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"That sound, it is your stomach. No?" Paquito asks the hill giant Gronar
"No, Gronar not hungry. Gronar scared." The giant replies
"Look!" Benat shouts as the mage guild, a huge edifice that covers a four block square area, sinks into it's foundation. It slowly disappears behind the buildings blocking the view from across the street.
"Good riddance I tell ye, ne'er did like dem pointy hats much anyways." Books, a dwarf so named because of his all consuming love of the printed word, announces as another rumble shakes the temple of Umtala. Like a child shaking a present, the walls begin to crack and the tiles on the floor shows signs of separating.
The mage guild has been elevated to city overseer, after finding a way to keep the magical mists that plague the surrounding countryside away from the city itself. Seventy-five percent of all constables were on the mage guild payroll, if they couldn't find out what was going on in the city then they forced it from you. All forms of magic were strictly regulated within the city limits, violators usually turned up missing for days only to reappear with memory loss and without the item or spell in question.
Magical explosions erupted from the crater where the guild once stood, sending waves of energy through the streets of Addon. Mass chaos ensued as the people who fled to their homes poured into the streets and those who had not yet made it to their homes, attempted to push themselves through the mass of people. Buildings would melt or turn odd colors, some citizens were turned to stone, others disintegrated outright.
Benat detested the guild and the humanity it represented. Hunting humans was what she did best, and it's what she lived for. Her elvish blood grew elate at the sight of the arrogant human wizard's downfall. Unwilling to help stop the corruption of the ground beneath the city by an ancient vampire, Benat relish in the knowledge that these humans would become nothing more than prey for the hunter.
"Maybe we should collect Maermon before we make a decision?" Benat asks, referring to the other elf in the party who was currently in the elvish temple on the other side of Addon.
"What decision need made? Korg make it! We fight!" Korg, the hill giant cleric of Umtala, yells and strides toward the street outside.
"Wait Korg, we get other pointy eared one, give us more things vampire has to fight." Gronar explains. Korg knew that he could never compete with the intellectual giant that was Gronar.
"OK, Gronar you come up with plan. Pokey you cast big explosion, clear path for Korg." Korg announces
"My good man, I have already explained I am a renown knight from the marshes to the east. No?" Paquito responds, so called Pokey by the giants as for a minotaur he was short in stature and light on attitude.
Gronar watched as Korg's internal wheel clicked in Korg's head, then came to an abrupt stop. "How much Pokey weigh?" Korg asks
"Now I hardly see how that will influence your ability to effectively come up with a plan that renders the masses ineffectual to our flight from this place. No?" Paquito replies
All Korg heard was flight and he had his plan.
"OK we strap keg of ale on back of Pokey, then Pokey carry keg of mead, then Gronar toss Pokey into street, then elfy shoot keg with flaming stick. Is good plan." Korg stood smiling at the dumbfounded faces surrounding him.
"What if keg breaks when Pokey hits street?" Gronar asked. Korg sat and deep in thought as he hadn't thought of that outcome.
"Well, I'm not waiting around while the two of you decide what the best way to serve ox is. I'm heading back to my temple, and then I'm getting out of here." With that Benat heads into the crowed chaotic street.
"Oh please madam, do not leave me here with these brutes. I'll help you reach your temple. No? For I am the great Paquito Flacido ruler of the Mists of Transparency." Paquito exclaims.
Benat didn't even bother refuting Paquito's claim, she headed out with the minotaur and dwarf in tow.
"Where little ones go?" Korg asked
Gronar shrugged his shoulders and the two giants step out into the street and spot the fleeing trio. They hail them and run them down, taking their respective places at point.
"Gronar take elfy to her friend." Gronar tells Benat.
"Yes, this plan Korg was working on already." Korg announces.
The sound of rushing wind drew their attention back to the mage's guild where they saw a stream of pure darkness shoot from the crater and slash onto the sky like water from a faucet. The darkness coalesced there for a moment and like melting wax, slowly began filling in the horizon. The members of the city watch who were not inside the guild when it collapsed, tried in vain the maintain order within the city. Benat chuckled at the useless attempts by the human constables to restore law, amid all the glorious chaos. Shadows began to fall across the morning streets of Addon, only to be burned away by another careening blast of energy from the destroyed guild.
Another four blocks and the darkness had erased all signs of daylight, giving the town an appearance of dusk. A sonic boom signaled the collapse of the protective wind dome, it would only be a matter of time before the mists began to creep into the city proper. Along with whatever beasts were drooling at the chance to hunt in a defenseless city. The growing darkness seemed almost palpable, as if the darkness itself held some form of will unto itself. Families raced towards the two gates of Addon, figuring they'd take their chances with whatever was waiting outside, than with whatever would soon be waiting inside the city. Benat had no time for the feeble or elderly, forcing her way past the screaming masses and on towards her own temple.
The party stumbles through the thickly packed streets to the elven temple and as they reach the threshold, an overwhelming sense of dread blankets them. Turning they see a large man, a full twelve feet in height and six feet across at the shoulders. Worms and spider writhe and fall off of his decaying form. The stench of freshly dug earth fills the nostrils of the party.
"Get inside the temple, it's consecrated ground!" Benat shouts as the party forces their way into the temple.
The party moves in to take up defensive positions, as a low rolling fog licks at the entrance to the open aired temple. The smell of wet earth fills the reception area of the temple. The head priest emerges from the prayer area with two bodyguards, and the temple's justicar emerges from the treasury and assigns two guards to that door. Looking up, Gronar realizes that this is probably the worst defensible place in the whole city.
