Campaign of DM Cthulu Ftaghn

[cthuluftaghn]

Session II: Prelude 2

Valeria leaned over the washbasin, staring at her hands. Her furrowed brow was gleaming with sweat from the strain of her intense concentration. "Go back," she growled through clenched teeth, "Go back!" She winced in pain, and as she watched, the claws that were protruding from her fingers retracted back into the bone. "Please... go back!" Val closed her eyes, and she could hear her joints popping into place as her features became less catlike, and more human with every passing moment. The full moon was still a few days away, but the spasms had already begun. As the first light of the morning sun shined through the window, all signs of her affliction faded, and she was a woman once more.

"Val, are you ready to get out of here yet?" she heard Tonan's voice from the other room. "This place makes me feel closed in, you know that!"

"Poor Tonan," she thought to herself as she regained her composure. "This place makes him feel closed in?! Hummph. This place had better close me in, or I might just end up eating him alive one of these nights. He doesn't know how good he's got it!" Luckily, Valeria had anticipated a "difficult" morning and she had packed the night before. She and Tonan were headed to Hommlet to visit their good friends, Mandy and Karlun Fies. With one final glance in the mirror, Valeria shouldered her backpack and walked out into the common area of their small house. Tonan was sitting on a bench with his head in his hands. It looked like he had fallen back asleep. She didn't hesitate to scold him. After all, he'd been nagging her to hurry up for nearly an hour, unaware of her inner turmoil.

"All right, all right," said Valeria. "Let's get moving already. If you'd quit just sitting around all morning, we might have a chance of making it to Karlun's by midnight." Tonan looked up and scowled, though there was no real anger on his face. He grabbed his own gear and followed Val out the door.

Val and Tonan walked for several hours in silence. Somewhere along the way, they had been joined by Tonan's wolf companion, Thor. Valeria was so used to Thor's company that she hadn't really noticed when he had shown up. She had other things on her mind... like how to tell her dearest life-long friend that she was a weretiger! She had feared for years that her family's curse might someday creep into her life, but there was no way for her to know for sure if, and when it might happen. All of that changed just three months ago...

Valeria shook the memory of the horror of that night out of her mind. She couldn't dwell on the problems of her family's past, but she would deal with the challenges of her own future. Obstacles that she was determined to overcome! The most immediate challenge she faced arrived in the form of a large, dark cloud. "Uh oh," she said, breaking the long silence of their journey. "I think we better find some shelter. It doesn't look like we're going to make it to Hommlet tonight." The idea of sleeping out in the rain didn't bother Valeria. She was a seasoned adventurer, and no stranger to facing the elements. On this particular evening, however, the idea of being out in the open at night was rather upsetting.

As long as the moon was not yet at its fullest, Valeria could hold back the change within her through intense concentration. If she fell asleep, however, the curse would take over and she would no longer be in control of her actions. This presented a very real and immediate danger to both herself, and to Tonan. Mandy Fies knew of Valeria's "condition", and discreet arrangements had been made. The wide open road wasn't quite as forgiving. Val sighed as she anticipated the long, sleepless night ahead of her.

Tonan was a skilled ranger, and he constructed a very sturdy shelter for the traveling trio in no time. The friends huddled together and shared a light dinner of venison jerky before pulling out their bedrolls. Tonan suggested that, if they turned in early, perhaps the storm would blow over and they could resume their journey well before sunrise. With the constant patter of the falling rain over their heads, the ranger was asleep within a matter of minutes. Valeria was left alone with her curse.

The first few hours were the worst due to one simple factor... the anticipation! Fortunately, the dense cloud cover lessened the effect of the moon's influence over Valeria during that time. However, as Tonan had predicted, the storm didn't last all night. Val shivered as the sound of the rain faded, and the icy fingers of the lycanthropic curse began to grip her mind. She closed her eyes and tried to force it away. She could feel her muscles ripping and her bones aching, but she would not let it consume her... she MUST not let it happen.

