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<blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1766049" data-attributes="member: 6294"><p><strong>Last session's adventures were a modified version of WotC's "The Windswept Wall" and CMG's "The Whispering Woodwind" (what a lot of Ws!). This session covers what was <em>supposed</em> to be a WotC's "Village of Camiram" cliffhanger, crossed with a heavily modified version of Necromancer Games' "Feast of the Gobbler", replacing that adventure's 'bad joke' adversaries with gnolls. Only the CotRE never quite got to the adventure part of things ...</strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>The Padre stands near the door of the prison cell, staring out into the corridor through the narrow viewing grille.</p><p></p><p>"This is all your fault." He tells Khore.</p><p></p><p>The accused Paladin glances up from where he is seated on a straw pallet bed,</p><p></p><p>"The fault lies with those who unjustly tried to bar us from entering this village." Is his calm rejoinder. "I merely tried to show them they were in error."</p><p></p><p>The Priest of St Cuthbert grunts and throws himself onto the other pallet.</p><p></p><p>The day had started calmly enough: six of the Company of the Random Encounter were travelling south from Marikest to the village of Camiram, where in just under two months' time Sirdros would be expected to conduct the rites of the Spring Festival.</p><p></p><p>Six of the Company; but the group numbered eight, not counting mounts. Stormstrider, as ever, was accompanied by his wolf companion, while the eighth was ... a little more unusual.</p><p></p><p>"He's a myconid." Briar explains, gently patting the mushroom-like creature that clings to her shoulder, "His name is Herbie."</p><p></p><p>"He'd go well in a stew." Is the Padre's assessment, which earns him a glare from the young rogue.</p><p></p><p>"Another druid." Khore shakes his head pityingly, "When will you people learn? <em>Rocks and trees are </em>not<em> gods.</em>"</p><p></p><p>Other than the usual bickering, the group encounters no difficulties on their journey: at least, not until they actually reach their destination.</p><p></p><p>"Halt!" a group of six men, all carrying bows, blocks the road into Camiram. Their leader is a burly, unshaven fellow with a pair of woodsman's axes strapped to his belt. He points at Sirdros, Anastria and Stormstrider. "Yer can turn around and go home, yer stinkin' elves. We'll not have your sort skulking in our town no longer."</p><p></p><p>Seeing Khore continue to walk calmly forward, the man plants himself in the Paladin's way.</p><p></p><p>"Where do yer think yer goin'?" he demands.</p><p></p><p>"I am not an elf."</p><p></p><p>"We don't want yer stinkin' elf-lovin' carcass in our town, neither."</p><p></p><p>Things got a little heated, after that. Hence the Company's current accommodation.</p><p></p><p>"Locked up!" the Padre folds his arms, "Like a common thief!"</p><p></p><p>"When we are released I shall require an apology from the man who barred our entry." Khroe seems far more philosophical about their situation, "And if he refuses, I shall challenge him."</p><p></p><p>As if in answer to the paladin's word, there come the sound of footsteps in the hall outside, and then of the key in the lock. Slowly, the heavy door swings open, to reveal a man in the livery of the Marikest Guard.</p><p></p><p>This, it emerges, is Dohan, commander of a militia detachment, responsible for patrolling the roads in this region. He gruffly interviews the adventurers - or more pedantically, the adventurers and Khore, as the paladin rejects the appellation - over their part in the brawl.</p><p></p><p>"What is the cause of this hostility toward elves?" Sirdros asks.</p><p></p><p>Dohan sighs,</p><p></p><p>"There have been some disappearances, of late. Folk going missing in the woods or on the road. Several times, items of elven make have been found nearby. The locals are blaming a tribe of pointies - elves - that live out west of here. I've tried to do what I can to find the missing folks, but I don't have the men to cover all the ground."</p><p></p><p>"Maybe we could help find the cause of these disappearances." The Padre offers, in a meaningful tone. Dohan grunts,</p><p></p><p>"You'll have to, if you want your friend to conduct the Spring Rites. No elf will be allowed into Camiram, until this business stops."</p><p></p><p>"Maybe there's a <em>reward</em> for helping." The Padre suggests, in an even more meaningful tone.</p><p></p><p>"You require payment to assist the cause of justice?" Khore gives him a disapproving look, "What kind of Priest of St Cuthbert <em>are</em> you?"</p><p></p><p>"A practical one."