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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Milo Windby's Collected Story Hour
- Thread starter Milo Windby
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Milo Windby
First Post
Re: Re: Hehehehe
Too true Nail! She is a force to be reckoned with.
Sorry for the prolonged absence. Company has gone home and life is returning to normal. I'm hoping we play soon. Brigit and I are going through withdrawals.
I'll have the final writeup out this weekend, it will probably be a small one. Then we'll have to see what comes up. Don't worry about the elemental stuff, Nail, I've got some elemental protection scrolls up my sleeve.
Nail said:
Too true Nail! She is a force to be reckoned with.
Sorry for the prolonged absence. Company has gone home and life is returning to normal. I'm hoping we play soon. Brigit and I are going through withdrawals.
I'll have the final writeup out this weekend, it will probably be a small one. Then we'll have to see what comes up. Don't worry about the elemental stuff, Nail, I've got some elemental protection scrolls up my sleeve.
Milo Windby
First Post
Temple of Elemental Evil - part 30 (session 12)
"Shall we find out where those bugbears came from?" Milo asked pointing to the southern door of the large minotaur room.
"Aye, buggers tried ta sneak up on us!" said Brigit.
The door led to a long hallway that stretched off into the darkness like the yawning throat of some great beast. They tread cautiously with Brigit and Jeremiah in the lead. Brigit searched for traps as they continued down the dim passage.
In what seemed like an eternity to Milo, they reached the end. There was a door to the east and a blank wall to the south.
"Nuh uh. No way someone builds a passage this long that doesn't lead straight into something." Milo said as he shook his head.
Within moments Milo found the secret catch that he knew would be there. The heroes ignored the door to the east and watched as the south wall swung forward easily. Another long passage led south. They could make out a bend towards the southeast from the vantagepoint at the door. A single door was set in the eastern wall a few paces from the secret passage.
Milo set his sensitive ear to the wood of the door and listened. He could hear the snuffling grunts that they associated with the denizens of the temple.
"Before we go in," Milo whispered, "Let me toughen you up a little."
With that Milo whispered an incantation and cast a shield of faith on Brigit and Jeremiah. A shimmer of divine light played about their bodies before settling into a minor sheen, barely noticeable.
"A'right, it be hack 'n slash time!" Brigit said quietly right before Jeremiah kicked in the door.
Four pairs of bugbear eyes met their gaze on the other side of the door. The room was fair-sized with two doors leading to the north and east. The bugbears were seated around a table, apparently engaged in a dice game. Food and drink were set as well.
Before the bugbears could move Brigit and Mazi pierced one with two arrows followed closely by a fatal slash from Jeremiah's Windsword. The other bugbears jumped from their seats and backed away from the group. Just then the eastern door slammed open. A huge bugbear entered, its patchy fur hiding bunched muscles. Its fierce gleaming gaze finally rested on Brigit. Brigit beckoned to the bugbear, daring it to attack. Milo could see the years of racial enmity spark between the two before the battle was joined in full.
The huge bugbear shoved one of its kindred aside in its haste to reach its dwarven enemy. The other bugbear sprawled to the ground and had to take a moment to retrieve its weapon and rejoin the fight.
Jeremiah and Brigit, enhanced by Milo's spell, avoided the rain of blows that fell upon them from the bugbears. Jeremiah returned the attack while Milo and Mazithra concentrated on assisting him. Jer slashed into one, followed by two missiles from behind thunking into the bugbear's hide.
The leader shouted at the top of its lungs in its guttural language and attacked Brigit again. She warded off the blow and attacked herself. Trollgrater tasted bugbear flesh twice, dropping the leader before it could recover. Her axe wounded her other attacker in almost an offhand manner as it continued its arc.
Brigit was too late though, the leader's shouting brought four more bugbears tromping into the room. Instead of disappointment Brigit grinned in anticipation. Meanwhile Milo and Mazi continued to fire as fast as they could from the rear.
After seeing the battle one of the rear bugbears left the way it came, a crafty grin on its fanged mouth. The others attacked. One managed to break past Jeremiah's magical defenses and scored a critical blow, finding a weak spot to exploit. Jer shook off the pain and fought back. He too landed a critical blow, proving too much for the bugbear.
Near him Brigit turned into a whirling force of destruction. In four quick attacks she dropped all three bugbears that attacked her. The other bugbears seemed reluctant to approach the bloodthirsty dwarf.
Mazi and Milo continued to lend support from behind. Jeremiah cleaved through the next to last bugbear, leaving only one of the beasts to face the fury of the four. Just as the bugbear seemed ready to flee Milo heard a stomping from behind the eastern door.
The source of the minor vibrations felt through the floor soon revealed itself. The lumpy face of a large ogre emerged through the doorway, followed shortly by its enormous bulk. The ogre grinned with a dim-witted expression, revealing a broken tusk and a fair amount of drool. It focused on the only enemy near its size and swung its heavy club at Jeremiah.
Jer avoided the slow attack and sliced a chunk of flesh from the ogre's hide. That really got its attention. The ogre howled in rage and the speed of its attacks seemed to gain momentum.
At the same moment Brigit attacked the last bugbear. It seemed to take courage from the presence of the ogre and deflected Brigit's attack with surprising skill. Brigit's axe was thrown to the side from the deft defense of the bugbear. Before the beast could press its advantage Milo shot his crossbow. The bolt sunk deep into the bugbear's chest, puncturing a critical organ. The bugbear recovered but was much worse for the wear.
The ogre and Jeremiah swung their huge weapons repeatedly. Only the barbarian seemed able to land any blows. Jeremiah patiently whittled away at the huge grotesque, confident that he would eventually defeat it.
Brigit recovered her axe and dealt with the bugbear quickly, putting it out of its misery. With only one target left, Milo shot his next quarrel at the ogre. The missile sped true and turned out to be fabled straw that broke the camel's back. The ogre fell with a crash on the table, scattering the dice and splattering food all over the room.
"They just keep coming, don't they?" said Milo.
"Let em come! My axe'll be here ta meet em!" Brigit exclaimed.
