Banewarrens d20 (Angelsboi's party)

[biorph]

Disappearing Act

The elf fired into the trash pile and was met by a loud roar, as it suddenly sprang into motion, it crawled forward and attempted to bash it's way through the mortared part of the brick wall.

Darian sighed "It is as I feared, it is an otyugh, if there were Children down here and they have not responded, they were probably eaten by that creature. We should hurry to find the revenant, we can kill the otyugh when we return and reclaim their bodies for their poor families."

With a heavy heart the party continued following the revenant's tracks. as they approached another sewer grate-

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!" the revenant jumped out in from of them its sword glowing green and it's rage obvious. Along it's arm was a glue glow where it's shirld had been and another around it's neck from the holy symbol. It was again wearing the crown and scepter that the party had taken from it at the tomb (the items reclaimed at Grimwald's revenge).

Darian acted quickly, he placed the items taken from Kesherack's tomb and placed them on the ground before him. "Great Kesherack, we are sorry we have disturbed your rest, please retake your items and accept our apologies."

The revenant look confused, as if it wasn't sure what to do. after a few moments it picked up it's items. "You return what you have stolen." it rasped. "You have much honor." With that it slowly slogged off down the passage they had just come from, and in the direction of the hillside exit.

The party made their way to the bricked up corridor again. They pushed in the unmortared bricks hoping to surprise the otyugh, but the creature had long since moved back down the corridor. A quick volley of arrows ended the creature's life. They climbed over the wall to enter the passage and noticed another bricked off passageway across from them and an open passage way to their left. The floor here was cleaner and drier than before, although there was still a stream of waste flowing into the passage underneath the bricks. A cursory look revealed the open passage to be a dead end and the other bricked off passage to have the same mortarless bricks on top, leading into a a passage similar to the one they had just left. Darian sliced open the otyugh looking for the bones of the children.

"Huh," he said, "There's no remains, check around everybody it may have already excreted them."

The party searched the passage and though strangely they didn't find any bones they did find something odd.

"Look here," said Calrom "A chain. This thing was manacled here, it was a guard dog"

"So," said Alya look around at the empty floor and the waste stream "What was it guarding? And what happened to the children?"

 

[biorph]

Riddles in the Dark

"Well" said Alya point to the dead ended passage on their left "We've only got one place to search really."

As they entered the passage they noticed a large alcove off to the side partially hidden by the shadows. A quick search revealed a small secret door set into the wall about half the size of a regular door. Crouching down they pushed open the door.

FWOOOSH! As a jet of flame burst out from the door Alya pressed herself against the side of the wall avoiding most of the blast. Darian and Calrom were not so lucky and each reflexively dive for the nearest source of water to put themselves out. When they both stood up again, the only thing still clean on Darian was his magical metal armor. Both of them looked and smell rather alot like the otyugh. They came back to the door, and Alya changed herself into a troglodyte and healed her wounds.

'Perhaps now at least I'll be able to handle the smell.' She thought to herself.

She moved into the small passage and began to sing an entrancing melody, hoping to catch whatever might surprise them off guard. 'What is going on here?' she thought to herself.

Darian handed Alya a mirror and she floated it down the corridor to look around the corner. They didn't see anything down the corridor either.

"Let's head back" said Darian, slowly retreating back into the corridor "We can tell the Sargent and let him deal with whatever this is."

"Not so fast there big man." said a voice from the shadows. "You're assuming we're going to let any of you leave here alive." Out from the shadows stepped three halflings in black leather with swords drawn and a murderous look in their eye.

 

[biorph]

Never Underestimate Someone with a Low Center of Gravity

They party was flanked by halflings on either side and they didn’t look happy to see three people in Purple Dragon tabards poking around their lair.

‘Think fast think fast’ thought Alya.

“Excuse us” said Darian “We were just looking for the commode, from the smell it looks like we accidentally fell in, we’ll be going now, no need to show us the way out.”

The halfings weren’t buying it, they leapt on Alya and Darian. Alya’s newly thickened hide deflected one of their swords but the other landed a cut on Darian.

“My friends!” she said as she turned into a rather comely halfing. “Do you know our friend, Fiddle, Fiddle Skipstone?”

Unfortunately they still weren’t listening and she got a knife between the ribs for her troubles. Calrom fired a shot at one of them but in order to miss Alya it went too wide. Alya moved to get into better position to draw her bow and fire; unfortunately, she realized too late that her hands were too small to work her bow as effectively, the halflings took the oportunity to get on either side of Calrom and send him badly bleeding to the ground. Darian was able to land a powerful it on the one attacking him, while the other two flanked Alya on either side. Darian hit them all with a burst of deafening noise, Alya was stunned from the shock, as was one of the halflings. Alya kept trying to get out of their way, but the seemed to slice at her no matter which way she went. Thankfully, they didn’t seem to be able to get very many potent shots. Darian managed to freeze on in his tracks, before dispatching the other two with a blast of white hot light.