</p><p></p><p>"I shall help in this matter." The Paladin announces, "But I seek no reward."</p><p></p><p>"Look, if you folks fix this all up, I'll pay you for the work. You can decide how to split it yourself." Dohan shrugs, "The reward was posted a week or so back. Which is probably why Levi's looking to pick a fight with every elf he meets."</p><p></p><p>"Levi is the man who insulted us?" Khore nods, "I shall have words with him, once I return."</p><p></p><p>"<em>If</em> you return." Dohan gives the group a rather doubtful look, obviously not sure that he'll ever see them again.</p><p></p><p>Undeterred by the militia-man's assessment of their chances, the group sets out, planning to begin their investigation by speaking to the very elves that are accused of the crime. The journey is a little more difficult than they expected, as the land to the west becomes boggy and damp, but they slowly manage to pick their way around the fens, suffering nothing worse than a few leeches and a lot of mud.</p><p></p><p>Eventually Stormstrider, who has been leading the group, begins to point out small fetishes in the trees and bushes, woven from sticks and bark.</p><p></p><p>"We have entered the lands of my people." He explains, "These totems tell they they are a clan who stay true to the old ways."</p><p></p><p>Anastria snits something about 'unwashed savages' under her breath.</p><p></p><p>Pressing on, the group locates the eleven settlement. This is simply a collection of hide tents, clustered in a rough circle, overlooking a broad but shallow stream. Elves, all of whom are dressed in furs, stop what they are doing to watch the approach of the group. A few rest hands on spears or clubs, but there is none of the overt hostility the adventurers (and Khore) experienced in Camiram.</p><p></p><p>Still, just in case, they decide to let the elves do the talking.</p><p></p><p>One of the elves - a tall, broad-shouldered warrior with a necklace of feathers and beads - moves forward and asks them their purpose. After hearing why they have come, he takes them to see Seskanon, the elder of the tribe.</p><p></p><p>Anastria begins to explain their errand to Seskanon. Sirdros attempts to interrupt, but is firmly slapped down by his sister. They squabble briefly about religion.</p><p></p><p>Having finally determined why the group has come to see him, Seskanon confirms that while there have been disappearances in the area, his people have not been the culprits. In fact, on several occasions they have been the victims: four members of the tribe have gone missing in the past month. Further questioning reveals that items of human manufacture were found at all the sites where all four elves disappeared, but:</p><p></p><p>"We no longer believe it is they who did these things." Seskanon explains, "We did at first, especially after they drove off those we sent to speak with them. But a week ago, I had a dream of a great darkness filling our sacred place: a great maw beneath the earth, consuming all. Into the darkness came six warriors; three of our race, and three humans; who lit the darkness, and drove out the maw. At first, I despaired, knowing that we could never persuade the people of Camiram to help us. But now you are here: six of you, three from each race."</p><p></p><p>Of the group, only Khore seems pleased to be a prophesied hero, though his pleasure is tarnished somewhat by being the prophesied hero of a bunch of 'tree and rock-worshippers'. Nontheless, they agree to go to this scared place Seskanon speaks of, and drive out whatever evil has made its home there.</p><p></p><p>"You owe us for this one." The Padre informs Sirdros, "Your church is out of favours."</p><p></p><p>The sacred place turns out to be a rocky mound, in the middle of the marsh-like fens that the group skirted on their way to see the elves. Despite the fact that they are going right trhough them, this time, the journey actually proves easier than their last, due to the elven warriors who guide their path. These locals display an unerring knowledge of the driest and safest paths to follow.</p><p></p><p>"Sacred place is on top of mound," one of the warriors stops a few hundred yards from the mound and points, "Amidst circle of stones. You go on alone from here. Ground is safe."</p><p></p><p>Approaching the bluff, the group comes under fire from archers, concealed amidst the circle of stones. Stormstrider responds with an <em>entangle</em>, while the rest of the adventurers charge toward the enemy. Stormstrider's spell initially serves the group well, as it drives the enemy - a group of four gnolls - out from the stones in an effort to escape the grasping vines and roots. The Company, however, charge too far too fast, and are soon almost as mired as their foes. Fortunately, the Padre - always a good shot with a crossbow - has recently begun to master the longbow, and he hangs back, unleashing a rain of arrows that tips the balance in the group's favour.