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Story Hour
Erkonin (Campaign #2) [Session 45: Rajalmin's Agent]
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<blockquote data-quote="prabe" data-source="post: 8132867" data-attributes="member: 7016699"><p>Session 20: Helping A Friend</p><p></p><p>Dramatis Personae:</p><p>Aldalómiel - Wood Elf Ranger (Hunter Conclave)</p><p>Elama “Lamie” Galanodel- Wood Elf Cleric (Tempest)</p><p>Vinya Anar - Wood Elf Monk (Way of the Sun Soul)</p><p>Elderon - High Elf Wizard (Loremaster)</p><p>Marxine Deepfoot - Dwarf Fighter (Champion)</p><p></p><p>GM - Everyone Else</p><p></p><p>(Note: This session was held on Discord.)</p><p></p><p></p><p>15 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 76) (immediately after)</p><p></p><p>As we walked along, we talked about maybe trying to meet up with the Walking Man, Falaggo, again and possibly see about getting a short-cut to Torm Brinnom. The timing was right, the full moon would be the next night, but unfortunately we hadn’t seen a single side road the whole way.</p><p></p><p>So we weren’t going to be able to be at a crossroads on the full moon.</p><p></p><p>We kept our eyes open though, and the day passed without incident.</p><p></p><p>We made camp and the night passed without incident as well.</p><p></p><p></p><p>16 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 77)</p><p></p><p>We headed out in the morning. After a few hours of travel, as we went up toward a mountain pass, we saw ahead of us, crossing the road, a large wagon with a yoke that looked as though it was over the shoulders of a pair of oxen (as far as being at the right height) but there were no animals in the yoke. There were five human-sized figures with black-feathered wings walking around the cart, one where the heads of the oxen would be and the others around the wagon itself. They were traveling off-road and heading generally northward.</p><p></p><p>On the cart there was something large that was bundled up with tarps and tied down with ropes. It was shifting and stirring slightly. Elderron spotted a silvery-blueish flash as the shape under the tarps shifted around.</p><p></p><p>Vinya, when Elderron said that: They haven’t caught our dragon friend, have they?</p><p>Elderron: We need to talk to them.</p><p>Elama: Hello!! Travellers!!!</p><p></p><p>They turned toward us. We could see that their faces were gaunt to the point of skeletal. One of them straightened and stepped toward us.</p><p></p><p>Winged humanoid: Good noontide, travelers.</p><p>Elama: Where are you going? We are on the way to Torm Brinnom.</p><p>Winged humanoid: We are on our way to the north. We are taking this <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />:gestures to the large wrapped shape on the wagon:<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> to our lady.</p><p>Elderron: Who is your lady?</p><p>Winged humanoid: We serve Vortana Verdi. We are returning this to her.</p><p></p><p>Elderron recognized this as the name of a Fey Noble, and whispered this to us.</p><p></p><p>Elderron: What are you transporting? It must be of great importance.</p><p>Winged humanoid: She has not told us why she wants it. We believe she is endeavoring to make a point.</p><p></p><p>Most of the party was trying to see what was under the tarp during this conversation. Marxine, on the other hand, was checking them out to see how they were armed and what their fighting capability was. She didn’t see any weapons, but they did have long claws and obviously sharp teeth.</p><p></p><p>Vinya, having not seen anything but with some strong suspicions: We hope you have safe travels. We’ve been meeting some very interesting people in these mountains - a blue skinned guy who wanted to make a deal, a stone giant, and a really nice Silver Dragon named TULTORLA WHO WE SAID WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP.</p><p></p><p>She was shouting the last part loud enough to be heard by whatever was under the tarp. As she shouted those last words, the figure under the tarp stirred feebly. At the same moment, the winged figures leapt into the air.</p><p></p><p>Vinya: And we’re off…</p><p></p><p>Mr. Stonebright slid off the cart on the side away from the attackers and hid underneath it, as we’d been teaching him.</p><p></p><p>Aldalomiel took two shots with her longbow, hitting the one we’d been talking to twice despite the great distance (almost 200 feet) to the things. Vinya shot the same one with her shortbow, and got one hit, then moved forward 35 feet.</p><p></p><p>One of them moved and dashed and flew right into Vinya’s face, but wasn’t able to attack her after moving so far. The others moved up to where they were 100 feet away, spread out into two groups of two on either side of us. Then they pulled feathers out of their wings and threw them at Vinya. Fortunately all of them missed, though one was close.</p><p></p><p>Marxine moved up to the one on the ground and attacked it, getting one good solid hit. Elama moved up near Vinya and cast call lightning. She hit the wounded one with a lightning bolt. Elderron cast a fireball that got two that had not been hurt at all -- they weren’t killed, but large chunks of them almost sublimated, vaporizing away.</p><p></p><p>Aldalomiel again got two hits with her arrows.</p><p></p><p>Vinya suffered from ill-effects because of being so close to one of them, but she was still able to hit the one on the ground in front of her with her quarter-staff twice and then with her unarmed strike.