Valeria's senses were on overdrive. She felt as if she could see the few scattered remaining raindrops as they left the clouds from whence they fell. The scents of the damp Spring night assaulted her nostrils with an almost painful intensity. And the supposedly silent wilderness came alive with the sounds of.... battle? Val sat up inside the makeshift hut and cocked her head to the side. The noise of steel on wood, mingled with fearful cries, was unmistakable. The curse forgotten for the moment, she shook Tonan roughly. "Fighting," she managed to force out through half-feline vocal chords. "On the road."

Tonan grabbed his weapons and he crawled out of the hut. He was gone for what seemed like an eternity as Valeria struggled against the change within her... a battle that threatened to tear her apart. In the midst of her agony, a horrifying sound filled her ears and echoed in her mind. A moaning. A sickening, ghastly groan that hung in the air like stagnant death. It was coming from the direction of the road.

Valeria had the presence of mind to fear for Tonan's safety, but only for a moment before the agony overwhelmed her. Her body shook with spasms of pain as her tendons twisted and her bones stretched. All the while, the horrid moaning continued to dominate her awareness.

And then it stopped.

Valeria sucked in great gulps of fresh air as she sensed her body returning to normal. The groaning had ceased, and the night was silent once more. Weakened from her ordeal, the young woman could do little more than kneel in the cool, damp grass, and focus on the present. In time, Tonan returned to find Val in a grim state. "I'm not tired anymore," the ranger stated plainly. "How about we try to make it to the Fies' by morning. Whaddya think?"

Valeria sensed that her friend had experienced some trauma of his own. Comforted, and saddened by the fact that she did not suffer alone, Val helped Tonan to pack their things. A short time later, the pair was back on the open road walking towards Hommlet, with Thor following a short distance behind. Neither one said a word until the darkness parted, and the rising sun brought light back into their world.

 

[cthuluftaghn]

Session II: Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - Back at the Inn

Session 2: June 29, 2002

28 Coldeven, Dinner Time:

Gann relaxed his grip on his mace and settled back into his seat. Somewhat embarrassed that his companions may have witnessed yet another one of his outbursts, he swiftly composed himself and got right to the point. "I have learned much this day from those who would gladly support our cause of dishing out divine retribution upon the wretched evil we have encountered. How have you fared in your quest?"

Tyris and Willow slid onto the bench next to the cleric. They were then joined, on the other side of the table, by two newcomers. One was a tall and slender woodsman, and the other was a copper-haired woman with piercing eyes. Gann raised an eyebrow in suspicion and subconsciously allowed his hand to fall back upon the hilt of his sacred Truncheon of Truth. "Well, for one," began Willow, "We've found ourselves two new allies. This is Valeria, and her companion Tonan. Both hail from Verbobonc. They will be joining us, at least for a while."

Gann nodded politely in the direction of the newcomers, and he addressed them directly. "And by what virtue should I consider the two of you my allies?" He glanced sideways at the couple and asked bluntly, "Not evil, are you?" Turning to Willow, he continued, "It seems you have traded three trusted friends for these two strangers." A vision of Tas popped into Gann's mind, and he reworded his statement. "Make that two trusted friends and a halfing," he said, looking pensive. "Perhaps not such a bad bargain after all."

The woman smiled and did not seem phased by Gann's excess of personality. "You must be Gann Tolar," she noted. "Your companions have spoken much of your bravery, and we are happy to meet you. I believe you are just the righteous sort we are in need of." Gann seemed genuinely pleased by the compliment, and he relaxed a bit as the woman continued. "As Willow has stated, my name is Valeria, and this is my good friend Tonan. We had come to Hommlet to celebrate the festival of Growfest with old friends, but I'm afraid our journey has taken a sour turn."

A large tray, loaded with steaming potatoes and mugs of ale, was suddenly shoved across the table, forcing Gann and Valeria to lean back to avoid getting smacked on the chin. "Here ya go," said Maridosen, with a sour expression on her face. "On the house, from the old lady," she called over her shoulder as she disappeared back into the crowd.

Tyris leaned forward and scowled at the young woman. "That girl," she explained to Val and Tonan, "is high on my 'list'. She's given us more trouble over the past two days than the evil in the Moathouse. She'll get what's coming to her soon enough. Just watch!"

