Clearwater Crusaders - City of the Spider Queen (Updated 17th June)
- Thread starter Eccles
- Start date
Eccles
Ragged idiot in a trilby.
1. Yes, he does get an XP reward for the Journal, and all players get a reward for preparing a character background (as it helps them get more attached to the character).
2. I've started a Rogue's Gallery at http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=688218#post688218 for your delight and delectation...
2. I've started a Rogue's Gallery at http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=688218#post688218 for your delight and delectation...
LuYangShih
First Post
1. Good story, I really enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to more.
2. Shouldn't you be restricting Braddocs leadership role a bit more? And shouldn't every NPC they meet generally hate him? I hate to see Charisma being used as a dump stat, especially that badly, with no drawbacks.
3. Shouldn't that Red Dragon have killed them all by now?
I can't see a CE character drawing it out much, if he knows who they are.
4. Introduce a Paladin player or NPC just so a good civil war will happen between him and Miles.
Regardless, I really like the story, and I look forward to reading more. I'm actually surprised more people haven't commented so far.
2. Shouldn't you be restricting Braddocs leadership role a bit more? And shouldn't every NPC they meet generally hate him? I hate to see Charisma being used as a dump stat, especially that badly, with no drawbacks.
3. Shouldn't that Red Dragon have killed them all by now?
I can't see a CE character drawing it out much, if he knows who they are. 4. Introduce a Paladin player or NPC just so a good civil war will happen between him and Miles.
Regardless, I really like the story, and I look forward to reading more. I'm actually surprised more people haven't commented so far.
Eccles
Ragged idiot in a trilby.
LuYangShih said:
1. Thank you very much. We're not playing this week, but when I next see the player I'll pass it on!
2. I accept the point, but I tend to go on what the players say rather than the PC's stats for charisma. And Braddoc's player is one of the more talkative ones - a few of the others are just in if for the hack'n'slash. Besides, in Braddoc's backstory it says that his only friend in the village was a bard. As a result, everything they did for their first adventures was sung about. Only problem is that the bard didn't bother getting everyone else's names. So all the ballads refer to "Braddoc and the Clearwater Crusaders".
Oh, and the player does a darn good job of playing Braddoc as an objectionable dwarfen rager when I put him in the right social situations, so he's not really getting the benefit of the doubt!
LuYangShih said:3. Shouldn't that Red Dragon have killed them all by now?
3. Yeah. The dragon's part of the long-term plans. He spent a lot of time digging himself out from under the mountain. Pretty soon you'll be reading about what happens when he escapes. And the players are not happy about that one!
LuYangShih said:4. Introduce a Paladin player or NPC just so a good civil war will happen between him and Miles.
Regardless, I really like the story, and I look forward to reading more. I'm actually surprised more people haven't commented so far.
4. You delightful poster, you!
The paladin idea is worth a thought, actually. I might have a paladin Dragon Slayer later on to provide them with another opportunity to avoid Gran'Rath Tendathaloth. However in 4 years of playing with this group, I've only seen 1 paladin. Given the group's general slide towards Chaos and Neutrality, I think I'm unlikely to see another!
Thanks for the comments!
LuYangShih
First Post
You're welcome. This campaign looks like it would be very enjoyable to play in. The reason I mentioned the Dwarves Charisma is it seems to me the player is overriding his characters Charisma with his own, which I've seen happen too many times.
I view a low Charisma as making a character very forgettable, repugnant, shy and weak willed in social situations. The way I would've worked it is the Bard remembered everyone except the Dwarf. I view a character with low Charisma becoming a leader and a memorable hero the same as I would view a character with low Intelligence coming up with a brilliant plan to save the world, or a character with low Strength picking up a 300 pound boulder.
Still, that's just my opinion, and if everyone is having fun, no big deal. I greatly look forward to reading more of this excellent Story Hour.
I view a low Charisma as making a character very forgettable, repugnant, shy and weak willed in social situations. The way I would've worked it is the Bard remembered everyone except the Dwarf. I view a character with low Charisma becoming a leader and a memorable hero the same as I would view a character with low Intelligence coming up with a brilliant plan to save the world, or a character with low Strength picking up a 300 pound boulder.
Still, that's just my opinion, and if everyone is having fun, no big deal. I greatly look forward to reading more of this excellent Story Hour.