</p><p></p><p>That one then turned around and bit her, then clawed at her with razor-sharp talons. The damage from the actual claws and teeth wasn’t so bad, but there was a lot of necrosis and withering that went along with it and Vinya was immediately dropped.</p><p></p><p>Marxine was hit by one of the feather-darts thrown by the ones in the air and found herself becoming exhausted. Despite that she attacked the one that had taken Vinya out, hitting it once. She got a second wind, but didn’t get any additional hits.</p><p></p><p>Elama healed Vinya and then dropped the one that Aldalomiel and Vinya had initially hit (one of the ones in the air) with lightning from the Call Lightning. Elderron followed that up with a lightning bolt, though he changed the damage to fire damage because Loremasters are awesome that way. Unfortunately he was only able to hit one that was previously uninjured, but it took lots of damage from the fire. Aldalomiel took a couple of shots at the most injured one, but it did not drop.</p><p></p><p>Vinya stood up, then hit the one that had dropped her twice with her quarterstaff. Then she did some patient defense, in hopes of not dropping again.</p><p></p><p>One of the ones in the air broke away from the others and landed in front of Elderron, attacking with claws and teeth, and the other two threw feathers at him. Elderron was able to use his shield spell to keep the attacks from hitting him. The one on the ground attacked Marxine and missed.</p><p></p><p>Marxine hit the one that she and Vinya were on twice, doing a lot of damage. Elama cast a spiritual weapon on the one that was attacking Elderron, then she called lightning on the most hurt of them -- which was left very wobbly shading to barely not dead. Elderron used misty step to move 30 feet away from the one one the ground then he firebolted it for 10 points of damage. There was a terrible shriek from it, but it didn’t die. Aldalomiel put her hunters mark on the one on Marxine and Vinya and dropped it with a well-placed arrow. Then she turned and fired at the one Elderron had just shot with his firebolt and dropped it too.</p><p></p><p>Vinya, seeing that she had no immediate opponent and figuring that the others had things in hand, ran as fast as she possibly could toward the wagon, getting well more than half the way there.</p><p></p><p>The two creatures in the air threw feathers at Elderron, hitting him for quite a lot of damage and a level of exhaustion.</p><p></p><p>In return, Marxine threw her handaxes at the most damaged of those two, dropping it with her first axe. It fell out of the air in a spiral. When it hit the ground it shattered into a cloud of sleet and ice. She threw her second axe at the other one in the air but missed. Elama hit the last remaining one with a lightning bolt from her spell, but it didn’t drop. Elderron followed that up with a magic missile spell, altered to do fire damage, that it didn’t like at all, but it didn’t drop. Aldalomiel moved her hunter’s mark and shot at it twice, finally dropping it.</p><p></p><p>Vinya got to the cart and pulled the tarps and bindings off of Tultorla. She was bedraggled and exhausted near to death. Vinya removed the ropes that were holding her down.</p><p></p><p>Tultorla: The Tundra Queen sent them. She has a hate on for my grandmother for some reason.</p><p></p><p>The others came close, after helping Mr. Stonebright out from under our wagon.</p><p></p><p>Elama stayed with Tultorla while Vinya went to check out the oxen. She offered a treat (or as close as she could come, which was crushed hardtack) to one of them, holding it on her hand in about the location where an ox’s head would be, but there was no reaction. Elderron came over and after a bit of observation realized that the oxen were something like the effect of a Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound spell, but created by the yoke. They have no independent action, but will follow someone who leads them.</p><p></p><p>The yoke and the cart were both of obviously fey design and decoration.</p><p></p><p>We took a short rest while we discussed how to proceed.</p><p></p><p>We decided that we’d take the fey cart with the magical yoke with us and Tultorla could just ride on it and stay with us until she was feeling better. We used the tarps to disguise the cart a bit, though we realized with a bit of dismay that it wouldn’t stop someone who knew the cart from scrying on us.</p><p></p><p>After our short rest we continued on our way along the road, and the day passed without incident. We made camp that night, but without a tiny hut, since Tultorla wouldn’t be able to stay in it with us.</p><p></p><p>The night passed without incident.</p><p></p><p></p><p>17 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 78)</p><p></p><p>The next morning, before we left, Elderron examined the fey cart and the yoke. It appeared that the yoke was activated by connecting it to a hitch. We decided that, despite our concerns about scrying, we’d continue with the fey cart and the phantom oxen at least until we got to Torm Brinnom.</p><p></p><p>As we travelled, we noticed that Tultorla was perking up some, though she still didn’t feel great.</p><p></p><p>The day passed without incident. Despite not having a tiny hut again, the night did as well.</p><p></p><p></p><p>18 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 79)</p><p></p><p>In the morning, as we were waking up, Tultorla informed us calmly that there were stone giants around, just shadowing us.