As Alya moved over back to Darian the frozen Halfling suddenly became unfroze. He grabbed his knife and held it to Calrom’s throat.

“ALRIGHT! NOBODY MOVE OR I KILL YOUR FRIEND WHERE HE LAYS!”

 

[biorph]

Goodhins

"Okay okay, just calm down" said Alya still in halfling form. 'Okay so apparently someone has replaced the Fire Knives as the local theives guild.' She thought to herself. 'And the new crime syndicate is made up of halflings.'

"Look" she began "We don't want any trouble , we were just down here looking for a revenant that's been killing people."

"And you just happened to stumble through the top of a brick wall in your search?" replied the halfling angrily "While wearing PURPLE DRAGN UNIFORMS!"

Alya sighed "No, we were getting rid of the revenant for the Purple Dragons and the gave us some of their tabards so people would know we were on official business. When we were tracking the revenant, we saw the footprints of some children after killing it we came here to investigate thinking the otyugh had eaten them. When we didn't find any bodies we searched around and stumbled upon your...business."

"So you expect me to believe that three people wearing Purple Dragon tabards and flinging magic around left and right just happened to STUMBLE ACROSS OUR LAIR? PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES!" said the halfling.

"Well obviously we wouldn't fit." said the bard "It's not our fault we thought your tacks were those of some children."

"Oh so its SHORT JOKES now is it. so you WANT me to kill your friend." the halfling replied.

"Look." Said Darian, "We don't want to piss you guys off, if fact we might have some things we want to sell you."

"Welllllll," said the halfling. "I'll give you a chance, but that sort of thing normally takes place above, the Revenge and the like."

"Oh?" said Darain "We'll remember that for next time. Is there some time we should meet you?"

"We'll send a representative to the Flagon Held High at dusk tonight. If you aren't there or we see so much as even a single purple tabard down here poking their noses around, you'll all be getting a contract out on you for some assassins and don't think I won't do it." said the halfling.

"Alright, alright." said Darian "No telling the guards about what's down here, be at the Flagon Held High at dusk, got it. Ummm, see ya around."

"Yeah right." Said the halfling as he leapt backward off of Calrom and tumbled into the darkness. Darian used his magic to get the ranger back on his feet.

"So what now" asked Darian "Do we continue exploring?"

"Well" replied Alya sarcastically "As fun as it would be to continue this merry romp through the poo, we're all injured, and could use a hot bath...then another hot bath, then another hot bath...followed by possibly another one and maybe one more still."

"Right" said Darian "Let's get out of here."

 

[biorph]

Someone Wasn't Nursed as a Child?

As they left the sewers Alya used her magic to clean them up as best she could. The smell still permeated their clothes though. As they approached the entrance to The Windlord's Rest the proprietor met them at the door.

"Excuse me my- Ogh, it's even worse closer to you. What happened?"

"Sewers, long story," said Alya tiredly "Bathwater, piping hot, lots of it."

"Indeed" said the innkeeper "Please head around back and I'll send the boy over as quickly as I can."

As they left Alya heard a familiar elven voice remark "Gods, now they even stink worse than before, come brothers, let us go before I lose my lunch."

They went around back to the stables and each took an empty horse stall for modesty sake. Calrom's eyes goggled when Alya took off her leather tunic.

"For pity's sake Calrom" Alya snapped at the ranger "They're breasts, now either paint a picture or show some dignity and look away."

The ranger went scarlet and turned his head. Alya continued to try magical cleaning for a few minutes before a young child came carrying two heavy pails of water. "Where were you" asked the child with wide eyed innocence. "Are you adventurers? What did you do? Can you tell me your tale?"

Alya sighed and bent over to pick up a pail from the child. The boy at least had seen a woman before "We were in the sewers fighting a revenant" said Alya "It was dirty and stinky and I don't recommend you try it."

"What else happened?" asked the boy eagerly

"Nothing really, just alot of slogging around in the muck," said Alya "Now go off and fetch use some more hot water, there's a good lad."

Several hour and MANY buckets of water later, the three were clean dressed and once again standing before the sergeant who had let them into the sewers originally. As they stood before him, the sergeant checked his boots to see if he had stepped in something.

"The revenant is gone, once again laid to rest" said Darian "The killings should stop now."

"I and the city thank you" Said the sargent "I have also seen to it that your new companion is added to your charter so he is allowed to carry weapons unbonded."

"Many thanks" said Darian "I was wondering, would it be possible to keep the deputization as Purple Dragon Guards?"

