Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="jydog1" data-source="post: 5665035" data-attributes="member: 48156">Session #42 - August 22, 2011 - They Really Do Grow Up So Fast, Don't They?notes:  sometimes you can get lured into a false sense of security by your GM and totally forget that he's an evil, evil man.  Kudos to him for springing a one-two punch on poor Grezz that had to be months in the planning.  As we have possibly made 10th level it's interesting to see that yes, we are somewhat of a force?  player?  meddler? in world events.  Quite shocking.  Let's just say Grezz had an interesting few hours once he got to Magnidaar.That's a spoiler, right?  That we handled old Barl?  Was there ever a doubt?  We're heroes.  That doesn't mean there weren't hairy moments and scary ego vs ego fights as well.  And my, once you get past the inbred ogres and horrible epic creatures of chaos the north really is quite wonderful, isn't it?  Makes you want to build a little place of your own . . .Dinner was kebabs and cous cous.  Due to GM work it may be up to a month before we play again.  Boo!  We're also starting to roll up characters for the concurrent campaign I'm going to run (so the poor GM can finally play!) using the Jade Regent path as the base.  Five players tried 4d6, but only one kept what they rolled.  The others accepted their kindly new GMs benevolent offer of a 20 point buy.  Looks like we'll have a paladin, a fighter, a witch, a ninja/monk, and a spellcaster of some sort.  Good mix.  My excitement at running is overshadowing my extreme nervousness at running.From the journal of Baron Grezzalik M'rethen:I went over to see if there were any sort of useful things among the wight's remains - there weren't - and while I was away Londis' grip on his new hammer 'slipped,' resulting in the demise of the remaining hag.  He had the good grace to at least look a tiny bit abashed, but given that a hag is basically a creature of pure evil I wasn't as upset as I could have been.  Or maybe should have been.  I don't know.  I'm learning that there are many shades of gray in the world.We headed over to find the giants and, yes, there were where she'd said they'd be.  A big stone giant hurled a few stones at us, and as the warriors rushed in I zapped it with a wand of magic missile before rushing forward and casting Haste on everyone.  The clash of combat sounded from around the corner and I moved over to find a spectral hand waiting for me, no doubt being wielded by the ebony-skinned giant at the other side of the 200 foot long chamber."Ah, there's the sorcerer!"  A spell brushed against me and my vision flicked for a second before returning to normal.  I countered by using a spell through the staff that was new to me called ball lightning.  One seemed to bother the giant the others were fighting, but the caster sneered derisively and said, "Pah, shadow magic.  Perhaps the stories are exaggerated."Will they never, ever learn?  Trixie was a few feet away from me, having started her song via her kazoo.  I pulled her in front of me, the spun her around so she could see the big guy in the back.  It was close to fifteen feet tall and Trixie made a sound between a curse and 'eep!' before whipping out her Rod of Wonder. A scarlet beam lanced across the room and hit the massive club he was carrying, and it flickered out of existence.  The giant looked at his empty hand and frowned.  "Well, that's bothersome."  He still wasn't getting it.  Like I said, they never learn.  As I clapped Trix on the shoulder and said, "Nice job," Barl flew towards us and, producing a wand, zapped Londis with the sickly black light that signifies an Envervation  spell.  Londis staggered a bit but continued to fight, and while the giant concentrated on him Reznak - finally using the keen rapier - tore it to shreds from behind.  Then it got a little scary.The giant started to head my way and Tofa, with Hidarga glowing and vibrating like never before, knocked the thing sprawling.  She hit it so hard its chest exploded, and, as her eyes completely rolled back in her head, shoved her hand in and pulled out the still beating heart.  Then followed a cry of triumph before she crushed it in her hand, and I thought Hidarga was going to shake itself to pieces.  But a few seconds later she shook her head and seemed a little more . . . with us.  [OOC]it was a will vs will ego fight as the sword tried to take over, But Tofa was able to fend it off and keep control . .  in round 1[/OOC]In the meantime I threw a fireball at the giant, leaving it as fire as I figured if he knew I was coming, he knew I was an air sorcerer.  The flames flickers around him and winked out with no effect.  Balls.[OOC]Out thought myself there.  