Benat hears the footsteps of the creature lumbering to the door, she watches as a large foot wrapped in smoldering filthy cloth, crosses the threshold of the door and steps into the room. A sick sizzling sound of flesh burning erupts from where the foot touches the floor as wisps of black smoke raise off of it's foot. It's huge frame has to turn sideways to get through the door frame. The natural light given off by specially grown moss and cultivated by the elves, grows dim and sickly. The shadows the light gives off seem to take on twisted versions of the people they emanate from.
The creature makes no sound as it rushes Korg, swinging a large mace. It connects with the giant's body, and sends Korg careening into Gronar knocking both giants prone.
"Eek! So much for your temple's powerful warding elf. Today is a good day to die. No?" Paquito says to the elf.
"I'm touched you guys came for me, but did you have to bring that with you?" Maermon asks, moving out from behind an elm tree his was studying under.
Books cowers under a large elm tree, feeling very alone in this elvish place of worship. The elven head priest casts searing light but fails to hit the undead giant. Paquito looks around to see if anyone is paying him any attention, satisfied that he will be unseen, he casts disrupt undead and watches as little pieces of unlife flake off the creature, and dissipate. The beast hardly seems to notice, intent on causing as much destruction as it possibly can.
The elven justicar charges the beast, and gets swatted away by the undead thing, landing behind the giant and outside the temple.
Great sense of characters already, and of course, great to see some giants in action.
Spider
__________________ The CR-never-applies Story Hour A Chronicle of Ice, Luck and Honour continues with Chapter 13: Stairway to Heaven Updated 19th December.
One thing I want to add separate from the story is that we use hero points as presented in Arcana Unearthed for the melee classes, but for the divine classes (cleric, druid, paladin) we use divine points. Instead of affecting one action, divine points have a duration and can affect many people. Korg likes to use his divine points and I'll indicate the difference in the story. Divine points are easier to gain than hero points, but it takes more of them to produce an effect.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Gronar crawled away from the vampire and stood up, deftly dodging a blow from the undead giant as he did so. Korg crawled away to the beast's left, and turned over to attempt a turning.
"Korg call upon power of Umtala to send smelly man back to grave." Korg shouted as he held aloft his granite holy symbol.
The beast glared at Korg, with a loathing of life so deep that Korg's holy symbol shook in his grasp. The shaken Korg looked on in disbelief, the vampire had actually reflected the turn attempt back at Korg. The elven high priest rained a searing light down upon the creature, searing it's dead flesh and filling the room with the stench of scorched rot. Benat withdraw an arrow from her quiver, and dipped the head of the arrow into holy water and fired the shaft into the beast's abdomen. The blessed water caused the vampire's rotten flesh to fester and pus. The beasts looked down, and wrenched the arrow from his stomach. Benat watched hopelessly as the festering wound closed over itself, healing what little damage Benat had managed to cause.
Maermon moved up, tumbled towards the beast, and took a swipe with his greatsword into the beast's side. Maermon's movements enabled him to avoid a return blow from the vampire. The elven justicar stood up and avoiding the beast's backhanded swing, charged the rear of the vampire, slamming a return blow to the creature's left leg.
Benat stopped firing holy water dipped arrows into the giant's torso long enough to cast magic weapon on her bow. Korg decided to stand up and face the beast head on, he was promptly smacked by the undead's mace, only this time Korg held his ground and was not moved by the beast's blow.
"Hah! Korg is mightier than soulless carcass!" Korg shouted triumphantly
The giant sneered and opened it's jagged tooth filled maw and hundreds of maggots squirmed and writhed, they all twisted to face Korg and laughed in unison at the giant, bringing Korg's courage thundering back to reality. The elven high priest missed with another searing light, and Books decided cast spiritual weapon on the undead giant, then moved next to Korg. The justicar slammed into the undead giant's legs again, out of the corner of his eye, the shape of a large bony creature moved silently towards him from across the street.
Books cast a cure light wounds on Korg but the effect wasn't anywhere close to what Books was trying to achieve.
"Pathetic little hairy man, your small body must be lacking in healing space. Maybe you grow bigger and then heal better?" Korg said insulted by the puny relief the dwarf gave him.
Exhausted of searing light spells, the elven high priest resorted to spiritual weapon as well. Once Gronar got to his feet he never missed the chance to bury the Godblade (a gift from the temple of Umtala) into the hide of the undead giant. Paquito kept up the disrupt undead for as long as he could, then switched to magic missile.
The justicar watched as the new creature approached the temple, but stayed well outside the temple's consecrated area. Thinking that the creature couldn't enter sanctified ground, the justicar turned to beat some more on the undead giant. The justicar landed another bruising blow to the vampire's back, the justicar noticed that with each successive blow dealt the wounds were staying longer and healing slower.
"We're winning the fight double your efforts, we cannot fai......" ten bony claws ripped through the justicar's elven chain hauberk. Skewering the elf's lungs, heart, and liver at the same time. The justicar looked down and watched as the claws hooked themselves, and then he was airborne. The bony creature had extended the claws on it's hands a good ten feet to snare the elf. Benat watched in horror as the new creature yanked the dying justicar to it's salivating jaws.
Prey in hand, the new creature signaled the vampire and they broke off the attack. The party could hear the chattering of the creature's teeth as it bore into the spine of the justicar. Soon there was nothing left but darkness and mists.
"We leave now!" Gronar yelled before anyone could catch their breath.
