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Message: <blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 1471" data-attributes="member: 11">Session #17 (part II)Kazrack stirred. Belear was wiping the young dwarf’s sweaty forehead with a rag. “Huh? Wha. . ?” Kazrack coughed, trying to sit up. Belear gently pushed him back down. “Rest, you have been poisoned, but I think you have sweated it out by now,” Belear said. “Now you will need a little rest.” “How long have I been unconscious?” Kazrack asked. “How did I get here?” “I was doing my prayers when you were tossed in here and the door was locked behind you,” Belear said. “I am not even sure what happened, though I assume we are now their prisoners as opposed to their guests.” Kazrack explained what had happened to Belear. “I suspect the Chieftain is already dead and he just wanted us to take the blame.” “Perhaps, but we must be ready at a moment’s notice to get out of here,” Belear said. ----- Ratchis stirred. He was on the floor, his head pounding and foggy. He looked over in the dark and saw Martin lying on his bed. The Watch-Mage groaned and then sat up quickly with a gasp and then swooned. He held his head up with one hand, massaging his temples. “Are you okay, Martin?” Ratchis asked. Martin suddenly scrambled to reach into his hood and pulled the stiff form of Thomas the Squirrel out. Martin’s eyes widened as he held his poor little familiar in his hands. “Is he…?” Ratchis began, but Martin held Thomas up to his ear and heard his shallow little breathing. “No,” replied Martin. He laid the squirrel gently down on the bed and went over and lit the lantern on the nightstand. There was the sound of a key in the door, and Ratchis motioned for Martin to be quiet, and he crept over to the door. It opened and a tiny form carefully stepped in. Ratchis stepped forward with a fist in the air, and Cornelius dropped his ring of kings and let out a cry of fear. “Don’t hurt me!” Ratchis lowered his hand, “I won’t hurt you, Cornelius, but we need you help.” “I think bad stuff is happening,” Cornelius said, meekly, scooping up the keys quickly. “Yes, it is,” said Martin going back over the bed to look over Thomas. “You have to help us get out of here,” Ratchis implored. “Uh, I…uh, I don’t know if I can, I’ll get in trouble,” Cornelius said, backing towards the doorway. “We need the keys,” Ratchis said. “We need to free our friends and get out of here, or many people will die.” Cornelius held the ring of keys to his chest,” I snuck the keys from Uncle Distil’s room, if he finds their gone I’ll get in trouble.” “I will not force the keys from you,” Ratchis said as gently as he could. “But we need them.” “I’m gonna lock the door back up and then I’m gonna go get Cousin Obie. He’ll know what to do,” Cornelius said. “Okay,” Ratchis said with a sigh. “Don’t talk to anyone with green eyes,” added Martin. The young gnome closed the door behind him and they heard the key in the lock. Ratchis turned and saw Martin clearly in the light for the firs time since they had woken up. “Whose blood is this?” Ratchis asked, pointing to the large brown stain and dried bits of unidentifiable stuff on Martin’s robes. “Not mine,” Martin paused, and cleared his throat. “It must be…I must be Chance’s.” “What happened to Chance?” Martin was silent for a moment and then he choked back a sob and breathed in deeply, “He’s dead… It… It tore his head off.” The Watch-Mage buried his face in his hands and cried. Ratchis stepped up to him and clasped a hand on his shoulder. “You must be strong.” “I will,” Martin said, wiping his tears on his sleeve. “I don’t feel good,” Thomas’s voice said weakly in Martin’s head. The Watch-Mage stroked his squirrel lovingly, “Ssssh, it’s okay. You’re going to be okay.” ------ Jeremy awoke a start. Beorth was standing at the door to their room listening at the door. “I think someone just went down the hall,” he said. “What is the last thing you remember?” Jeremy asked, shaking his head clear of its fog. “Chance…” Beorth paused. “…dying.” “What was that thing?” Jeremy asked. “It wasn’t really a gnome was it?” “I don’t know,” Beorth replied. “It was some kind of fiend, I guess.” “We have to get out of here,” Jeremy said, and then suddenly Beorth, without replying, took a few steps away from the door and ran shoulder first into it. The door shuddered, but remained intact. The paladin ran back further and slammed into it again, to no effect. He rubbed his shoulder. “I