</p><p></p><p>Vinya: I wonder why? We’re doing what they want and continuing on our way out of their territory.</p><p>Tultorla: Some dragons and some giants still have bad feelings toward one another even these thousands of years after the war.</p><p></p><p>We continued to break camp. Just as we were getting about to head out, Elama used thaumaturgy to make her voice very loud.</p><p></p><p>Elama: Good morning, Mr. Giant!</p><p></p><p>There was no response and we headed out onto the road. Between the dragon we were traveling with and the giant or giants shadowing us, the day was eerily still and quiet.</p><p></p><p>We made camp and the night also passed completely without incident.</p><p></p><p></p><p>19 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 80)</p><p></p><p>The next morning, as we broke camp, we talked about the fact that we had 10 days to get out of the giants’ territory. Tultorla, who was feeling still better, flew and looked around as eyes in the sky getting an aerial view of the surrounding area.</p><p></p><p>She landed back on the cart and told us that she’d spotted a shorter route to a tunnel, but it might not be the same one Mr. Stonebright was planning on using.</p><p></p><p>Vinya, to Mr. Stonebright: Would that be okay with you?</p><p>Stonebright, after consulting his map: Yes. I can work with that.</p><p></p><p>Tultorla’s route involved going off-road. We checked to make sure that both of the carts were equipped with sled-runners if we needed them. Both were, so we felt good about going this new way.</p><p></p><p>We headed off in that direction and had no problems with the wagons off road. Tultorla occasionally flew up for a moment or two to help us scout out the best routes. She was also feeling enough better that she walked with us, rather than riding in the cart, to make it easier for traveling off road.</p><p></p><p>The day and the night passed quietly.</p><p></p><p></p><p>20 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 81)</p><p></p><p>When we woke and made breakfast the next morning, a couple of stone giants came to the edge of our campsite.</p><p></p><p>They said something and none of us could understand. So Elama cast tongues, then spoke to them, inviting them to repeat what they’d said.</p><p></p><p>Stone Giant: Are you lost?</p><p>Elama: We are heading toward a shorter route to get out of your territory sooner.</p><p></p><p>Mr. Stonebright offered to show them a map, but they clearly didn’t understand the concept of maps.</p><p></p><p>Giant: So long as That One <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />:gesturing at Tultorla:<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> is with you, we are concerned.</p><p>Elama: She’s the one who told us about this shortcut.</p><p>Giant: We do not trust That One or those who befriend it.</p><p>Elama: She’s cool. You’re cool. Why can’t everyone get along? What do you fear is going to happen?</p><p>Giant: We are not happy about it walking on top of our mountains.</p><p>Elama: Yeah, but that was a long time ago.</p><p>Elderron: We understand the old scars.</p><p>Giant: We hope you are not being led wrong.</p><p></p><p>We told him where Tultorla was taking us. He did know the way and he agreed that it would get us to Torm Brinnom, if Mr. Stonebright can open the way. He said that he could.</p><p></p><p>We headed out on our way, with Tultorla walking along with us. She was feeling much better.</p><p></p><p>Tultorla: My grandmother said that adventurers were the best investment she could make.</p><p>Elama: You’re going to stay with us for the rest of the trip right? I like talking with you.</p><p>Tultorla: I’ll stay with you until the tunnel to Torm Brinnom. I could be less conspicuous if I were older.</p><p>Elama: How?</p><p>Tultorla: If I were older I could look like a humanoid.</p><p>Elama: Why would you?! You look awesome!</p><p>Tultorla: It’s easier to spend time with humans and other humanoids in their form. There’s less gushing over how awesome we are.</p><p></p><p>We continued to proceed. After a while, we noticed that we weren’t being shadowed by the Stone Giants anymore.</p><p></p><p>Despite their absence, the day and the night passed.</p><p></p><p></p><p>21 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 82)</p><p></p><p>The day was a little colder than it had been in previous days. Tultorla used some dragon paper she retrieved from somewhere and sent a letter to her grandmother to let her know about the winged-things sent to capture her and also about how helpful we had been to her. She got all of our names to include in the letter to her grandmother. And, she said, she’d be able to send us messages with dragon paper with our names.</p><p></p><p>The day passed without incident until shortly before sunset. At that point, Tultorla showed us a cliff-face with the shape of a stone arch carved into it. (Like a bas-relief of a masonry arch.)</p><p></p><p>We said goodbye to Tultorla.</p><p></p><p>Vinya: Be careful and watch out for those things. And other agents of the Tundra Queen. And call on us if you need us.</p><p>Tultorla: I know how they work now and how to stay safe. I will contact you again someday, I’m sure.</p><p></p><p>With that she flew away.</p><p></p><p>After she had left, Mr. Stonebright took something that looked like a cameo, only the image was of a stronghold, out of his pocket. He used that to tap on some of the carved “stones” in the arch. After a minute there was a gust of wind and the inside of the arch opened to a wide valley. On the other side of the valley, there was a large mountain with a horizontal slit carved into it.