The party hurried through the streets heading towards the docks. Gronar carried books under his arm rear first. Magical explosions rocked the city every couple of minutes, Gronar and Books were affected by the blasts and Maermon was knocked unconscious by the eldritch blasts. Gronar grabbed the elf's hauberk and dragged him with his free arm. All around them, the party witnessed dark shapes and twisted things feeding on the bodies of terrified citizens. Benat hoped that the temple could stand long enough for the elves to escape, she cared nothing for the human's fate. Feeling neither pity nor sorrow for the decrepit humans, Benat isn't even nauseated by the sights.
The footing grew treacherous as the streets filled with the blood of innocents. The screams of the fleeing populace were dying off. The sun's light had been completely blotted out, only the enhanced vision of the party members kept them from being completely blinded.
Four blocks later, Benat noticed a human commoner seemingly tracking the party. Not taking any chances, Benat fires an arrow off at the man who was just over 100' away. The arrow lands true into the right shoulder of the human. Benat however was not impressed with the way the man tore out the arrow and then in one fluid motion, proceeded to close the gap between her and him, moving 100' in seconds. Books who watched the whole thing from Gronar's hip shouted out an alarm to the rest of the party.
"The stupid elf done gone and pee'd off another human again!" Books announces as he tries to wiggle free of Gronar's grip.
Gronar drops Books and Maermon and turns to face this new threat. Benat turns fires another arrow into the man, and then backs away retreating behind Korg. The man spits a dark viscous blood smelling substance into Korg's face, blocking off his airway and making speech impossible. Gronar moves to flank the man, but misses with his swing. Paquito moves to Maermon's position and begins slapping him in the face, trying to get the unconscious elf to wake.
"My attempts at waking the dainty one are not working. No?" Paquito calls out
"Ya hafta get 'em in the groin, really make 'em feel it." Books responds in a commanding voice.
The man's form seems to melt away in front of Gronar. Gronar looks up and then feels the pain of flesh being torn from his hip. A blue light streams from the wound into the man's hands as Gronar feels his life-force slipping away.
"What manner of human are you?" Benat shouts, planting another arrow into the foe, this one into the man's chest.
"I want to play, come play with me, I know many fun games." The man replies in an accent unfamiliar to anyone in the party.
"I'm not likin' yer games there mate." Books calls out
Paquito repeatedly nails Maermon in the groin with knee shots. "My short fellow, this does appear to be counterproductive. No?" Paquito says near breathless from the continuous exertion.
The man melts in and out of the shadows surrounding the party, managing to stay one step ahead of the return blows. He manages to drain Korg's life-force twice in the resulting chaos.
"A little help over here!" Gronar calls to Paquito and Books
Benat sensing this may be another vampire takes out her holy symbol and holds it aloft, activating the power of her deity, the symbol gives off a low light that highlights her face. The man turns towards Benat and snarls at the symbol, the wooden symbol turns ice cold in Benat's hand. Lowering the symbol Benat sees that the patterns in the wood begin to move, suddenly the symbol cracks and shatters, sending hundreds of splinters into Benat and knocking her prone.
Paquito tired of beating the heck out of an unconscious elf, stands up and kicks the prone Maermon who awakens in severe pain.
"Hah! The great Paquito hath saved the day. Look the elf rouses from slumber. No?" Paquito announces proudly
Books decides to charge the man and wades into combat. Now surrounded the man melts into the shadows and seems to have disappeared, a half minuet goes by with nothing. The party moves back to back with each other, and then the vampire rises from the shadows beneath Korg. Korg instinctively looks down at the rising vampire. The vampire catches Korg's gaze and stares intently at the hill giant. Korg's attention seems riveted to the man, as the vampire's consciousness enters Korg's mind and implants a specific set of instructions to the hill giant. The vampire's attention momentarily distracted, Gronar uses this chance to land a mighty blow with the Godblade, which causes the man's form to dissolve into a thick fog that drifts away on an unseen breeze.
"Run! No stop til we hit docks!" Gronar shouts. Looking over at Korg who seems to be alright. "Korg ok?"
"Huh? Korg fine, where did human go?" Korg responds
Reaching the docks, the party finds mass chaos. Five ships have already left the docks, one is burning and still moored, and two others and being boarded. The two giants make for the nearest boat, easily pushing there girth through the mass of people. Paquito manages as well to attain the ship's rigging, his show of strength impresses the giants. Hundreds of people have fallen into the water surrounding the docks, this appears to be the last safe haven for living beings within the city.
The constables who have given up hope of retaking the town, have fled here, weapons in hand and begin mowing down pedestrians as they try to make their way to one of the boats. The two elves and Books the dwarf aren't physically imposing enough to muscle their way to the ship, they each get jammed up well before the pier. Another blast from the annihilated mage guild, levels Paquito unconscious as he reaches the ship's deck, the blast also renders Books blind as well as most of the commoners. Fed up with having to deal with all these worthless humans in front of her, Benat unsheathes her longsword and begins hacking away at anyone left standing in her way. Maermon however does not share her bloodlust for humans, and he continues trying to force his way through the crowd.
Gronar leaves Books with Korg, and wades into the onrush of commoners and merchants to try and locate the two elves. Spotting Benat easily, Gronar slowly lowers his greatsword splitting the crowd into two halves, he then shoves the left side of the crowd off the pier and into the freezing waters of the bay. This causes a panic among the remaining people on the pier and third of them fall into the bay on the right side as they try to squeeze past the imposing giant. The sudden loss of bodies ahead of them, causes the people whom were just beyond Gronar's reach to fall over themselves. This gives Benat and Maermon the break they need, and they use their agility to run over the backs of the fallen in front of them. Gronar watches to make sure they are not impeded as they reach his position.