Eccles
Ragged idiot in a trilby.
Just a quick update to let you know what actually happened to Jared Blackspawn during the course of a solo mission to qualify as an assassin...
-------------------
The Ballad of Jared Blackspawn
By Glimmer, bard to the court of Randal Morn.
(With thanks to the Court Mage for assistance with scrying magicks)
Lo! Harken ye and listen,
To the tale as yet unsaid,
A story that will let you know,
How Jared became dead.
A mission once he undertook,
A man he had to slay.
A merchant-spy in Dagger Falls,
Most evil and depraved.
The price for this foul murder,
Was training and a home.
A princely sum for the Blackspawn,
A Half-Drow on his own.
So Jared took his weapons up,
Twin blades both shining bright.
Fasten’d his best armour on,
Then slid into the night.
The challenge that beset him first;
The leaving of his room.
Not wishing to descend below,
Where skin-tone spelt his doom.
With mighty slash, our hero
Cut his sheets up into lines,
And fasten’d them atop his bed,
Instead of some good twine.
Then swinging out of the window,
He scrambled down the wall.
At least that was his cunning plan;
His knots weren’t good at all.
A goodly way he plummeted,
And hard he struck the ground.
He fled the cobbles as they were,
Bloody linen all around.
Limping hard, he then set off,
His target’s home he knew.
He travelled ‘cross the unknown town,
And arrived afore the dew.
‘Twas there that mighty Blackspawn,
Met challenge number two,
As he beheld a mighty wall,
Which blocked the house from view.
All in the night, and stealthy-like,
The half-drow man did climb,
His fingers found no purchase,
He hit the road and whined.
He clutched his skull in darkened hands,
And moaned out loud in pain.
Then swiftly quaffed a potion,
So he could walk again.
Now the doughty warrior,
A grimace on his face,
Walked backwards thirty paces,
Turned, and began to race.
His running form closed on the wall,
Our hero failed to leap,
And with a crash, he fell to earth,
All crumpled in a heap.
He tried once more, he tried again,
Our hero tried and failed,
After three collisions with the wall,
The half-drow’s spirits quailed.
So now he walked around the place,
A-spying at the doors.
Just checking out the building,
And counting its two floors.
All strengthened in his knowledge,
He turned back to the wall.
Then taking out his grappling-hook,
Climbed up, and did not fall.
All nimble-like, the subtle drow
The garden he didst scout.
Selected where he would descend,
Climbed down, and heard no shouts.
Avoiding hazards, cross the grass.
He listened, at the door,
His plan was then to slip inside,
And climb to the top floor.
Alas! For mighty Jared,
The door, at night, was locked.
The half-drow had no skill with picks,
And thus this way was blocked.
So thus, our Prince-Assassin,
Climbed back atop the wall.
Scrambling, silent, o’er the roof,
Was careful not to fall.
Tremendous find! That moment,
The stealthy one did pass,
A mighty window in the roof,
All made of brittle glass.
All subtlety, our hero,
Didst wield his mighty swords.
And breaking silence broke the glass,
Which fell in noisy shards.
Cat-like, the noble warrior,
Down to the landing leapt,
And nimbly dodging broken glass,
Around the corner crept.
He now saw he was in a hall,
With four doors and a stair,
He heard a cry come from the north,
There was an armed man there.
The fight began, as Jared drew
His swords against his mark.
And slashing wide, began to fight
The butler in the dark.
A second cry, and then a third,
Feet on the stairs, and then,
Quite shortly, brave Sir Jared,
Was duelling 4 grown men.
A slash, a stab, and then two foes
Had fallen to the floor.
To tell the truth they fell downstairs,
Some twenty steps or more.
However, in the dark combat,
Brave Jared lost his way
And could not tell which foeman was
The one he had to slay.
Backing down the corridor,
The eager warrior fled,
And swiftly drank a second draught,
To heal his fractured head.
The two remaining enemies
Fought bravely in the dark.
And narry one of Jared’s blows
Could close upon its mark.
The self-same problems did not hold
For Blackspawn’s doughty foes.
A merchant and his butler
Rained down their deadly blows.
Not once, not twice, but fifteen times,
The brave young drow was struck,
He backed away once more and
Quaffed his potions without luck.