"Let's not get too overzealous, Brigit. I'd rather not face an army just yet." Mazi said.
They found some coins on the corpses as well as some semi-precious stones on the ogre. Mazi pointed at the ogre's topknot.
"Could you get those for me Jer?" she said indicating three silver pins set with pearls. "They'll match the others perfectly"
"Ogre too dirty for you, Mazi?" Milo teased.
"I finally got myself dry and clean from the pool, I don't want to get any more mess on me."
It was then that Milo noticed, to his amazement, that it seemed Mazi was the only one out of all of them that avoided the splatter of foodstuffs the ogre's fall caused.
"Hey Mazi, you've got something on your tunic." Milo said. He laughed out loud when she hastily pulled out her mirror and looked frantically about for the imaginary speck of filth.
"I'll remember that one Milo!" she said after assuring herself that she was clean.
Jeremiah actually giggled as he handed Mazi the three pins from the ogre's hair.
"It was only a joke Mazi, take it easy." Milo grinned. "On a more serious note, one of the bugbears left to fetch that ogre."
"An' never came back, tha coward!" Brigit said as she pounded her fist.
"Cowardly? Yes, dangerous? More so. I'm sure it went to get more reinforcements. We'll have to be especially careful." said Milo.
"Why do I get the feeling that the word 'ambush' figures into our near future?" Mazi groaned.
"Shall we find out where those bugbears came from?" Milo asked pointing to the southern door of the large minotaur room.
"Aye, buggers tried ta sneak up on us!" said Brigit.
The door led to a long hallway that stretched off into the darkness like the yawning throat of some great beast. They tread cautiously with Brigit and Jeremiah in the lead. Brigit searched for traps as they continued down the dim passage.
In what seemed like an eternity to Milo, they reached the end. There was a door to the east and a blank wall to the south.
"Nuh uh. No way someone builds a passage this long that doesn't lead straight into something." Milo said as he shook his head.
Within moments Milo found the secret catch that he knew would be there. The heroes ignored the door to the east and watched as the south wall swung forward easily. Another long passage led south. They could make out a bend towards the southeast from the vantagepoint at the door. A single door was set in the eastern wall a few paces from the secret passage.
Milo set his sensitive ear to the wood of the door and listened. He could hear the snuffling grunts that they associated with the denizens of the temple.
"Before we go in," Milo whispered, "Let me toughen you up a little."
With that Milo whispered an incantation and cast a shield of faith on Brigit and Jeremiah. A shimmer of divine light played about their bodies before settling into a minor sheen, barely noticeable.
"A'right, it be hack 'n slash time!" Brigit said quietly right before Jeremiah kicked in the door.
Four pairs of bugbear eyes met their gaze on the other side of the door. The room was fair-sized with two doors leading to the north and east. The bugbears were seated around a table, apparently engaged in a dice game. Food and drink were set as well.
Before the bugbears could move Brigit and Mazi pierced one with two arrows followed closely by a fatal slash from Jeremiah's Windsword. The other bugbears jumped from their seats and backed away from the group. Just then the eastern door slammed open. A huge bugbear entered, its patchy fur hiding bunched muscles. Its fierce gleaming gaze finally rested on Brigit. Brigit beckoned to the bugbear, daring it to attack. Milo could see the years of racial enmity spark between the two before the battle was joined in full.
The huge bugbear shoved one of its kindred aside in its haste to reach its dwarven enemy. The other bugbear sprawled to the ground and had to take a moment to retrieve its weapon and rejoin the fight.
Jeremiah and Brigit, enhanced by Milo's spell, avoided the rain of blows that fell upon them from the bugbears. Jeremiah returned the attack while Milo and Mazithra concentrated on assisting him. Jer slashed into one, followed by two missiles from behind thunking into the bugbear's hide.
The leader shouted at the top of its lungs in its guttural language and attacked Brigit again. She warded off the blow and attacked herself. Trollgrater tasted bugbear flesh twice, dropping the leader before it could recover. Her axe wounded her other attacker in almost an offhand manner as it continued its arc.
Brigit was too late though, the leader's shouting brought four more bugbears tromping into the room. Instead of disappointment Brigit grinned in anticipation. Meanwhile Milo and Mazi continued to fire as fast as they could from the rear.
After seeing the battle one of the rear bugbears left the way it came, a crafty grin on its fanged mouth. The others attacked. One managed to break past Jeremiah's magical defenses and scored a critical blow, finding a weak spot to exploit. Jer shook off the pain and fought back. He too landed a critical blow, proving too much for the bugbear.
Near him Brigit turned into a whirling force of destruction. In four quick attacks she dropped all three bugbears that attacked her. The other bugbears seemed reluctant to approach the bloodthirsty dwarf.
Mazi and Milo continued to lend support from behind. Jeremiah cleaved through the next to last bugbear, leaving only one of the beasts to face the fury of the four. Just as the bugbear seemed ready to flee Milo heard a stomping from behind the eastern door.
The source of the minor vibrations felt through the floor soon revealed itself. The lumpy face of a large ogre emerged through the doorway, followed shortly by its enormous bulk. The ogre grinned with a dim-witted expression, revealing a broken tusk and a fair amount of drool. It focused on the only enemy near its size and swung its heavy club at Jeremiah.
Jer avoided the slow attack and sliced a chunk of flesh from the ogre's hide. That really got its attention. The ogre howled in rage and the speed of its attacks seemed to gain momentum.
At the same moment Brigit attacked the last bugbear. It seemed to take courage from the presence of the ogre and deflected Brigit's attack with surprising skill. Brigit's axe was thrown to the side from the deft defense of the bugbear. Before the beast could press its advantage Milo shot his crossbow. The bolt sunk deep into the bugbear's chest, puncturing a critical organ. The bugbear recovered but was much worse for the wear.
The ogre and Jeremiah swung their huge weapons repeatedly. Only the barbarian seemed able to land any blows. Jeremiah patiently whittled away at the huge grotesque, confident that he would eventually defeat it.