Meanwhile Books and Paquito are scooped up by the mob of people on the ship's deck and are heading for the side of the ship to be thrown overboard. Slow thinking Korg smacks the front of the crowd holding the unconscious Paquito with the flat side of his greatsword, and the crowd crumples under the assault, dropping Paquito to the deck. Books however tries to fight off the swarming crowd, but blinded, has a difficult time doing so and he is unceremoniously dumped overboard into the cold water of the bay. The great number of people already in the water trying their best to stay a float or swim to safety, causes Books to have a difficult time keeping his head above water.
Gronar returns to the ship's deck with the two elves in tow, the two elves are swept up by the mob and are headed for the side of the vessel as well. Gronar lacking the patience of Korg starts swinging to kill. The mob decides the two giants can stay on board and release the two elves.
"Where short hairy man?" Gronar asks
"Uh, oh Korg remember. He flew over side of boat." Korg says proud that he remembered where the dwarf went
Benat grabs a mug out of Korg's back pack and ties a rope around the handle and then to an arrow shaft. Benat lets fly an arrow that lands close to where Books is struggling to remain afloat.
"Grab the mug, and we'll pull you up!" Benat shouts over the din. Her words however fall on deaf ears as Books has slipped under the water.
Maermon dives in after the dwarf, but he too succumbs to the chaos of falling bodies and debris from the ship, and has a hard time staying above water. Eventually he realizes that Books is lost and returns to the ship. Gronar fishes Maermon out of the water and then cuts the ship's moorings loose.
The ship drifts for about five miles out to sea where it floats aimlessly. Gronar and Benat decide to round up some sailors to get this vessel moving again.
"I've found 4 rats that I've heard could operate this ship." Benat tells Gronar referring to the four humans she scrounged up.
"You know how to sail?" Gronar points to the first man.
"Um, no. I've got no clue." The man responds
"Fine I hold you over for next interview." Gronar replies
"You know how to sail?" Gronar points to the second man.
"Maybe, but I ain't going nowhere with you." The man responds
Gronar fetches the first human and guts him in front of the second man, making sure the most blood is splattered onto the sailor. "Head clearer now?" Gronar asks
"Yes, much, thanks. Where would you like to go?" Comes the quivering reply.
Benat searches the ships hold and finds that anything of usefulness was thrown overboard. Reluctant to stay on a ship with two hundred starving, whining, humans, Benat shows any who'll watch how to catch fish. She also prepares purify food and water spells for the party each day. Korg however lasts only three days on fish before he casts create food and water on a daily basis for him and Gronar to keep their bellies full.
The giants decide to let Benat pick the destination and she chooses Mirwood, hoping to find more wood, less stone there and no humans in charge. While Benat's spirits are raised at the thought of going to a more rustic settlement, Maermon thinks often about Books and how if he had just been a little quicker into the water, maybe the dwarf would be with them now.
"Brine, it clears the sinuses. No?" Paquito asks the moping Maermon
"Heh, death is never something I wish to witness. I can't help but think of all those men and women who drowned or worse, made it back to shore." Maermon answers
"Well, here's another way to think about it. Books is probably following us along the sea floor as we speak. Turned into a zombie by necromantic magic, one night when you're watching the stars over head, the visage of a diseased rotten piece of fish food will silently pummel you into joining him among the unliving. No?" Paquito replies
Maermon gives the minotaur a half shocked, half disbelief look, then peers out at the open sea again.
*Blech* "Korg not like rocking boat. Gronar go tell human to stop making Korg sick!" Korg asks Gronar who heads for the ship's steering human.
"Boat driver, stop making ship make Korg sick. Korg no cast feast spell if he throwing up all day." Gronar explains
"Captain, (a designation Gronar demanded after instilling this human as the "boat driver") I have no control over the tossing of the ship." comes the reply
"You tell Gronar who is in charge of that, and Gronar go smack them around." Gronar said excitedly at the prospect of an impending fight.
"The bad weather is to blame, the wind has shifted and we're picking up some rough seas." The human replies
"Gronar think human not know how to steer, maybe Gronar go get third choice for boat driver?" Gronar responded.
The journey takes fifteen days, before the lone dock of Mirwood comes into view. Of the two-hundred and fifty humans on board when the trip started, only fifty-seven are left. Most having abandoned ship when a coastline came into view, or due to the gruff nature of the imposing giants. Some died of starvation, as no one shared food if you didn't fish, you didn't eat.
A lone elf greets the ship on a warped dock. He moors the ship himself impressing the giants, and greets the two elves as they disembark the ship.
"Greetings brother and sister, welcome to Mirwood. I see your journey has been wrought with humans." The elf remarks
"Yes, but after I taught them fire and to come in from the rain, they left me alone." Benat replies
"Say no more I'm sure you are hungry and fatigued from your journey. You will find our hospitality more than adequate." The elf says with a smile.
"We brought some friends with us as well, two giants and a lying cow that you should really keep three eyes on." Benat tells the elf.
Korg is a cleric of Umtala. Umtala can be found in AEG's "Monster" book.
