Endur's Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

[Endur]

On the Road Again

The Valiant Adventurers:

PCs
Belaver Thornfoot, male Halfling Druid
Craven Proudheart, male Human Paladin of St. Cuthbert
Kerwin, male Human Suel Spellthief
Lenya, female Human Rhennee Warlock
Lylamwyn Aleandlues, male Gray Elf Wizard
Raner Bluestone, male Dwarf Fighter
Toriah, male Half-Rhennee Half-elf Rogue

NPCs
Chat, male Human Merchant from the Yeomanry
Neshi, Vibrant Green Cobra, 7 feet long, coiled around Belaver like a living shawl
Nierethi Poscurian, male gnome arcane spellcaster
Redithidoor Halfmoon, male Half-Elven Musician and Story Teller


A pack of dogs comes out of a back yard and starts barking at the party and follows the party out of town, yipping and yapping. The dogs do not come within arms reach of the party.

 

[Endur]

After the party reaches the edge of town, the dogs turn back and go home.

The party continues on, walking for hours on the old unused road that leads to the legendary Moathouse, rumored site of ghoulish and ghastly undead.

Shortly before Dawn, the party is walking on the old road alongside a creek.

There is a loud "Kribbit", followed by a flash of something dark going amongst the party, then the gnome Nierthi Poscurian goes flying in the direction where the dark thing came from.

Raner Bluestone, looking amongst the reeds, can see a half-submerged giant sized Frog with a pair of gnomish shoes sticking out of its mouth, about ten feet from where the party is located. Nobody else sees the Frog yet, although they suspect that something is lurking in those reeds.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

"Good heavens! Where did the gnome go?" Craven exclaims, looking about for their gnomish companion. The trek had been somewhat tiring, though no more than a usual guarding job. However, his stomach was in knots from thinking what could be lying ahead. And this surprise... attack or ambush or whatnot was not making him feel any more settled.

 

[Thanee]

Lenya

Lenya had traveled quite far in her young life already and so she was used to a good walk and there was little to complain about. Quite the opposite, the part where they were venturing into now was an area she hasn't visited yet, in fact she hasn't seen much at all of the region around Hommlet apart from her journey southwards from Verbobonc, and so her curious eyes were wandering about the surroundings all the time, trying to make out first signs of the ancient moathouse or other interesting sights. This went on for hours until suddenly...

“Someone... eww... something took Nierethi! Help him!” Lenya yells, while instinctively taking a few steps backwards in case the black tentacle comes lashing forward again, her eyes trying to make out what is lurking in the dark muddy water ahead. For an instant, no longer than the blink of an eye, an eerie green flame was seen around her right hand, but it vanished as fast as it appeared.

 

[Seonaid]

Toriah grimaces and whips out his rapier, turning to face whatever menace they have come across. [Spot +10]

 

[Dalamar]

"And here I thought we had meat shields, not meat rations," Kerwyn says as he raises his crossbow towards where their gnome companion disappeared, ready to shoot if anything else than a gnome shows its face.

 

[Pyrex]

Raner, Ftr1, 15/15hp

(Quick post for now as I'm holding things up. More to come)

"There!" Raner shouts, pointing into the reeds towards the creature; "He's been et by a frog, get 'im before 'e gets away!"

Raner readies his axe and takes a step forward towards the frog, choosing his footing carefully so he doesn't sink into the muck or step off into deeper water.

(With a Swim of -4 he's a bit, shall we say, apprehensive about water deeper than waist deep... )

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

Belaver tries to stay calm, scanning the area where the flash came from while loading a bullet into his sling. Neshi, agitated by the sudden spike in Belaver's pulse as he starts quietly and unobtrusively panicking, slides down his chest and pools around his feet.

 

[Endur]

With Raner's shout about a giant frog, the others realize they can see a pair of large eyes above the dark water not too far from where they are standing.

Round 1
Initiative:
22: Redithidoor Halfmoon begins to sing while taking a few steps to the rear of the party (to avoid getting in the way of the adventurers)
20: Toriah steps down into the ditch, and swings his rapier at the dark shape (die roll 15 +1 str +1 higher ground= 17, would be a hit, except for the 20% concealment check) and misses.
15: Kerwyn draws and loads his light crossbow and aims it at the Frog.
15: Lenya steps backwards and hurls a burst of green flame at the Dark Shape (16 + 3 = 19 hit, concealment does not protect the Frog, Frog rolls an 18 for his will save, Froggy takes 7 points of damage, randomizing damage for Froggy and the Gnome, Froggy took all the damage).
14: Craven looks around and spots the Frog's eyes in the dark, drawing his longbow, he fires an arrow at the Dark Shape, and is nowhere close to hitting the Frog. Die roll 1, miss.
13: Giant Frog swallows his meal and vanishes with a loud splash. Or perhaps two loud splashes. One further in the distance.
12: Lylamwyn draws and loads his crossbow (spot check 8+2=10), but can not see the Frog anymore.
11: Belaver loads his sling and would hurl a rock (spot check 8+3 = 11) if he could see where the Frog went, while Neshi coils around his feet, preparing to defend him.
8: The merchant Chat mutters something about, "Good riddance" while drawing his rapier and stepping forward to the edge of the creek. In a louder voice, "You chased it away. Its hiding in the deepest part of the creek."
5: Raner steps forward and readies his axe at the edge of the creek, but he can't see the Frog. (spot check 11)

Redithidoor's song

"In Darkest Night
Lack of Light
Shall Not Hinder Our Sight
Beware Our Might
Nierethi's Blight
Draws the Fight"

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

*Craven starts for a second, then grabs his longbow. Knocking an arrow to it, he fires at those bright eyes.*

"Don't let it get away, flank it!" he calls.

OOC - Draw bow and fire, +1 to attack, 1d8/x3 dmg.