</p><p></p><p>Once the <em>entangle</em> effect ceases, the group explores the top of the mound. The circle of stones has been defaced by the gnolls, the ancient carvings in the rock being scarred with sword and axe blows. There is also a path of flattened grass, which appears to be the route the gnolls have been using to climb to the top of the bluff. Tracking this route back to its source, the Company finds that it runs down to a waist-deep stream that flows out of the side of the bluff.</p><p></p><p>"The tracks go into the water." Stormstrider reports, "And they don't come out the other side."</p><p></p><p>"Maybe they follow the stream away, to hide their tracks?" Briar suggests.</p><p></p><p>"This is gnolls we're talking about."</p><p></p><p>Eventually, they recall that Seskanon's dream spoke of a darkness in the earth under the bluff Sirdros casts light on a stone, and Stormstrider clambers into the water with the stone in his teeth, then forces his way upstream, and swims beneath the buff.</p><p></p><p>Less than a minute later, he reappears, reporting that there are caves within the mound, with dry floors above the level of water, and more than enough room for the group to walk easily.</p><p></p><p>Assuming, of course, they can all manage to get in there. For most, this proves relatively easy. But for Sirdros, laden down with a mass of metal armour (which re takes off, but insists on carrying) the task proves too hard. He cannot make progress, and then is washed downstream, buffeted by the water and rocks as he goes.</p><p></p><p>Fortunately, the Padre notices this and rushes back to rescue Sirdros, using one of his new-found psychic powers to float the other priest to the surface of the water.</p><p></p><p>Eventually, all six of the group force their way into the caves. The underwater tunnel goes only a few feet before opening into this area, which is just about large enough to hold them all. A narrow, twisting tunnel leads deeper into the mound. Making ready their everburning torches, the group is just about to explore this route when Briar stops them.</p><p></p><p>"Herbie saw something in the water." She reports, pointing into the stream. Stormstrider investigates, and returns grim-faced. The 'something' is the body of an elf, recently killed. The elf had bound hands, and his tan had started to fade.</p><p></p><p>"They had him here for a while, then they killed him and dumped the body, in their own escape route." The Padre ponders this, "It could be they are planning to move on."</p><p></p><p>The group decides to waste no time, and presses on down the narrow tunnel. They pass through a shower of water droplets from the ceiling, and then into a large chamber, fully 60' across. Much of the chamber's floor is taken up by a subterranean lake, at the centre of which is a small island. On this island, looking rather strange in its subterranean setting, is a small cottage of stone, with arrow-slits that face the tunnel through which the group has just arrived.</p><p></p><p>And thus it is for the second time that day that the Company find themselves under fire from concealed archers.</p><p></p><p>Briar curses as an arrow strikes her, but Khore leaps forward without hesitation, plunging waist deep in icy water to wade toward the island. Some of the others, more circumspect - or perhaps just more sensible - run along the edge of the lake, then across a short bridge on the far side.</p><p></p><p>Whomever is in the cottage is now surrounded, but with a sturdy door locked behind them, and arrow slits to fire out from, they seem well-protected from anything the group can do: protection that increases when two wolves burst out of the darkness and attack. One grabs Briar's ankle and trips her into the lake, while the other savages Sirdros and Stormstrider.</p><p></p><p>As Stormstrider tries and fails to batter his way through the door, Khore looks for another way into the cottage. Spotting that the roof is made of wooden tiles, he scrambles up the side of the building. Balancing precariously on the sloping roof, he then hammers his greatsword through the tiles. If anything, he is actually too successful in his task: dozens of the tiles shatter or fly loose, and the whole surface gives way beneath him, plunging the paladin down amongst his enemies.</p><p></p><p>As the sounds of fighting emerge from inside the cottage, Briar pulls herself out of the water and stabs one of the wolves, while Anastria and Sirdros combine to down the other - though not before Sirdros is knocked to the ground in the melee.