The ball lightning, as lame as it was because he saved, should have tipped me off that he wasn't warded against electricity.[/OOC]Barl grunted and vanished as Londis cried out warnings of illusion-covered crevasses.  Tofa chugged a fly potion and was able to sense the giant rushing either toward or directly at me and Trixie.  With her hovering overhead I stepped in front of the halfling and cast a Web spell - I wasn't sure I'd caught it but it would slow it down at the very least.  Reznak and Londis hit him again, and Trixie and I peeled away spells with Dispel Magics.  It didn't stop him from reanimating his fallen comrade, who grabbed the inquisitor and started squeezing.  Londis had canceled the caster's invisibility and Tofa hit him so hard I was amazed he kept his feet [OOC]83 points of damage in a single round - hasted raging barbarians are scary things[/OOC].  Evidently he was of the same mind because he rumbled, "I'm not dying for Mokmorian - I surrender!"I was more than okay with that - there was surely a font of information in this one - but Tofa, floating over his head and actually frothing at the mouth, wound up to hit him again.  "No, Tofa!  We need him alive!"She looked at me with scary, scary eyes and the gore-covered sword in her hand began to shake more violently than ever.  For a good ten seconds this went on as light poured from Hidarga.  Then Tofa howled with victory and brandished the weapon above her head.  As I watched a rune etched into the blade slowly began to glow, matching three others similarly lit (OOC: Tofa won another ego vs ego will battle and unlocked another power on her blade, Giantbane.  that might come in handy.  If she'd lost the sword probably would have taken over).Reznak cut the arms off the zombie holding Londis and said something in a cocky tone I couldn't quite make out.  Londis responded by picking up one of the arms and clouting him with it. Yeah, he was fine.Barl, in exchange for his life, was willing to part with a great deal of information.  Mokmorian was the one who was uniting the giant tribes in an ancient city called Jorgenfest, up in the mountains by the Storval Plateau.  He was an exiled runt who'd found power somewhere, along with seven lamia matriarchs.  Well, five now.  He was planning on wiping out all of humanity, blah blah blah, another loon with delusions of grandeur.  Barl had been sent down to enslave the Kreig ogres and put them to work forging weapons for the giant army.  Lucretia had appeared to work on making a mass sacrifice for Mokmorian, who liked to feed on souls.  Something told me we'd be making a trip up to the Plateau soon.Back in Turtleback Ferry the town was still slowly rebuilding, and it was clear the place has a serious case of hero worship for Londis.  He seemed to think it was the natural order.  Probably have them all worshiping his one true god before long.After saying goodbye to Jacardos and filling him in on his stepdaughter, we headed back to Magnidaar.  We passed ships heading up with reinforcements who were a little late to the party, but it wasn't like the Black Arrows  - both of them - couldn't use the extra hands.  I kept picking at the giant for more info on the way down, and also bothered Londis about the Evil Book.  He just insisted it 'had been taken care of' and refused to elaborate.  Quite frustrating.Arriving in town, we marched over to the Lord Magistrates's compound with Barl in tow, which drew expressions of wonder from even the jaded citizens of the city.  Arriving at the gates we were of course stopped by the guards.  "Please let The Lord Mayor know his agents are back from the north."  They eyed the giant uneasily and one started to edge away, but Reznak stepped forward and produced a scroll of some sort that he handed to the captain.  "You see what this grants me, yes?"  The captain read it and nodded.  My jaw twitched in irritation.  "What?  Listen, we'll wait here until you get us clearance."Reznak turned and smiled.  "No, see, you all work for me.  I'm not waiting, but if you want to stand around out here that's fine.  I'm taking the giant and going in.""No, you aren't.  And we do not work for you."  Tofa spoke in a soft tone but the steel was obvious in her voice.  Londis, Trixie and I nodded as we took up positions beside her.  I was trying not to glare but probably failing - he'd been lying to us all along, had known who we were and what we were doing and never thought it was proper to clue us in - by Shelyn's Grace, I'm suspicious of others at the best of times.  My mouth set in a grim line. Reznak looked at us for a long moment before throwing up his hands.  "Fine, wait out here if you want.  I'm going in."  And he did, leaving us.  