Brigit recovered her axe and dealt with the bugbear quickly, putting it out of its misery. With only one target left, Milo shot his next quarrel at the ogre. The missile sped true and turned out to be fabled straw that broke the camel's back. The ogre fell with a crash on the table, scattering the dice and splattering food all over the room.
"They just keep coming, don't they?" said Milo.
"Let em come! My axe'll be here ta meet em!" Brigit exclaimed.
"Let's not get too overzealous, Brigit. I'd rather not face an army just yet." Mazi said.
They found some coins on the corpses as well as some semi-precious stones on the ogre. Mazi pointed at the ogre's topknot.
"Could you get those for me Jer?" she said indicating three silver pins set with pearls. "They'll match the others perfectly"
"Ogre too dirty for you, Mazi?" Milo teased.
"I finally got myself dry and clean from the pool, I don't want to get any more mess on me."
It was then that Milo noticed, to his amazement, that it seemed Mazi was the only one out of all of them that avoided the splatter of foodstuffs the ogre's fall caused.
"Hey Mazi, you've got something on your tunic." Milo said. He laughed out loud when she hastily pulled out her mirror and looked frantically about for the imaginary speck of filth.
"I'll remember that one Milo!" she said after assuring herself that she was clean.
Jeremiah actually giggled as he handed Mazi the three pins from the ogre's hair.
"It was only a joke Mazi, take it easy." Milo grinned. "On a more serious note, one of the bugbears left to fetch that ogre."
"An' never came back, tha coward!" Brigit said as she pounded her fist.
"Cowardly? Yes, dangerous? More so. I'm sure it went to get more reinforcements. We'll have to be especially careful." said Milo.
"Why do I get the feeling that the word 'ambush' figures into our near future?" Mazi groaned.
We gamed again tonight for the first time in about a month. It was ugly.
Brigit and Jeremiah were into negative hp and unconscious twice and Mazi has decided that she has no intention of becoming the "vessel" for any new incarnation of a demon-goddess.
Milo will be bringing you details soon.
Brigit and Jeremiah were into negative hp and unconscious twice and Mazi has decided that she has no intention of becoming the "vessel" for any new incarnation of a demon-goddess.
Milo will be bringing you details soon.
Milo Windby
First Post
Four near death experiences, bugbears doing what bugbears oughtn't, unwilling elvish vessels, and why not to traipse past large tentacular statues, coming to a story hour near you.
Milo Windby
First Post
Temple of Elemental Evil - part 31 (session 13)
Wary of any imminent ambushes, Brigit peeked past the eastern door. It was still ajar from the bugbear’s flight and the ogre’s entrance. Brigit waved her companions in after insuring that it was safe. The door led to a short hallway ending in another partially open door. This portal led to a room much like the last. Another open door led to the north. Judging from the décor Milo figured that the room was used by minor temple officiates. The usual tapestries depicting gruesome scenes of evil draped the walls. Milo found a partially concealed door behind one on the southern wall. Brigit found a sack next to the northern door full of rancid meat and spoiled provisions. She threw it to the side in disgust.
”These guys sure knew how to eat well, eh Brigit?” said Milo.
”If well is packin yer gut full O rot, then yeah, they ate well.” she answered.
”Let’s check the open door first.” Mazi said, all business.
Brigit once again led the way, peeking inside for an ambush. The others followed her in shortly. A putrid stench filled their nostrils as they entered the room. It was the same size as the others, but no other doors were apparent. Moldy and lumpy pillows were pilled near the far wall, the imprint of the ogre’s body still pressed into the cushioning fabric. Bones picked clean and drained of marrow were piled in a corner. One thing in particular drew Milo’s eyes. An iron bound chest lay partially covered by cushions near the wall. Milo sprang for the chest, eager to pry out its contents.
”Like a little-un wi presents, he is.” Brigit marveled.
”Yes, but let him have his fun.” agreed Mazi.
The padlock securing the chest couldn’t stop Milo for long. His fingers worked the lock steadily, hitting the last tumbler after a couple of attempts. He soon had the lid to the chest wide open. Inside they found objects that must have been of import to the ogre, old clothing, a brass candlestick, even a rusted saw. Underneath the junk Milo found the real treasure, coins of copper, silver, gold, and platinum.
Once they had taken care of the coins, Milo set about searching the rest of the room. There didn’t appear to be anything hidden in the ogre’s den. Mazi and Brigit had searched as well and came up empty-handed.
Back in the minor staffing room Milo set his ear to the concealed door. He heard a rustling sound, much like a few people in cloaks, or-
”I hope that’s not the sound of wings. Cuz there’s either a lot of them, or really big ones.” said Milo.
Milo backed up and readied his weapons, noting that Mazi and Jeremiah did as well. Brigit pushed open the door and they all braced themselves for the worst. Nothing happened. All Milo could see from his vantage point was a murky darkness beyond the door.
”Okay, I’m going invisible to check it out. You all wait here.” said Milo.
He called upon the domain of trickery that Usamigaras reigned over. A shimmer appeared around the halfling, starting from his head and settling down around his body. Soon Milo’s whole person shimmered as if he were part of a desert mirage. Moments later Milo disappeared, much as a mirage when reached on the horizon.
Milo crept as quietly as possible into the room, heading to the right to clear himself from the door. He had no wish to stand in front of the inviting target of the door. The room was huge, almost a hundred feet wide and at least forty deep. The air itself was murky, almost damp. There appeared to be some sort of illusionary magic placed on the room. A green illumination emanated from the walls, it took a second for Milo’s vision to adjust. Milo felt as if he were deep underwater. He groaned inwardly when seeing the columns at each corner, topped with stone gargoyles. A stone statue composed of a conglomeration of sea creatures, most with tentacles, squatted near the middle of the room. An bronze altar adorned with fish lay beyond. There was a large bronze sheet of metal hung on the west wall with a fish head sculpted in the middle. The head protruded forward and water spewed from the fish’s open mouth into layered pools. There were two pairs of double doors as well, one set leading back north and the other to the east. The bronze altar itself was set into a wide alcove. Behind the altar was a curtain of seaweed, blocking the rest of the alcove from view. Milo’s eyes at last came to rest on the room’s occupants.