</p><p></p><p>As Stormstrider fails again to burst through the door, Khore's shouts and war cries suddenly choke off, and there is the sound of something heavy striking the floor.</p><p></p><p>Padre and Anastria throw themselves at the walls of the cottage, trying to climb up to the hole in the roof, but it is Briar who gets the group into the house first, putting her lock-picks to work with record-breaking speed.</p><p></p><p>Stormstrider throws open the door and rushes in, just in time to distract the two gnolls inside from finishing Khore, who lies unconscious on the floor.</p><p></p><p>With the door open, the result of the fight is never in doubt: numbers quickly overwhelm the two gnolls. Once their enemies are dispatched, the Padre heals Khore while the others look around. There are a few more caves, but they all appear to have been deserted in the last few days or hours. There are signs of recent habitation, and many furnishings are still in place, but anything small and portable has been removed, as have most of the foodstuffs.</p><p></p><p>It is in fact the Padre and Khore who locate the sole remaining inhabitant of the complex: a human prisoner being held in the cellar of the 'cottage'. This woman introduces herself as Valkyre,</p><p></p><p>"I am a follower of Dargrute, Lord of Fire and Forge. He is a god of my people."</p><p></p><p>"Never heard of him." The Padre frowns, "Dargrute sounds like a dwarven word."</p><p></p><p>"It is."</p><p></p><p>"You're very tall for a dwarf."</p><p></p><p>"I was raised by dwarves in the cold lands to the north." Valkyre explains, "My parents were colonists who were shipwrecked. They died, but kept me alive long enough for the dwarves to find me."</p><p></p><p>"And why are you here, now?"</p><p></p><p>"I came south to search the land and meet its people. I am an adult now, however young I may be by the clan's reckoning, and I wished to meet people of my own race. You have developed many interesting inventions here. Do you know there is a kind of oil that sticks to people as it burns? I used one against the gnolls when they captured me. It worked very well."</p><p></p><p>"I'm surprised they didn't kill you."</p><p></p><p>"Their leader - a bony gnoll with white fur - stopped them. I think he had some pretty specific - and unpleasant - plans for me." Valkyre shrugs, not evidencing much concern, "But then they suddenly packed up and left. And you turned up. So it worked out in the end. "</p><p></p><p>"I guess." The Padre ponders, "So it looks like the gnolls were kidnapping people and trying to stir up trouble between the elves and the humans in the meantime. The question is, why?"</p><p></p><p>Khore shrugs,</p><p></p><p>"They're evil."</p><p></p><p>The priest snorts, then realises the paladin is serious.</p><p></p><p>"Maybe, but I can't help but think there's more to it than that."</p><p></p><p>"Well, we'll never know, now, will we?"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Capellan, post: 1766049, member: 6294"] [b]Last session's adventures were a modified version of WotC's "The Windswept Wall" and CMG's "The Whispering Woodwind" (what a lot of Ws!). This session covers what was [i]supposed[/i] to be a WotC's "Village of Camiram" cliffhanger, crossed with a heavily modified version of Necromancer Games' "Feast of the Gobbler", replacing that adventure's 'bad joke' adversaries with gnolls. Only the CotRE never quite got to the adventure part of things ...[/b] The Padre stands near the door of the prison cell, staring out into the corridor through the narrow viewing grille. "This is all your fault." He tells Khore. The accused Paladin glances up from where he is seated on a straw pallet bed, "The fault lies with those who unjustly tried to bar us from entering this village." Is his calm rejoinder. "I merely tried to show them they were in error." The Priest of St Cuthbert grunts and throws himself onto the other pallet. The day had started calmly enough: six of the Company of the Random Encounter were travelling south from Marikest to the village of Camiram, where in just under two months' time Sirdros would be expected to conduct the rites of the Spring Festival. Six of the Company; but the group numbered eight, not counting mounts. Stormstrider, as ever, was accompanied by his wolf companion, while the eighth was ... a little more unusual. "He's a myconid." Briar explains, gently patting the mushroom-like creature that clings to her shoulder, "His name is Herbie." "He'd go well in a stew." Is the Padre's assessment, which earns him a glare from the young rogue. "Another druid." Khore shakes his head pityingly, "When will you people learn? [i]Rocks and trees are [/i]not[i] gods.