Spatterlight
First Post
Session 12
September 29, 2006
Weary, wounded, and all but depleted of magic, the group retreated from the caves of the grimlocks.
Moving back out to the central area, the group held a brief counsel and formed a plan to escape the Dourstone Mines. It was decided that Scorch would climb the lift shaft and lower it back down for all. The gladiator stripped out of his armor and put on Natasha's ring of feather falling. Carefully, he picked his way up the two hundred foot shaft, using one of the corners to help brace him. Sweating and cursing, he pulled himself up into the cavern that held the lift. Peering out into shadowy darkness, he could see no one waiting in ambush. After a brief pause to catch his breath, he lowered the lift back down for the others.
With glacial slowness, the group hoisted themselves back up and made their way to the barricade. Natasha listened for a moment, hearing the distant sounds of miners at work, but nothing untoward. In addition, the ranger found that the barricade had been broken and there had been no attempt to hide this damage. With no one in sight, the group put on dark robes from the temple of Hextor and began to make their way to the surface disguised as cultists. Soon enough they encountered several miners, but Max's silver tongue and gold coins convinced them that they had seen nothing unusual.
Once near the entrance of the caves, the final potion of the group's plan was enacted. Using the last of her magics, Aiyda turned herself invisible and summoned another unseen servant. Cloaking this one in a dark robe as well, she quickly soaked it in lantern oil. With a flick of a tindertwig, she lit the cloak on fire and marched it out into the center of the mine yards. A great commotion arose as the fiery thing danced and fluttered about. Seeing that the guards and miners were distracted by this strangeness, the rest of the group escaped unnoticed into the surrounding forest. Spying her friends vanish into the tree line, the bard beat a hasty retreat, the servant collapsing sputtering to the ground.
Meeting up in the woods, the group decided to visit the graveyards where the servants of Wee Jas were known to congregate. Here it was hoped that that the slain Doctor Voo could be brought back to land of the living. It was now deep in the night, but knowing the nocturnal nature of the priests of the Green Lady, the group was soon rattling the gates of the boneyard. A pale figure cloaked in black robes glided from behind an ancient mausoleum. Intoning grim warnings to leave this place, other robed figures appeared from the shadows and soon the group was surrounded. Aiyda spoke for her brother, pleading for the followers of the Witch Goddess to revive their fellow servant.
The figures were silent for a moment, than the group was told to wait as one figure departed for the graveyard. One hour later, a pale woman dressed in the regalia of a high priestess of Wee Jas ventured from the shadows of tombstones, a procession of dead men shuffling before her. The zombies parted for their strange mistress and she spoke to the group in a low, rasping voice. "What you ask has not been done for many years. The Great Green Lady requires sacrifice for this immense task." Scorch brightened at this and was about to offer Sergi, who had grown fidgety during the wait, but she continued before he could make a deal. "Each of you will be required to give up a dearly held procession. Such is the will of the Witch Goddess!" Pinning each of the group with her intense gaze, she called out the things that were to be given: Scorch was to give up his enchanted greataxe, Natasha her ring of feather falling, Max his beloved mystical goggles, and so on. As the last of the tribute was given, the undead stumbled forth and bore the body of Doctor Voo into the boneyard. The high priestess told the group to return the next day and the task would be done. Silently, the group returned to the observatory, each falling into a deep exhausted slumber.
The next morning, some of the group set out to sell the loot that had been recovered from the Temple of Hextor. Aiyda and Max set out early in the morning while Natasha and Scorch decided to spend the day in their bedroom. Soon Sergi, unable to tolerate the noise emanating from the room above, set out for town as well. The bard and halfling sold some of the trinkets, buying several potions and other pieces of equipment. However, they could not find what they truly sought: a healing wand. After asking around, they were pointed toward the garrison at the center of town. The garrison, which housed soldiers from Greyhawk City that guarded the mines, also had a temple of Heironeous the Invincible. It was here that duo was joined by Sergi.
While Max and Aiyda worked out a deal to secure a healing wand, Sergi struck up a conversation with several of the servants of the Invincible. The sorcerer off-handedly mentioned that he and his friends were dealing with an evil cult and the acolytes immediately grew grave and their questions pointed. The Smenk family was known to consort with all manner of vile characters and was rumored to be guilty of terrible acts to further their own ends. Sergi was taken into the garrison for further questions and Aiyda and Max offered nothing more than a wave, for the sorcerer was getting on their nerves.
Sergi was taken into a room with in the church and was interrogated at length by a young and attractive paladin named Melinde. After several hours of questioning, during which he spoke at length of interests and goals but nothing evil, he asked a query of his own. Coming out of the temple beaming, he told the group later that he had secured a date with the holy warrior.
