Lost City of Gaxmoor - The Borderlands Campaign

[Mathew_Freeman]

The Continued Diary of Galak of Girru

It has been some time since I made an entry, and we have been busy.

First, I must speak more of our talks with Ulfius Bloodhammer, leader of the Thrinian Knights. We talked to him about Tarkane, looking for answers to the problems we knew we faced. Ulfius could tell us little however, save that Tarkane was protected at all times by a group of around 20 hardened warriors. Of course, being slightly paranoid as all good leaders are, these warriors are not too powerful. It is not good practice to keep your most powerful followers on guard duty - they tend to get ideas about how they could be running things better...

We have also spoken more with Adam Dickinson. Leo was insistent that we attempt to determine his true morale values, and persuaded me to visit him in Imarr and view him with a true seeing spell. The spell, however, failed to reveal anything, which means that Dickinson is hiding himself magically. I believe that this is entirely sensible on his part, although Leo thinks that he may be hiding something from us.

The group have spent many hours talking and trying to determine what the effects of our sucess may be. Leo is worried about the reaction of the Knights Bloodhammer to us staging a coup in this way, he believe they will run riot through the city. I believe that this may be a necessary evil to remove Tarkane from power, and that Ulfius would be able to keep them in check, but it seems that historically speaking large powerful martial orders do have a history of rampaging in the city when their leader is killed.

Once we decided to enter Imarr, we hit an immediate problem. Although the majority of the group can move around Imarr without worry (Leo is in fact a resident of the city!), Aos and Whist are both wanted by the authorities, and I myself am a leading Cleric of a forbidden religion. Leo advised me that I could go into Imarr so long as my holy symbol was covered and I kept myself quiet. I am reluctant to hide my faith, but it is a fool who starts trouble for no reason. Myself and Leo retured to Dickinson to ask him if he could get Aos into the city without being detected by the guards. He referred us to the Barge people who populate the sewers of Imarr, and summoned their leader to speak with us. We arranged payment and details, and were told that Aos would be safely within the city in two days.

The rest of the group took the delay to find time to look around Imarr. Most of us had not been there before. Xyzzy and Leo went to the Tower of the White Way, speaking to Dovestar the head wizard and enjoying looking through the extensive library. Thana and Celia went shopping, Lilliana simply stayed in an inn and I myself did something that surprised even me...

I went to the main shrine of Thrin in Imarr, and spoke to a young cleric there, asking to see the High Priest. Once shown in (and spotting a well armed lady lounging in a chair), I told him who I was. I should be clear here, announcing myself as a cleric of Girru in Imarr is very dangerous. Girru worship is utterly banned in Imarr, at the command of Tarkane. However, I believe that the church of Thrin and the church of Girru should be allies, regardless of history and details of dogma, and I trusted his sense of Good to win out over his Law. We spoke of possible alliances, aid and the future of both churches in Imarr. He is a good man, and I believe strongly that he will not speak of my name to the authorities. I was somewhat surprised to learn that the High Priest had heard of my exploits in Gaxmoor, but also somewhat flattered. Apparently, I am now considered amongst the lower echelons of the powerful in these parts. I explained that my situation prevented me from speaking on behalf of the Church of Girru, but that did not stop me speaking on behalf of the Faith. I could make no firm deals, but I believe that my actions will have postive reverberations in the future.

I left the Temple, leaving a donation in the collection box. It can never hurt to be good to one's potential allies.

I stayed that night in a more wealthy inn, near to Dickinsons house. It felt good to stay in a comfortable bed, rather than the less well furnished quarters I have been staying in recently. Thana ended up in the same Inn, by chance, and we talked of nothing for an hour or so before retiring to our seperate rooms.

The next morning, I went to Dickinson's house at the appointed time to meet the others. Myself and Thana arrived first, and then everyone except Aos arrived shortly after. Aos made a suitably dramatic entrance, announcing that the Barge people had left him near the docks, and that he'd killed a man that was spying on the house. Worrying news, although the fact that Dickinson was being spied upon was not great surprise, as Leo pointed out.