After he went the giant chuckled and shook his head.After about twenty minutes the orders came to let us in, and we followed a large cadre of guards.   Barl was led away toward a tower and he gave us a final nod, resigned to whatever fate awaited him.  I'd kept my word and kept him alive as long as I could, and I felt no guilt.  He might not have been evil by nature, but he was opposed to what was good and right and he'd earned his predicament.  We were ushered in a large room that contained the immensely obese Lord Mayor Haldern Grobarus and a copiously weeping Reznak, who was moaning about his brother.  the same brother he hadn't seemed too upset about over the two weeks it took us to get back to town, of course.  After his display at the gate I would trust him about as far as I could throw him, and picking up and tossing things is not my forte.'Well, do make yourself at home and tell me what happened.  Don't mind Reznak here, he's just distraught over the loss of his brother.""Mmm," I said.  "You knew his brother?"Haldern offered a greasy smile.  "We're related, yes.  Now, tell me of what you discovered."So we did, which took quite a while.  He agreed that news of the giants massing should be passed along to the Queen, but who knows if he'll actually do so.  After we'd finished he began doling out rewards - a writ for Trixie allowing her to play anywhere in town; news that Tofa's brother had a ship in town and discussions were undergoing for some freight contracts; and a load of extra cash for each of us as a bonus.  He looked at me and said, "Well, thank you all, but I have some business here with Grezzalik, so if you don't mind we'll move to another chamber.  Oh, and Londis, would you please join us as well?"Trix asked me if I wanted her to wait and I said yes - how long could it take me to be made the Assistant Minister of Magic Licensing in the 3rd Ward or whatever pretend political position he was going to give me?  Tofa headed off to see her brother.We were led by the massive Mayor and his assistant through a maze of corridors to a window-lined room with wonderful views of the city and a large bare desk.  A door sat in the wall on the far side of the room, oddly sized.  "Sit, sit," the Mayor urged as his assistant helped him remove his robes . . . then several layers of padding . . . and his wig . . . to reveal a slim older man, who favored us with a knowing smile.  At that moment I knew that if we had a disagreement it was unlikely I'd be leaving this room alive.   he produced a bottle of what appeared to be a very fine liquor and poured himself a glass.  We were not offered any.  After taking a sip he said, "Well, it seems we have some business to settle, Mr. M'rethen.  As do we, Mr. Baelarn."At that Londis went rigid.  "How do you know that name?"  The Mayor merely smiled and said nothing.  "Fine.  Where is he?"In response to that Haldern reached into his desk and produced an envelope, which he handed to the inquisitor after saying, "We're not quite done yet, though.  You might want to listen to this.  Now, it seems you're quite the hero in Turtleback Ferry, that squalid little dump.  When I consider the opportunities available in that region, my mind whirls with the possibilities for improvement.  For instance, the potential lumber supply is staggering, and I find the current commodities system in town to be . . . vexing."I hid a grin.  He didn't like the Scarnettis either."So I see a chance to make Turtleback Ferry into something better, something wonderful. Of course, it is a large region and that needs governing of sorts.  Mr. M'rethen, you are from House Renth, no?"I snorted.  "Was, and only in the vaguest sense.  I have no connection to them any longer."He waved that away.  "Regardless.  This new asset of Magnidaar is going to need someone to hold sway over it."  And he looked at me.I blinked several times.  "You want me to be a regent or something?"Haldern laughed.  "No, no.  that's silly.  That's not what I mean at all."  I relaxed before he added, "I want you to be the Baron."There was a long, long silence.  Finally I said, "You want me to be Baron?  To be nobility?""Well, yes. I want you to handle the civil side of things.  Be the Baron, the ruler.  I'd like you, Mr. Baelarn, to be in charge of the military up there.  You're popular in the town, so that should help you."Londis thought a few seconds before nodding.  He then cocked his head at me.  "I'd have to answer to him?"  "On some things.  I'll provide you with a staff, of course, and you'll have several positions of your own to fill, Mr. M'rethen.  Now if either of you doesn't want this you can just walk out that door over there and we'll be done.  Really."  he gave a smile that was supposed to be assuring but was unsettling instead.I had questions.  