For not a one of Jared’s drinks,
Held great healing draughts inside,
And then, alack, one shining blade,
Was thrown off to the side.
Then Jared knew the game was up,
As sword and axe both fell,
The murderous assassin drow
Fell down the stairs as well.
Although not highly in our hearts,
This dark-skinned elf is bound,
Like this we should remember him;
Naked as he was found.
And in his death, at last he met
The task that was laid down,
As early the next morning,
The merchant fled the town.
-------------------
The Ballad of Jared Blackspawn
By Glimmer, bard to the court of Randal Morn.
(With thanks to the Court Mage for assistance with scrying magicks)
Lo! Harken ye and listen,
To the tale as yet unsaid,
A story that will let you know,
How Jared became dead.
A mission once he undertook,
A man he had to slay.
A merchant-spy in Dagger Falls,
Most evil and depraved.
The price for this foul murder,
Was training and a home.
A princely sum for the Blackspawn,
A Half-Drow on his own.
So Jared took his weapons up,
Twin blades both shining bright.
Fasten’d his best armour on,
Then slid into the night.
The challenge that beset him first;
The leaving of his room.
Not wishing to descend below,
Where skin-tone spelt his doom.
With mighty slash, our hero
Cut his sheets up into lines,
And fasten’d them atop his bed,
Instead of some good twine.
Then swinging out of the window,
He scrambled down the wall.
At least that was his cunning plan;
His knots weren’t good at all.
A goodly way he plummeted,
And hard he struck the ground.
He fled the cobbles as they were,
Bloody linen all around.
Limping hard, he then set off,
His target’s home he knew.
He travelled ‘cross the unknown town,
And arrived afore the dew.
‘Twas there that mighty Blackspawn,
Met challenge number two,
As he beheld a mighty wall,
Which blocked the house from view.
All in the night, and stealthy-like,
The half-drow man did climb,
His fingers found no purchase,
He hit the road and whined.
He clutched his skull in darkened hands,
And moaned out loud in pain.
Then swiftly quaffed a potion,
So he could walk again.
Now the doughty warrior,
A grimace on his face,
Walked backwards thirty paces,
Turned, and began to race.
His running form closed on the wall,
Our hero failed to leap,
And with a crash, he fell to earth,
All crumpled in a heap.
He tried once more, he tried again,
Our hero tried and failed,
After three collisions with the wall,
The half-drow’s spirits quailed.
So now he walked around the place,
A-spying at the doors.
Just checking out the building,
And counting its two floors.
All strengthened in his knowledge,
He turned back to the wall.
Then taking out his grappling-hook,
Climbed up, and did not fall.
All nimble-like, the subtle drow
The garden he didst scout.
Selected where he would descend,
Climbed down, and heard no shouts.
Avoiding hazards, cross the grass.
He listened, at the door,
His plan was then to slip inside,
And climb to the top floor.
Alas! For mighty Jared,
The door, at night, was locked.
The half-drow had no skill with picks,
And thus this way was blocked.
So thus, our Prince-Assassin,
Climbed back atop the wall.
Scrambling, silent, o’er the roof,
Was careful not to fall.
Tremendous find! That moment,
The stealthy one did pass,
A mighty window in the roof,
All made of brittle glass.
All subtlety, our hero,
Didst wield his mighty swords.
And breaking silence broke the glass,
Which fell in noisy shards.
Cat-like, the noble warrior,
Down to the landing leapt,
And nimbly dodging broken glass,
Around the corner crept.
He now saw he was in a hall,
With four doors and a stair,
He heard a cry come from the north,
There was an armed man there.
The fight began, as Jared drew
His swords against his mark.
And slashing wide, began to fight
The butler in the dark.
A second cry, and then a third,
Feet on the stairs, and then,
Quite shortly, brave Sir Jared,
Was duelling 4 grown men.
A slash, a stab, and then two foes
Had fallen to the floor.
To tell the truth they fell downstairs,
Some twenty steps or more.
However, in the dark combat,
Brave Jared lost his way
And could not tell which foeman was
The one he had to slay.
Backing down the corridor,
The eager warrior fled,
And swiftly drank a second draught,
To heal his fractured head.
The two remaining enemies
Fought bravely in the dark.
And narry one of Jared’s blows
Could close upon its mark.
The self-same problems did not hold
For Blackspawn’s doughty foes.