The rest of the day was relatively quiet, the group waiting for nightfall to visit the graveyard and meet up with the revived Doctor Voo. Several hours after dusk, the group ventured to the graveyard and once again was confronted with enigmatic worshippers of Wee Jas. The high priestess moved from the boneyard, a procession of the moldering dead trailing her and carrying Doctor Voo. The priestess made a broad gesture and Doctor Voo, who looked weak was but very much alive, was set to his feet. Aiyda and Scorch rushed to his side to support him as the followers of the Witch Goddess drifted back into the shadows. Before she went, the high priestess gave Doctor Voo a look and something passed between them. The cleric nodded once to the priestess and then closed his weary eyes, the high priestess vanishing into the darkness.
They were halfway back to the observatory when the priest opened his eyes again and spoke in his deep gravely voice, "A change has been set upon me by the Green Lady. I have strayed far from the path, mon, but now I'm brought back to the fold." Everyone looked at the priest with concern as he continued, "No longer will I heal with a touch. Only the touch of the grave will come from my hand." Doctor Voo went onto explain that his ways had always been counter to the doctrine of the followers of Wee Jas, causing much friction with them. However, after his death and resurrection, his Goddess had touched him directly and he would commit his small heresies no more. No longer would he heal when he could harm. The undead would be his servants, rather than fleeing from him. And so, he would further the will of his goddess.
The group returned to the observatory and was soon asleep, still weary from the battles the day before. However, there was no peace that night, as in the predawn hours, the group was awoken to the sounds of rummaging and a single thought searing into their brains:
Natasha sprung from her sleep, kicking the slumbering Scorch awake as one of the red creatures was rooting though one of their closets. The duo rolled out of bed, grabbing nearby weapons, and were swarmed by the mindless pink things. Max, who had unbeknownst to Scorch and Natasha had taken to sleeping in their chamber, jumped to his feet, his rapier in hand and began to skewer the fat things. Meanwhile, one of the red creatures stalked though the bedroom, obviously looking for something. Not finding it, he immediately began to climb the stairs to the upper chamber.
Doctor Voo and Aiyda had settled in the upper chamber and were already fighting a battle of their own. From the shadows, came a tittering giggle familiar to the bard. The songstress dodged a surprise blow as the imp that had vexed her in the Whispering Cairn tried to jab her with its stinger. The bearded devil strode up the stairs, its halberd flashing at the cleric and bard, and they desperately attempted to repel the invader with magic.
In the chamber below, after a rough start, Max, Scorch and Natasha made quick work of the pink things. Scorch's silver blade once more proved useful and Natasha and Max worked as a team, striking the monsters with telling blows. Soon the pink creatures had been vanquished, each disappearing in a puff of acrid smoke. The bearded devil that was stabbing at the bard and cleric suddenly vanished and reappeared before Scorch, its beard hissing and spitting. Max and Natasha attempted to reason with the thing, but as soon as it found that they had no idea of what it was searching for, it flew into a frenzy and attempted to gut the gladiator.
As Scorch stabbed at the creature and held its attention, Natasha swung around nimbly to flank the thing. Aiyda and Doctor Voo, no longer menaced by the bearded devil, ran to help the others. Aiyda used her bardic magics to make her brother impossible to see and the cleric ran down the stairs, darting about invisibly and healing the beleaguered fighters. The fury of the group upon it, the bearded devil was cut soon cut down.
While the main of the group was battling these invaders, Sergi was having difficulties of his own. The sorcerer had taken to bedding down in the main dining room, where the murmuring approvals of Filge's zombies lulled him to sleep every night. He awoke with a start as the second of the bearded devils ransacked several of the guest chambers. The sorcerer attempted to blast the creature with his most potent killing spells, but found the creature was seemingly immune to all magics. The creature charged over and began to grapple him to the ground, eventually forcing him to submission while the devil tore open Sergi's pack.
The devil suddenly let the sorcerer go as the rest of the group charged down the stairs, ready to assist the sorcerer. A brief melee broke out at they desperately tried to kill the devil, but he flew into a rage and felled the group one by one. Soon only Doctor Voo, still invisible, was left standing. Using the last of his magics, the priest healed Scorch, hoping he could finish this.
The gladiator wobbled to his feet, his silver shortsword wavering in front of him, and called out a challenge. The bearded devil glared at him and then vanished into thin air.
September 29, 2006
Weary, wounded, and all but depleted of magic, the group retreated from the caves of the grimlocks.
