Of Sound Mind the Halfling Way
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the Jester
Legend
Bromworth's Pet
The entrance to Bromworth’s cave is heavy with a musky scent that the druids and rangers immediately recognize. “Bear,” Thelonious warns sharply.
Warily, our heroes enter the cave, and almost immediately the bear shambles forth with a roar, mauling at Bytor.
Someone’s knocked into a pile of rude wooden bowls and cups, and then blood’s flying through the air. Arrows whiz about, and a dagger flies out and sinks to the hilt in the bear’s huge paw. It roars, weapons bouncing harmlessly off of it. Ed’s screaming in fear and Trinia’s crying out in frustration. Bytor staggers back, clutching his arm, and torrents of blood are running down it. With a groan, he shakes his head, trying to get his wind back- and Federico’s touch sooths and heals the wound he’s taken! Roaring his approval, Bytor rushes forward again even as a grey blur- Cavedwarf’s wolf- seems to ricochet from the bear.
The bear roars another challenge, rearing up onto its hind legs, and brings its uninjured claw down on the wolf with a sickening crunch. The canine yelps and limps back away. On the other side of it, Captain Cavedwarf bellows his battle cry and swings his mighty club at it again- to no avail. It bounces impotently from the bear’s thick muscled back.
“Kill it, kill it!” Thelonious shouts, firing another arrow into it. The thing’s cut in multiple places, bleeding severely from several wounds (including the paw, which remains transfixed by the dagger). Still, it looks like it’ll only take one or two good smacks from those massive paws to kill any of our heroes! And it’s only a matter of time- either they take it down, or it starts taking them down.
Bytor screams in rage, froth flying from his mouth. He leaps onto the bear, hacking at it again and again, dealing wound after wound- and finally, he slashes his axe into its neck. With a burst of blackish blood, the bear slumps to the ground at last.
Panting, our heroes take a moment to rest before moving on to search the place.
***
Mama Flapjacks spies our heroes in the distance as they enter the ogre’s cave. “Oh no,” she moans. “Those kids are going to get in trouble, I just know it!” She quickens her steps, moving as quickly as she can to catch up with them. Ever since the winter of ’55 killed her two nieces and her nephew, she’s had a strong maternal protective urge, and she certainly doesn’t want any members of the clan to die in a cave! Heavens, no!
She hurries on.
***
Bromworth’s cave was clean compared to most ogres’. Not that our heroes know that, as they’ve never met an ogre before, much less been in his cave. Although the fight with the bear knocked stuff over and created a fair amount of disarray, the place is still fairly quick to search through. Although there are a few furs, plates, bowls and cups, there really isn’t much else of interest in the ogre’s bed chamber. The only other chamber within the cave seems to have a heavy boulder in the center and nothing else; however, even a cursory investigation reveals that the boulder is covering some sort of shaft.
Looking at it dubiously, Federico whines, “That looks heavy.”
“Let’s give it a shot,” says Thelonious, and he leans into it. Taking a deep breath, he pushes for all he’s worth. The boulder seems to shift a tiny bit. The human grunts with the effort, then stops struggling for a moment.
“Maybe,” he gasps, “some of you could help?”
The group ties a rope to the boulder so that everyone can assist. Thelonious, Bytor and Martini brace themselves next to the boulder itself, and they heave with all their might, finally pushing the boulder aside. A blast of stale air, smelling of corruption, emerges, and a downward leading stair is revealed.
“Eeewww,” Ed complains, “that stinks.”
Crinkling her nose, Trinia agrees. “Smells like dead things,” she says.
“Shall we investigate?” suggests Martini.
Hesitantly, weapons naked, they begin the descent.
Next Time: What lurks within the ogre’s crypt?? Plus- Mama reaches the party!
The entrance to Bromworth’s cave is heavy with a musky scent that the druids and rangers immediately recognize. “Bear,” Thelonious warns sharply.