A man stood behind the altar, flanked by two bugbears dressed in robes with morning stars belted at their waists. The cowardly bugbear from the last battle stood behind the priest, whimpering. To Milo’s shock one of the robed bugbears was staring right in his direction. Milo swore inwardly, he must have made just a little too much noise. The bugbear leaned over to the priest and spoke below its breath.
The priest merely smiled beatifically and said, ”Come in, come in. Be not afraid!.”
Milo stood stock still.
”We merely wish to…talk.” the priest said.
Wary of any imminent ambushes, Brigit peeked past the eastern door. It was still ajar from the bugbear’s flight and the ogre’s entrance. Brigit waved her companions in after insuring that it was safe. The door led to a short hallway ending in another partially open door. This portal led to a room much like the last. Another open door led to the north. Judging from the décor Milo figured that the room was used by minor temple officiates. The usual tapestries depicting gruesome scenes of evil draped the walls. Milo found a partially concealed door behind one on the southern wall. Brigit found a sack next to the northern door full of rancid meat and spoiled provisions. She threw it to the side in disgust.
”These guys sure knew how to eat well, eh Brigit?” said Milo.
”If well is packin yer gut full O rot, then yeah, they ate well.” she answered.
”Let’s check the open door first.” Mazi said, all business.
Brigit once again led the way, peeking inside for an ambush. The others followed her in shortly. A putrid stench filled their nostrils as they entered the room. It was the same size as the others, but no other doors were apparent. Moldy and lumpy pillows were pilled near the far wall, the imprint of the ogre’s body still pressed into the cushioning fabric. Bones picked clean and drained of marrow were piled in a corner. One thing in particular drew Milo’s eyes. An iron bound chest lay partially covered by cushions near the wall. Milo sprang for the chest, eager to pry out its contents.
”Like a little-un wi presents, he is.” Brigit marveled.
”Yes, but let him have his fun.” agreed Mazi.
The padlock securing the chest couldn’t stop Milo for long. His fingers worked the lock steadily, hitting the last tumbler after a couple of attempts. He soon had the lid to the chest wide open. Inside they found objects that must have been of import to the ogre, old clothing, a brass candlestick, even a rusted saw. Underneath the junk Milo found the real treasure, coins of copper, silver, gold, and platinum.
Once they had taken care of the coins, Milo set about searching the rest of the room. There didn’t appear to be anything hidden in the ogre’s den. Mazi and Brigit had searched as well and came up empty-handed.
Back in the minor staffing room Milo set his ear to the concealed door. He heard a rustling sound, much like a few people in cloaks, or-
”I hope that’s not the sound of wings. Cuz there’s either a lot of them, or really big ones.” said Milo.
Milo backed up and readied his weapons, noting that Mazi and Jeremiah did as well. Brigit pushed open the door and they all braced themselves for the worst. Nothing happened. All Milo could see from his vantage point was a murky darkness beyond the door.
”Okay, I’m going invisible to check it out. You all wait here.” said Milo.
He called upon the domain of trickery that Usamigaras reigned over. A shimmer appeared around the halfling, starting from his head and settling down around his body. Soon Milo’s whole person shimmered as if he were part of a desert mirage. Moments later Milo disappeared, much as a mirage when reached on the horizon.
Milo crept as quietly as possible into the room, heading to the right to clear himself from the door. He had no wish to stand in front of the inviting target of the door. The room was huge, almost a hundred feet wide and at least forty deep. The air itself was murky, almost damp. There appeared to be some sort of illusionary magic placed on the room. A green illumination emanated from the walls, it took a second for Milo’s vision to adjust. Milo felt as if he were deep underwater. He groaned inwardly when seeing the columns at each corner, topped with stone gargoyles. A stone statue composed of a conglomeration of sea creatures, most with tentacles, squatted near the middle of the room. An bronze altar adorned with fish lay beyond. There was a large bronze sheet of metal hung on the west wall with a fish head sculpted in the middle. The head protruded forward and water spewed from the fish’s open mouth into layered pools. There were two pairs of double doors as well, one set leading back north and the other to the east. The bronze altar itself was set into a wide alcove. Behind the altar was a curtain of seaweed, blocking the rest of the alcove from view. Milo’s eyes at last came to rest on the room’s occupants.
A man stood behind the altar, flanked by two bugbears dressed in robes with morning stars belted at their waists. The cowardly bugbear from the last battle stood behind the priest, whimpering. To Milo’s shock one of the robed bugbears was staring right in his direction. Milo swore inwardly, he must have made just a little too much noise. The bugbear leaned over to the priest and spoke below its breath.
The priest merely smiled beatifically and said, ”Come in, come in. Be not afraid!.”
Milo stood stock still.
”We merely wish to…talk.” the priest said.
Last edited:
Milo Windby
First Post
Short
Short post, but it was a short session. I'm breaking this one into two. I just received the rest of the material I needed to write up the rest of it from Frog. What you'll see in the next post are rash decisions and some not-so-great tactics. We were all hanging by a wire for quite a bit of the ride.
Short post, but it was a short session. I'm breaking this one into two. I just received the rest of the material I needed to write up the rest of it from Frog. What you'll see in the next post are rash decisions and some not-so-great tactics. We were all hanging by a wire for quite a bit of the ride.
Milo Windby
First Post
Temple of Elemental Evil - part 32 (session 13)
Options were weighed quickly in Milo's mind. Turn tail and run? Not his style. Surprise attack right away? No backup and one of the bugbears knew where he was. Full frontal assault? There was the issue of the gargoyles and who knows what else the priest had up his sleeves. No, the only other option was to talk. Milo decided to keep the invisibility spell up though. He hoped the others would be able to parlay while he positioned himself a little more conveniently.
He tiptoed back to his companions waiting in the other room.
"He wants to talk." Milo whispered.
"Ta talk! Are ya daft? This is tha Temple O Evil, it didn'a get tha name by bein' nice ta people that come in killin' everythin' in sight!" Brigit sputtered into thin air. Milo thought it funny watching her try to place his disembodied voice.