"Well" said the Guard "Would you be willing to go through training, and take the oath, conscripting yourself to the permanent employ of the Purple Dragons?"

"Ahhh...noooo" replied Alya "But thank you for offering. Would it be possible to obtain some sort of monetary compensation for our troubles?"

"I will ask the captain of the guards and get back to you on that" the Sargent replied. With that they handed him the tabards from them and he showed them to the exit.

"Well" said Alya "what now?"

"I've got an urgent appointment with a tub of rose scented bathwater at the temple" said Darian "then we have that appointment at the Flagon Held High tonight."

A carrying a piece of paper came up to Alya "Are you Alya Silverleaf?" he asked.

"Yes" said Alya, "I am."

"This is for you." he replied "It's from the Loremistress Filani."

Alya opened the note "Please come to my tower at your next earliest convenience." it read "I have information which may be of interest to you." Alya tipped the messenger a few copper.

"Huh," she replied "It looks like I've got an appointment as well. you want to come along Calrom?"

"Uhh, no" he replied "I've had my fill of that door thanks, I think I'll be taking some more baths myself."

 

[biorph]

Interesting Findings

Alya arrived at The Tower of Wit and Woe giving the elven guard on duty a wink and proceeded up the stairs.

"Ahh Alya" said Filani as the bard walked into the room "I have some news for you about House Vladaam."

"Really?" said Alya "What have you learned."

"There are whispers that they have a somewhat...unsavory reputation in certain circles. There have even been hints linking them to followers of Bane. Nothing concrete of course all just rumors you understand." Said Filani with a knowing look.

"Of course." replied Alya with a knowing look of her own. "Did you find anything else out?"

"I found someone you might want to talk to" she said "His name is Nicolon Regulis. I can arrange a meeting for you if you like."

"Yes," Said Alya "If you could tell him I'll meet him at The Flagon Held High tomorrow at I would greatly appreciate it."

"Of course" said Filani, "I was able to confirm, the elf in care, at the temple of Gond is definitely asking for you, you should make some time to see him when you get a chance."

"Interesting" said Alya "I'll be sure to visit him soon. If you hear anything else of interest please let me know."

"Of course" replied Filani, and Alya showed herself out.

After leaving the tower dusk was approaching so she made haste to the Flagon Held High. Darian and Calrom were already waiting for her. After minute later a rather large half-orc came into the bar pulled up a chair and sat down at their table.

"Now whuts dis I hear about joo havin' some stuff for sale?" he asked

"Ahh yes" replied Darian "We've got something you especially might be interested in." He pulled out the magical greataxe the party had found earlier. "It's enchanted to make it better and hitting and cutting when it does."

The half -orc looked at it appraisingly "Well, I'll give ya a tousun for it."

"A thousand indeed, the Priests of Gond would charge four thousand at least." replied Darian.

"Yeah well, a tousun is all you get frum me" replied the half orc.

"Come now" began Alya "It is certainly a good deal, would you be willing to pay oh say...fifteen hundred, so we can have a nice even three way split?"

The half-orc thought for a minute. Alya didn't think he was half as dumb as he was pretending to be. " 'lright fifteen hundurd." he said. The two spit into their hands and shook on it. The orc took out a large sack of coins and placed them on the table picking up the axe. "If ya ever got more stuff ya'd like to dump, jus left me know." he smiled and walked out of the bar with his new acquisition over his shoulder.

"You know" said Darian "I just realized, Fiddle's going to be really jealous."

"Why?" said Alya

"Well," he said in a low voice "When the little thief tries to join the local guild and he tells them who he's with their probably going to tell him 'Them, oh yeah, we knew them, good customers, been working with them for a while.' " Darian smiled to himself at the thought.

 

[biorph]

An Interesting Turn

As they parted for the night Alya gave Darian her share of the gold they had recieved for selling the axe. The two hundred and fifty gold was half way there to what Darain had asked to cover the time and effort he was going to have to put in to make her cloak. She'd have to owe him the rest until she got more.

The next day after several more baths to get any remaining smell out she went with Calrom to see this insane elf at the Temple of Gond. They arrived at the temple. Alya asked about Sully, but apparently she had just missed the gnome again, she wondered if he was having...a good time.

As she and Calrom were led into the room where the man was kept "Be careful" warned the priest, "He can get violent at times, I don't know what seeing you will do to him."

"This is so strange." said Alya "I don't even know this man." The priest shrugged noncommittally and opened the door.

As they walked in the man sitting on the floor seemed to look through them. "Hello," said Calrom "How are you today?"

"The birds, the birds, I don't hear them sing anymore." began the man "All dead just like my porridge. The darkness inside my mind, I'm not right in there. Will you play jax with me, I'm up to fivesies. La La La." Finished the man and clapped his hands.

