Banewarrens d20 (Angelsboi's party)

[diaglo]

the life of an adventurer Ale and Whores.

"Beam us up, Darian," Dunnin whispered. "This is more than I bargained for."

Sully took one group with him and Darian the other by way of his deity's spell. Both groups prayed they would make it.

When Fiddle's eyes regained focus he stood in the middle of the aisle in a familiar church. The Rose Altar to Lathander in Tilverton. They made it.

A few seconds passed. And Darian and the others materialized.

"The Morninglord be praised," the High Priest called out as he approached. "You are reborn to the Light."

"My fee," Dunnin asked.

"Allow me," Fiddle spoke up. "Consider it a donation in Lathander's name. How much do they owe you?"

"Two thousand," Dunnin started to say...

Fiddle interrupted and began counting out the coin.

"Platinum," the Dwarf finished.

Fiddle continued. Darian filed a report in private. After paying Dunnin the hin sought out other priestly services to restore his health. The spores sapped him and his injuries didn't help matters. A day of rest was needed for he and Fextor. But first things first.

Fiddle spent another 500 platinum on the town buying drinks and women for all comers.

 

[diaglo]

Trouble Downunder

While Fiddle recovered from his demon fever and his night of debauchery, Sully et. al. went to visit Filani, Sybil, and other sources of information.

The morning after found the party gathered outside the Rose Altar again. They owed the smurfnibblin his goods. Inside the world panicked. The deep gnome was dead. His things untouched. The signs and witnesses all pointed to a revenant.

The party agreed to take the magical bowl of endless food and water to the gnome community and return the body.

Rogaine greeted them with surprise and then sadness. They handed over their dead guide and the bowl. He offered to show them a new item of power. A large black pearl.

Fiddle's eyes lit up. An egg. A dragon egg. He offered money and other things for it. He also subtlely dropped hints as to what it was. He hoped the other party members would help him. Only Alya caught on.

And boy was he angry. "Great," the deep hin bard screamed. "ANother useless priest. Give me that and we will be going."

Rogaine handed over the egg clearly rebuffed. Sully took the party back to Tilverton.

 

[JoeBlank]

After talking with Darian, Sully informed his friends that the cleric's spells had allowed him to speak with the departed Redd, and that the fox was happy with his life and ready to move on to the next world. After visiting Filani and Sybil, Sully teleported himself and the body of his familiar to the Hidden Vale, to visit with family and to bury his friend.

It was a difficult decision for Sully to make, as he did not like keeping secrets from his friends, but with several newcomers to the party and recent run ins with mind flayers and the like he figured the less everyone knew, the better.

In truth, Sully had managed to scrape together what was left of his money to afford the costly gems that Darian needed to breath life into the fox. But they still had to part ways. Redd was less than pleased with this decision, but the path the party was on was becoming too dangerous, even for one bound to a powerful sorcerer. Besides, with trouble spreading in various forms about the Dalelands it would be helpful to have someone watch over the Hidden Vale. So Sully returned Redd home, with the promise to mentally contacting him each day.

The gnome also had difficult news for his Auntie Pello. According to Sybil, they had been misinformed about the method for creating the Kiss of Death potion. The dragon's blood was affected by the time it spent deep in the underdark, but it would not have any effect on a gnome made fae. Instead, some of the subject's blood, that of Auntie Pello, would have to be used, if she was to be able to use the resulting potion and be made mortal again.

So Sully spend the night in the Vale, cooking for his family and thinking of better times. Auntie Pello provided two vials of her fae blood. In the morning, Sully said goodbye to his fox companion of so many years, hoping that they could be reunited when his quest was complete and his adventuring days over.

He rejoined his friends at the Rose Altar to learn more bad news. His deep gnome cousin had apparently been slain be a revenant.

 

[diaglo]

Trouble on the road

"So what next?" Fiddle asked.

"I think we should talk with the High Priest," Darian announced.

"Yeah, there is much we have learned about what we can and can't do with the potion," Sully added. "It doesn't work the way we want. And could possible cause much harm if it fell into the wrong hands."

"Okay," Fiddle agreed. "Do we get to kill things and take their stuff?"

"Better than that," Fextor added. "We get to do the right thing."

The few members of the party to swear to keep the secrets the High Priest told were admitted into the chamber. Those who refused were asked to wait outside. Fiddle agreed. He even took notes.

So it was decided the party would look for Brother Heth. A priest of a temple in the mountains who had gone missing. And with him The Sword of Truth and Lies.

The party couldn't tell the others the facts. So trust was key. Chloe and Dunnin decided to join the expedition. The trip was uneventful for the most part. And small conversation and plenty of stories were exchanged. Fiddle did most of the talking.

Eventually, the party reached an area where Brother Heth should have been. A burned out caravan was all that remained. Dunnin, Fiddle, and Chloe searched for signs.

 

[diaglo]

The Chapel in the Hills

Dunnin found old tracks to a small hidden path. It wound thru the forest and up to a hillside. A beautiful temple nestled in the cracks. Hidden. A sanctuary to Lathander. Chloe assumed bird form and scouted ahead. When she returned she reported seeing activity in the temple.

