nevermind the fact I could not breathe at all. I admit I was feeling panicked.

Then the calm of Kord came to me. I prayed fervently and quickly. Kord’s answer came immediately - in an instance the creature died and its jelly-like body fell away from me. I was saved by the grace of Kord! Someone later said a sling bullet from Elros had downed the beast, but those without faith often miss the miracle.

A quick survey found several items of interest preserved in the creature. I was given a scroll case containing a prayer of a higher valence than my discipline. I endeavored to use it only in case of emergency.

We traveled a bit further and then made camp for the night. As I cleaned the orc hide armor I had taken from the warren the best I could I reflected on the day’s events. Kord’s abundant blessings on me were manifest in so many ways, and yet, my companions did not seem to have taken note. Then I realized, with great humility, I was sent by Kord as a beacon of hope and light for these folks. My example before Kord was the important thing - I was a living testament to my lord. Thus reassured of my divine mission, I sank into a peaceful sleep.

A bit of filler from the DM...

The campaign is set in the Great Kingdom area of Greyhawk, with variations. It is after the Greyhawk wars. Ivid is still alive yet isolated in Rauxes (and insane) so the kingdoms essentially act independently. The culture of the region is based on classic Rome. Also, I run politically complex campaigns and tend toward fewer, deadlier, combats.

People of Interest:

PC's-
Lucius - Your narrator. A human noble whose family hails from Rel Astra. Has a strained relationship with his father.
Edge - A tabaxi rogue shanghaied from the Amedio Jungle, forced to serve on a pirate ship. Eventually freed by Lucius.
Thock - A half-orc barbarian from the mountains in the north.
Shen- A half-elf sorcerer on the run after his master was arrested by authorities.

NPC's-
Filbert Huggybottom - Halfling chef at gladiator school.
Elros - Rogue who was imprisoned with party.
Calondar - Paladin found in silver mines while party escaped from gladiator school.
Cassius - Caravan Master with ties to the Scarlet Brotherhood
Balo Grim - Cambion Captain of the airship Grim's Folly
Molly Sprocket- Sister of Philbert

The exchange between Lucius and my character (the Tabaxi rogue "Swift Water's Edge", or "Edge") never happened in game, but could very well have, and is wonderful. I spend way too much time working on character details, and had been struggling for a few weeks trying to come up with a name that fit with the description of the Tabaxi culture presented in Volo's, and worked in our Greyhawk setting. The first meeting of this campaign i hadn't made up my mind, so the intro to this chapter is the inevitable result of my not having a name for the entire imprisonment segment.

Despite my character, Lucius's, apparent ambivalence about Edgy the Tabaxi rogue, I did paint up a figure for him to use in the game. You can see pictures of it here:
Tabaxi figure pics.

Edge and Lucius couldn't be further apart in personality, but Lucius was honorable enough to free Edge from the pirates and now Edge owes him a great debt. Since he's died twice in the last week of game time, I'm thinking the debt might be paid.

You did an amazing job on the figure, and I'll continue to use it until i paint my own (so that basically means it may be forever). It's professional quality, I'm duly impressed.

Airflo said:

Since he's died twice in the last week of game time, I'm thinking the debt might be paid.

Click to expand...

I have heard it said that cats have 9 lives, I guess we will be finding out if it is true...

The Saga of Lucius Victorium Gnaeus

Episode Three

The night before we were to assault the orc encampment passed by uneventfully - Thank Kord! The following morning I struck up a conversation with Calodar to learn more about what his goals were and any information we could glean about the orc lair. Calodar informed me that the orc lair was in a massive, old temple complex. The entrance on the other side of the temple complex led to the outside. The item he was seeking was some sort of magical gem in the eye socket of a statue in the complex. Calodar also sketched out a crude map of the parts of the temple he knew about. The sketch included a large sanctuary where the statue was located. It was in this chamber that Calodar had been captured. Judging by the number of passages and rooms between us and the sanctuary, and the fact the place had three dozen orcs, this looked to be a formidable task!

Calodar mentioned that he had not entered the orc lair alone. He had a companion named ominously, Faithless. Judging by his description, Faithless had some dark blood in her and was likely of the Tiefling race. He was cautiously optimistic that we could find and rescue his companion in addition to retrieving the gem. My main goal was to find a way out of these caverns, but Calodar had been true to his word and I did have a sense of obligation to the man.

*****

We approached a back secret entrance to the temple complex around mid-morning. Naturally, the time of day was pure guesswork on my part as I had not seen the sun in several days. Calodar knew about the entrance because the orcs had taken him this way when they delivered him up to the kobolds. I learned a few things about our companion Calodar - first, he was not overly bright; second, he was a man of steady faith; and third, he was trying to lead a resistance against a cruel overlord in his home nation. Apparently, this magical gem was the key to an undead horror that ruled over his home called an Animus. The magic of the gem could be used against this abomination. A righteous revolution for the people! Now, that was a cause I could get behind!

The secret door was locked. This was an unconventional lock with gems and lines and all other kinds of nonsense. Shen was delighted by the puzzle and quickly solved it giving us access. I appreciated his alacrity as it saved us from Thock’s solution of bashing the door down.

Edgy, our cat-like rogue, opened the door and scouted the passage beyond. He came back quickly and revealed that to the right was a sleeping group of orcs, but to the left he could see nor hear any occupants. Following Edgy’s lead, we all ventured out into the passage and headed left. We entered a chamber full of weapons and a bell with a clanger pull. Thock disabled the bell by mangling the clacker and we pushed on.