A merchant and his butler
Rained down their deadly blows.
Not once, not twice, but fifteen times,
The brave young drow was struck,
He backed away once more and
Quaffed his potions without luck.
For not a one of Jared’s drinks,
Held great healing draughts inside,
And then, alack, one shining blade,
Was thrown off to the side.
Then Jared knew the game was up,
As sword and axe both fell,
The murderous assassin drow
Fell down the stairs as well.
Although not highly in our hearts,
This dark-skinned elf is bound,
Like this we should remember him;
Naked as he was found.
And in his death, at last he met
The task that was laid down,
As early the next morning,
The merchant fled the town.
LuYangShih
First Post
Not a good way to go. A lot of blown use rope and climb checks, it seems. Not to mention a general lack of use of other Rogue type skills. A Barbarian could've taken the same approach.
Eccles
Ragged idiot in a trilby.
It's strange, really. He knew he didn't have any ranks in pick locks or use rope, and not a lot in climb. Jared was designed with disguises and stealth in mind. He could sneak and backstab with the best of 'em.
He was designed purely with the Assassin prestige class in mind.
But the second he came to doing an assassination, it all abandoned him. I don't think he rolled higher than 7 all evening, and kept trying to do things he had no real aptitude for.
I'd have been more than happy for him to put on a disguise and try to bluff his way into the house.
He could have waited and tried to kill the merchant during the day.
He could quite easily have waited until the house was emptier and then sneaked in and hidden in the master bedroom.
There were a huge number of possibilities which he didn't try. He blames the NPC who briefed him. The NPC remains convinced that Jared looked very confident. I thought the player had a plan, too!
Oh well. You live and you learn.
(His replacement character, Miles, is very much more rounded, skill-wise!)
He was designed purely with the Assassin prestige class in mind.
But the second he came to doing an assassination, it all abandoned him. I don't think he rolled higher than 7 all evening, and kept trying to do things he had no real aptitude for.
I'd have been more than happy for him to put on a disguise and try to bluff his way into the house.
He could have waited and tried to kill the merchant during the day.
He could quite easily have waited until the house was emptier and then sneaked in and hidden in the master bedroom.
There were a huge number of possibilities which he didn't try. He blames the NPC who briefed him. The NPC remains convinced that Jared looked very confident. I thought the player had a plan, too!
Oh well. You live and you learn.
(His replacement character, Miles, is very much more rounded, skill-wise!)
LuYangShih
First Post
Yeah. Perhaps he simply expected to succeed with little difficulty, and didn't really think it through. What I'm really surprised about is the fact he didn't at least case the place before setting off. I guess, judging from the journal, he felt that his employer wanted it done ASAP? Regardless, it just goes to show Drow are crappy Assassins. Now, if he had been a Halfling... 
Eccles
Ragged idiot in a trilby.
Miles' Journal
Part 4
-------------
Uktar 16th - We got back to Clearwater at about midday. Not long after that we saw what could only be Gran'Rath Tendathaloth himself fly low over Clearwater, terrifying everything on the ground, myself included. I have only ever glimpsed this dragon from great distance in the past; being this close to him was an incredible experience, one I do not care to repeat. No creature should grow that large, its just not right. He headed towards the Monastery and we gave chase (reluctantly in my case I might add). We arrived to see him attacking the Monastery to no avail, as the monks’ bell was chiming and thus the place was protected from him somehow. Magic no doubt. We went to the Monastery once the dragon had flown off, and were able to find out from the library that the Monastery was built to protect a source of great evil, a vampire lord no less, buried in the nearby cemetery. We headed to the cemetery, and there did battle with the dragon’s undead minions that were guarding the place. The battle was fought along the tops of the cemetery walls, a precarious fight to say the least, and I had a supernatural encounter as a female spirit of some kind possessed my body, though this later fled me. We were able to deduce that the anti-magic area over the cemetery is fading, and that by morning it should have gone entirely. We decided to make camp back at the Monastery and return at dawn.
Uktar 17th - We got up early and went to battle the Vampire in the crypt he is entombed in. We didn't want to open the tomb last night lest we had to fight him without the backup of our spell casters. I borrowed Braddoc's magical axe, as my swords would be of no use against the creature. The Vampire, however, was not there, only an animated skeleton, which we easily dispatched. We then returned to Clearwater, gathered supplies and set out towards Dagger Falls as we have been hired by the monks to find a mage capable of creating a portal. With the vampire loose, and the dragon wanting to tear the Monastery apart, they have decided to flee and rebuild elsewhere. Sensible, if somewhat cowardly.