"Poor lass," observed Gann. "Seems she's upset that I'm going off to get my fool self killed smiting evil."

“Anyway,” piped in Tonan, anxious to relate his tale, “We arrived at our friends’ home to find them inexplicably absent. That was a most distressing, considering the frightening events of our journey. I witnessed a murder last night, on the road from Verbobonc.”

Gann looked unimpressed. Murder was a foul deed, to be sure. It was a deed that deserved swift justice from a devotee to the god of retribution. But, compared to the evil he was up against right now, it was a small matter for Gann. The cleric was losing interest, and he began to push his potatoes around his plate with his fork. Willow gestured for Tonan to continue.

“I’ve been witness do many deaths,” said the ranger, “But none like this. The intense evil of this act will haunt my dreams for years to come.”

Gann’s head perked up at the mention of evil.

“A merchant wagon with two innocent travelers was ambushed on the road, in the dark. The wagon was surrounded by a bunch of occult crazies. Every one of them was dressed in a dark yellow robe, and it was like they made some kind of ritual out of the killing of their prisoners.”

Tyris and Willow were satisfied that Tonan’s story had Gann’s full attention at this point.

“I felt so helpless… there were so many of them, and it was just Valeria and myself hiding in the bushes along with my friend, Thor. I couldn’t do anything but watch. It was horrible, what they did to those two. The crazies moaned and writhed and sang some kind of morbid death song, driving the poor wagon riders nearly insane with fear before slitting their throats.” Tonan’s voice was trembling at this point, and Valeria put her hand on his broad shoulder to calm him.

Gann stared wide-eyed at the ranger, and then turned to Willow, who was nodding at him knowingly. “You see,” she stated with an undisguised measure of pride in herself. “We did good, right? It was right for us to bring these two here?”

The cleric of St. Cuthbert stood up at his seat as if preparing to make an important announcement, and then he reconsidered and sat back down. “You have done well, my friends,” he responded, measuring his words carefully. “But I yet have questions. First and foremost, where are the others? Why have Davok, Tas and Endora not returned for dinner as we had agreed? That is a dishonorable thing to do… to break a pact.”

“Their reasons are honorable, I assure you,” Valeria interjected. “When she heard of the evil we had witnessed, this ‘Endora’ that you speak of became enraged. Tonan overheard one of the cultists mention a stronghold in the Kron Hills, and your paladin friend insisted that it be investigated and destroyed at once! She started to march away on the spot, but Willow here slowed her down just long enough to form some kind of plan.”

“Plan?” grumbled Gann. It was apparent that he resented not being included in the formation of any plan that involved smiting evil.

“You see,” explained Willow. “Tyris and I were talking to a wizard craftsman down by the southern bridge, along with Endora and the others. He was in town for the festival, hoping to make some gold to fill his coffers and support his trade. Thester, I believe was his name. Anyway, he quoted us a very fair price for many of the items we recovered from the Moathouse. His inventory was pitifully small, and we almost passed him by at first… but he saw what we were carrying and insisted on speaking with us. Anyway, he told us that last night, on the road to Hommlet, his wagon was ambushed by strange robed men! He was following a short distance behind on his donkey, and he could only watch in horror as his apprentices were murdered, and his livelihood was stolen!”

“And that’s where we came in,” Tonan piped up.

Gann looked confused.

“Tonan and I happened to be walking up the same road,” Val explained, “and we overheard the merchant relaying his story to your friends, here. We stopped to listen, and the two of us became part of the conversation.”

“So what does all this have to do with the plan?” Gann asked, growing frustrated.

Tyris chimed in, rolling her eyes as if she were stating the obvious. “We couldn’t just let Endora run off into the hills by herself to take on a stronghold of insane cultists. So, we sold the magic bow we found to Thester, and we gave the profits to Endora for her journey. After a bit more discussion, Davok and Tas agreed to accompany her. The three of them together, while they may not be able to bring the stronghold to its knees, will surely make an effective scouting team to bring back tactical information!”