Londis had questions.  I won't bore you with the details but the Mayor would be getting us up there as a buffer while having his own people no doubt in the important positions.  Tofa's brother would get the shipping contract for the lumber.  There was no doubt I we were being manipulated, but with the assurance we could be absentee leaders to do our own things it wasn't the worst idea I'd ever heard.  I still had misgivings as we shook hands, but it seemed like the thing to do.  plus, steady income.  I had about a thousand things I wanted to buy and they were all expensive.  Saving the world is a costly business.Trixie started to crab at us when we came out, no dount about the amount of time it had taken, but stopped when she saw me.  She turned to Londis and asked, "What's wrong with Grezz?"Londis chuckled, which is actually a very disquieting thing.  'That's actually 'Baron Grezz' now."Trixie looked at me with a skeptical expression.  "Really?"I nodded, somewhat numb.  "Yeah.  Gonna move into Fort Rannick.  Londis is going to be head of military.  You want a job?"She frowned.  "Like an actual job with responsibilities?""No.  More like a title thing that pays while you do what you want to do." I gave her look that meant there was more to it than that, and she gave me a slight nod.  We'd talk about it later.Londis turned to Reznak, who had also waited, and said, "I might need a Master of Spies.  Are you interested?""Yes!""Good.  Your first task is to find someone.  Immediately.  How familiar are you with Korvosa?"Trix and I wanted to get back to the Heidmarches and check on those important to us - Shotsie and my mother.  When he reached the gates of the estate the guard stopped us and suggested we go see the Lord and Lady immediately.  Trixie shook her head and said she was going to see Shotsie.  I figured another hour or so wouldn't matter, so I agreed to head over to the dining hall.Waiting for me were Canayven and Sheila Heidmarch, Tinuvel Arundevillan, Joardic Hemurl, and others I hadn't met yet.  After exchanging pleasantries they asked me to tell them what we'd found at the Skull Dam and I did, in detail.  About halfway through Canayven motioned for me to stop for a moment and whispered into the ear of someone I didn't know, who scurried from the room.  I heard 'sending' and 'headquarters.'When I finished Shelia asked me if I'd told the Academica yet.  When I relied that i hadn't she nodded with approval."Please don't.  A discovery like this, this is what we live for.  We've sent message to Absolom and there will be dozens of us up there studying what you've found in a matter of days."  She shook her head and smiled ruefully.  "You and your friend have a way of tripping over things nobody's been able to find or figure out for hundreds of years, Grezzalik."I shrugged, uncertain of how to respond. It wasn't like they didn't know there was a huge Thassilonian-built dam up there, but had nobody ever tried to open the doors before?  We chatted for a while about the other events before I asked if I could go see my mother.  Sheila's face hardened a bit and she asked, "Has your little friend gone to see after her . . . lizard?"Uh oh.  'I believe so, yes.""Good.  He's been . .  a bit of trouble since she left."I hid a smile as I left.My cabin was quiet as I entered, but a light was shining under the door to my mother's room.  Knocking a few times, I waited a couple of seconds before opening it and saying, "Hi, Mom.  I'm home."The woman who was standing there was not my mother but in fact was, as she turned around,  an extremely attractive young woman with dark hair.  he face lit up with a bright smile and she clapped twice before spreading her arms wide.  Her eyes flashed with excitement and her hair, well, her hair started to rise up around her head . . . because it wasn't hair.  It was a great number of thin black snakes.  Then with glee in her voice she said, "HI DAD!"more notes: and the session ended.   Nice shaking up of Grezz's world, eh?  The young lady is evidently indeed my daughter Euyale, the result of the liaison between myself and Medea.  As time passes differently around her she's like 15 or 16 instead of a few months old, and she's been watching us and our adventures and she's OUR BIGGEST FAN EVER!  Oh, and she may be part gorgon (duh).   I knew there would be a kid to complicate things at some point, but not quite like this.  oh well, like I always say, what's the point in having imaginary alter egos if you can't make poor life decisions for them?  So now Grezz is a baron.  And a dad.  And probably heading to the center of Gianttown.  Oh, and agonizing over his single 5th level spell.  Teleport?  Suffocation?  Lightning Arc?</blockquote>

Verification