We made our way into the sewers, meeting the Barge people again. They told us the location of the secret tunnel that we intended to use to get into the Imperial Palace, and also mentioned that it was in the domain of another underground gang. They took us to the border, and wished us well, before punting away into the darkness.

Another update shall follow shortly.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Diary of Galak - part 2

Having made our way into the territory of this other gang, we proceeded with caution. Leo used his new permanent darkvision to keep an eye out for us, whilst Aos and myself punted the boat forwards.

Xyzzy suddenly cried out, and we heard the sound of objects striking both him and the boat! Xyzzy called out that it was slingshot hitting him, and the party went into swift action.

I myself called upon my faith to make my shield shine like daylight, illuminating the room. We realised we under attack my wererats, foul lycanthropic creatures, and with a combination of spells, swords, arrows and faith we set about them! They were attacking us on both sides, staying hidden in the darkness where they could. Xyzzy blasted one side with a cone of cold, but the rats evaded it, causing him to curse. Thana then showed her skill, rapidly shooting magically enhanced arrows at our foes, hurting them badly. The fight didn't last long once Leo put a wind wall across the room, preventing the rats from attacking by slingshot from that side. Thana continued to shoot the other rats, whilst Celia leapt from the barge to engage them in hand to hand. I found myself face to face with one that had boarded us, but managed to knock it back into the water, from where it did not reappear.

With Aos and Celia striking them down in hand to hand combat, and Thana destroying them with arrows, not to mention Leo confusing some of the others, the battle was quickly won. We left the bodies and the barge behind and continued on foot.

Leo used his polymorph self spell to scout ahead in the form of a rat, hiding in the water. The passage turned right up ahead, and then lead to a large room filled with stench and slime. Leo believed there to be some sort of creature hiding there, and we began to plan how to deal with it. Leo volunteered to keep watch behind us, a plan that nearly cost him dearly!

He, Tarquin and Celia were waiting behind us, when Leo was struck by two crossbow bolts and 10 magic missiles! He reeled back, badly hurt, and Tarquin managed to react in time to dimension door the three of them back to the main group and the lights. We quickly realised we were under attack by many wererats and some sort of mage, possibly invisible! We were also caught in single file, there not being any more space to move on the walkway...

Celia was forced to fight them off, facing several foes from both land and water. Thana supported her with accurate shooting, Aos with thrown dagger, as I myself summoned three lantern archons to our cause. They shot their light rays at the enemy, but were quickly cut down. However, they had bought us a moment. Leo was healed, and began to protect himself, Xyzzy flew to meet them, and the battle began in earnest!

The unseen wizard blasted Leo with more magical missiles, seeking to bring him down. His cohort Tarquin was hard pressed to keep him alive with curative magic, but Leo managed to cast his shield spell to protect himself. Celia continued to battle the wererats face to face, but was rapidly being outnumbered. Aos tumbled in to face them too, striking one powerfully with his rapier, whilst I activated the power of my armour to rise slightly in the air. I had a surprise for our invisible friend!

Xyzzy then showed his power once more! He called forth another powerful cone of cold, killing most of the wererats but failing to harm the wizard. Celia, Thana and Aos combined to kill the final rats, as I cast invisibility purge and flew forwards! Our foe was revealed as a flying wererat wearing ancient tattered robes of Red. Leo hissed as he came into sight, recognising instantly the robes designated our opponent as a former Red Wizard! The spellcasters now combined extremely effectively, Tarquin dispelling his invisibility and mirror images. Leo was just beginning a feeblemind when the wizard struck with a powerful lightning bolt, hurting all of the party, but completed the spell and reduced our opponent to a drooling wreck...He was struck with more spells and arrows, injuring him further, but began to fly away.

Xyzzy and I followed him at full speed, being the only members of the party able to keep up, and we managed to spot him hiding. One set of quicked magic missiles later, our foe lay dead. Victory.