Warily, our heroes enter the cave, and almost immediately the bear shambles forth with a roar, mauling at Bytor.
Someone’s knocked into a pile of rude wooden bowls and cups, and then blood’s flying through the air. Arrows whiz about, and a dagger flies out and sinks to the hilt in the bear’s huge paw. It roars, weapons bouncing harmlessly off of it. Ed’s screaming in fear and Trinia’s crying out in frustration. Bytor staggers back, clutching his arm, and torrents of blood are running down it. With a groan, he shakes his head, trying to get his wind back- and Federico’s touch sooths and heals the wound he’s taken! Roaring his approval, Bytor rushes forward again even as a grey blur- Cavedwarf’s wolf- seems to ricochet from the bear.
The bear roars another challenge, rearing up onto its hind legs, and brings its uninjured claw down on the wolf with a sickening crunch. The canine yelps and limps back away. On the other side of it, Captain Cavedwarf bellows his battle cry and swings his mighty club at it again- to no avail. It bounces impotently from the bear’s thick muscled back.
“Kill it, kill it!” Thelonious shouts, firing another arrow into it. The thing’s cut in multiple places, bleeding severely from several wounds (including the paw, which remains transfixed by the dagger). Still, it looks like it’ll only take one or two good smacks from those massive paws to kill any of our heroes! And it’s only a matter of time- either they take it down, or it starts taking them down.
Bytor screams in rage, froth flying from his mouth. He leaps onto the bear, hacking at it again and again, dealing wound after wound- and finally, he slashes his axe into its neck. With a burst of blackish blood, the bear slumps to the ground at last.
Panting, our heroes take a moment to rest before moving on to search the place.
***
Mama Flapjacks spies our heroes in the distance as they enter the ogre’s cave. “Oh no,” she moans. “Those kids are going to get in trouble, I just know it!” She quickens her steps, moving as quickly as she can to catch up with them. Ever since the winter of ’55 killed her two nieces and her nephew, she’s had a strong maternal protective urge, and she certainly doesn’t want any members of the clan to die in a cave! Heavens, no!
She hurries on.
***
Bromworth’s cave was clean compared to most ogres’. Not that our heroes know that, as they’ve never met an ogre before, much less been in his cave. Although the fight with the bear knocked stuff over and created a fair amount of disarray, the place is still fairly quick to search through. Although there are a few furs, plates, bowls and cups, there really isn’t much else of interest in the ogre’s bed chamber. The only other chamber within the cave seems to have a heavy boulder in the center and nothing else; however, even a cursory investigation reveals that the boulder is covering some sort of shaft.
Looking at it dubiously, Federico whines, “That looks heavy.”
“Let’s give it a shot,” says Thelonious, and he leans into it. Taking a deep breath, he pushes for all he’s worth. The boulder seems to shift a tiny bit. The human grunts with the effort, then stops struggling for a moment.
“Maybe,” he gasps, “some of you could help?”
The group ties a rope to the boulder so that everyone can assist. Thelonious, Bytor and Martini brace themselves next to the boulder itself, and they heave with all their might, finally pushing the boulder aside. A blast of stale air, smelling of corruption, emerges, and a downward leading stair is revealed.
“Eeewww,” Ed complains, “that stinks.”
Crinkling her nose, Trinia agrees. “Smells like dead things,” she says.
“Shall we investigate?” suggests Martini.
Hesitantly, weapons naked, they begin the descent.
Next Time: What lurks within the ogre’s crypt?? Plus- Mama reaches the party!
the Jester
Legend
Horacio said:How do you manage to keep three story hours regularly updated?
Good job, really a good job
Thanks!
Actually, only two of them are truly regular- the Early Years is sort of 'once-in-a-while.' As to how I do it, well- I love to write and have prolific game notes, so it just seems to happen naturally.
Thanks for commenting!