</p><p></p><p>We goggled at this.</p><p></p><p>Mr. Stonebright: This is old, old magic.</p><p></p><p>We walked through the arch, stepping through it to the other side of the mountain.</p><p></p><p>Vinya, looking ahead: How did they do that to the mountain?</p><p>Stonebright: Dwarves can be very persistent.</p><p></p><p>We made camp not far from where we stepped out onto the road on the other side.</p><p></p><p>The night passed.</p><p></p><p></p><p>22 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 83)</p><p></p><p>The next morning dawned a little warmer and drizzly. We headed out. After a couple of hours, six dwarves on stout ponies came by. Five of them pulled out crossbows as they approached, but didn’t point them right at us.</p><p></p><p>Marxine tried to shove Mr. Stonebright down into the cart, but he resisted her.</p><p></p><p>Stonebright: If I’m hiding, it will be worse.</p><p></p><p>They came closer, with their crossbows pointing down, clearly not expecting trouble.</p><p></p><p>Dwarf: Good morning.</p><p>Elama: Hello!</p><p>Dwarf: It’s been a while since we’ve had an elf, let alone <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />:he made a show of counting:<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> four of them. Why are you here?</p><p>Elama: We’re escorting someone here.</p><p>Dwarf, studying the fey cart: That’s an interesting cart.</p><p>Vinya: Some fey creatures with wings attacked a friend of ours. We rescued her from them and got this wagon in the process. We’re thinking of selling it.</p><p></p><p>He proceeded to talk us more or less out of selling the cart.</p><p></p><p>Dwarf, looking at Stonebright: He must be the one that hired you?</p><p>Vinya: Yeah.</p><p>Dwarf, to Stonebright: Welcome back. Glad you enjoyed your trip.</p><p></p><p>They rode off and we headed on our way. After they were out of sight Vinya turned to Mr. Stonebright.</p><p></p><p>Vinya: What did they mean by you enjoying your trip?</p><p>Stonebright, after a moment’s thought: I don’t think they meant anything.</p><p></p><p>Okay.</p><p></p><p>We continued on our way through the valley, making camp at sunset. Mr. Stonebright told us he thought we’d get there mid-day the next day.</p><p></p><p>Vinya asked him what we should expect when we arrive. He said that he would most likely not be arrested immediately. At most the guards will escort him to his clanhold. His family will be expected to produce him for trial.</p><p></p><p>Vinya: How long until the trial, do you think?</p><p>Stonebright: Probably not long, since the elders and chiefs of the other clans really want the feuding to stop.</p><p>Vinya: How will the trial work?</p><p>Stonebright: I hope some people in my clan will argue for me. I’m not good at that.</p><p>Vinya: How can we help you?</p><p>Stonebright: I’m probably not going to be allowed to leave my clanhold, so I don’t know how I’m going to be able to talk to people and find witnesses.</p><p></p><p>We offered our assistance with that. And with arguing in court if necessary.</p><p></p><p></p><p>23 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 84)</p><p></p><p>As we got closer to Torm Brinnom, we noticed that the slit in the mountain was about 50 feet tall. The road led up the mountain toward a gate that looked like they knocked a section out of the bottom of the slot -- the gate was 75 feet tall and the top of it was more or less level with the bottom of the open slit in the mountain.</p><p></p><p>We also noticed that there were more and more dwarves on the road as we approached the city gate.</p><p></p><p>As we entered through the gate, the guards stopped us. Mr. Stonebright gave his name. They clearly knew his name and who he was, but there was no move to arrest him at all.</p><p></p><p>Guard: Mr. Stonebright, go on through.</p><p></p><p>We went on through. The road was in a deep canyon-like slot that was 20 feet below the level of the floor of the hold. Over the course of a quarter of a mile, the trench rose up until it was at the level of the floor and it went out into a large largely open area with a lot of smaller buildings in it. There was also one larger building, about the size of the Fireruby compound in Lonoj. Beyond this open area were 10 large clanholds. Each of them was many stories tall and Mr. Stonebright told us that they also continued underground. The compound in the common area was where the hill dwarves live.</p><p></p><p>The 10 clanholds were arranged in a kind of arch around the open, common area. Stonebright lead us to the third one from the left, taking us right to the gate.</p><p></p><p>At the gate, he spoke to the dwarves on guard.</p><p></p><p>Mr. Stonebright: I’m Ullard Stonebright. I would ask that my companions be admitted as my guests.</p><p></p><p>The guards asked us to wait and some of them disappeared. After a while they returned with a matron who said that Ullard Stonebright would be allowed to have guests. However he would not be allowed to leave the compound.</p><p></p><p>At that the gates to the Stonebright clanhold opened in front of us and we rode in on our carts.</p><p></p><p>Once we were inside the compound, we had a bit of a drive to the house.</p><p></p><p>Vinya: Who can we talk to to help you? Your mother? Your father? I don’t know how this dwarf stuff works.