Alya bent down "Hello sir, you've been asking to see me."

At once the man's voice took on a tone of urgency he grabbed Alya and started shouting "THE KEY! THE KEY! YOU MUST FIND THE KEY, IT LIES DEEP BENEATH VLADAAM! Do you think my nails are pretty, I chew them myself. I had a puppy once, he used to smell like cookies." As the man returned to his lunacy Alya was unable to rouse more from him that made any sense.

"Well" said Alya slightly sardonically "I guess we know for sure who has the key to the Banes."
................................................................................................................................................

Later that Night Alya went alone to The Flagon Held High to meet with Nicolon, Darain was had sent word that he would be busy crafting, and Alya was worried that Calrom might have some weird moral objection like he did with taking Kesherack's stuff back in the tomb.

'Of course if we had listened to him' thought Alya 'There might have been at least one less dead halfling.'

As she entered she say a young man with curly blonde hair who waved her over. She remembered seeing him in the bar the night before.

"Can I...help...you sir?" she asked demurely
"Are you Miss Alya?" the man asked in a low voice while playing with his hair

"Indeed" she replied quietly "you were sent by Filani?"

"Yes, she told me you wanted to meet with me?" He replied.

"Indeed I did, tell me, what do you know of House Vladaam?" she asked

"Yes, she told me you'd ask about that." he said "I was doing some uh...work...there when I was caught by the guards and thrown in their dungeon. They kept me there for a good long time until I was able to escape, I'd love to see them taken down a couple of notches."

"Really..."said Alya, she liked him more already "Did you ever encounter a mummified hand in your time there? Possibly magic?"

"No." Said Nicolon "Not personally, but if they have one I know where to find it. They've got a huge vault underneath the house where they store all the items they collect that have magic."

"Interesting," she replied "Is there anything else?"

"The house is always fully guarded, the guards never come into town when they go off duty, but stay at a barracks on the property. Also I know for a fact they work with the Zhentarim, but of this last one I have no proof other than my word." he said.

"Interesting." She replied "My friends have some work we need to do, but we are very...interested...in this information. We'll contact you probably sometime next week and we can discuss this further...more privately."

"I am at your service milady." he said and with a toss of his golden curls downed his ale and walked out.

'Well well well' thought Alya 'This certainly is INTERESTING, I wonder what the others will say when I tell them.'

 

[diaglo]

The Halfling Mafia

Fiddle got up earlier than the rest of the party. He left the Windlord's Rest in search of his [contact]. The letter Mouse gave him still sealed in his haversack.

Grimwold's Revenge. Home of the frogs. Every time Fiddle went here he was careful not to step on one or three of the critters. They were everywhere. Grimwold, the now long dead wizard, must have polymorphed half the town. But of course that was only rumor.

Fiddle called to the innkeeper, "I'm a friend of Mouse."

"Take a seat over there," the grubby man replied. "Someone will be with you shortly."

Time passed. Fiddle twiddled his thumbs.

"Hello, there," a friendly voice said. "I'm Tristan. You have a letter for me?"

Fiddle turned to see a sandy haired hin with a mischevious smile on his face. He handed over the letter.

Tristan broke the seal and read its contents. Afterwards, they chatted for several minutes. Fiddle was very happy.

He reached into his haversack and withdrew two items. He quickly passed them under the table. Fiddle finished his drink and rose to leave.

"Thank you so much," Fiddle beamed. "I'll be back tomorrow."

 

[diaglo]

“Thanks again,” Fiddle said to the innkeeper as he left. The man ignored the hin.

Fiddle left to visit Richter, riding Marmaduke, on the outskirts of Tilverton. The cemetery was a creepy place even this early in the day. While there he filled Father Belmont in on what had happened and what he knew of the Banewarrens, Sybil, the Zhents, the recovery of the Sword of Truth or what he guessed it to be, and the Moandites. And also about Hedrack and the bone ring. Fiddle consciously left out his new friends about town, the Halfling Mafia.

In the later part of the day Fiddle went to visit the bard, Jevvica Noir, again, at the Flagon Held High. Telling her exactly the same things he told Richter. And expecting his reward for the information. But he wasn't holding out for much of that. Just bragging rights for having discovered so much.

The next day saw him catching up with Vlad and Sully. Before again disappearing to gather what he could in the way of gossip and rumors. If nothing else Fiddle was a curious being.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

"Not so fast there big man." said a voice from the shadows. "You're assuming we're going to let any of you leave here alive." Out from the shadows stepped three halflings in black leather with swords drawn and a murderous look in their eye.

Nooobody expects the halfling Inquisition!