We stripped the body of items, finding a set of bracers, the wand he had been using to blast us and some potions. The body was to be used in an inventive manner shortly...

Again, I shall continue soon.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Diary of Galak, final part

The body of the wererat wizard was to be used as bait. Observing the refuse pile ahead of us, we summoned a creature to investigate it. The celestial dire lion ran forwards, and was promptly grabbed by two large tentacles and dragged out of sight!

We had a tactical problem here, in that the pit was dug at the top of a slope, thus meaning that Xyzzy and others could't effectively draw a line of sight to it. In the end, after much argument (MUCH argument) we agreed that Thana, myself and Aos would attempt to draw it out whilst the flying Xyzzy and others would ready attacks for when it appeared.

The plan went awry almost immediately when it attacked Thana instead, grabbing her! Aos struck with rapier, I fired off an empowered searing light, Xyzzy blasted it with magic missiles, and one tentacle whipped back into hiding with the other badly singed! Thana herself managed to keep her arms free and shoot an arrow into the other tentacle, and with a few more arrows, crossbow bolts and more magic missiles the creature retreated.

There was an effort to locate and kill it, but it hid within the mud and sludge. Even a control water failed to bring it out, so we merely moved around the edge and continued on.

We'd come all this way to find the secret tunnel that lead into the Imperial Palace, and another good spell by Leo found it. We gently moved into an undisturbed room, with a staircase and trapdoor leading upwards. Aos volunteered to look around, and Xyzzy cast improved invisibility upon him whilst I silenced the trapdoor itself. Aos vanished from view.

When he eventually came back he told us what he had found, although we had some idea due to Xyzzy's ingenious notion of letting his familiar Hudson the Owl ride on Aos's shoulder, also invisible. Above us was another corridor, this one leading to an abandoned torture chamber. Beyond the chamber lay a large room containing guards, and beyond that sounds of chanting. Aos decided to venture no further than that, feeling it too risky!

We rested in the secret room, and eight hours later made our way back through the refuse room. Once again the creature, sensing us as food, attacked with tentacles, but Xyzzy rather surprisingly manifested a new power which I recognised as a variant on the powerful chain lightning effect. Xyzzy's ability to cast this spell means he now ranks almost as highly as the leader of the White Way in raw magical power, although Dovestar is far more versatile. We are becoming a group that can do things, achieve great goals.

We made our way back through the tunnels, guided by the barge people again, and returned to Adam Dickinson's house. Aos still kept out of site. I think we must now plot and plan for ourselves. I feel as though my faith has increased through this adventure, my mind filled with a greater sense of power. An idea is forming, Girru has a planetar servant, a celestial of great power. If I could learn his name and summon him, he would be a most potent ally that could swing the tide of battle in our favour. I must see if such a thing is possible.

Our tale feels like it way only just be beginning. I feel as though I am about to enter the history books.

 

[S'mon]

Nice Matt, 300 xp to Galak.

Edit: The wererat Red Wizard was Morbius. BTW the Otyugh was a fully Advanced (15hd) beastie.

 

[ZosKia]

Imarr Dockside 8:30 am

A cloaked figure approaches the Sultan’s Turban inn and knocks upon the door.
The viewing slit is drawn back to reveal a hard faced Marrakeen woman

“Go away we’re closed”

The woman attempts to close the viewing slit but the cloaked figure puts his hand in the way preventing her from doing so.

“I wish to speak to the Prince”

Again the woman tries to close the slit; again the cloaked figure stops her.

“Tell him it’s an old friend and I shall make it worth his while”

“You’d better”

The woman opens the door to admit the cloaked figure and beckons for him to follow her upstairs where she knocks loudly upon a closed door.

“Prince, Prince, wake up. Someone to see you, says he’s an old friend”

The door is opened by a bleary eyed Marakeen man dressed in gaudy nightwear.

“Austin?...”

The cloaked figure pushes his way into the room and kicks the door shut behind him leaving the woman on the landing.