“We would probably have gone with them, if for no other reason than to satisfy my guilt at not assisting the wizard’s apprentices,” added Tonan. “But, like I said before, our friends here in town are missing.”

“Yes,” said Valeria. “We stopped by the flour mill early this morning… our friends are the millers, of course… and their house was closed up tight. We spoke with Themock, who helps Karlun run the mill… that’s our friend, Karlun… and he said that he hadn’t seen Karlun or Mandy in a couple of days.

“So, we figured we’d spend the day in town and see if we could find them… or at least learn news of them,” finished Tonan.

“So?” asked Willow. “What do you think, Gann? Is it possible that the missing millers… this Karlun and Mandy… could be connected with this oddball cult? I think we should check it out! Oh… and that Thester guy down by the south bridge… he said that, since he had very little to sell after his tragedy, that he’d be thankful to buy whatever we had. I told him that we’d have to talk it over with you first. I just sold the bow to give Endora, Tas and Davok some traveling money. I figured that was fair enough, and Tyris agreed with me.”

Gann nodded his assent. “Yes, Willow. I believe we have found ourselves a pair of allies to help us fight the good fight. While the danger at the Moathouse is weighing on my mind, the possibility that the evil may have spread into this peaceful town… into their flour mill, by the Cudgel! Well that needs immediate attention.” Gann tossed his hard roll down in disgust. "I shall not partake of bread baked from evil wheat!" The cleric stood up once again and extended his hand to his new friends. “I am pleased to have you join us,” he said, and he meant it.

“I have learned from a fellow cleric at the church of my patron, St. Cuthbert, that the mace we brought back from the Moathouse has magical properties, though its value does not outweigh that of my own Truncheon of Truth. I would think that we should visit this Thester fellow and allow him the opportunity to sell it to someone who would wield it honorably in the never ending war against all that is corrupt. It is well that such a noble purpose would also bring us some measure of profit, that we might use to better equip ourselves to face our own conflict.”

The companions, now numbering five, rose from their table and headed for the door. As they pushed their way through the crowded common room, the bard who had been performing poorly throughout the evening jumped down and ran up to them. In a blatant effort to draw attention to himself, to compensate for his overwhelming lack of any other real talent, the half elf stood on a chair and made an announcement to the patrons. “Give a cheer! Raise your drinks, one and all for my good friends! Let us hear it for Spugnoir’s Saviours!”

Gann shoved past and led the party out of the inn, leaving the joyfully drunk commoners behind. Within seconds of the group’s departure, the crowd had already forgotten what they were cheering about. They went on with their revelry, blissfully unaware that the cult of the Elder Elemental Eye had once again returned to Hommlet.

***

Moments later, the door opened once more and a lone figure departed from the inn and moved silently into the growing darkness. The figure followed the heroes, and remained just far enough behind to avoid detection. He heard the haughty cleric speak...

"So, my new woodland friend," he said to the tall ranger. "Who's Thor?" ....

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

After much reading, I've just caught up to the end of this thread.

Great stuff, the PC's and NPC's all have really vibrant characters - I wouldn't want to name a favourite because it would shadow the rest, so I won't .

I played through a little of the Temple a while ago, and all the old names are like going back through the adventure (never a bad thing). I remember that dragon all too well (nearly blew my strength 8 bard into pieces - but he survived and wrote a song about it).

... looking forward to seeing how you guys react to what me and my friends went through...

[Spider resists spilling vital plot clues everywhere]

Also, it gives some great angles on the stories when the players add their thoughts in other postings... keep it going.


and lastly... superb character entrance for Tyris... it made me laugh out loud.

 

[cthuluftaghn]

Those are high compliments from a talented writer such as yourself. I love your Story Hour as well. Thank you!

 

[Enkhidu]

I only have one problem with this story hour...

I don't have nearly enough wilpower to stop reading it and get back to work.

Gann Tolar's bewlidered singlemindedness is just tooooooo entertaining, and the plot seems to be thickening - I'm just hoping that my group never goes through the RttToEE, because I really want to read your account, spoilers and all.

 

[Malessa]

I have to give my husband credit, he is a wonderful writer.