</p><p>Ullard Stonebright: Tanlot is our Elder. I will ask if you can talk to her. I don’t know who would be in town now.</p><p></p><p>We went inside and were greeted by an elderly dwarven woman. She greeted Stonebright a bit tensely, but it was not cold or unfriendly. She told us that we’d be able to come and go as we pleased, but that Ullard would be expected to remain in the clanhold. He has already fled once.</p><p></p><p>The dwarven lady, and a couple of other dwarves who showed up, began to talk to Marxine about where she was from (Torm Halstraf) and her clan, the Deepfoots. As have other dwarves we’ve met, they recognized that stronghold life is not for everyone. They were also horrified that as a miner, she was not treated well by her employers. They clearly felt that it reflected poorly on her employers and not at all poorly on Marxine. Eventually, after a bit of discussion, they realized that they knew some of Marxine’s people in Torm Halstraf.</p><p></p><p>Once they had sorted out that connection to her and her people, they were more welcoming to the five of us.</p><p></p><p>And there we ended.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="prabe, post: 8132867, member: 7016699"] Session 20: Helping A Friend Dramatis Personae: Aldalómiel - Wood Elf Ranger (Hunter Conclave) Elama “Lamie” Galanodel- Wood Elf Cleric (Tempest) Vinya Anar - Wood Elf Monk (Way of the Sun Soul) Elderon - High Elf Wizard (Loremaster) Marxine Deepfoot - Dwarf Fighter (Champion) GM - Everyone Else (Note: This session was held on Discord.) 15 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 76) (immediately after) As we walked along, we talked about maybe trying to meet up with the Walking Man, Falaggo, again and possibly see about getting a short-cut to Torm Brinnom. The timing was right, the full moon would be the next night, but unfortunately we hadn’t seen a single side road the whole way. So we weren’t going to be able to be at a crossroads on the full moon. We kept our eyes open though, and the day passed without incident. We made camp and the night passed without incident as well. 16 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 77) We headed out in the morning. After a few hours of travel, as we went up toward a mountain pass, we saw ahead of us, crossing the road, a large wagon with a yoke that looked as though it was over the shoulders of a pair of oxen (as far as being at the right height) but there were no animals in the yoke. There were five human-sized figures with black-feathered wings walking around the cart, one where the heads of the oxen would be and the others around the wagon itself. They were traveling off-road and heading generally northward. On the cart there was something large that was bundled up with tarps and tied down with ropes. It was shifting and stirring slightly. Elderron spotted a silvery-blueish flash as the shape under the tarps shifted around. Vinya, when Elderron said that: They haven’t caught our dragon friend, have they? Elderron: We need to talk to them. Elama: Hello!! Travellers!!! They turned toward us. We could see that their faces were gaunt to the point of skeletal. One of them straightened and stepped toward us. Winged humanoid: Good noontide, travelers. Elama: Where are you going? We are on the way to Torm Brinnom. Winged humanoid: We are on our way to the north. We are taking this (::gestures to the large wrapped shape on the wagon::) to our lady. Elderron: Who is your lady? Winged humanoid: We serve Vortana Verdi. We are returning this to her. Elderron recognized this as the name of a Fey Noble, and whispered this to us. Elderron: What are you transporting? It must be of great importance. Winged humanoid: She has not told us why she wants it. We believe she is endeavoring to make a point. Most of the party was trying to see what was under the tarp during this conversation. Marxine, on the other hand, was checking them out to see how they were armed and what their fighting capability was. She didn’t see any weapons, but they did have long claws and obviously sharp teeth. Vinya, having not seen anything but with some strong suspicions: We hope you have safe travels. We’ve been meeting some very interesting people in these mountains - a blue skinned guy who wanted to make a deal, a stone giant, and a really nice Silver Dragon named TULTORLA WHO WE SAID WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP. She was shouting the last part loud enough to be heard by whatever was under the tarp. As she shouted those last words, the figure under the tarp stirred feebly. At the same moment, the winged figures leapt into the air. Vinya: And we’re off… Mr. Stonebright slid off the cart on the side away from the attackers and hid underneath it, as we’d been teaching him. Aldalomiel took two shots with her longbow, hitting the one we’d been talking to twice despite the great distance (almost 200 feet) to the things. Vinya shot the same one with her shortbow, and got one hit, then moved forward 35 feet. One of them moved and dashed and flew right into Vinya’s face, but wasn’t able to attack her after moving so far. The others moved up to where they were 100 feet away, spread out into two groups of two on either side of us. Then they pulled feathers out of their wings and threw them at Vinya. Fortunately all of them missed, though one was close. Marxine moved up to the one on the ground and attacked it, getting one good solid hit. Elama moved up near Vinya and cast call lightning. She hit the wounded