Uktar 18th - During the night we were joined by Morgaine, Taeghan's cousin who has sought him out to learn from him. We now have two priests of Corellon Larethian with us, so with any luck we should be better able to recover from the wounds we keep suffering battling the long list of enemies we have. She seems a fairly nervous sort, but her presence is welcome. During the day we regaled her with tales of all the enemies our group has and the few we have managed to defeat. Come nighttime, right on cue, the familiar pack of werewolves who have harried us time and again in the past attacked us as we camped. This time however we were ready for them, and quickly got the upper edge. They paid for their arrogance with their lives, as all four of them fell to our blades and spells.
Uktar 19th to 20th - Travelling to Dagger Falls, no significant encounters beyond other travellers on the road.
Uktar 21st - We arrive at Dagger Falls having made better time than normal, due to not having to worry about the pack of werewolves stalking us in the tree line. Rand, Tanus & Teaghan headed to Lathander’s temple get themselves cured of the lycanthropic taint, having been wounded by the creatures during the battle a few nights back. The rest of us headed to the Thayan enclave to find a wizard to create a portal that the monks can flee the area. We instead found a wizard capable of contacting the man we need, but he has to spend a day or so preparing to cast the spell, so we have to come back on the 23rd. Retired to the Inn for the duration..
Uktar 22nd - We stay at the Inn, the Red Wizard I presume is meditating or some other such thing. One of these days I will have to spend some time and learn some of this magic that I understand it better, at the moment it does nothing but confuse me.
Uktar 23rd - We returned to the Thayan enclave in late morning having had a leisurely breakfast, and some of the others slept in late. I barely slept as usual, and though I do not need to eat, I enjoyed a repast of hot bacon rolls. The Red Wizard was indeed able to contact the portal mage we needed who promptly teleported to our location, surprising more than a few of us. He introduced himself as Klatus Indictus, and we escorted him back to our Inn, as he must wait until tomorrow to teleport us all back to Clearwater, having run low on spells doing something or other, I must admit I was more interested in looking around the Thayan's room rather than paying attention to what was going on the in the scrying window he opened up to contact Klatus through. Klatus retired to his room and then a bizarre creature appeared in the Inn common room that seemed to be after him. We battled it. And took it apart in short order. Klatus later identified it as a Yochlol, a demonic servant of Lolth. I wonder what the spider queen could want with him?
Uktar 24th - Klaatus teleported us all to the Old Order's Monastery (and I never want to be teleported anywhere ever again, It felt horrible). As he made preparations to build a suitable portal for the monks to flee through, the dragon’s undead army arrived complete with fire elemental and that strange bronze dwarf-sized golem thing we had heard about. They attempted to storm the Monastery, as it seems that the Monks bell can only protect against so much at one time, and while all its power was being used to fend off Gran'Rath, his minions could have slaughtered the monks in their trance while they were helpless. The vast bulk of his force was skeletons, which Taeghan almost singlehandly wiped out with the strength of his faith, them shattering into shards at his words. The golem and elemental took longer to deal with, but under our combined assault, we took them down, the dragon circling angrily high overhead, unable to assist his forces in any way. During the night, we again came under assault, this time by the Vampire lord and a Ghost (his bride perhaps from ancient days?) who again possessed me for a while. We drove them off too, and the pack of wolves that accompanied them, though this was ironically a much tougher fight then the army had been.
Uktar 25th - Klaatus had finished his work by early morning, and the monks abandoned the monastery, taking with them no more than a handful of their wealth each, leaving behind even the great bell. After they had fled through, we followed, jumping into the portal... and arriving on a jungle beach, or more specifically about twenty or so feet above the beach and them smacking down into it. None of us have any idea where we are, I can only surmise that we are a very long way from Daggerdale, and the general consensus seems to be that we are no longer on Toril, and instead in some other place or even time. Quite why Klaatus has sent us here I do not know, though I guess it could have been a mistake. For the duration of our stay here, I will record the days as though we were still on Toril.