Lela
First Post
This right here highlights the difference between an average party and a halfling party.the Jester said:
Fighter: "It smells like death"
Thief: "Oo, treasure!"
Mage: "Where's the Cleric?"
Cleric: *coming in the cave* "Had to relieve myself. What is it?"
Mage: "Death smell."
Cleric: *Grins* "It's Turning time!"
And they all head marelly into the hole.
the Jester
Legend
A Scolding
Mama Flapjacks waddles quickly forward, circumnavigating the lake. The party has disappeared into the darkness of the cave. “Oh dear, oh dear,” she moans to herself. “That dog better be taking care of them!”
***
The path down is a rudely-carved stairway with broad, high steps. Our heroes move down them carefully, worried about falling. There are loose pebbles and stones everywhere. The place is moist; a trickle of water runs down the wall at one point, and a rivulet trickles down the edge of the stairs, carving a shallow channel in the rock and earth of the floor.
“I wonder what’s down here,” whispers Ed.
It’s very dark.
While the party ignites a few light sources, Federico creep ahead, his eyes piercing the darkness better than anyone else’s, even Sandy’s.* Scrambling down the tall steps, the clan dog leads the way at last to the bottom of the stairway and into a cellar-like chamber. It’s crudely carved, just like the stairs, and there are rocks of all sizes up to that of a watermelon scattered around everywhere. The walls are filled with ledges and holes.
Federico’s nostrils flare. He tilts his head. Death- the smell of death. This is where it’s coming from. The kobold trembles as his family comes into the room, their light announcing them before they arrive. He’s very frightened. His tail dips between his legs.
“Whoa,” breathes Martini.
“A crypt of some kind,” Captain Cavedwarf grunts, wrinkling his nose. “Look, holes. And bones.”
Indeed, there are small holes in numerous places near the base of the wall. Several shelves are on the walls as well, holding what seem to be bones and tatters of cloth.
“Did you hear something?” Trinia asks suddenly.
A rat pokes its head out from one of the piles of bones with a squeak. Then another.
“Rats,” comments Ed, stating the obvious.
Suddenly a lot more rats pop up, some from the holes, some from the bones. They seem to be sidling in to the chamber. Ed starts to cry.
Then the rats swarm forward, engulfing Martini! Trinia screams, Ed wails and Thelonious grunts in surprise. The halflings spring in to help their friend, with both Martini and Trinia slashing rats to bits. The others are moving in to position. And then, suddenly, like an avenging angel, Mama is there. From out of nowhere- and how the hell did she get here anyway?!- she cries, “Leave those kids alone!” and starts rushing forward!
Our heroes redouble their efforts to fend off the rats. Many of them are engulfed; Trinia, covered by crawling, biting rodents, can’t even attack. She screams as she tries to brush them off, and though she knocks many from her there are dozens more to replace them.
It seems hopeless, but then suddenly Federico is singing a taunting melody at the rats, calling them a litany of names and encouraging the rest of the party. Thelonious and Bytor stand grimly side-by-side as they hew at the sea of rats around them. Blood sprays everywhere and naked tails and half-rodents are tumbling through the air. Our heroes are covered in bites. But finally, enough of the rats are killed that the swarm loses cohesion and the individual rats disperse.
“Aggh! That hurt!” Cavedwarf grunts. Ed is crying.
“I think we need to rest,” groans Thelonious.
”Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“Uh...” As one, the party turns sheepishly to face Mama.
“You kids are in trouble now! What do you think you’re doing, coming off here and fighting rats? You could get hurt! One of you could put your eye out!” Her stern face is red with anger as she lectures them.
“But Mama,” says Ed, “it was for the good of our people. We just wanted to help.”
“You need to listen to your elders! They’ll tell you how you can help! And look at you- you’re all bit up and bleeding.”
“Mama,” asks Thelonious shyly, “you didn’t happen to bring any of your prize-winning banana nut muffins?”
“Of course I did, dear,” Mama says, and with a sigh and a snack all wrongs are forgiven.