"I know, but I'm half out of spells and none of us are exactly at full strength. We've all taken a few wounds." Milo continued. "We should at least listen to what he has to say. We've already lost the element of surprise anyway."
"Milo's right. We'll hear what this guy has to say." Mazi agreed, "If we don't like it then we take them down. Let's try to keep the priest alive though, he may have more information to share under different circumstances."
"Alright, but Ah don' like it one bit!" Brigit spat, "It's nah becomin' ta deal wi' tha enemy."
"Okay then, let me tell you about the room," whispered Milo, "There's two more bugbears besides the one that ran, the priest is between them. I counted four gargoyles, one at each corner of the room. There's a grotesque statue in the middle of the room and an altar in front of the priest. Oh, and some sort of fish head sculpture and fountain thing on the far wall."
"Good enough, let's get this over wi'." Brigit said.
"I'm going to stay invisible and work my way around the room. Try to talk long enough for me to get into a good position." Milo finished.
Milo crept back into the room ahead of the group and moved away from the door. The others entered shortly after, stopping just past the doorway.
The robed priest spoke as soon as he spied Mazithra, "Thari-ma, Thari-ma. Zu baya ma Tak Nari, Thari-ma. All hail the Vessel of Thari. Remember, oh Great One, Thy servant who was first to announce Thy coming when Thou comest into Thine inheritance and once again rule the worlds, Great Thari. For years had we worked to bring you to us, and the night before our plans fruition you disappeared. We had thought years of work gone in vain, yet here you are. Our faith in our Goddess has not been in vain. She has brought you here for us and fulfilled our prayers."
Mazi did not take the greeting very well.
The priest then turned to Jeremiah with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Thy people have forgotten their Purpose and Charge. In forgetting that, Thari's victory is now complete!!!"
The somber barbarian bristled at the mention of his people.
Then to Brigit, "Those who serve the Fire have taken thine father. Thy father's Soul hath gone to serve the Warlord of Thari. He is his Master now 'til the Ebon Blade is complete for my Mistress."
Brigit's hands gripped her axe haft as the priest spoke, Milo could tell she was barely able to restrain herself from charging the priest and finishing the conversation her way.
The priest raised his voice to be heard throughout the room, "Thy mewling godlet cannot save you when the Great Darkness arises, small one. Thou hast chosen thy fate...and it is death!!!"
Milo shook his head at the statement. It didn't sound like the priest had any intent to deal peacefully with him. Milo crept forward quietly.
A smoldering rage burned in Mazi's eyes. "Vessel of Nothing! I belong to no one!"
She raised her bow with a smooth deliberateness, knocked an arrow, and let it fly. Milo held his breath during the arrow's short flight. He was disappointed to see the shaft skim past one of the robed bugbears to clatter uselessly on the ground. The battle was begun.
With an inarticulate roar Jeremiah charged towards the altar. His headlong rush brought him within striking distance of the two bugbears, eliciting two lightning fast attacks. The robed bugbears missed but Milo was startled to see them attack Jeremiah with their bare hands! He had seen a travelling group of monks in Darokin that performed amazing feats with their bare hands and feet, the bugbears' movements reminded him of those monks.
Jeremiah's rush brought his sword into a monk's torso. The bugbear ignored the wound, gripped the blade, wrenched it away, and tossed it to the ground as if to mock the fierce barbarian.
The priest lowered his head and shook it sadly, but when he raised it again a maniacal gleam shone through his eyes. He uttered a spell quickly and gestured near the middle of the room. Milo felt a stillness wash over him, centered from where the priest cast. His invisibility was dispelled and he suddenly became visible again. There goes any hopes of sneaking up, he thought to himself.
Suddenly Jer was beset from all sides. Both monks attacked along with an unseen foe behind. Milo could see the enemy and he was doubly shocked. The grotesque statue of octopus, squid, and eels suddenly came to life. Four thick tentacles groped for Jeremiah. The statue was a juggernaut!
Brigit was already on her way to aid Jer, her axe bit into the tough hide of the juggernaut, drawing its attention from the beleaguered barbarian. Milo tumbled into the fight, attempting to draw the fire of one of the monks. He was successful in landing a couple of blows and the large bugbear turned to address the new threat.
The priest barked an order to the cowering bugbear behind him. The pitiful beast ran as if a horde were chasing, directly through the eastern double doors. The juggernaut swiveled and attacked Brigit, scoring numerous hits and a critical blow to the side of her head. Brigit's vision swam.
Frustrated with her last attack, Mazi broke off to the side of the door until one of the monks was in her direct line of sight, she summoned a spell to mind that she had just researched. Once she finished her arcane gestures a spark appeared at her fingertips. Lightning arced from her hands directly into the bugbear Milo was fighting, then into the priest behind. Both attempted to dodge. The lightning bolt grazed each before scattering into the ether on the far wall. Mazi grinned at the smoking priest.
Jeremiah had taken a lot of punishment. He had retrieved his sword and charged back into battle in a rage. His muscles bulged with renewed vigor and he swung his sword with increased fury. The smoldering monk fell from his attack and he continued on to the juggernaut, only to lose his sword as it clattered against the beast's hard hide.
The priest made a motion in the air before focusing back on the struggling barbarian. Milo heard a familiar noise. He looked to the source of the sound, one of the corners of the room. The gargoyle perched on the stone pedestal unfurled its wings and took flight, headed his way. The priest finished chanting another spell and gestured at Jeremiah. Milo recognized the movement as a hold person spell. He was relieved to see his friend shake it off, bolstered by his battle rage.
The other three gargoyles had sprung from their stone perches and winged towards the different party members. Two swooped down on Brigit who was hacking away at the juggernaut, one each attacked Milo and Mazi. The gargoyles proved to be more of a nuisance than a great threat, but the distraction was costly.
Milo and Mazi turned to fight the new threat in their own ways. Milo with his axes and Mazi with flames that fanned out from her fingertips. The burning hands spell crippled the gargoyle but didn't stop it.