Gronar is a fighter, with the minor bloodline of stone giant (from Unearthed Arcana by WOTC)
Maermon is a fighter/wizard in training, with a major bloodline of titan (also from Unearthed Arcana). His goal is to attain the spellsword prestige class. (Deceased)
Benat is a ranger/cleric/bard. With humans as her favored enemy (I realize that's obvious from the story ), she aspires to be a member of the Order of the Bow Initiate. (currently training to become an OotBI)
Paquito is a minotaur (using Dawnforge's rules for minotaurs) sorcorer, with a major bloodline of devil (also from UA). As his heritage plays a major role in his persona, he tries to hide his tainted side, maybe he'll succeed .
Nameroc is an elven druid with a wolf companion. He is infatuated with Benat and most of his actions revolve around trying to impress her. (killed by a rock thrown by a frost giant)
Finrod is an elven fighter, with a major bloodline of storm giant. This is Maermon's player's replacement in the party. The player intends for Finrod to also go into the spellsword prestige class.
Luciann is an elven wizard.
Omar Forgewarden is a dwarven Paragon/cleric. Just starting on his pious path, Omar may not have a lot of spells, but he's all dwarf.
Ratchet is a gnome cleric (of a homebrew deity), the gnomes are a mysterious race to most of the surface dwellers, as they possess unusual powers. (Dawnforge gnome)
Lothred is a tiefling magister (of Arcana Unearthed fame) with a major bloodline of vampire.
These last 4 additions have really upped the spell power of the party.
Korg is a cleric of Umtala. Umtala can be found in AEG's "Monster" book.
Gronar is a fighter, with the minor bloodline of stone giant (from Unearthed Arcana by WOTC)
Maermon is a fighter/wizard in training, with a major bloodline of titan (also from Unearthed Arcana). His goal is to attain the spellsword prestige class.
Benat is a ranger/cleric/bard. With humans as her favored enemy (I realize that's obvious from the story ), she aspires to be a member of the Order of the Bow Initiate.
Paquito is a minotaur (using Dawnforge's rules for minotaurs) sorcorer, with a major bloodline of devil (also from UA). As his heritage plays a major role in his persona, he tries to hide his tainted side, maybe he'll succeed .
Thanks for posting this. I had logged onto your thread with the intent to ask for just such a run-down. I see that your precognative ESP is up and running.
And it's good to see that someone else likes UA as much as I do. That book has really changed my own games for the better!
Just one more question: Boots. Was he an NPC or just the first casualty of the SH. And does this write-up start at the beginning of the game or are we somewhere in the middle?
Thanks for posting this. I had logged onto your thread with the intent to ask for just such a run-down. I see that your precognative ESP is up and running.
And it's good to see that someone else likes UA as much as I do. That book has really changed my own games for the better!
Just one more question: Boots. Was he an NPC or just the first casualty of the SH. And does this write-up start at the beginning of the game or are we somewhere in the middle?
Boots was a PC, he was actually an Eldlorn (from Hammer & Helm) but he only made it through two sessions, this one being the last one. The player had a half-orc rogue that died in his initial session, so now the player is on his third PC. (I don't seem to be able to kill anyone else )
The story starts near the beginning as the party worked through their new races (some got their RP style down quick, others took a little longer). I felt this spot would be the best as the players were comfortable with their characters, and they had just left a city destroyed and I thought this would be the best place to start at (kind of explaining the circumstances around why they left.) there will be more explainantions as the party interacts with NPCs.
The giants, while short on INT (Korg has a 5) they are good on WIS, (Korg has a 16) so we had to figure out the best way to RP that in the game. Paquito will be the most fun to watch "grow up" If you have Dawnforge then that'll be evident.
"I am Helion, governor of Mirwood. Please, enjoy the fineries of our second home." The elf says with a smile.
"Do you teach the arcane art here? I have need of a teacher." Maermon asks excitedly
"Do not mind him, been around humans far too long." Benat replies
"Well, then maybe a return to his nature roots will help him?" Helion remarks
"Maermon does a wonderful job dyeing his roots. No?" Paquito nudges Korg
Korg recognized the language as common, but for the life of him, had no clue what the minotaur was talking about.
The party is ushered through a line of tree that completely blocks the view of the village. Benat kisses the ground once the wooden houses with thatch roofs come into sight.
Maermon inquires as to the location of the elven mage guild, and is told they have a fine school just for the sort of thing he's looking for.
"Head north to the first elm, then head east until you come to the pine with the moss covered roots, the school will be above you, in that tree. Can't miss it." Helion says with a smile.
Maermon stands confused for a moment, having no idea what an elm looks like as he never took the survival classes his friends took growing up. Maermon watches the party head off to the west, so he turns and heads east hoping to run into the tree accidentally.
"I sense the touch of arcane in you my bullheaded friend." Helion remarks as the party moves ahead towards the festival hall.
Paquito stares back blankly at the elf, not seeming to hear his remarks.
"Ah someone who wishes it not to be known they are one with the spark?" Helion says to Paquito
"Surely you jest. No?" Paquito replies "I am but a merchant of the waterways, I see many things in my time. Maybe it's virus. No? I have been feeling ill. Perhaps I should see a priest about that."
The elf shrugs his shoulders and walks Benat to the festival hall. Paquito trails Maermon as the elf wanders around the trees blatantly showing his lack of direction skills. Two hours later Maermon finally wanders into the correct pine. Paquito almost gives himself away as he wonders how this elvish town could stand by and watch a minotaur stalk another elf through their town. Not only that but how can Maermon be so oblivious, these elves are extremely nonchalant.
Maermon greets the headmaster, and after negotiating a tuition, Maermon enrolls in meditation. Paquito waits until Maermon has left, before scaling the rode ladder up to the thatch building.