*As a stout (halfling subrace), Sandy has low-light vision; the kobold has, of course, darkvision.
Next Time: Our heroes have an unfortunate learning experience involving leaving holes open.
Mama Flapjacks waddles quickly forward, circumnavigating the lake. The party has disappeared into the darkness of the cave. “Oh dear, oh dear,” she moans to herself. “That dog better be taking care of them!”
***
The path down is a rudely-carved stairway with broad, high steps. Our heroes move down them carefully, worried about falling. There are loose pebbles and stones everywhere. The place is moist; a trickle of water runs down the wall at one point, and a rivulet trickles down the edge of the stairs, carving a shallow channel in the rock and earth of the floor.
“I wonder what’s down here,” whispers Ed.
It’s very dark.
While the party ignites a few light sources, Federico creep ahead, his eyes piercing the darkness better than anyone else’s, even Sandy’s.* Scrambling down the tall steps, the clan dog leads the way at last to the bottom of the stairway and into a cellar-like chamber. It’s crudely carved, just like the stairs, and there are rocks of all sizes up to that of a watermelon scattered around everywhere. The walls are filled with ledges and holes.
Federico’s nostrils flare. He tilts his head. Death- the smell of death. This is where it’s coming from. The kobold trembles as his family comes into the room, their light announcing them before they arrive. He’s very frightened. His tail dips between his legs.
“Whoa,” breathes Martini.
“A crypt of some kind,” Captain Cavedwarf grunts, wrinkling his nose. “Look, holes. And bones.”
Indeed, there are small holes in numerous places near the base of the wall. Several shelves are on the walls as well, holding what seem to be bones and tatters of cloth.
“Did you hear something?” Trinia asks suddenly.
A rat pokes its head out from one of the piles of bones with a squeak. Then another.
“Rats,” comments Ed, stating the obvious.
Suddenly a lot more rats pop up, some from the holes, some from the bones. They seem to be sidling in to the chamber. Ed starts to cry.
Then the rats swarm forward, engulfing Martini! Trinia screams, Ed wails and Thelonious grunts in surprise. The halflings spring in to help their friend, with both Martini and Trinia slashing rats to bits. The others are moving in to position. And then, suddenly, like an avenging angel, Mama is there. From out of nowhere- and how the hell did she get here anyway?!- she cries, “Leave those kids alone!” and starts rushing forward!
Our heroes redouble their efforts to fend off the rats. Many of them are engulfed; Trinia, covered by crawling, biting rodents, can’t even attack. She screams as she tries to brush them off, and though she knocks many from her there are dozens more to replace them.
It seems hopeless, but then suddenly Federico is singing a taunting melody at the rats, calling them a litany of names and encouraging the rest of the party. Thelonious and Bytor stand grimly side-by-side as they hew at the sea of rats around them. Blood sprays everywhere and naked tails and half-rodents are tumbling through the air. Our heroes are covered in bites. But finally, enough of the rats are killed that the swarm loses cohesion and the individual rats disperse.
“Aggh! That hurt!” Cavedwarf grunts. Ed is crying.
“I think we need to rest,” groans Thelonious.
”Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“Uh...” As one, the party turns sheepishly to face Mama.
“You kids are in trouble now! What do you think you’re doing, coming off here and fighting rats? You could get hurt! One of you could put your eye out!” Her stern face is red with anger as she lectures them.
“But Mama,” says Ed, “it was for the good of our people. We just wanted to help.”
“You need to listen to your elders! They’ll tell you how you can help! And look at you- you’re all bit up and bleeding.”
“Mama,” asks Thelonious shyly, “you didn’t happen to bring any of your prize-winning banana nut muffins?”
“Of course I did, dear,” Mama says, and with a sigh and a snack all wrongs are forgiven.
*As a stout (halfling subrace), Sandy has low-light vision; the kobold has, of course, darkvision.