Still facing two enemies and unable to reach the spellcasting priest, Jeremiah let loose a great bellow. He slashed down into the juggernaut, ending the tentacled threat and ripped into the monk.
The priest gauged the combat, chanted a spell, and gestured just to the left of Jeremiah. A whirling storm of metal sprang into existence and expanded to encompass Jeremiah, Brigit, and Milo. Milo sprang out of the way of the blades but Jeremiah and Brigit were caught dead-on. Brigit had already taken numerous wounds from the juggernaut and the bladestorm was too much for her. The spell sapped what little strength she had left and she fell unconscious to the floor.
The two gargoyles plaguing Brigit scanned for new targets, one choosing Mazithra and the other Jeremiah. Milo sprang to Brigit's side, avoiding the whirling blades. He drew out the staff of healing from his bag of holding and used its powerful healing spell on Brigit.
"Abercromby!" The dwarf stood to her feet shakily, slightly disoriented.
Jeremiah was barely clinging to consciousness himself. He stalked out of the bladestorm and attacked the priest directly. He broke the evil cleric's concentration and the blades vanished.
On the other side of the room Mazithra was being attacked by two of the gargoyles and finding it extremely hard to concentrate. Each gargoyle would attack with two claws and then swoop in for a bite. She set herself into a defensive stance and cast another spell. Four mirror images of Mazi split off from where she stood. The gargoyles were confused, not knowing which to attack. One slashed into Mazi, only to see her shatter into thousands of reflecting glass shards that vanished as they hit the floor.
The priest was not finished casting his evil magiks. He finished another spell and this time an inky cloud sprang from his hands to settle on Jeremiah and Brigit. Both hearty fighters resisted the unholy blight as best they could but Jeremiah was too wounded. He fell in a heap before the cackling priest.
Almost back to the point of unconsciousness herself, Brigit took a heavy step forward to engage the remaining monk, keeping it away from Jeremiah's vulnerable form. Her distraction worked, too well. The monk focused all of his energies on Brigit, lashing out with two well placed fists. Brigit fell to the ground as darkness enveloped her sight.
Milo had to decide who to heal first. It seemed that Jeremiah was worse off, laying in front of the priest. He ran to Jer's side, staff still in hand, and used its healing spell.
"Abercromby!" Milo spoke the activation word.
A few of Jeremiah's wounds closed and he opened his eyes. A steely determination was set in them as he climbed to his feet and glowered at the priest. Before Jeremiah could reach the priest again a blinding light slammed into the evil man. Mazi had cast another lightning bolt, this one scoring a direct hit! The priest was thrown backwards a few feet and dazed for a split second. Jer stepped in and added his sword to the priest's woes.
Apparently the attacks were too much for the priest. He backed up to the side wall of the alcove behind him and cast one last spell. The stone behind him seemed to soften and his body sank deep into the wall. He was gone in seconds.
The monk, no longer feeling Brigit was a threat, approached Jeremiah from behind. Two punches to the kidneys and Jeremiah crumpled again, unconscious. Milo felt like a child's toy, bouncing back and forth between his two friends. He took time to activate the staff over Brigit's prone body.
"Abercromby! Brigit stood to her feet again, resolving to stay there at all costs.
Seeing the priest gone, Mazi drew her weapons to deal with the two gargoyles still attacking her mirror images. The gargoyles that hounded her had finally dispatched her last image and bore down on the real Mazi.
Brigit stalked up to the monk that felled Jeremiah and tapped it on its shoulder with her axe, hard. The monk crumpled under the blow and she used her momentum to spin and dispatch the gargoyle behind her.
Meanwhile Milo had reached Jeremiah and used another charge from the staff of healing. "Abercromby!"
Jeremiah struggled to his feet. He glanced around, noting that there were only three gargoyles left, and took a moment to down a healing draught before re-entering the fray.
Mazi dispatched one of the two gargoyles circling her but was hit with a swiping claw from behind. Brigit struck down the other gargoyle at their end of the room and turned to attack the last one harassing Mazi. Jeremiah reached it first, cutting off a wing with a deadly stroke.
Milo took a moment to channel one of his unused spell into healing energy to bolster Jeremiah.
"Okay, that was not good." he said after he finished his healing.
"Aye, tha's an experience Ah coulda passed on." Brigit said. Jeremiah nodded his head emphatically.
They could hear footsteps approaching rapidly from the eastern door that the cowardly bugbear fled through.
"There's a lot of people on the way, I don't think they're going to want to chat." Milo warned.
"Agreed. I think we should get out of here." said Mazi.
"Ah couldn'a agree more wi' ya, elfie. Let's go." Brigit said, following Jeremiah who was already through the door.
Options were weighed quickly in Milo's mind. Turn tail and run? Not his style. Surprise attack right away? No backup and one of the bugbears knew where he was. Full frontal assault? There was the issue of the gargoyles and who knows what else the priest had up his sleeves. No, the only other option was to talk. Milo decided to keep the invisibility spell up though. He hoped the others would be able to parlay while he positioned himself a little more conveniently.
He tiptoed back to his companions waiting in the other room.
"He wants to talk." Milo whispered.
"Ta talk! Are ya daft? This is tha Temple O Evil, it didn'a get tha name by bein' nice ta people that come in killin' everythin' in sight!" Brigit sputtered into thin air. Milo thought it funny watching her try to place his disembodied voice.
"I know, but I'm half out of spells and none of us are exactly at full strength. We've all taken a few wounds." Milo continued. "We should at least listen to what he has to say. We've already lost the element of surprise anyway."
"Milo's right. We'll hear what this guy has to say." Mazi agreed, "If we don't like it then we take them down. Let's try to keep the priest alive though, he may have more information to share under different circumstances."
"Alright, but Ah don' like it one bit!" Brigit spat, "It's nah becomin' ta deal wi' tha enemy."
"Okay then, let me tell you about the room," whispered Milo, "There's two more bugbears besides the one that ran, the priest is between them. I counted four gargoyles, one at each corner of the room. There's a grotesque statue in the middle of the room and an altar in front of the priest. Oh, and some sort of fish head sculpture and fountain thing on the far wall."