Moving back out to the central area, the group held a brief counsel and formed a plan to escape the Dourstone Mines. It was decided that Scorch would climb the lift shaft and lower it back down for all. The gladiator stripped out of his armor and put on Natasha's ring of feather falling. Carefully, he picked his way up the two hundred foot shaft, using one of the corners to help brace him. Sweating and cursing, he pulled himself up into the cavern that held the lift. Peering out into shadowy darkness, he could see no one waiting in ambush. After a brief pause to catch his breath, he lowered the lift back down for the others.
With glacial slowness, the group hoisted themselves back up and made their way to the barricade. Natasha listened for a moment, hearing the distant sounds of miners at work, but nothing untoward. In addition, the ranger found that the barricade had been broken and there had been no attempt to hide this damage. With no one in sight, the group put on dark robes from the temple of Hextor and began to make their way to the surface disguised as cultists. Soon enough they encountered several miners, but Max's silver tongue and gold coins convinced them that they had seen nothing unusual.
Once near the entrance of the caves, the final potion of the group's plan was enacted. Using the last of her magics, Aiyda turned herself invisible and summoned another unseen servant. Cloaking this one in a dark robe as well, she quickly soaked it in lantern oil. With a flick of a tindertwig, she lit the cloak on fire and marched it out into the center of the mine yards. A great commotion arose as the fiery thing danced and fluttered about. Seeing that the guards and miners were distracted by this strangeness, the rest of the group escaped unnoticed into the surrounding forest. Spying her friends vanish into the tree line, the bard beat a hasty retreat, the servant collapsing sputtering to the ground.
Meeting up in the woods, the group decided to visit the graveyards where the servants of Wee Jas were known to congregate. Here it was hoped that that the slain Doctor Voo could be brought back to land of the living. It was now deep in the night, but knowing the nocturnal nature of the priests of the Green Lady, the group was soon rattling the gates of the boneyard. A pale figure cloaked in black robes glided from behind an ancient mausoleum. Intoning grim warnings to leave this place, other robed figures appeared from the shadows and soon the group was surrounded. Aiyda spoke for her brother, pleading for the followers of the Witch Goddess to revive their fellow servant.
The figures were silent for a moment, than the group was told to wait as one figure departed for the graveyard. One hour later, a pale woman dressed in the regalia of a high priestess of Wee Jas ventured from the shadows of tombstones, a procession of dead men shuffling before her. The zombies parted for their strange mistress and she spoke to the group in a low, rasping voice. "What you ask has not been done for many years. The Great Green Lady requires sacrifice for this immense task." Scorch brightened at this and was about to offer Sergi, who had grown fidgety during the wait, but she continued before he could make a deal. "Each of you will be required to give up a dearly held procession. Such is the will of the Witch Goddess!" Pinning each of the group with her intense gaze, she called out the things that were to be given: Scorch was to give up his enchanted greataxe, Natasha her ring of feather falling, Max his beloved mystical goggles, and so on. As the last of the tribute was given, the undead stumbled forth and bore the body of Doctor Voo into the boneyard. The high priestess told the group to return the next day and the task would be done. Silently, the group returned to the observatory, each falling into a deep exhausted slumber.
The next morning, some of the group set out to sell the loot that had been recovered from the Temple of Hextor. Aiyda and Max set out early in the morning while Natasha and Scorch decided to spend the day in their bedroom. Soon Sergi, unable to tolerate the noise emanating from the room above, set out for town as well. The bard and halfling sold some of the trinkets, buying several potions and other pieces of equipment. However, they could not find what they truly sought: a healing wand. After asking around, they were pointed toward the garrison at the center of town. The garrison, which housed soldiers from Greyhawk City that guarded the mines, also had a temple of Heironeous the Invincible. It was here that duo was joined by Sergi.
While Max and Aiyda worked out a deal to secure a healing wand, Sergi struck up a conversation with several of the servants of the Invincible. The sorcerer off-handedly mentioned that he and his friends were dealing with an evil cult and the acolytes immediately grew grave and their questions pointed. The Smenk family was known to consort with all manner of vile characters and was rumored to be guilty of terrible acts to further their own ends. Sergi was taken into the garrison for further questions and Aiyda and Max offered nothing more than a wave, for the sorcerer was getting on their nerves.
Sergi was taken into a room with in the church and was interrogated at length by a young and attractive paladin named Melinde. After several hours of questioning, during which he spoke at length of interests and goals but nothing evil, he asked a query of his own. Coming out of the temple beaming, he told the group later that he had secured a date with the holy warrior.