[/i]" Other than the usual bickering, the group encounters no difficulties on their journey: at least, not until they actually reach their destination. "Halt!" a group of six men, all carrying bows, blocks the road into Camiram. Their leader is a burly, unshaven fellow with a pair of woodsman's axes strapped to his belt. He points at Sirdros, Anastria and Stormstrider. "Yer can turn around and go home, yer stinkin' elves. We'll not have your sort skulking in our town no longer." Seeing Khore continue to walk calmly forward, the man plants himself in the Paladin's way. "Where do yer think yer goin'?" he demands. "I am not an elf." "We don't want yer stinkin' elf-lovin' carcass in our town, neither." Things got a little heated, after that. Hence the Company's current accommodation. "Locked up!" the Padre folds his arms, "Like a common thief!" "When we are released I shall require an apology from the man who barred our entry." Khroe seems far more philosophical about their situation, "And if he refuses, I shall challenge him." As if in answer to the paladin's word, there come the sound of footsteps in the hall outside, and then of the key in the lock. Slowly, the heavy door swings open, to reveal a man in the livery of the Marikest Guard. This, it emerges, is Dohan, commander of a militia detachment, responsible for patrolling the roads in this region. He gruffly interviews the adventurers - or more pedantically, the adventurers and Khore, as the paladin rejects the appellation - over their part in the brawl. "What is the cause of this hostility toward elves?" Sirdros asks. Dohan sighs, "There have been some disappearances, of late. Folk going missing in the woods or on the road. Several times, items of elven make have been found nearby. The locals are blaming a tribe of pointies - elves - that live out west of here. I've tried to do what I can to find the missing folks, but I don't have the men to cover all the ground." "Maybe we could help find the cause of these disappearances." The Padre offers, in a meaningful tone. Dohan grunts, "You'll have to, if you want your friend to conduct the Spring Rites. No elf will be allowed into Camiram, until this business stops." "Maybe there's a [i]reward[/i] for helping." The Padre suggests, in an even more meaningful tone. "You require payment to assist the cause of justice?" Khore gives him a disapproving look, "What kind of Priest of St Cuthbert [i]are[/i] you?" "A practical one." "I shall help in this matter." The Paladin announces, "But I seek no reward." "Look, if you folks fix this all up, I'll pay you for the work. You can decide how to split it yourself." Dohan shrugs, "The reward was posted a week or so back. Which is probably why Levi's looking to pick a fight with every elf he meets." "Levi is the man who insulted us?" Khore nods, "I shall have words with him, once I return." "[i]If[/i] you return." Dohan gives the group a rather doubtful look, obviously not sure that he'll ever see them again. Undeterred by the militia-man's assessment of their chances, the group sets out, planning to begin their investigation by speaking to the very elves that are accused of the crime. The journey is a little more difficult than they expected, as the land to the west becomes boggy and damp, but they slowly manage to pick their way around the fens, suffering nothing worse than a few leeches and a lot of mud. Eventually Stormstrider, who has been leading the group, begins to point out small fetishes in the trees and bushes, woven from sticks and bark. "We have entered the lands of my people." He explains, "These totems tell they they are a clan who stay true to the old ways." Anastria snits something about 'unwashed savages' under her breath. Pressing on, the group locates the eleven settlement. This is simply a collection of hide tents, clustered in a rough circle, overlooking a broad but shallow stream. Elves, all of whom are dressed in furs, stop what they are doing to watch the approach of the group. A few rest hands on spears or clubs, but there is none of the overt hostility the adventurers (and Khore) experienced in Camiram. Still, just in case, they decide to let the elves do the talking. One of the elves - a tall, broad-shouldered warrior with a necklace of feathers and beads - moves forward and asks them their purpose. After hearing why they have come, he takes them to see Seskanon, the elder of the tribe. Anastria begins to explain their errand to Seskanon. Sirdros attempts to interrupt, but is firmly slapped down by his sister. They squabble briefly about religion. Having finally determined why the group has come to see him, Seskanon confirms that while there have been disappearances in the area, his people have not been the culprits. In fact, on several occasions they have been the victims: four members of