"Good enough, let's get this over wi'." Brigit said.
"I'm going to stay invisible and work my way around the room. Try to talk long enough for me to get into a good position." Milo finished.
Milo crept back into the room ahead of the group and moved away from the door. The others entered shortly after, stopping just past the doorway.
The robed priest spoke as soon as he spied Mazithra, "Thari-ma, Thari-ma. Zu baya ma Tak Nari, Thari-ma. All hail the Vessel of Thari. Remember, oh Great One, Thy servant who was first to announce Thy coming when Thou comest into Thine inheritance and once again rule the worlds, Great Thari. For years had we worked to bring you to us, and the night before our plans fruition you disappeared. We had thought years of work gone in vain, yet here you are. Our faith in our Goddess has not been in vain. She has brought you here for us and fulfilled our prayers."
Mazi did not take the greeting very well.
The priest then turned to Jeremiah with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Thy people have forgotten their Purpose and Charge. In forgetting that, Thari's victory is now complete!!!"
The somber barbarian bristled at the mention of his people.
Then to Brigit, "Those who serve the Fire have taken thine father. Thy father's Soul hath gone to serve the Warlord of Thari. He is his Master now 'til the Ebon Blade is complete for my Mistress."
Brigit's hands gripped her axe haft as the priest spoke, Milo could tell she was barely able to restrain herself from charging the priest and finishing the conversation her way.
The priest raised his voice to be heard throughout the room, "Thy mewling godlet cannot save you when the Great Darkness arises, small one. Thou hast chosen thy fate...and it is death!!!"
Milo shook his head at the statement. It didn't sound like the priest had any intent to deal peacefully with him. Milo crept forward quietly.
A smoldering rage burned in Mazi's eyes. "Vessel of Nothing! I belong to no one!"
She raised her bow with a smooth deliberateness, knocked an arrow, and let it fly. Milo held his breath during the arrow's short flight. He was disappointed to see the shaft skim past one of the robed bugbears to clatter uselessly on the ground. The battle was begun.
With an inarticulate roar Jeremiah charged towards the altar. His headlong rush brought him within striking distance of the two bugbears, eliciting two lightning fast attacks. The robed bugbears missed but Milo was startled to see them attack Jeremiah with their bare hands! He had seen a travelling group of monks in Darokin that performed amazing feats with their bare hands and feet, the bugbears' movements reminded him of those monks.
Jeremiah's rush brought his sword into a monk's torso. The bugbear ignored the wound, gripped the blade, wrenched it away, and tossed it to the ground as if to mock the fierce barbarian.
The priest lowered his head and shook it sadly, but when he raised it again a maniacal gleam shone through his eyes. He uttered a spell quickly and gestured near the middle of the room. Milo felt a stillness wash over him, centered from where the priest cast. His invisibility was dispelled and he suddenly became visible again. There goes any hopes of sneaking up, he thought to himself.
Suddenly Jer was beset from all sides. Both monks attacked along with an unseen foe behind. Milo could see the enemy and he was doubly shocked. The grotesque statue of octopus, squid, and eels suddenly came to life. Four thick tentacles groped for Jeremiah. The statue was a juggernaut!
Brigit was already on her way to aid Jer, her axe bit into the tough hide of the juggernaut, drawing its attention from the beleaguered barbarian. Milo tumbled into the fight, attempting to draw the fire of one of the monks. He was successful in landing a couple of blows and the large bugbear turned to address the new threat.
The priest barked an order to the cowering bugbear behind him. The pitiful beast ran as if a horde were chasing, directly through the eastern double doors. The juggernaut swiveled and attacked Brigit, scoring numerous hits and a critical blow to the side of her head. Brigit's vision swam.
Frustrated with her last attack, Mazi broke off to the side of the door until one of the monks was in her direct line of sight, she summoned a spell to mind that she had just researched. Once she finished her arcane gestures a spark appeared at her fingertips. Lightning arced from her hands directly into the bugbear Milo was fighting, then into the priest behind. Both attempted to dodge. The lightning bolt grazed each before scattering into the ether on the far wall. Mazi grinned at the smoking priest.
Jeremiah had taken a lot of punishment. He had retrieved his sword and charged back into battle in a rage. His muscles bulged with renewed vigor and he swung his sword with increased fury. The smoldering monk fell from his attack and he continued on to the juggernaut, only to lose his sword as it clattered against the beast's hard hide.
The priest made a motion in the air before focusing back on the struggling barbarian. Milo heard a familiar noise. He looked to the source of the sound, one of the corners of the room. The gargoyle perched on the stone pedestal unfurled its wings and took flight, headed his way. The priest finished chanting another spell and gestured at Jeremiah. Milo recognized the movement as a hold person spell. He was relieved to see his friend shake it off, bolstered by his battle rage.
The other three gargoyles had sprung from their stone perches and winged towards the different party members. Two swooped down on Brigit who was hacking away at the juggernaut, one each attacked Milo and Mazi. The gargoyles proved to be more of a nuisance than a great threat, but the distraction was costly.
Milo and Mazi turned to fight the new threat in their own ways. Milo with his axes and Mazi with flames that fanned out from her fingertips. The burning hands spell crippled the gargoyle but didn't stop it.
Still facing two enemies and unable to reach the spellcasting priest, Jeremiah let loose a great bellow. He slashed down into the juggernaut, ending the tentacled threat and ripped into the monk.
The priest gauged the combat, chanted a spell, and gestured just to the left of Jeremiah. A whirling storm of metal sprang into existence and expanded to encompass Jeremiah, Brigit, and Milo. Milo sprang out of the way of the blades but Jeremiah and Brigit were caught dead-on. Brigit had already taken numerous wounds from the juggernaut and the bladestorm was too much for her. The spell sapped what little strength she had left and she fell unconscious to the floor.
The two gargoyles plaguing Brigit scanned for new targets, one choosing Mazithra and the other Jeremiah. Milo sprang to Brigit's side, avoiding the whirling blades. He drew out the staff of healing from his bag of holding and used its powerful healing spell on Brigit.