The rest of the day was relatively quiet, the group waiting for nightfall to visit the graveyard and meet up with the revived Doctor Voo. Several hours after dusk, the group ventured to the graveyard and once again was confronted with enigmatic worshippers of Wee Jas. The high priestess moved from the boneyard, a procession of the moldering dead trailing her and carrying Doctor Voo. The priestess made a broad gesture and Doctor Voo, who looked weak was but very much alive, was set to his feet. Aiyda and Scorch rushed to his side to support him as the followers of the Witch Goddess drifted back into the shadows. Before she went, the high priestess gave Doctor Voo a look and something passed between them. The cleric nodded once to the priestess and then closed his weary eyes, the high priestess vanishing into the darkness.
They were halfway back to the observatory when the priest opened his eyes again and spoke in his deep gravely voice, "A change has been set upon me by the Green Lady. I have strayed far from the path, mon, but now I'm brought back to the fold." Everyone looked at the priest with concern as he continued, "No longer will I heal with a touch. Only the touch of the grave will come from my hand." Doctor Voo went onto explain that his ways had always been counter to the doctrine of the followers of Wee Jas, causing much friction with them. However, after his death and resurrection, his Goddess had touched him directly and he would commit his small heresies no more. No longer would he heal when he could harm. The undead would be his servants, rather than fleeing from him. And so, he would further the will of his goddess.
The group returned to the observatory and was soon asleep, still weary from the battles the day before. However, there was no peace that night, as in the predawn hours, the group was awoken to the sounds of rummaging and a single thought searing into their brains:
WHERE IS THE FRAGMENT?
Startled aware, the group found their lair had been invaded by strange monsters. Red skinned creatures, their legs those of a goat and beards made of serpents, stalked the observatory, endlessly thought-shouting their question. A wickedly barbed halberd, its ends clean and razor sharp, were clutched in their claws. There were two of these things in total. Accompanying them were a mob of the pink abominations that the group had encountered in the Whispering Cairn.Natasha sprung from her sleep, kicking the slumbering Scorch awake as one of the red creatures was rooting though one of their closets. The duo rolled out of bed, grabbing nearby weapons, and were swarmed by the mindless pink things. Max, who had unbeknownst to Scorch and Natasha had taken to sleeping in their chamber, jumped to his feet, his rapier in hand and began to skewer the fat things. Meanwhile, one of the red creatures stalked though the bedroom, obviously looking for something. Not finding it, he immediately began to climb the stairs to the upper chamber.
Doctor Voo and Aiyda had settled in the upper chamber and were already fighting a battle of their own. From the shadows, came a tittering giggle familiar to the bard. The songstress dodged a surprise blow as the imp that had vexed her in the Whispering Cairn tried to jab her with its stinger. The bearded devil strode up the stairs, its halberd flashing at the cleric and bard, and they desperately attempted to repel the invader with magic.
In the chamber below, after a rough start, Max, Scorch and Natasha made quick work of the pink things. Scorch's silver blade once more proved useful and Natasha and Max worked as a team, striking the monsters with telling blows. Soon the pink creatures had been vanquished, each disappearing in a puff of acrid smoke. The bearded devil that was stabbing at the bard and cleric suddenly vanished and reappeared before Scorch, its beard hissing and spitting. Max and Natasha attempted to reason with the thing, but as soon as it found that they had no idea of what it was searching for, it flew into a frenzy and attempted to gut the gladiator.
As Scorch stabbed at the creature and held its attention, Natasha swung around nimbly to flank the thing. Aiyda and Doctor Voo, no longer menaced by the bearded devil, ran to help the others. Aiyda used her bardic magics to make her brother impossible to see and the cleric ran down the stairs, darting about invisibly and healing the beleaguered fighters. The fury of the group upon it, the bearded devil was cut soon cut down.
While the main of the group was battling these invaders, Sergi was having difficulties of his own. The sorcerer had taken to bedding down in the main dining room, where the murmuring approvals of Filge's zombies lulled him to sleep every night. He awoke with a start as the second of the bearded devils ransacked several of the guest chambers. The sorcerer attempted to blast the creature with his most potent killing spells, but found the creature was seemingly immune to all magics. The creature charged over and began to grapple him to the ground, eventually forcing him to submission while the devil tore open Sergi's pack.
The devil suddenly let the sorcerer go as the rest of the group charged down the stairs, ready to assist the sorcerer. A brief melee broke out at they desperately tried to kill the devil, but he flew into a rage and felled the group one by one. Soon only Doctor Voo, still invisible, was left standing. Using the last of his magics, the priest healed Scorch, hoping he could finish this.
The gladiator wobbled to his feet, his silver shortsword wavering in front of him, and called out a challenge. The bearded devil glared at him and then vanished into thin air.
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