We next came to a common room with a cooking area and weapons. We opened a door and revealed another chamber, that was largely empty. However beyond the room was a short passage terminating in yet another room. The room further ahead was dimly illuminated by a blue-green light. Capturing our immediate attention though was a large orc relieving himself in a bucket in the far room. Edgy who was working ahead of the party charged the orc. With the combined effort of all the orc was killed, but sadly, not before it bellowed an alarm.

The barbarian, Thock, had blocked a door we had passed by using a javelin. Immediately beyond this chamber was a passage leading to the source of the blue-green illumination. There was a murky pool taking up most of that chamber and at the far end a glowing long sword on a mounted dais. Naturally, the impetuous Edgy immediately went into the pool room. When he entered the pool room, four bizarre, muddy sprites emerged from the liquid and began attacking him.

Shen unleashed a Shen’s Suggestion of Slumbering spell on the muddy sprites and one fell back into the murky pool. Edgy concentrated on avoiding the muddy sprites’ attacks including one which spewed a torrent of mud at him. Meanwhile, we could hear the war bellows of orcs behind us and the SNAP of Thock’s javelin being split. The situation was not good. Ahead Edgy was trying to hold off a trio of these magical, flying mud creatures and we had a horde of orcs coming up from behind. We were surrounded by foes!

Calodar bravely and wisely went to the back of the chamber to take up a defensive position against the oncoming orc horde. Realizing that we had to limit the orcs’ frontage and attack avenues, I took up a position next to him blocking the way for the orcs. The rest of our companions took on the rest of the mud sprites. Shen remained in a position in the middle room where he could fling spells at both combats.

The orcs attacked! Shen knocked one of the orcs down with his Suggestion of Slumbering spell. I quickly killed that orc. I was hit by a javelin, and now, in full battle fury, I lashed out at the humanoids with a battle axe I had taken from their brethren. Imbued by Kord with righteous fury I felled another orc. I was hit by another javelin. I was bleeding badly and I knew I was in trouble. I hit another orc and carried by the glory of Kord I felled it too. But, the orcs kept coming!

Sometime in this maelstrom of combat I heard an ear-splitting YOWL coming from behind us. I only learned later that Edgy, in the middle of a combat with a mud sprite, had grabbed the glowing long sword. Immediately upon grabbing the weapon his eye had popped out. His eye just popped out of his skull leaving a vacant socket. Edgy spent much of the rest of the combat searching for his eye in the muddy pool. Although, I acknowledge it is mean-spirited, I would have given three golds to see the look on his face when he realized his eye had just popped out of his skull!

I hacked another orc down and then an orcish battleaxe crashed down on me and my world went dark.

*****

I awoke. The sounds of melee still roared around me. Calodar had somehow healed me I surmised. My eyes adjusted to the dim light just in time to see Calodar fall. Resolved to save him, I raced up and with the divine power of Kord healed him to consciousness. The few remaining orcs were greatly discouraged by this demonstration of Kord’s deific power and began to flee. Thock immediately gutted one as it turned to run. The other orc, however, managed to break contact and flee. “He’ll warn the other orcs!” Shen cried and the chase was on!

We chased the orc all the way back to the original hall and with spells, sling bullets, and the one-eyed Edgy leading the way, we managed to knock down the last orc. As we panted for breath hoping collectively for a rest, a much larger orc appeared in the narrow hallway. This was the largest orc we had yet seen and its grizzled face bore an eye patch. It shouted something orcish at Edgy and charged. I later learned the orc had said something like, “Hey, that’s my sword!”

The big orc chopped Edgy down and Thock rushed in to save Edgy. The two orc-blooded foes exchanged terrible blows, while the rest of the group contributed with missile fire and spells. At one point, near death, Thock quaffed a magical potion and revivified by the potion, struck the orc down.

While no one was paying particular attention, the elf Elros picked up the magical longsword that Edgy had dropped. The elf threw the sword away from himself, screaming in horror. Thankfully, Elros did not became cyclopic during his encounter with the sword. Thock seeing the reaction of the elf, went back to his barbaric roots and swung his axe down on the sword trying to destroy it. Sparks flew from the metal on metal strike and the recently stabilized Edgy gave out a large groan. A deep wound appeared on the feline as though Thock had directly struck him.

“He is possessed by the demon sword!” I declared.

A short debate followed and it was decided the group would retreat back into the caverns to camp, recover, and try to figure out what to do. The possessing sword would have to come with us, until we could figure out how to break its curse on Edgy. During the night, even in his very poor state of health, Edgy kept sliding towards the sword. Those on guard had to move the sword several times in the night to keep the slumbering feline from touching its foul metal.

An alerted tribe of orcs lay ahead and we were bringing a one-eyed, neurotic, possessed by a demon sword feline with us. There would be much to talk about in the morning...

Some DM notes relating to Episode 3:
-I tend to run fewer, but deadlier, encounters in my games
-Faithless is a new player that was added to the group but took a couple of sessions to show up
-The gem in the eye socket statue is a homage to the AD&D Player's Handbook cover art
-Animus are a Greyhawk/Great Kingdom thing, you can think of them as "Lich Light", all the full Lich flavor with half the hit points!
-Never grab a glowing sword off an altar in an evil orc temple, unless you really like Gruumsh!