The party decided on stealth. Sully turned everyone invisible and Alya silenced the group as they got closer.

An old prophecy came to Fiddle:

When the Banshee the grail has earned
and silence whispers in the endless night
heed all that the world has learned
danger threatens drow seal our plight
the rod of dark fate lies close at hand
war and war shall tear the land
by the rods fierce demand
make all mortals understand

and seeing rogaine made something else pop into fiddle's head:

disguised sword found and lost by some
the spider squashed white banshee comes
delivered by priest of quaan
from black grail dead armies spawn
burn shall dark and die shall light
lest six heroes descend to fight
two blades hath the dragon skinner
heritage lost, the skin changer
blind in depths, warrior of light
faerie touched seeks deepest night
two peoples present but one face
one voice sings for many a race
through dark crypts creep
seeking cavern magic deep
by sword or dark fate
will grail power abate


by the time fiddle finished they were at the door. Darian stepped out of the field and became visible. He knocked on the door and called to those inside. A brute of a fellow answered. He exchanged pleasantries with Darian and went to fetch another.

A hin in robes opened the door next. Feldrin he called himself. He knew not of Brother Heth's fate. Fiddle saw a bone ring on his finger. He pointed it out to the others and then bowled the fellow over. With the sudden appearance of Fiddle, Feldrin drew a blade stabbed, ran and called an alarm.

Fiddle tackled him and pounded his head into the stone floor all the while trying to get the hin to talk. The others hurried into the room.

Darian noticed the consecrated area wasn't anymore.

Feldrin begged for mercy and began to spill the beans on the caravans fate.

Pounding footsteps were heard fast approaching.

Sully blinked the party out of existence again.

Fiddle jumped him

 

[diaglo]

The Cult of the Quaan

Vlad stepped over and placed a foot on Feldrin's chest. The poor hin continued to gasp for breath. Fiddle threatened him menacingly with his sword. Dunnin hid to the side of two possible doors the guards would enter. Darian stood by the altar with his bow. Alya covered the other door with his drawn bow. Sully, Fextor, Chloe and the weasel moved closer to the action. They were invisible. Sully quickened everyone's pace with magic.

Louder footsteps ran on the roof. The doors swung open. And Dunnin struck. The victim staggered back. Fiddle stabbed Feldrin. Alya and Darian fired at the other door. Chloe assumed bear form. Vlad, Fextor, and Sully waited.

After the intial shock, Dunnin finished off the warrior and moved aside. Another human and a female dwarf were right behind.

"My brother," the human cried. "You shall pay for that."

Vlad pummeled Feldrin into unconsciousness. Chloe moved forward becoming visible to the other door. Darian waited for a better shot. Fiddle charged forward to back up Chloe and give Alya a defender.

The warriors emerged. Darian fired at the one from Dunnin's door. The warrior charged Dunnin. The dwarf moved on Darian. Chloe grabbed another and crushed him to her chest. Another one engaged Fiddle. Fiddle saw a half-orc starting a spell.

Fextor and Sully moved forward. The weasel became visible. Alya fired his bow.

Vlad guarded the prisoner. Dunnin battled with the other warrior. Chloe finished the warrior off and moved to see the half-orc. Darian stepped back and fired at the Dwarf. Fiddle sliced at his foe. A few small nicks. The warrior attacked Fiddle. A large earth creature appeared beside Vlad. And the half-orc cast another spell. Fiddle froze in place. There was a loud crash from the ceiling and two ropes thrown down. The warrior on Dunnin returned attacks and the dwarf attacked Darian. Fextor appeared behind the dwarf as he grabbed her. Sully attempted to dispel the earth creature. It didn't work. Alya fascinated the warrior fighting Fiddle with song.

Vlad drew his axe. He chopped into the mound of earth. Sparks flew. Dunnin continued to hold his own with the warrior. Darian killed Fiddle's opponent. And Chloe grabbed the half-orc and began to crush the life from him. Fiddle watched.

The Earth creature pounded Vlad. Two large trolls in metal armor slid down the ropes. The dwarf struggled against Fextor. But clearly living in the underdark and not having been around a female of the species had emboldened the dwarf. He held her firm from behind. The half-orc too couldn't escape the bear druid.

Fextor applied his manacles to the dwarf female. "Gotcha," he said as he dumped her on the ground.

Sully called a ball of lightning on one of the trolls and the earth creature. Alya sang words of encouragement.

Vlad hacked and tumbled free of combat. He fled to the altar. Dunnin fought on. Chloe dropped the half-orc and called down a storm of fire on the trolls and earth creature. The earth melted back into the ground. Darian followed with a call to his god for fire. Both trolls smoked, but were still clearly active. Fiddle snapped out of it.

A cackling goblin appeared mid-air behind the trolls he tossed a small bead of flame at Alya, Fiddle, Chloe, and Vlad plus the half-orc. It detonated with a boom. The half-orc was cooked. Fiddle and Vlad escaped injury. But Alya and Chloe were burned some. One troll advanced on Dunnin and the other towards Alya and Fiddle. The dwarf struggled to no avail.