one with a lightning bolt. Elderron cast a fireball that got two that had not been hurt at all -- they weren’t killed, but large chunks of them almost sublimated, vaporizing away. Aldalomiel again got two hits with her arrows. Vinya suffered from ill-effects because of being so close to one of them, but she was still able to hit the one on the ground in front of her with her quarter-staff twice and then with her unarmed strike. That one then turned around and bit her, then clawed at her with razor-sharp talons. The damage from the actual claws and teeth wasn’t so bad, but there was a lot of necrosis and withering that went along with it and Vinya was immediately dropped. Marxine was hit by one of the feather-darts thrown by the ones in the air and found herself becoming exhausted. Despite that she attacked the one that had taken Vinya out, hitting it once. She got a second wind, but didn’t get any additional hits. Elama healed Vinya and then dropped the one that Aldalomiel and Vinya had initially hit (one of the ones in the air) with lightning from the Call Lightning. Elderron followed that up with a lightning bolt, though he changed the damage to fire damage because Loremasters are awesome that way. Unfortunately he was only able to hit one that was previously uninjured, but it took lots of damage from the fire. Aldalomiel took a couple of shots at the most injured one, but it did not drop. Vinya stood up, then hit the one that had dropped her twice with her quarterstaff. Then she did some patient defense, in hopes of not dropping again. One of the ones in the air broke away from the others and landed in front of Elderron, attacking with claws and teeth, and the other two threw feathers at him. Elderron was able to use his shield spell to keep the attacks from hitting him. The one on the ground attacked Marxine and missed. Marxine hit the one that she and Vinya were on twice, doing a lot of damage. Elama cast a spiritual weapon on the one that was attacking Elderron, then she called lightning on the most hurt of them -- which was left very wobbly shading to barely not dead. Elderron used misty step to move 30 feet away from the one one the ground then he firebolted it for 10 points of damage. There was a terrible shriek from it, but it didn’t die. Aldalomiel put her hunters mark on the one on Marxine and Vinya and dropped it with a well-placed arrow. Then she turned and fired at the one Elderron had just shot with his firebolt and dropped it too. Vinya, seeing that she had no immediate opponent and figuring that the others had things in hand, ran as fast as she possibly could toward the wagon, getting well more than half the way there. The two creatures in the air threw feathers at Elderron, hitting him for quite a lot of damage and a level of exhaustion. In return, Marxine threw her handaxes at the most damaged of those two, dropping it with her first axe. It fell out of the air in a spiral. When it hit the ground it shattered into a cloud of sleet and ice. She threw her second axe at the other one in the air but missed. Elama hit the last remaining one with a lightning bolt from her spell, but it didn’t drop. Elderron followed that up with a magic missile spell, altered to do fire damage, that it didn’t like at all, but it didn’t drop. Aldalomiel moved her hunter’s mark and shot at it twice, finally dropping it. Vinya got to the cart and pulled the tarps and bindings off of Tultorla. She was bedraggled and exhausted near to death. Vinya removed the ropes that were holding her down. Tultorla: The Tundra Queen sent them. She has a hate on for my grandmother for some reason. The others came close, after helping Mr. Stonebright out from under our wagon. Elama stayed with Tultorla while Vinya went to check out the oxen. She offered a treat (or as close as she could come, which was crushed hardtack) to one of them, holding it on her hand in about the location where an ox’s head would be, but there was no reaction. Elderron came over and after a bit of observation realized that the oxen were something like the effect of a Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound spell, but created by the yoke. They have no independent action, but will follow someone who leads them. The yoke and the cart were both of obviously fey design and decoration. We took a short rest while we discussed how to proceed. We decided that we’d take the fey cart with the magical yoke with us and Tultorla could just ride on it and stay with us until she was feeling better. We used the tarps to disguise the cart a bit, though we realized with a bit of dismay that it wouldn’t stop someone who knew the cart from scrying on us. After our short rest we continued on our way along the road, and the day passed without incident. We made camp that night, but without a tiny hut, since Tultorla wouldn’t be able to stay in it with us. The night passed without incident. 