Next Time: Our heroes have an unfortunate learning experience involving leaving holes open.
the Jester
Legend
A Scolding
Oops, double post again... darn!
Well, the bright side is that encourages me to work on another update...
Oops, double post again... darn!
Well, the bright side is that encourages me to work on another update...
Last edited:
the Jester
Legend
A Lesson About Leaving Mysterious Holes Open
Softly bedded down for the night, our heroes are asleep.
Except, of course, for the one on watch- at this point in the night, it’s Captain Cavedwarf.
The ogre’s cave is fairly cold; he’s walking around to keep warm. It’s dark, but dwarves don’t have a problem with that. So when he catches a glimpse of shambling movement and whirls to confront whatever it is, he instantly realizes, We should have plugged the hole back up! He screams a warning.
It’s big.
The stink of rotten flesh, of corruption, rolls off the thing. Greasy gobbets of flesh hand from old wounds. Easily eleven feet high, the thing strongly resembles Bromworth; but where Bromworth was clearly alive, this hideous thing is clearly undead.
Cavedwarf’s wolf is growling fiercely, and as the giant zombie stumbles towards our heroes (now blearily opening their eyes and gagging on the stench) the wolf lunges forward, tearing at the zombie’s leg. Federico is barking and yipping in fear as a chorus of terrified cries and shrieks rises from the halflings.
Captain Cavedwarf springs forward and swings his club, but he stumbles over someone’s blanket and almost trips. He catches himself but almost falls, then watches in horror as the zombies reaches down and crushes the wolf, snapping its spine in an instant. There’s a final yelp from the wolf, and then nothing more as the zombie casually tosses the body aside. Gritting his teeth, the Captain swings again, and this time he connects, but his club barely hurts it! Everyone else is struggling to their feet, drawing out weapons and such; It’s me and it for another few seconds, Cavedwarf gloomily realizes.
“Back off, you! Leave those kids alone!” cries the voice of Mama Flapjacks. She’s in the corner, brandishing her holy symbol like purse held as a weapon. She prays her faith will be strong enough to drive it away; but it’s too big for her small stature.
The ogrish zombie ignores the symbol and Mama’s attempt to drive it off; it brings a huge club of rotten wood down on Captain Cavedwarf’s head. “ARGH!” the Captain yells, staggering and reeling. Daggers keep flying at the monster, but they’re just bouncing off or missing. Need help here, Cavedwarf grunts to himself.
Ed lights a torch. Their weapons don’t seem to be doing much. Maybe fire will scare it off or hurt it! Tears streaming down her face, she pulls the torch up and prepares to strike if the zombie should come close enough.
Finally a dagger lands deeply in the zombie, sinking almost to the hilt. Trinia cheers her throw; but the zombie is so big, and her dagger is so small, that it doesn’t even slow the monster down. Then Mama throws a handful of rocks at the monster, pelting it with several, even as it swings its heavy club at her! With a yelp, she dodges out of the way.
Bytor and Thelonious move to flank the monster and start hacking at it, and finally our heroes start to make some headway! Their axe and sword combo seems to deal severe damage to the zombie, and Captain Cavedwarf realizes, Its flesh is tough and resistant to my attacks, but their slashing weapons seem to work fine! With a savage roar and a grin, he pulls out a hunting knife.
Now the things is surrounded by Thelonious, Bytor, Ed (with her torch) and Cavedwarf (with a knife). It swings at first one of them and then another, but they keep darting in and out and avoiding its blows! More and more slashes and burns are landing on the ogre, and finally, with a whoop, Bytor lands a final flow on the side of the monster and it collapses. Putrescent gasses rise from the corpse.
“Whew, that stinks,” Trinia complains.
Gasping, our heroes gather up their stuff and exit the cave. “Let’s rest outside,” suggests Bytor. “But first, we should go plug that hole again!”