Fextor moved to help Dunnin. Alya moved behind Chloe.

Sully approached the goblin. "Come here my friend." The goblin ignored him.

Vlad dropped his axe and drew his bow. He fired in rapid succession. The goblin fell to the ground riddled with arrows.

Dunnin killed the other warrior. "You were no better than your brother."

Chloe reached over Fiddle and grabbed the troll. The troll clawed back breaking the grasp. Darian called on some magic to heat metal. The armor of the dwarf and trolls. Fiddle attacked the troll. He scored a few nice scratches.

The troll attacked Chloe. The other attacked Dunnin. Fextor moved forward and sliced the troll. Alya fired his bow at the other one.

Sully turned his attention to the last of their foes. He called 3 flaming rays into being. One burned the head off the Troll with Chloe and the other two dropped the troll on the dwarves.

 

[diaglo]

Kill things and take their stuff.

"Take it off, take it off," the dwarf woman screamed. A smell of burning flesh permeated the air. She bore the wounds from the goblin's fire spell also.

"Dismiss the spell, Darian," Dunnin reminded the cleric.

"She is evil," Darian countered. "The arrows exploded when they hit her. She is part of the cult of Moander. They have desecrated this Temple to St. Thessina..."

Dunnin slapped the priest. "But you are good. Do the right thing."

Sully spoke to her. "Don't you want to help us?"

She did in fact seem very agreeable to Sully. Darian did as he was bade and dropped his spell. Feldrin had died during one of the other fire spells. Fextor removed the manacles and the dwarf picked up her shield and axe. It had the mark of Duergeddin. Alya pointed out a few other items of magic.

She was a sellsword. She told them where to find Brother Heth. What traps and floors to avoid. Other occupants of the temple and everything else she could. The names of the deceased. She agreed to guard her new friend Sully.

Fiddle healed Vlad, Dunnin, and Chloe and then healed the dwarf a little. Darian and Alya also cast a few spells of healing. Dunnin made sure the dwarf received some of the healing magic.

"Fifth floor then?" Alya asked. "It seems that is where the Sword lies... (chuckles)"

"Just watch out for the snake woman on the 3rd floor. And don't step off the stairs on the 3rd floor." Vlad reminded them.

Dunnin was already up the stairs and checking it out. Fiddle and Darian had looted a few offices on the main floor. A scroll, some holy water, and the stuff off the dead. Darian had a few more bone rings to get rid of.

 

[the Jester]

Ahh, the old faithful heat metal...

 

[diaglo]

And the walls came tumbling down

As Fiddle climbed the stairs, the dwarf woman exited one of 4 rooms on this floor. She carried a backpack and a few other items. She explained what would be found in the other rooms. The rooms of her now dead companions. Dunnin started the climb to the next level. Fextor, Vlad and the dwarf right behind. Alya, Fiddle, Sully, Chloe, the weasel, and Darian brought up the rear.

Debate about whether to check out 2 rooms on the 3rd floor was squashed as Dunnin and Fextor moved to the doors. The ceiling collapsed on them. A green layer of slime covered the stones too. Dunnin avoided it. Fextor wasn't so lucky.

"I warned ye," the dwarf said. "The snake woman is behind that door."

Darian moved forward and burned the slime away with magic. The party didn't open the doors. Fextor still needed some healing to restore his health. So Chloe called on her magic.

The 4th floor was now without a floor for the most part. The party continued to climb to meet Brother Heth and the Sword on the top floor.

Dunnin, Fextor, the Dwarf, Vlad, etc... single-file up the stairs.

"Perfect fireball or lightning bolt formation," Darian noted from the rear of the party.

 

[diaglo]

The last stand of a desperate man

By the time Fiddle and the others finally reached the fifth floor, Brother Heth was already in action. He called down a ball of flame on a piece of metal furniture behind the party. It looked like a large press. It exploded. Another metal contraption next to it was destroyed too.

Pieces sprayed out. The female dwarf had a large chunk embed in her left temple. She collapsed with a blank look on her face. Dead. Most of the party felt it too.

The roof... the roof.. the roof is on fire...

Alya greased the floor under Brother Heth. Vlad, Dunnin, and Fiddle engaged the him. He was standing on a balcony overhanging a deep gorge. A good 300ft drop. He did not have the Sword of Truth, Lies, and Stickytape on him. Sully contemplated whether or not he would get information from the man. In the end, he decided the risks outweighed the benefits. He cast his strongest spell.

"Vanish," Sully said. Brother Heth winked in and out of material form. He battled not to be disintegrated. He returned, but clearly shaken.

A bugbear appeared behind Vlad as it struck him with its morning star. Chloe called down a strike of fire killing it.

Brother Heth leapt from balcony. He blinked out

"Geronimo," Fiddle yelled as he followed.

"Fiddle?" Sully sped forward and over the edge after him. "There is a p..."

Dunnin jumped next.