"Abercromby!" The dwarf stood to her feet shakily, slightly disoriented.
Jeremiah was barely clinging to consciousness himself. He stalked out of the bladestorm and attacked the priest directly. He broke the evil cleric's concentration and the blades vanished.
On the other side of the room Mazithra was being attacked by two of the gargoyles and finding it extremely hard to concentrate. Each gargoyle would attack with two claws and then swoop in for a bite. She set herself into a defensive stance and cast another spell. Four mirror images of Mazi split off from where she stood. The gargoyles were confused, not knowing which to attack. One slashed into Mazi, only to see her shatter into thousands of reflecting glass shards that vanished as they hit the floor.
The priest was not finished casting his evil magiks. He finished another spell and this time an inky cloud sprang from his hands to settle on Jeremiah and Brigit. Both hearty fighters resisted the unholy blight as best they could but Jeremiah was too wounded. He fell in a heap before the cackling priest.
Almost back to the point of unconsciousness herself, Brigit took a heavy step forward to engage the remaining monk, keeping it away from Jeremiah's vulnerable form. Her distraction worked, too well. The monk focused all of his energies on Brigit, lashing out with two well placed fists. Brigit fell to the ground as darkness enveloped her sight.
Milo had to decide who to heal first. It seemed that Jeremiah was worse off, laying in front of the priest. He ran to Jer's side, staff still in hand, and used its healing spell.
"Abercromby!" Milo spoke the activation word.
A few of Jeremiah's wounds closed and he opened his eyes. A steely determination was set in them as he climbed to his feet and glowered at the priest. Before Jeremiah could reach the priest again a blinding light slammed into the evil man. Mazi had cast another lightning bolt, this one scoring a direct hit! The priest was thrown backwards a few feet and dazed for a split second. Jer stepped in and added his sword to the priest's woes.
Apparently the attacks were too much for the priest. He backed up to the side wall of the alcove behind him and cast one last spell. The stone behind him seemed to soften and his body sank deep into the wall. He was gone in seconds.
The monk, no longer feeling Brigit was a threat, approached Jeremiah from behind. Two punches to the kidneys and Jeremiah crumpled again, unconscious. Milo felt like a child's toy, bouncing back and forth between his two friends. He took time to activate the staff over Brigit's prone body.
"Abercromby! Brigit stood to her feet again, resolving to stay there at all costs.
Seeing the priest gone, Mazi drew her weapons to deal with the two gargoyles still attacking her mirror images. The gargoyles that hounded her had finally dispatched her last image and bore down on the real Mazi.
Brigit stalked up to the monk that felled Jeremiah and tapped it on its shoulder with her axe, hard. The monk crumpled under the blow and she used her momentum to spin and dispatch the gargoyle behind her.
Meanwhile Milo had reached Jeremiah and used another charge from the staff of healing. "Abercromby!"
Jeremiah struggled to his feet. He glanced around, noting that there were only three gargoyles left, and took a moment to down a healing draught before re-entering the fray.
Mazi dispatched one of the two gargoyles circling her but was hit with a swiping claw from behind. Brigit struck down the other gargoyle at their end of the room and turned to attack the last one harassing Mazi. Jeremiah reached it first, cutting off a wing with a deadly stroke.
Milo took a moment to channel one of his unused spell into healing energy to bolster Jeremiah.
"Okay, that was not good." he said after he finished his healing.
"Aye, tha's an experience Ah coulda passed on." Brigit said. Jeremiah nodded his head emphatically.
They could hear footsteps approaching rapidly from the eastern door that the cowardly bugbear fled through.
"There's a lot of people on the way, I don't think they're going to want to chat." Milo warned.
"Agreed. I think we should get out of here." said Mazi.
"Ah couldn'a agree more wi' ya, elfie. Let's go." Brigit said, following Jeremiah who was already through the door.
Milo Windby
First Post
OUCH!
Four charges of the staff of healing saved us from a TPK. I was down to only a couple of spells and had no other recourse to keep Brigit and Jer alive. Without them I don't think we would have made it out alive. Mazi's two lightning bolts got rid of the priest though. It was a close fight. Had the juggernaut got rolling we probably would have been smashed in no time flat.
Frog got my vote for the RBDM club with that little configuration. The bugbear monks were a surprise too. They hit almost every turn, sometimes twice each. The juggernaut had four attacks per turn and the gargoyles three each. Throw in a dirty evil cleric and some half-baked PC tactics and you've got a nasty concoction.
He doesn't know it, but I was almost ready to boot up Frog's computer and start on another character.
To our defense, we were trying to keep the priest alive for future questioning. The smart thing would have been to take him out in the first place. To my defense, I wanted to talk it out for a little bit but was unwilling to give up my (useless) invisibility edge. Ah well, we survived, made it out, and will be heading back in to track down the evil priests in the water temple soon.
PS. Frog or the players, please post your dream sequences for that night. I'd like to get them from your perspective if possible.
Four charges of the staff of healing saved us from a TPK. I was down to only a couple of spells and had no other recourse to keep Brigit and Jer alive. Without them I don't think we would have made it out alive. Mazi's two lightning bolts got rid of the priest though. It was a close fight. Had the juggernaut got rolling we probably would have been smashed in no time flat.
Frog got my vote for the RBDM club with that little configuration. The bugbear monks were a surprise too. They hit almost every turn, sometimes twice each. The juggernaut had four attacks per turn and the gargoyles three each. Throw in a dirty evil cleric and some half-baked PC tactics and you've got a nasty concoction.
He doesn't know it, but I was almost ready to boot up Frog's computer and start on another character.
To our defense, we were trying to keep the priest alive for future questioning. The smart thing would have been to take him out in the first place. To my defense, I wanted to talk it out for a little bit but was unwilling to give up my (useless) invisibility edge. Ah well, we survived, made it out, and will be heading back in to track down the evil priests in the water temple soon.
PS. Frog or the players, please post your dream sequences for that night. I'd like to get them from your perspective if possible.
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