"Paquito Flacido, the man with many a background but no forethought. Have you come to study with the great elven teachers?" The headmaster asks
"Um, possibly that is certainly one way of looking at things through your eyes. For surely you have seen many a people traveling through on their way to this or that, from one port or another that carries with them that which may or may not bear the mark of something which may be construed as having a property similar to that of arcane. No?" Comes Paquito's long winded reply
The headmaster motions to a bookshelf next to Paquito. Paquito studies the bookshelf and decides to enroll in herbalism and draconic at the school.
As he leaves however Paquito arranges to not have any classes with Maermon and leaves happily on his way.
Benat brings the giants, who are much too large to enter the festival hall, elven ale in-between stories of her adventures. She ends up telling the short story of Books many times to the elven children, before calling it a night and telling the giants they'll have to sleep outside.
"First you bring Gronar diarrhea in a bottle, now you say I have to sleep under all the trees? Gronar think you plan this." Gronar complains
Morning comes and Benat inquires as to whether anyone in town might be interested in purchasing a ship. She is told the ship they came in on has been confiscated, returned to it's component parts, and returned to nature.
"What did you do with all the humans?" Benat asks
"They are of no concern to us. I do not care what happened to them." Helion replies, "Perhaps they're foraging for nuts?"
Benat finds the elf's views refreshing and drops the subject, she returns to the festival hall and learns that the village is having problems with some kobolds near the north side of the village. The elves believe the kobolds have them outnumbered but of course the kobolds couldn't hit the base of a tree if they ran at it. Benat also learns of a druidic conclave the village has just recently opened diplomatic ties with. The conclave is overseen by an ogre shaman and so talks are going slow, but as of now there appears to be no hostility.
Gronar watches as Korg sits along the shore staring back to the north.
"What Korg see?" Gronar asks
"Korg not see temple of Umtala." Korg replies his voice breaking
Gronar puts his arm around his friend, completely forgetting to tell him that the Godblade has grown dull and black.
Paquito found a nice quiet spot to stretch out on the ground, he takes out the books he garnered from the elven mages, and begins to skim the chapters looking for something interesting. His mind began to daydream about how pretty the school would look on fire, and how puny the giants would be once he fulfilled his physical destiny. He shuddered and broke himself off of the waking dream. Paquito often found his dreams became twisted whenever he allowed himself to relax. His knew he was different, his father never failed to point that fact out. Never content to play 'gore the human' or 'chicken' with his siblings, his fathered had always commented that Paquito was not sired by him.
Once after Paquito had taken the test of maturity, Paquito had a vision of a huge minotaur it's horns dripped blood. It's hair coarse and black, but the eyes, Paquito would never forget the eyes that looked on Paquito with approval. It snorted a brown noxious cloud of filth at Paquito, and told him one day, when he was ready, his real father would show him the maze of all beginning. Paquito left that day, and has never stopped searching for his real lineage.
Benat and Maermon go to sell the magical plate armor they gained back in Addon, after agreeing to sell for 3,000gp the elves leave to find the giants and Paquito to divvy up the gold. Maermon takes the giant's shares and Benat takes Paquito's and they split up. Benat finds Paquito beneath a wide oak tree with an open book in his lap and his attention on a particular vine tracing it's way up the oak's bark.
Upon noticing the elf's approach, Paquito quickly hides the book and turns his attention to Benat.
"Reading anything good?" Benat asks
"It is good to understand one's surroundings. No?" Paquito answers
"Yes, very wise. Anyway here is your take of the plate armor." Benat holds out a leather purse for Paquito.
"No" Paquito replies shaking his head and putting his hand up, "I was not present when you obtained it, it would not be right for me to partake of the spoils. No?"
"Very well, more for me." Benat answers and walks off singing an elven song of victory.
Paquito watched the female elf traipse off and a wry smile formed on his bovine lips, almost a sneer. "Wealth is only measured by the want of others, that makes me far wealthier than you'll ever be fey." Paquito whispers to himself.
"You sell pile of metal junk for that much?" Gronar asks Maermon, who nods affirmatively. "Gronar think there more junk in one of these pouches." Gronar says as he searches through his numerous sacks and pouches.
"Here, you sell this. It metal junk too." Gronar says handing the useless Godblade to Maermon.
"What the heck is this? It looks like you pulled this out of the back end of a vampire. I wouldn't touch it, let alone try to sell it." Maermon responds.
Gronar's brow furls and he decides to put it back it the sack he pulled it out of.
"What elves want to do now? Gronar ready to kill something!" Gronar shouts
"I think Benat was going to ply the tavern one last night, I'm going to try and get this ring identified." Maermon answers
"Ughhh, fine Gronar wait one last night, then start killing elfs out of boredom." Gronar replied
Maermon learns that the bone ring, that the group procured from the dead body of an assassin, allows for the maker of the ring to remote sense through the wearer's eyes. Benat takes her cloak to the elven temple, they tell her that the cloth is of an ancient drow make, and is well over ten generations old (elven generations being 250 years), and that it is a cloak of resistance +3. That night Benat returns to the tavern and once again is begged to tell her short dwarven story, this time however a young elf approaches her after the story and asks for all kinds of specifics on the dwarf's anatomy, beard length, attitude, combat prowess. The two elves discuss the dwarf in length through most of the night. Benat learns the elf's name is Nameroc and he is a druid, she inquires as to the nature of the kobold problem the town is having.