the tribe have gone missing in the past month. Further questioning reveals that items of human manufacture were found at all the sites where all four elves disappeared, but: "We no longer believe it is they who did these things." Seskanon explains, "We did at first, especially after they drove off those we sent to speak with them. But a week ago, I had a dream of a great darkness filling our sacred place: a great maw beneath the earth, consuming all. Into the darkness came six warriors; three of our race, and three humans; who lit the darkness, and drove out the maw. At first, I despaired, knowing that we could never persuade the people of Camiram to help us. But now you are here: six of you, three from each race." Of the group, only Khore seems pleased to be a prophesied hero, though his pleasure is tarnished somewhat by being the prophesied hero of a bunch of 'tree and rock-worshippers'. Nontheless, they agree to go to this scared place Seskanon speaks of, and drive out whatever evil has made its home there. "You owe us for this one." The Padre informs Sirdros, "Your church is out of favours." The sacred place turns out to be a rocky mound, in the middle of the marsh-like fens that the group skirted on their way to see the elves. Despite the fact that they are going right trhough them, this time, the journey actually proves easier than their last, due to the elven warriors who guide their path. These locals display an unerring knowledge of the driest and safest paths to follow. "Sacred place is on top of mound," one of the warriors stops a few hundred yards from the mound and points, "Amidst circle of stones. You go on alone from here. Ground is safe." Approaching the bluff, the group comes under fire from archers, concealed amidst the circle of stones. Stormstrider responds with an [i]entangle[/i], while the rest of the adventurers charge toward the enemy. Stormstrider's spell initially serves the group well, as it drives the enemy - a group of four gnolls - out from the stones in an effort to escape the grasping vines and roots. The Company, however, charge too far too fast, and are soon almost as mired as their foes. Fortunately, the Padre - always a good shot with a crossbow - has recently begun to master the longbow, and he hangs back, unleashing a rain of arrows that tips the balance in the group's favour. Once the [i]entangle[/i] effect ceases, the group explores the top of the mound. The circle of stones has been defaced by the gnolls, the ancient carvings in the rock being scarred with sword and axe blows. There is also a path of flattened grass, which appears to be the route the gnolls have been using to climb to the top of the bluff. Tracking this route back to its source, the Company finds that it runs down to a waist-deep stream that flows out of the side of the bluff. "The tracks go into the water." Stormstrider reports, "And they don't come out the other side." "Maybe they follow the stream away, to hide their tracks?" Briar suggests. "This is gnolls we're talking about." Eventually, they recall that Seskanon's dream spoke of a darkness in the earth under the bluff Sirdros casts light on a stone, and Stormstrider clambers into the water with the stone in his teeth, then forces his way upstream, and swims beneath the buff. Less than a minute later, he reappears, reporting that there are caves within the mound, with dry floors above the level of water, and more than enough room for the group to walk easily. Assuming, of course, they can all manage to get in there. For most, this proves relatively easy. But for Sirdros, laden down with a mass of metal armour (which re takes off, but insists on carrying) the task proves too hard. He cannot make progress, and then is washed downstream, buffeted by the water and rocks as he goes. Fortunately, the Padre notices this and rushes back to rescue Sirdros, using one of his new-found psychic powers to float the other priest to the surface of the water. Eventually, all six of the group force their way into the caves. The underwater tunnel goes only a few feet before opening into this area, which is just about large enough to hold them all. A narrow, twisting tunnel leads deeper into the mound. Making ready their everburning torches, the group is just about to explore this route when Briar stops them. "Herbie saw something in the water." She reports, pointing into the stream. Stormstrider investigates, and returns grim-faced. The 'something' is the body of an elf, recently killed. The elf had bound hands, and his tan had started to fade. "They had him here for a while, then they killed him and dumped the body, in their own escape route." The Padre ponders this, "It could be they are planning to move on." The group decides to waste no