17 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 78) The next morning, before we left, Elderron examined the fey cart and the yoke. It appeared that the yoke was activated by connecting it to a hitch. We decided that, despite our concerns about scrying, we’d continue with the fey cart and the phantom oxen at least until we got to Torm Brinnom. As we travelled, we noticed that Tultorla was perking up some, though she still didn’t feel great. The day passed without incident. Despite not having a tiny hut again, the night did as well. 18 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 79) In the morning, as we were waking up, Tultorla informed us calmly that there were stone giants around, just shadowing us. Vinya: I wonder why? We’re doing what they want and continuing on our way out of their territory. Tultorla: Some dragons and some giants still have bad feelings toward one another even these thousands of years after the war. We continued to break camp. Just as we were getting about to head out, Elama used thaumaturgy to make her voice very loud. Elama: Good morning, Mr. Giant! There was no response and we headed out onto the road. Between the dragon we were traveling with and the giant or giants shadowing us, the day was eerily still and quiet. We made camp and the night also passed completely without incident. 19 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 80) The next morning, as we broke camp, we talked about the fact that we had 10 days to get out of the giants’ territory. Tultorla, who was feeling still better, flew and looked around as eyes in the sky getting an aerial view of the surrounding area. She landed back on the cart and told us that she’d spotted a shorter route to a tunnel, but it might not be the same one Mr. Stonebright was planning on using. Vinya, to Mr. Stonebright: Would that be okay with you? Stonebright, after consulting his map: Yes. I can work with that. Tultorla’s route involved going off-road. We checked to make sure that both of the carts were equipped with sled-runners if we needed them. Both were, so we felt good about going this new way. We headed off in that direction and had no problems with the wagons off road. Tultorla occasionally flew up for a moment or two to help us scout out the best routes. She was also feeling enough better that she walked with us, rather than riding in the cart, to make it easier for traveling off road. The day and the night passed quietly. 20 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 81) When we woke and made breakfast the next morning, a couple of stone giants came to the edge of our campsite. They said something and none of us could understand. So Elama cast tongues, then spoke to them, inviting them to repeat what they’d said. Stone Giant: Are you lost? Elama: We are heading toward a shorter route to get out of your territory sooner. Mr. Stonebright offered to show them a map, but they clearly didn’t understand the concept of maps. Giant: So long as That One (::gesturing at Tultorla::) is with you, we are concerned. Elama: She’s the one who told us about this shortcut. Giant: We do not trust That One or those who befriend it. Elama: She’s cool. You’re cool. Why can’t everyone get along? What do you fear is going to happen? Giant: We are not happy about it walking on top of our mountains. Elama: Yeah, but that was a long time ago. Elderron: We understand the old scars. Giant: We hope you are not being led wrong. We told him where Tultorla was taking us. He did know the way and he agreed that it would get us to Torm Brinnom, if Mr. Stonebright can open the way. He said that he could. We headed out on our way, with Tultorla walking along with us. She was feeling much better. Tultorla: My grandmother said that adventurers were the best investment she could make. Elama: You’re going to stay with us for the rest of the trip right? I like talking with you. Tultorla: I’ll stay with you until the tunnel to Torm Brinnom. I could be less conspicuous if I were older. Elama: How? Tultorla: If I were older I could look like a humanoid. Elama: Why would you?! You look awesome! Tultorla: It’s easier to spend time with humans and other humanoids in their form. There’s less gushing over how awesome we are. We continued to proceed. After a while, we noticed that we weren’t being shadowed by the Stone Giants anymore. Despite their absence, the day and the night passed. 21 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 82) The day was a little colder than it had been in previous days. Tultorla used some dragon paper she retrieved from somewhere and sent a letter to her grandmother to let her know about the winged-things sent to capture her and also about how helpful we had been to her. She got all of our names to include in the letter to her grandmother. And, she said, she’d be able to send us messages with dragon paper with our names. The day passed without incident until shortly before sunset. At that point, Tultorla showed us a cliff-face with the shape of a stone arch carved into it. (Like a bas-relief of a masonry arch.) We said goodbye to Tultorla. Vinya: Be careful and watch out for those things. And other agents of the Tundra Queen. And call on us if you need us. Tultorla: I know how they work now and how to stay safe. I will contact you again someday, I’m sure. With that she flew away. After she had left, Mr. Stonebright took something that looked like a cameo, only the image was of a stronghold, out of his pocket. He used that to tap on some of the carved “stones” in the arch. After a minute there was a gust of wind and the inside of the arch opened to a wide valley. On the other side of the valley, there was a large mountain with a horizontal slit carved into it. We goggled at this. Mr. Stonebright: This is old, old magic. We walked through the arch, stepping through it to the other side of the mountain. Vinya, looking ahead: How did they do that to the mountain? Stonebright: Dwarves can be very persistent. We made camp not far from where we stepped out onto the road on the other side. The night passed. 