We headed down the beach and after encountering some strange worm-like creatures in the sand we edged closer to the jungle. We were then immediately attacked by four massive green centipedes, their mandibles laden with poison that afflicted myself and Tanus, slowing us, and making Tanus very unsteady indeed.
We continued on, searching for a source of fresh water and encountered a massive lizard beast, roughly twenty feet long, its head adorned with a bony crest from which pointed three horns. The beast charged us, tearing through us, and it took an unbelievable amount of punishment before it went down, nearly killing Taeghan, Rand and Braddoc in the process. We cut steaks from it and filled waterskins at the shallow river it had been drinking from. We then sought shelter, crossing the shallow river and setting up camp in a rocky outcropping.
Uktar 13th - During the night we heard what we assumed to be the towers utter collapse, but on checking in the daylight of this morning only one wall had fallen in. Still, as Rand says, time & weather will do for the rest of it. Nothing else of note happened today, even the weather held off and we made reasonable progress back towards the town.
Uktar 26th - We spent the day in our camp, while our priests saw to the group’s considerable wounds. It seems that the water here cannot be trusted, I having caught a disease from drinking it. From now on I will stick to relying on my ring to provide for me. Towards evening we noticed some savage looking carnivores ripping at the corpse of the lizard beast we slew yesterday, as well as a gargantuan herbivore with a very long neck that emerged from the sea, and knocked down a tree to eat! I now doubt that we will see much in the way of civilisation in this savage land.
Part 4
-------------
Uktar 16th - We got back to Clearwater at about midday. Not long after that we saw what could only be Gran'Rath Tendathaloth himself fly low over Clearwater, terrifying everything on the ground, myself included. I have only ever glimpsed this dragon from great distance in the past; being this close to him was an incredible experience, one I do not care to repeat. No creature should grow that large, its just not right. He headed towards the Monastery and we gave chase (reluctantly in my case I might add). We arrived to see him attacking the Monastery to no avail, as the monks’ bell was chiming and thus the place was protected from him somehow. Magic no doubt. We went to the Monastery once the dragon had flown off, and were able to find out from the library that the Monastery was built to protect a source of great evil, a vampire lord no less, buried in the nearby cemetery. We headed to the cemetery, and there did battle with the dragon’s undead minions that were guarding the place. The battle was fought along the tops of the cemetery walls, a precarious fight to say the least, and I had a supernatural encounter as a female spirit of some kind possessed my body, though this later fled me. We were able to deduce that the anti-magic area over the cemetery is fading, and that by morning it should have gone entirely. We decided to make camp back at the Monastery and return at dawn.
Uktar 17th - We got up early and went to battle the Vampire in the crypt he is entombed in. We didn't want to open the tomb last night lest we had to fight him without the backup of our spell casters. I borrowed Braddoc's magical axe, as my swords would be of no use against the creature. The Vampire, however, was not there, only an animated skeleton, which we easily dispatched. We then returned to Clearwater, gathered supplies and set out towards Dagger Falls as we have been hired by the monks to find a mage capable of creating a portal. With the vampire loose, and the dragon wanting to tear the Monastery apart, they have decided to flee and rebuild elsewhere. Sensible, if somewhat cowardly.
Uktar 18th - During the night we were joined by Morgaine, Taeghan's cousin who has sought him out to learn from him. We now have two priests of Corellon Larethian with us, so with any luck we should be better able to recover from the wounds we keep suffering battling the long list of enemies we have. She seems a fairly nervous sort, but her presence is welcome. During the day we regaled her with tales of all the enemies our group has and the few we have managed to defeat. Come nighttime, right on cue, the familiar pack of werewolves who have harried us time and again in the past attacked us as we camped. This time however we were ready for them, and quickly got the upper edge. They paid for their arrogance with their lives, as all four of them fell to our blades and spells.
Uktar 19th to 20th - Travelling to Dagger Falls, no significant encounters beyond other travellers on the road.
Uktar 21st - We arrive at Dagger Falls having made better time than normal, due to not having to worry about the pack of werewolves stalking us in the tree line. Rand, Tanus & Teaghan headed to Lathander’s temple get themselves cured of the lycanthropic taint, having been wounded by the creatures during the battle a few nights back. The rest of us headed to the Thayan enclave to find a wizard to create a portal that the monks can flee the area. We instead found a wizard capable of contacting the man we need, but he has to spend a day or so preparing to cast the spell, so we have to come back on the 23rd. Retired to the Inn for the duration..