“Hello Prince”

“Hello Austin. They said you were dead”

“I am, and you will be if I hear the slightest rumour otherwise”

“Now, now Austin, I never give up a customer, it’s bad for business.”

“I’m glad to hear it”

“I was quite sad when I heard you’d died. I nearly sent flowers but you know how it is; a man in my position can’t be seen to have known a member of the criminal classes”

“Of course, I fully understand. A man in your position can never be too careful, that’s why he would know a good advocate”

“I know several, anyone in particular?”

“Dickinson, Adam Dickinson”

The Marakeen’s eyebrows rise slightly

“Yes I know him, one of the best”

“I need to get to his office without being seen”

“It’s possible, it will cost 30 gold”

The cloaked figure nods

“OK, but don’t involve the bargees. They were supposed to take me but dropped me here”

“No, it won’t involve them. It’ll be one of my boys. Above ground all the way”

“Fine”

The cloaked figure places 30 gold coins on the bed. The Marakeen quickly scoops them up and goes to the window, where he makes a discreet signal, before turning back to the cloaked figure.


“He will be here in five minutes. Austin, what with the early hour and my surprise at seeing you I’m forgetting my manners. How are you? Would you like a drink?”

“Just water please. I’m fine thank you Prince, and you?”

“Oh, surviving. Tarkane’s taxes make it impossible to earn an honest living”

“Lucky you don’t then! I see you’ve kept Sabina on”

“I can’t just throw her out Austin, she doesn’t have anywhere else to go, and besides, I do have feeling for her. We are not all like you, forever seeking someone younger, prettier, and richer. I don’t suppose you will ever settle down”

“Well…”

“No! Surely not! She must be very special if she has stopped you looking”

“She is. She’s a Thrinnian knight”

“SHE’S A WHAT?!! You scare me Austin, you really do”

There is a knock at the door

“That’s your guide now. Good luck Austin. I think you may need it”

The End

 

[S'mon]

Nice Andrew, made me smile.
120 XP to Aos.

 

[S'mon]

*bump* for big fight yesterday.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Story Hour going up later today, everyone!

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

The Journal of Galak, Cleric of Girru

I have learned the name of the Planetar that serves Girru as His Right Hand Against the Darkness. It is Dorakin, and he is mighty indeed. He aided Thrin many years ago in the battle against Chaos in the North, now he shall aid me.

There was some discussion amongst the group as to whether or not I should call him. Leo and Tarquin were, unsurprisingly, against it. Leo I find difficult to deal with. He has a fine tactical mind, and is almost paranoid in his ability to forsee problems, but he has no faith. To his credit, when I told him that I and only I would need to fufill the quest laid upon me by the Planetar, he replied "As if we'd leave you to do it alone." I have not told him, but my heart was gladdened. He is a most potent ally.

Thana, ever practical, said that if we could summon aid to our side, then we should. Her support was gratifying. Lilliana rather unexpectedly supported me as well, saying that to do otherwise would be hypocritical. After all, it was her summoning of two Avorals that led the group to this action. Xyzzy also advised against the summoning, I feel he is wary of a creature more powerful than he is...

Aos and Celia both voted for. They felt that with Dorakin aiding us, the foul Tarkane can be cast down, and Imarr would be a better place for it. It was agreed by consensus that should I still desire to do so, that I could try and summon Dorakin and ask him for help.

Before we made the assault on the palace, Aos elected to scout it out. Xyzzy loaned him Hudson, his Owl familiar, and made them both invisible. However, after some time, Aos was spotted and was forced to flee. It seemed that our route into the Palace may now be under watch, a most regrettable state of affairs.

We were also introduced by Adam Dickinson to Darius, a scout and tracker*. After submitting him to a barrage of magical tests, we accepted that he was aiming for the same target as ourselves. He told us that Tarkane had launched a surprise attack on Imgart, killing most of his enemies there. This was good news, as it meant that many of the Imperial Knights Bloodhammer were gone from the Palace. Tarkane himself did not go, but Ulfius and his Mage were largely responsible for much of the damage. Ulfius is not a man I wish to cross at any time.