22 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 83) The next morning dawned a little warmer and drizzly. We headed out. After a couple of hours, six dwarves on stout ponies came by. Five of them pulled out crossbows as they approached, but didn’t point them right at us. Marxine tried to shove Mr. Stonebright down into the cart, but he resisted her. Stonebright: If I’m hiding, it will be worse. They came closer, with their crossbows pointing down, clearly not expecting trouble. Dwarf: Good morning. Elama: Hello! Dwarf: It’s been a while since we’ve had an elf, let alone (::he made a show of counting::) four of them. Why are you here? Elama: We’re escorting someone here. Dwarf, studying the fey cart: That’s an interesting cart. Vinya: Some fey creatures with wings attacked a friend of ours. We rescued her from them and got this wagon in the process. We’re thinking of selling it. He proceeded to talk us more or less out of selling the cart. Dwarf, looking at Stonebright: He must be the one that hired you? Vinya: Yeah. Dwarf, to Stonebright: Welcome back. Glad you enjoyed your trip. They rode off and we headed on our way. After they were out of sight Vinya turned to Mr. Stonebright. Vinya: What did they mean by you enjoying your trip? Stonebright, after a moment’s thought: I don’t think they meant anything. Okay. We continued on our way through the valley, making camp at sunset. Mr. Stonebright told us he thought we’d get there mid-day the next day. Vinya asked him what we should expect when we arrive. He said that he would most likely not be arrested immediately. At most the guards will escort him to his clanhold. His family will be expected to produce him for trial. Vinya: How long until the trial, do you think? Stonebright: Probably not long, since the elders and chiefs of the other clans really want the feuding to stop. Vinya: How will the trial work? Stonebright: I hope some people in my clan will argue for me. I’m not good at that. Vinya: How can we help you? Stonebright: I’m probably not going to be allowed to leave my clanhold, so I don’t know how I’m going to be able to talk to people and find witnesses. We offered our assistance with that. And with arguing in court if necessary. 23 Dorrinin 749 (Campaign day 84) As we got closer to Torm Brinnom, we noticed that the slit in the mountain was about 50 feet tall. The road led up the mountain toward a gate that looked like they knocked a section out of the bottom of the slot -- the gate was 75 feet tall and the top of it was more or less level with the bottom of the open slit in the mountain. We also noticed that there were more and more dwarves on the road as we approached the city gate. As we entered through the gate, the guards stopped us. Mr. Stonebright gave his name. They clearly knew his name and who he was, but there was no move to arrest him at all. Guard: Mr. Stonebright, go on through. We went on through. The road was in a deep canyon-like slot that was 20 feet below the level of the floor of the hold. Over the course of a quarter of a mile, the trench rose up until it was at the level of the floor and it went out into a large largely open area with a lot of smaller buildings in it. There was also one larger building, about the size of the Fireruby compound in Lonoj. Beyond this open area were 10 large clanholds. Each of them was many stories tall and Mr. Stonebright told us that they also continued underground. The compound in the common area was where the hill dwarves live. The 10 clanholds were arranged in a kind of arch around the open, common area. Stonebright lead us to the third one from the left, taking us right to the gate. At the gate, he spoke to the dwarves on guard. Mr. Stonebright: I’m Ullard Stonebright. I would ask that my companions be admitted as my guests. The guards asked us to wait and some of them disappeared. After a while they returned with a matron who said that Ullard Stonebright would be allowed to have guests. However he would not be allowed to leave the compound. At that the gates to the Stonebright clanhold opened in front of us and we rode in on our carts. Once we were inside the compound, we had a bit of a drive to the house. Vinya: Who can we talk to to help you? Your mother? Your father? I don’t know how this dwarf stuff works. Ullard Stonebright: Tanlot is our Elder. I will ask if you can talk to her. I don’t know who would be in town now. We went inside and were greeted by an elderly dwarven woman. She greeted Stonebright a bit tensely, but it was not cold or unfriendly. She told us that we’d be able to come and go as we pleased, but that Ullard would be expected to remain in the clanhold. He has already fled once. The dwarven lady, and a couple of other dwarves who showed up, began to talk to Marxine about where she was from (Torm Halstraf) and her clan, the Deepfoots. As have other dwarves we’ve met, they recognized that stronghold life is not for everyone. They were also horrified that as a miner, she was not treated well by her employers. They clearly felt that it reflected poorly on her employers and not at all poorly on Marxine. Eventually, after a bit of discussion, they realized that they knew some of Marxine’s people in Torm Halstraf. Once they had sorted out that connection to her and her people, they were more welcoming to the five of us. And there we ended. [/QUOTE]
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Erkonin (Campaign #2) [Session 45: Rajalmin's Agent]
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