In case anyone doesn't already know, I play Willow in his campain. I've been encouraging him to hurry and write more, because being new to the game, it helps refresh my memory of what was said and took place. Plus, I enjoy reading the way he puts our adventure in a much better light. Other than, "can I do this", "is it time for a smoke break yet?", "I didn't miss my turn did I, I had to use restroom?"....etc..

In his next campaign, which is around the corner, I plan on taking notes, w/help from group, so he isn't calling everyone an hour after they leave, "who said that". "who did that cool thing"? So maybe he can organize his thoughts better, therefore, write faster, which makes it ready and readable sooner, with more quotes and what nots...

PS. I'll try to come up with a sketch of Gann soon, I know you'all must be dying to see what he must look like........I'm thinking, Bruce Cambell look, from "Army of Darkness" movie, tee hee....What do you think?........Willow

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

PS. I'll try to come up with a sketch of Gann soon, I know you'all must be dying to see what he must look like........I'm thinking, Bruce Cambell look, from "Army of Darkness" movie, tee hee....What do you think?........Willow

Yup. That hits the spot.

Surrounded by evil and low on gas.... maybe.

Love the weretiger stuff by the way, always fun to have a furry time bomb in the party.

 

[cthuluftaghn]

Session II: Chapter 6

Chapter 6 - The Millhouse

28 Coldeven, Early Evening

After splitting the profits from the sale of the mace to the wizard merchant, Thester, the group left the area of Southbridge and marched across town to the millhouse. Valeria and Tonan were hoping that they would find that their friends, Karlun and Mandy Fies, had returned home safely. However, with all that they had seen over the past two days, the others were less confident that the millers' fate was a pleasant one.

Tonan was back in familiar territory after the group passed over Eastbridge. They were very close to the home of his friends, and he had been this way many times before. The ranger quickened his pace, and he strode purposefully to the front of the party with his wolf companion, Thor, at his side. He appreciated the help of these kind strangers, but Tonan preferred to fight his own battles. He wasn't used to following anyone's lead.

As the ranger drew closer to the millhouse, his steps slowed and gradually wound down to a halt. He stood in Karlun’s front yard and frowned as his new friends gathered around him. “It looks like nobody’s been here in a while,” he observed. The comfortable family home was stark and lifeless. The lantern on the stoop was cold and dark, and the candles on the windowsills remained unlit. Tonan tried to peer inside through the front window, and he stepped away shaking his head. “There’s nobody home. I don’t get it… our visit has been planned for weeks. We were expected. Something’s not right.”

Tyris stepped forward and tried the latch. “It’s unlocked!” she declared, and stepped back down into the yard. Tonan noted the look in Valeria’s eyes. She was truly worried for their friends, that much was obvious. However, in the fading light of the setting sun, he could tell that there was a much deeper fear welling up inside of her. She was highly distressed. The ranger had seen this expression on Val’s face more than once in the past few months, and he made a mental note to ask her about it in private sometime.

“I’m going to check it out,” Tonan announced.

“Hold on,” said Gann, pushing his way past the ranger who glared at him viciously. The cleric pointed at the door and announced importantly, “Look here. The door latch and stoop have some kind of white… umm... white… uh... well, more or less whitish… err… goop on them.”

“I have an uneasy feeling here, like this is some kind of trap,” Willow suggested. “I think we should probably take a look around back, first.”

“There’s nothing back there but the river,” Tonan stated, and he entered the house, apparently disregarding the concerns of both Gann and Willow. “Besides, these people run a flour mill. There’s nothing unusual about a little bit of flour paste on a doorknob.” The druid shrugged back at the once again deflated cleric and stepped in behind Tonan, followed closely by Gann, and then Tyris. Valeria remained outside on the front steps, staring out uneasily into the evening gloom.

“It’s so quiet,” Willow whispered. She wasn’t sure why she felt the need for stealth and silence. There was certainly nothing threatening about an empty country home. Regardless, the young druid remained on alert.