"They're a nuisance to be sure, however the real problem is that the forest moves." Nameroc tells Benat
"What? I know it's late and all but I think you must be drinking something other than water." Benat replies.
"It's true, the trees are never in the same place they were from the day before, we think most of our scouting parties get lost and then get picked off one by one." Nameroc explains
"Hmm, I've got a couple of dumb giants in tow. These trees, am I correct in assuming they're pretty big?" Benat asks. "Perhaps you should explain this to them." Benat hoped that after hearing about this problem, the giants will want to remain here for a while longer instead of moving on to more civilized lands.
"I'd love to." Nameroc agrees. "By the way, you're not.... you know.... bonded are you?"
"I've been on a ship for thirteen out of seventeen weeks do you think I've had any time to meet any elves?" Benat replies
"Well, I only assumed you were since you traveled with the other clan brother, I believe Maermon is his name?" Nameroc asks
"Bah, I think he's been around humans too long, Helion gave him directions to the elven magic school and the guy squirmed trying to figure out which tree was an oak, it was pathetic to watch." Benat answers
The two make their way to the antsy giants, and explain what Nameroc knows of the kobolds.
"Heh, kobolds easy to kill, Gronar agree to squish them." Gronar announces
"Moving trees eh? Mayhaps you elves aren't really that survival savvy after all. No?" Paquito interjects "I think I should like to see these magical pillars of moving wood. I agree to let the giants squish the kobolds. No?"
"I too agree to let the giants squish the kobolds" Maermon chimes in
"What about you Nameroc, you up for the challenge?" Benat asks
"I go where ever your lovely form graces the ground where I was raised." Nameroc replies
"Wait, Korg not like this adding elf. That make two elfs in group and that more than giants." Korg protests, holding up four fingers as Benat rolls her eyes at Nameroc.
"No, it's good Korg, more ammunition for Gronar if we run out of rocks." Gronar says
"You so smart Gronar, ok Korg agree." Korg answers
"Sir Nameroc, surely you have heard of the great beastmaster Paquito. No?" Paquito inquires
"Why no, I have not. Please tell me of your exploits." Nameroc pleaded
"Ignore him, he's full of bull." Benat says
"Maybe Nameroc you know of a minotaur enclave nearby?" Paquito asks
"Why?" Benat interrupts
"Because the great Paquito is not yet full of bull. That is why he needs to find some minotrices. No?" Paquito responds
"You're disgusting!" Benat protests
"Or maybe your tribe would like some sheep sheared. No?" Paquito asks Nameroc
"Maybe, I can check." Nameroc responds
"No no no no! Come along, we're leaving now!" Benat announces
"Psst, hey pokey if you shave sheep, Korg need new boots." Korg nudges Paquito and gives him a thumbs up.
"Sure, whatever the giant wants. No?" Paquito smiles
The party heads out, getting about four miles north of Mirwood and stepping into a waiting ambush.
Four kobolds fire from partial cover behind trees 90' in front of the party, while two worgs charge the rear of the party. Maermon's backside has a chunk removed by a worg, while Paquito deftly dodges the snapping jaws of the other worg. The kobolds manage to pepper everyone in their respective line of sights, while Maermon's worg drags his body down and chews out a gaping wound in his shoulder. Korg moves to the first kobold's position and squishes it into the tree, he then begins wiping off his sword of kobold goo before hiding as best he can behind the tree.
"Korg, what are you doing?" Benat asks
"Korg not want to get stuck with little sticks, hide behind tree so little doggie men can't see me." Korg replies
"But, your gut hangs out beyond the tree's girth, you're going to get hit regardless." Benat protests to the giant.
"Fine, Korg move to other side of tree so elfy can't see him." Korg responds and moves around the tree and out of cover. A kobold arrow easily finds it's place in Korg's abdomen
"Aahh, tree not help Korg!" Korg exclaims as he removes the arrow and proceeds to chop the tree into toothpicks.
Gronar manages to divide a worg, while Paquito sends a magic missile into the worg behind him, Paquito then takes a step back to allow someone else to fill the gap. Benat fed up with trying to shoot at the kobolds, casts entangle and snares two kobolds. Nameroc moves to Maermon and helps tend to his wounds, while Gronar takes down the other worg.
"Korg! focus, watch Gronar play marbles with little doggie men." Korg says as he advances to the edge of the entangle spell and takes out a four foot rock from a pouch on his waist. He then whips it into the tree of a non-entangled kobold. The rock grazes the kobold, but causes it to lose it's balance and fall to it's death.
Korg moves up and nails a kobold that had escaped the entangle and was climbing down the tree to escape. "Haha, Korg get one too. This fun game!"
Benat ends the entangle spell, and both Korg and Gronar charge the tree in an attempt to squish the last kobold. Benat couldn't tell who ended up killing it as she was disgusted at the way the giants turned the tree the kobold was in, into a branchless wooden pillar.
The party loots the bodies, and Benat manages to save enough of the worg's pelts to make a pouch and a cape once she returns to Mirwood.
The party travels another 2.5 miles to the north and Paquito and Korg both spot a pit trap being covered up out of the corner of their eyes. The party goes to investigate and gets ambushed by four worgs and a kobold this time.
The worgs take down Maermon and the kobold*,swinging a war mace, takes down Korg in one swing. Gronar attempts to bull rush the little critter, but the kobold is more than up to the challenge even being 9' smaller than the giant. Dismayed, Gronar steps back and pokes the kobold with his spear, causing a sucking wound to the kobold's chest. The rest of the party deals with the worgs and Nameroc moves in to heal Korg.