Leo managed to negotiate with Ulfius, in secret of course, as regards a monetary reward. It seems we shall be due a vast amount of money, should we succeed. Such things are not as important as the task itself, but money is always welcome to fund further attacks upon the forces of Chaos and Evil. Ulfius seemed wary of me, but so long as our goals coincide, I can see no reason why we should not be able to work together.

Whilst Leo locked himself away preparing many scrolls to help us, we practised working in the area of silence spells, whilst Xyzzy practiced trapping moving guard parties in the wall of force spell. Our preparations were almost complete, and I felt confident that we would achieve our goal.

We all made our way down to the sewers of Imarr, and onwards to the secret tunnel. We knew it was probably guarded now, and that caution would be ultimately important.

Spells were cast, increasing the powers of all present. Leo and Tarquin aided many of the party with bull's strength and endurance, plus cat's grace for those who wanted it. Finally, when all else was done, I prayed to Girru and asked him for his Planetar's aid.

In a conflagration of fire that scorched my skin, Dorakin appeared before us. The Planetar stood some 9 feet tall, green skinned and with powerful wings. His greatsword gleamed in the light.

"You have summoned me, Galak of Girru. What is it you want?"

"We seek to go into the Imperial Palace and kill Overlord Tarkane this day. I humbly ask for your aid in this task, and will pay any price you deem proper."

"The price I seek I shall not set now. It will involve a fight against the forces of Chaos to the North. Will you accept this price?"

"I will."

"Then it is agreed."

The Planetar cast several spells upon itself, and we were ready to go.

Next: Entering the Palace! A great disturbance in the Force, as it were! Battling demons, and the IKB running scared!

*We had a new player joining the group.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Journal of Galak, Part 2

The way into the Palace remained the same as before. From the room we were standing in, we needed to go up through a trapdoor, along a corridor, and up through a second trapdoor in order to arrive inside an abandoned torture chamber. It seemed simple enough.

Xyzzy and Aos went first to clear the way. Moving swiftly, Xyzzy went straight ahead to the second trapdoor and checked it for magic. Sure enough, our attack was now anticipated, and the door registered several magical auras. Concentrating, Xyzzy dispelled them. Aos stepped forwards again to go to open the door...and the first guards appeared.

They stepped out of the walls, blasting him with energy rays and flanking him in melee combat. Reeling from the deadly onslaught, he nevertheless engaged one in combat with his rapier, wounding it severely. He also managed to call out, warning the rest of the group!

Dorakin acted swiftly, flying up through the trapdoor and slicing one creature with his greatsword. These creatures appeared to have vulture like heads, and Dorakin informed us later that they were servants of Gruganu, an evil deity who was the cohort of Ksarul. Ksarul worshippers were known to be amongst Tarkane's allies.

Despite another set of attacks by the creatures, known as Stalkers, Dorakin swiftly struck two of the down, with Aos also showing his combat skills in killing another. The last one disappeared back into the walls.

The group swiftly attempted to move into the torture chamber, but as we emerged, we were attacked by four more creatures, the zombie-like Hra! Xyzzy was wounded, his shield other spell transferring damage to Lilliana, and Aos found himself hard pressed once more. Xyzzy was lucky to avoid being killed outright as the remaining Stalker emerged through the wall again to kill him!

Once more Dorakin showed his worth by emerging from the tunnel below to wreak havok amongst our foes. He swiftly struck down two of the Hra, and wounded the Stalker again. Within a few moments more, Aos had killed the final Hra with Celia's aid, and we prepared to enter the main room.

Dorakin paused.

"I feel a great evil beyond the door."

As he said that, I wished Leo had come with us. His spells would have been even more of a help! Thinking of Leo made me realise something...

"If we have short duration spells, now is the time to cast them."*

Xyzzy cast mass haste, I put forth a shield of faith and then Dorakin manifested one of his most powerful spells. A holy aura surrounded the party, giving each of us protection from evil creatures. We set ourselves ready for whatever was beyond the door, and with four massive strikes of his sword, Dorakin shattered it into splinters.