The large front room was tidy, but had a comfortable “lived-in” feel to it. Soft, well worn cushions formed a semi-circle around a low table in the middle of the room. Shelves with various trinkets and keepsakes lined the walls. A dining area, which was prepared for two, was set up in the corner. Tonan frowned again as he took note that the guest chairs had not been brought out. Growing more concerned, he moved back towards the kitchen.

“Ugh!” gasped Tonan as he pushed the kitchen door open on its squeaky hinges. The smell of decaying refuse hit him full in the face, and he nearly gagged before he composed himself and moved forward. Ants and roaches skittered freely about in the small cooking area, feasting on the rotting food that was left lying out on the counter and cutting stone. “Oh no,” sighed Tonan, as his worst fears came to light.

“Oh,” said Willow as she peered inside to see what the source of the smell was. “It looks like they just disappeared in the middle of preparing breakfast.” A block of moldy, roach infested cheese sat on the cutting stone with the knife still stuck into it, mid-slice. What appeared to have been a fresh baked loaf of bread was on the counter. It was now rock-hard and covered with a pale blue, fuzzy fungus. The severely scorched remains of what once may have been bacon and eggs sat on top of the stove. The coals underneath had burned themselves out many days ago.

“There is no sign of a struggle that I can see,” Tonan pointed out. “It’s like they just left? I don’t understand… I just don’t get it?”

Just then, Valeria called out from the front of the house in a harsh whisper. “There’s somebody out here,” she said shrilly. I can hear whistling from the side of the house.” Thor growled.

“I told you we should have checked around back,” Willow scolded. She stormed out of the house and went straight to the east side of the yard where the sound of a sad, slow tune could clearly be heard. She moved with caution as she reached the edge of the front wall, and she peered around the corner. There was nothing there.

The men gathered around her, and they moved as a group into the side yard. They stood there looking at each other, baffled. “It’s right here!” shouted Willow, the frustration on her face was plain for all to see. “You hear it too, don’t you? It’s like there should be someone standing here, right between me and you… whistling!”

Suddenly, an arrow shot across the front yard towards Tyris… from the opposite side of the house! “Ambush!” the sorceress yelled as the projectile whizzed by her ear, close enough for her to feel the fletching tickle her neck.

Valeria turned around to face west as the “thwap” of a second bowstring could be heard. She winced as the arrow tore through her blouse and opened a deep gash in her side. She looked up at her attacker with fire in her eyes. First blood had been drawn. She snarled, “It’s on!”

The bowman that had wounded Valeria dropped his weapon and charged the group, drawing a large axe from behind as he ran. Gann met the attack head on, and in a single whirling motion he drew his mighty Truncheon of Truth and brought it about in a wide arc. The blow caught the villain square in the gut with the full force of the cleric’s righteous rage behind it. The sound of the air rushing out of the unfortunate man’s lungs was mingled with the sickening crack of splintered ribs.

As the second bowman took cover behind the west side of the house, Willow noticed the doubled-over victim of Gann’s powerful swing was reaching for a dagger that was hidden in his boot. She quickly filled her mouth with spittle as she called upon the power of the earth. The druid took aim and spat the magically enhanced wad directly into the would-be assassin’s face. The man cried out as the ball of spit filled his eyes and hardened instantly, stinging horribly and effectively blinding him.

On a signal from Tonan, the mighty Thor leapt upon the wounded man’s back and tore into him with savage fury. The assassin barely had time to scream before his throat was torn out, thus ending his pain.

Tyris turned her attention towards the remaining attacker. The sorceress raised her arms in the air, and she could feel the magical energies gathering within her mind and body. “Obdormio” she shouted, and she thrust her hands out, towards her foe.

The bowman staggered and he dropped his weapon, suddenly feeling very drowsy. The cultist’s force of will was stronger than Tyris’ power, however, and he was able to shake off the magical effects of her sleep spell. Using the corner of the house for support, the enemy rose once more and looked Tyris in the eye. He raised his index finger and moved it back and forth in a tick-tock motion as a mother might do to a naughty child, and he smiled.