don’t think that is going to work,” he said. ----- Ratchis and Martin waited for nearly an hour when finally they heard a voice at the door. “Martin? Ratchis? I am going to unlock the door, but keep it down.” It was Obenhammer. The gnome wore a face of deep sadness. He unlocked the door, and then moved down the hall to let out Jeremy and Beorth, and then Kazrack and Belear. “We have to get you out of here fast,” Obenhammer said. “Mozek’s supporters will be checking on you soon, so gather your things. He moved down to the door to the room that had belonged to Jana and Chance. Beorth knocked on the door and there was no answer. He swung it open and said softly, “Jana?” There was still no reply. Beorth stepped into the dark room, followed by Ratchis. They found Jana curled up into a ball in the corner of the room silent. “Jana, we have to go,” Beorth said gently. She did not reply. She did not even look up. “Grab her things,” Ratchis said to Beorth. “And any of Chance’s things that might be around.” Ratchis gently scooped up Jana in his mighty arms and carried her out of the room. Her eyes just stared forward, not registering anything around her, but swollen and encircled by black. The party gathered in the common area and spread out their gear among themselves for easy carrying. Jana’s familiar came off the wall and crawled up Ratchis’ leg and into the folds of Jana’s skirt. “We are going to need our weapons,’ said Kazrack to Obenhammer. “It is already being taken care of. I am leading you somewhere safe, for now, and others will meet us there with your weapons and from there we will direct you as to how to get out of here,” Obenhammer explained. “What is that thing that returned pretending to be your chief?” asked Ratchis. “Unfortunately, I think that really is Mozek,” Obie said. “I am going to take you somewhere where someone might be able to explain things to you a little better. We have to get out of here, follow me.” Obenhammer led them through the door to the hallway that led to Distilbowden’s rooms and through that cozy suite out into another hall, and then down a series of shabbier and shabbier passages, and down a narrow stairway, and through several doors. Except for Kazrack, the party had to duck most of time as they moved at the frantic pace, Obenhamer set. Ratchis carried Jana the whole time and she did not respond at all. Finally, they were traveling down a round dirt tunnel only about 5 feet high. It went straight for a long time and then came to a round door, which Obenhammer unlocked and ushered everyone though. Inside the round, there waited four other gnomes, the party had never seen before. The party could see their weapons and armor on the floor in the corner, and Obenhammer went over and began to distribute them. One of the gnomes stepped forward. He wore his long silvery hair back in a pony-tail, and was dressed in studded leather armor and had a hammer at his side. “My name is Greddadiddlerun,” he said. “You don’t know me, but I know you. Unfortuantely, I was part of the group involved in what went on in Summit.” The party looked at him with surprise, except for Jana who still remained curled in a ball on the floor where Ratchis had placed her. “We have been trying to frighten the humans,” Greddadiddlerun explained. “In the Chieftain’s absence, the Interim Chief would not allow us to take that course of action, but we did it anyway and the next thing we knew we were declared ‘traitors’, howeer, family and friendship cannot be undone by the words of an usurper.” “What in the Nine Hells is he?” asked Ratchis. “We are not really sure. We have reason to believe he is some kind of fiend.” “How did he live among you so many years and no one notice?” Kazrack asked. “Well, everyone always had their suspicions that he might be a vicious gnome (27) , but there was no evidence,” Greddadiddlerun explained. “His father did take a foreign bride, a gnome from far to the northwest people said, though we know of no gnomish settlement there. Strange things always happened around him and his brothers, and they were bullies.” “We are going to kill him,” said Ratchis quietly. The gnomes just nodded their heads, and then Greddadiddlerun spoke again,” This is going to be hard on our people, but I fear for the life of our chieftain. Mozek left for several months as we know and some of us think he might have been trying to go after the chieftain and do something to him. We need you help. We need you to go to the elves near