Uktar 22nd - We stay at the Inn, the Red Wizard I presume is meditating or some other such thing. One of these days I will have to spend some time and learn some of this magic that I understand it better, at the moment it does nothing but confuse me.
Uktar 23rd - We returned to the Thayan enclave in late morning having had a leisurely breakfast, and some of the others slept in late. I barely slept as usual, and though I do not need to eat, I enjoyed a repast of hot bacon rolls. The Red Wizard was indeed able to contact the portal mage we needed who promptly teleported to our location, surprising more than a few of us. He introduced himself as Klatus Indictus, and we escorted him back to our Inn, as he must wait until tomorrow to teleport us all back to Clearwater, having run low on spells doing something or other, I must admit I was more interested in looking around the Thayan's room rather than paying attention to what was going on the in the scrying window he opened up to contact Klatus through. Klatus retired to his room and then a bizarre creature appeared in the Inn common room that seemed to be after him. We battled it. And took it apart in short order. Klatus later identified it as a Yochlol, a demonic servant of Lolth. I wonder what the spider queen could want with him?
Uktar 24th - Klaatus teleported us all to the Old Order's Monastery (and I never want to be teleported anywhere ever again, It felt horrible). As he made preparations to build a suitable portal for the monks to flee through, the dragon’s undead army arrived complete with fire elemental and that strange bronze dwarf-sized golem thing we had heard about. They attempted to storm the Monastery, as it seems that the Monks bell can only protect against so much at one time, and while all its power was being used to fend off Gran'Rath, his minions could have slaughtered the monks in their trance while they were helpless. The vast bulk of his force was skeletons, which Taeghan almost singlehandly wiped out with the strength of his faith, them shattering into shards at his words. The golem and elemental took longer to deal with, but under our combined assault, we took them down, the dragon circling angrily high overhead, unable to assist his forces in any way. During the night, we again came under assault, this time by the Vampire lord and a Ghost (his bride perhaps from ancient days?) who again possessed me for a while. We drove them off too, and the pack of wolves that accompanied them, though this was ironically a much tougher fight then the army had been.
Uktar 25th - Klaatus had finished his work by early morning, and the monks abandoned the monastery, taking with them no more than a handful of their wealth each, leaving behind even the great bell. After they had fled through, we followed, jumping into the portal... and arriving on a jungle beach, or more specifically about twenty or so feet above the beach and them smacking down into it. None of us have any idea where we are, I can only surmise that we are a very long way from Daggerdale, and the general consensus seems to be that we are no longer on Toril, and instead in some other place or even time. Quite why Klaatus has sent us here I do not know, though I guess it could have been a mistake. For the duration of our stay here, I will record the days as though we were still on Toril.
We headed down the beach and after encountering some strange worm-like creatures in the sand we edged closer to the jungle. We were then immediately attacked by four massive green centipedes, their mandibles laden with poison that afflicted myself and Tanus, slowing us, and making Tanus very unsteady indeed.
We continued on, searching for a source of fresh water and encountered a massive lizard beast, roughly twenty feet long, its head adorned with a bony crest from which pointed three horns. The beast charged us, tearing through us, and it took an unbelievable amount of punishment before it went down, nearly killing Taeghan, Rand and Braddoc in the process. We cut steaks from it and filled waterskins at the shallow river it had been drinking from. We then sought shelter, crossing the shallow river and setting up camp in a rocky outcropping.
Uktar 13th - During the night we heard what we assumed to be the towers utter collapse, but on checking in the daylight of this morning only one wall had fallen in. Still, as Rand says, time & weather will do for the rest of it. Nothing else of note happened today, even the weather held off and we made reasonable progress back towards the town.
Uktar 26th - We spent the day in our camp, while our priests saw to the group’s considerable wounds. It seems that the water here cannot be trusted, I having caught a disease from drinking it. From now on I will stick to relying on my ring to provide for me. Towards evening we noticed some savage looking carnivores ripping at the corpse of the lizard beast we slew yesterday, as well as a gargantuan herbivore with a very long neck that emerged from the sea, and knocked down a tree to eat! I now doubt that we will see much in the way of civilisation in this savage land.