time, and presses on down the narrow tunnel. They pass through a shower of water droplets from the ceiling, and then into a large chamber, fully 60' across. Much of the chamber's floor is taken up by a subterranean lake, at the centre of which is a small island. On this island, looking rather strange in its subterranean setting, is a small cottage of stone, with arrow-slits that face the tunnel through which the group has just arrived. And thus it is for the second time that day that the Company find themselves under fire from concealed archers. Briar curses as an arrow strikes her, but Khore leaps forward without hesitation, plunging waist deep in icy water to wade toward the island. Some of the others, more circumspect - or perhaps just more sensible - run along the edge of the lake, then across a short bridge on the far side. Whomever is in the cottage is now surrounded, but with a sturdy door locked behind them, and arrow slits to fire out from, they seem well-protected from anything the group can do: protection that increases when two wolves burst out of the darkness and attack. One grabs Briar's ankle and trips her into the lake, while the other savages Sirdros and Stormstrider. As Stormstrider tries and fails to batter his way through the door, Khore looks for another way into the cottage. Spotting that the roof is made of wooden tiles, he scrambles up the side of the building. Balancing precariously on the sloping roof, he then hammers his greatsword through the tiles. If anything, he is actually too successful in his task: dozens of the tiles shatter or fly loose, and the whole surface gives way beneath him, plunging the paladin down amongst his enemies. As the sounds of fighting emerge from inside the cottage, Briar pulls herself out of the water and stabs one of the wolves, while Anastria and Sirdros combine to down the other - though not before Sirdros is knocked to the ground in the melee. As Stormstrider fails again to burst through the door, Khore's shouts and war cries suddenly choke off, and there is the sound of something heavy striking the floor. Padre and Anastria throw themselves at the walls of the cottage, trying to climb up to the hole in the roof, but it is Briar who gets the group into the house first, putting her lock-picks to work with record-breaking speed. Stormstrider throws open the door and rushes in, just in time to distract the two gnolls inside from finishing Khore, who lies unconscious on the floor. With the door open, the result of the fight is never in doubt: numbers quickly overwhelm the two gnolls. Once their enemies are dispatched, the Padre heals Khore while the others look around. There are a few more caves, but they all appear to have been deserted in the last few days or hours. There are signs of recent habitation, and many furnishings are still in place, but anything small and portable has been removed, as have most of the foodstuffs. It is in fact the Padre and Khore who locate the sole remaining inhabitant of the complex: a human prisoner being held in the cellar of the 'cottage'. This woman introduces herself as Valkyre, "I am a follower of Dargrute, Lord of Fire and Forge. He is a god of my people." "Never heard of him." The Padre frowns, "Dargrute sounds like a dwarven word." "It is." "You're very tall for a dwarf." "I was raised by dwarves in the cold lands to the north." Valkyre explains, "My parents were colonists who were shipwrecked. They died, but kept me alive long enough for the dwarves to find me." "And why are you here, now?" "I came south to search the land and meet its people. I am an adult now, however young I may be by the clan's reckoning, and I wished to meet people of my own race. You have developed many interesting inventions here. Do you know there is a kind of oil that sticks to people as it burns? I used one against the gnolls when they captured me. It worked very well." "I'm surprised they didn't kill you." "Their leader - a bony gnoll with white fur - stopped them. I think he had some pretty specific - and unpleasant - plans for me." Valkyre shrugs, not evidencing much concern, "But then they suddenly packed up and left. And you turned up. So it worked out in the end. " "I guess." The Padre ponders, "So it looks like the gnolls were kidnapping people and trying to stir up trouble between the elves and the humans in the meantime. The question is, why?" Khore shrugs, "They're evil." The priest snorts, then realises the paladin is serious. "Maybe, but I can't help but think there's more to it than that." "Well, we'll never know, now, will we?" [/QUOTE]
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Company of the Random Encounter ('complete' 14 Nov 2004)
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