The kobold now fearful of it's life, throws down darkness, covering the entire battlefield, and takes off running to the north. Benat races outside the edge of the field, but is unable to locate the fleeing kobold. Nameroc has no difficultly in locating Maermon's bleeding body, and after apply his healing skill, begins force feeding him goodberries.
"You did try kicking him in the crotch? No?" Paquito shouts to Nameroc through the darkness.
"Why would I do that?" Nameroc shouts back
"Someone told me that is the way to wake up a sleeping elf. No?" Paquito replies
"Status check. How's everyone doing?" Benat shouts out as the darkness lifts
"Korg have big owee, need lots of rest." Korg answers and gets the same reply from Maermon
"Are you carrying a slab of meat in your backpack or something? Those things were all over you." Benat asks Maermon
"Once again the Paquito Flacido shines through like a beacon of stalwartness through the din of battle! No?" Paquito proudly announces
"Nameroc, do you know of any safe places we could camp for the night?" Benat asks
"Sure but we have to backtrack about 3.5 miles southeast." Nameroc answers
"Let's get moving." Benat replies
Nameroc leads them to a secluded cave big enough for the giants to squeeze into and still allow room for everyone else. The night passes uneventfully, with Nameroc making odd yipping noises all night long causing the group to sleep restlessly until around 3 am when Korg whips a rock into the back of Nameroc's head knocking him unconscious. Drawing a gasp from the other elves in the party.
"What? Korg thought doggie men were back." Korg explains as he closes his eyes to return to sleep.
The party heads back to the site of the first ambush and Benat begins tracking the kobolds steps, she tracks for a mile before the trail is interrupted by a presence of a good sized oak tree.
"I think we're in the moving woods part." Benat announces to which Nameroc nods in agreement
"Gronar think elf not know how to track." Gronar replies
"No there's a tree in the way." Benat says as she walks around the tree and picks up the trail again. "Odd it's like this tree just grew overnight."
Benat leads the party another mile where another tree has appeared in the tracks, this time however she finds a deliberate attempt to cover the tracks behind this tree.
"Well, I've lost the trail. Something has covered the tracks after this tree." Benat states
"You did look on the other side this time? No?" Paquito asks
"Maybe my wolf could track?" Nameroc chimes in
"You have a wolf? You've had it this whole time?! And you never said anything the whole time I was tracking!!" Benat says getting increasingly agitated
"Is it a female wolf?" Paquito asks, and gets the back of Benat's hand as a reply.
Nameroc calls for his animal companion and the wolf picks up the scent of the person who covered the tracks, but stops at the base of the tree and indicates the scent stops there. Looking up the party finds no indication there was anyone or anything in the tree. Nameroc then asks the wolf to follow the scent back to it's source. The party follows the wolf for about a mile to the east before the wolf indicates it's reached it's destination, which appears to be a bare patch of ground. Benat confirms that there are tracks similar in size to a kobold's but shaped different (a kobold's being clawed, while these definitely were from a toed foot).
The party decides to head north as that's where the nasty hitting kobold ran off to. They travel for about four hours before coming upon a hill rising out of the forest floor, with a knob of dirt on the top of the hill. Benat and Maermon move up darting behind trees and pausing to listen for any sounds as they make their way up to the base of the hill. Nameroc makes a note that his wolf appears calm even thought there appears to be no sounds of any wildlife in the immediate area. Benat makes her way to the base of the knob and hears a rushing river behind the hill. Peering over the back edge of the hill, she sees a forty foot drop into a swiftly moving river.
Gronar moves up and climbs to the top of the knob, and surveys the surrounding area, while proclaiming himself "King of the Mountain". Meanwhile the elves scour the base of the knob and Benat discovers a hidden door. The party regroups at the base of the knob, and Maermon opens the door. Two crossbow bolts come whizzing out from somewhere behind the door. Peering in the group sees a 30' long passage that's only 5' wide, it travels at a 60 degree decline and ends in a room from which two kobolds are firing at the party behind an overturned table.
Gronar throws a rock into the table, while Maermon does a controlled tumble down the passageway, getting 15' in the floor falls away into a pit, but Maermon manages to collect himself and activate the titan blood within him, levitating near the top of the passage. Unable to hit the kobolds now, Benat casts spiritual weapon and ends the kobold threat.
"Thank goodness I was here, you would've been mincemeat again, Maermon." Benat announces
"Hey, Gronar kill table." Gronar interjects
"What? The table wasn't trying to kill us." Benat replies
"Its not moving now." Gronar says proudly
"It wasn't moving before." Benat answers
"Fine job my pituitary engorged fellow, you can never be too sure about tables, sometimes they get up and charge you. I for one could've easily been killed, or at least severely splintered. I appreciate your preemptive tactical awareness, it saved my life. No?" Paquito tells Gronar
"Argh! Get over yourself, you're not even funny anymore." Benat decrees
"Gronar think pokey OK for short man with cow head." The giant replies putting a hand on the minotaur's shoulder.
Maermon pushes himself down the passageway and gets hit by two arrows from kobolds who have entered the room beyond the trapped hallway. Maermon pushes himself down the pit and out of harms way as Benat fires arrows into the attackers and Gronar throws another rock ending the threat.
Korg and Gronar chop down a tree so that the party can get across the pit, as the giants ask the party to scout ahead to see if it gets any wider below before they enter the mound.
* this kobold created with the dreadnaught template from "The Book of Templates-Deluxe Edition" (Silverthorne Games)
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