The sight that greeted our eyes was terrifying. An Avatar of Gruganu was there to face Dorakin, along with two horned devils. The rest of us stood little chance against it. This was the deadliest foe we had ever encountered. Instantly, reacting to our destruction of the doors, all three creatures threw fireballs at us. The impacts jolted everyone, but only Aos was seriously burned, although several other members of the party suffered injuries. I myself was scorched by the fire, but if they seek to kill me by fire then they have much to learn!

Darius moved out of the room, seeking space to keep us from being attacked like that again, and Xyzzy also flew forwards and cast a wall of force around the Avatar, enclosing it. Then I saw the greatest site of my life. Dorakin, Planetar, in full attack.

He sped forward, leaping out of the room with his wings opening in a whooomph as he sped towards his foe. He looked at one horned demon and spoke a power word, stun, and it reeled backwards. He followed it with a quickened flame strike upon the other, burning it with holy fire.

The rest of the group spread out into the room beyond, staying clear of groups. I myself flew forwards and attempted a searing light on the burned horned devil, but I failed to penetrate it's innate spell resistance.

Gruganu, named the Black Sword of Doom, sneered at Xyzzy's attempt to trap him, and teleported across the room to where we had just been. Dorakin cried out as his foe evaded him. Aos was left more or less alone with the avatar. He quickly moved away, seeking healing. Xyzzy also found himself under attack yet again from the final Stalker, as it attacked from the walls.

Dorakin turned and flew back towards Avatar, and cast destruction. The holy fire failed to consume Gruganu, but it did burn him. The Planetar followed this with a quickened searing light which failed to get through. Celia charged the stunned horned devil, whilst Thana ploughed arrows into the other, hurting but not killing it. It collapsed to the ground, but we could see it's wounds beginning to heal.

Gruganu charged Dorakin, his awesome sword crashing into the Planetar. However, Dorakin and I had cast shield other upon each other, and so I absorbed half the damage. The pain was awesome, but Dorakin was already beginning his counterstroke. He summoned the divine fortune of Girru, and aided by the mass haste spell of Xyzzy, laid into the Avatar with his powerful sword. Gruganu was warded with a stoneskin spell, however, and not all the damage got through. However, it was the first time in a long time that the Avatar had suffered such damage.

Xyzzy, meanwhile, blasted the Stalker with his wand of lightning bolt, and the horned devil too. The bolts scorched both creatures, but not enough to kill. Lilliana used the Staff of Life to heal Aos, who promptly tumbed behind the Avatar and began to attack it! Truly, he is either brave, or foolish, and I have to concede that it is more likely the former.

Gruganu and Dorakin exchanged another series of attacks, and I could feel myself becoming close to death. Summoning my powers, I made use of my new found faith to heal myself. I would be able to take damage for a while yet!

As Dorakin was creating an opening for a death blow, the Avatar of Gruganu showed his more cowardly side. Bleeding from several wounds, he teleported away, leaving us to pile the stunned demons together. Dorakin called down two flame strikes and burned them to ash, before thanking Aos and Thana for their aid in the battle. Thana had fired several arrows at the Avatar, and their effect had damaged him somewhat.

Xyzzy reported that Hudson had spotted several Imperial Knights Bloodhammer skulking up some stairs. Our mission was not completed, and whilst the first line of defense had been breached, Tarkane had not been discovered. We caught our breath, thankful that there were no casualties, and quickly made a decision about what to do next...

End

Note: As a result of this fight, Aos is now 12th level, and Leo was granted a special XP bonus for all the planning he had been doing, which took him to 11th. We got no XP for the Avatar, but if it doesn't returned we stand to get 3000 each. If it does return and we manage to finish the thing off (it was down to 10hp!), we'll get 6000 each. I'm still not sure whether I want to face it again or not!

*Peter, Leo's player was practically screaming at us to cast buffs at this point. We're very glad he did.