Valeria stepped forward as she mashed some iron dust and powdered brimstone into a sticky ball of tallow wax. “Succendo,” she said as she swung her right arm around in a bowling motion. The moment the wizard’s components hit the earth, they ignited into a flaming sphere which rolled with destructive fury directly towards the cocky assassin. Val’s satisfaction at the success of her spell was short lived, as a wave of colorful, sparkling lights washed over her and her companions. The female wizard went down on one knee, stunned by the arcane power of the lights. “Color spray,” she managed to gasp as she watched Gann Tolar collapse onto the hard stone path.

Unaffected by the surprise magical attack, Willow turned to face this new threat. A gnome, dressed in the garish trappings of an evil arcanist, stepped out from the shadows and started casting a new spell. Willow began summoning the power of the air, working on a spell of her own.

Suddenly, from nowhere, a new combatant entered the fray. Before any of the companions had time to react, a halfing ran across the yard from the direction of Eastbridge and quickly pumped two crossbow bolts into the cocky bowman. With a look of pain and astonishment, the evil man collapsed into Valeria’s oncoming flaming sphere, and he burst into flame. The newcomer swiftly smothered the fire and began searching the corpse.

Tonan, unsure of the unidentified killer’s motives, sent Thor to the corner of the house to keep an eye on him. The wolf growled at the halfing menacingly, and the diminutive rogue backed off. Satisfied that the situation was under control, the ranger grabbed his bow and turned back to face the gnomish magic user. Tonan drew back to fire, but he was momentarily distracted as a swarm of bats burst forth from the night air and surrounded the evil mage. The gnome’s spell casting was disrupted, and Tonan’s arrow flew wide. Confused, the ranger looked over his shoulder just in time to see Willow ball up her fist and jerk her elbow back into her side in a victory motion.

“Yesss,” Willow shouted gleefully as her summoned swarm of bats ravaged her enemy from above!

Tyris leapt over the inert body of Gann Tolar and pointed all ten fingers at the gnome as she bellowed, “Contendo!” Two magic missiles fired from her fingertips and they struck the mage square in the chest, frying a couple of bats in the process. The swarm scattered and the gnome fell to the ground, quite dead.

Tonan swiftly knocked another arrow and turned back towards the mysterious halfing, and he saw yet another figure coming across the bridge. This time, it was a woman dressed in shining armor, and she was waving her arms in the air. “It’s all right,” she was shouting. “Don’t shoot!”

Gann groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, and he propped himself up on his knees. “My head hurts,” he moaned. “And I can’t see so good.” He jerked his head back and forth, trying to shake off the effects of the color spray.

“Endora?” said Willow in surprise as she recognized the approaching woman. “Is that you? What are you doing here?”

“Call off the wolf,” the paladin said as she stepped into the circle of friends, out of breath. “I think he’s about to eat Tas!”

Tyris, who hadn’t seen the halfing enter the fray, looked surprised. “Tas is here too,” she asked?

“I think I’m gonna throw up,” moaned Gann.

 

[Jodo Kast]

Willow, I'm all for the Bruce Campbell look for Gann. I suggested either Campbell or Patrick Warburton (The Tick, Seinfeld, MIBII). I didn't originally envision the character as being so comically single-minded. He was going to be sort of a medieval Batman, a grim, versatile dark knight detective type. But five minutes into the first session I found myself saying "smite evil" every time I opened my mouth and talking in a Bruce Campbell/The Tick voice, and everything just fell into place.

Great work Brian, makes for an interesting read even if I did play through it already.

"Surrounded by evil ... and I fail my Will save vs. color spray. Doh!" As fate would have it, the night only got worse for the valiant Gann Tolar. I think I'm going to skip reading the next installment, it is sure to chronicle the most embarassing moment in an otherwise unblemished career of smiting evil and trading witty repartee with villains bent on world conquest (or at least control of small, relatively unimportant towns).

 

[Malessa]

Hey Gann, if I remember correctly, we both seemed to have an interesting ride! Unfortunately at our (mostly you) expense, I look forward to having a good hearted chuckle at the next chapter.
As for all you readers, this is where you should be on the edge of your seat, anticipating and thirsting for more.

PS. Started Gann's character sketch, should have it ready and posted by sometime tomorrow.