They do so. No other horrors have yet emerged from the lower levels; so nothing ambushes them as they roll the boulder back into place over the hole. Then they go back outside, to where they can see the stars, and rest for a couple of days.
Next Time: Into the Ogre’s Crypt!
Softly bedded down for the night, our heroes are asleep.
Except, of course, for the one on watch- at this point in the night, it’s Captain Cavedwarf.
The ogre’s cave is fairly cold; he’s walking around to keep warm. It’s dark, but dwarves don’t have a problem with that. So when he catches a glimpse of shambling movement and whirls to confront whatever it is, he instantly realizes, We should have plugged the hole back up! He screams a warning.
It’s big.
The stink of rotten flesh, of corruption, rolls off the thing. Greasy gobbets of flesh hand from old wounds. Easily eleven feet high, the thing strongly resembles Bromworth; but where Bromworth was clearly alive, this hideous thing is clearly undead.
Cavedwarf’s wolf is growling fiercely, and as the giant zombie stumbles towards our heroes (now blearily opening their eyes and gagging on the stench) the wolf lunges forward, tearing at the zombie’s leg. Federico is barking and yipping in fear as a chorus of terrified cries and shrieks rises from the halflings.
Captain Cavedwarf springs forward and swings his club, but he stumbles over someone’s blanket and almost trips. He catches himself but almost falls, then watches in horror as the zombies reaches down and crushes the wolf, snapping its spine in an instant. There’s a final yelp from the wolf, and then nothing more as the zombie casually tosses the body aside. Gritting his teeth, the Captain swings again, and this time he connects, but his club barely hurts it! Everyone else is struggling to their feet, drawing out weapons and such; It’s me and it for another few seconds, Cavedwarf gloomily realizes.
“Back off, you! Leave those kids alone!” cries the voice of Mama Flapjacks. She’s in the corner, brandishing her holy symbol like purse held as a weapon. She prays her faith will be strong enough to drive it away; but it’s too big for her small stature.
The ogrish zombie ignores the symbol and Mama’s attempt to drive it off; it brings a huge club of rotten wood down on Captain Cavedwarf’s head. “ARGH!” the Captain yells, staggering and reeling. Daggers keep flying at the monster, but they’re just bouncing off or missing. Need help here, Cavedwarf grunts to himself.
Ed lights a torch. Their weapons don’t seem to be doing much. Maybe fire will scare it off or hurt it! Tears streaming down her face, she pulls the torch up and prepares to strike if the zombie should come close enough.
Finally a dagger lands deeply in the zombie, sinking almost to the hilt. Trinia cheers her throw; but the zombie is so big, and her dagger is so small, that it doesn’t even slow the monster down. Then Mama throws a handful of rocks at the monster, pelting it with several, even as it swings its heavy club at her! With a yelp, she dodges out of the way.
Bytor and Thelonious move to flank the monster and start hacking at it, and finally our heroes start to make some headway! Their axe and sword combo seems to deal severe damage to the zombie, and Captain Cavedwarf realizes, Its flesh is tough and resistant to my attacks, but their slashing weapons seem to work fine! With a savage roar and a grin, he pulls out a hunting knife.
Now the things is surrounded by Thelonious, Bytor, Ed (with her torch) and Cavedwarf (with a knife). It swings at first one of them and then another, but they keep darting in and out and avoiding its blows! More and more slashes and burns are landing on the ogre, and finally, with a whoop, Bytor lands a final flow on the side of the monster and it collapses. Putrescent gasses rise from the corpse.
“Whew, that stinks,” Trinia complains.
Gasping, our heroes gather up their stuff and exit the cave. “Let’s rest outside,” suggests Bytor. “But first, we should go plug that hole again!”
They do so. No other horrors have yet emerged from the lower levels; so nothing ambushes them as they roll the boulder back into place over the hole. Then they go back outside, to where they can see the stars, and rest for a couple of days.
Next Time: Into the Ogre’s Crypt!
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