the human town of Ogre’s Bluff and seek out our chieftain and if not then to talk to the elves and get their help as to what we can do to get rid of Mozek, and help with the encroaching humans.” It was silent for a time. “So the haunting and such in Summit was you and other gnomes?” Martin asked. “Yes, though something went wrong. Our spells began to act strangely and we are not sure why,” Greddadiddlerun said. “We have been using spells and illusions to try to slow the human advancement. This was our chieftain’s original plan though he never instituted it while he was here.” “So the dragon was part of the chieftain’s scheme?” Martin asked. “A dragon?” “So there is no dragon?” Martin asked. “I don’t know of any dragon, but it is possible that the chieftain himself is behind it, since a complicated illusion like that would probably only be possible because the Master Illusionist is with him.” The weapons had been divided, and Beorth was kneeling beside Jana. He offered her water, but she pushed it away, and cradled her face in her hands, and began to sob quietly. “Jana, you are among the living,” Beorth said. “You must act like it. Chance is gone and …” Jana began to shiver uncontrollably. The paladin just embraced her and did not say another word. “Will you help us?” Greddadiddlerun asked. “Yes,” replied Kazrack speaking for the group. “It is not your fault that you have been led astray by this leader, and we want an opportunity to avenge our friend.” Kazrack noticed that Belear was speaking quietly in the corner with another of the gnomes. “Listen, we are going to need something from you to bring to your chieftain,” said Jeremy. “A token,” added Martin. “Yeah, otherwise why would he believe us?” Jeremy said. “I will write you a note in our language, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to forge that,” said Obenhammer. “Excuse me, Obenhammer,” said Martin, stepping up to him and kneeling to speak quietly to him. “But when we were taken, I had a small red bag of leather that was confiscated. Would you know where it is?” “Yes, I remember. It was given to Greddadiddlerun’s group to use in their work,” said Obenhammer, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill to write the note he had mentioned. “Yes, I was about to explain to you the way to go,” said Greddadiddlerun, overhearing. “We are sending you to an outpost of one of our groups. You will find a cache of food there, your red leather bag, a scroll with a spell you might find useful, and some other resources.” “Oh I have no weapon in the meantime,” said Martin. “Here take my dagger,” Obie said, passing the watch-mage a fine silvery-dagger of gnomish make. ”Thank you,” said Martin, putting the dagger in his belt without looking at it. “If you go out through that trap door,” Greddadiddlerun said, pointing to a wooden door in the ceiling. “Travel a quarter-mile south, to a hollowed out dead oak tree, very old and still standing. Hidden to look like part of the tree is a trap door which leads to a tunnel through the ridge and into the northern part of Greenreed Valley, from there you can go south out of the valley and to Ogre’s Bluff, perhaps a day or two away. While in the tunnel, just keep going as straight as possible, avoid any of the turn offs. You will find a room similar to this where the cache is and a trapdoor that opens up into a large thorn bush.” The party shook hands with Greddadiddlerun and Obenhammer and wished them luck. “We will be back with help,” Kazrack said, he looked to Belear, who beckoned him over. “These gnomes are going to lead me somewhere else, so I can get back to my own people and try to gain their help as well,” the older dwarf said. “But…” “You have your mission ahead of you, do not forget what you have learned. You are ready to be a full Rune-Thrower, all you need to do is pray to Moradin in the morning and gain the spell that will infuse your runestones with the divine power they were made to hold, just as we spoke about.” “May Moradin and all our dwarven fathers watch over you on your journey, and may we meet again,” Kazrack said. The two dwarves clasped wrists and shook. The party climbed up through the trap door, Ratchis hefting Jana up to Beorth who waited above. “I can walk on my own,” she said as came up. ------ They marched for about thirty minutes across the deep snow, the sharp wind cutting deep into them. The cold was intense and they were happy to climb back underground when they finally found the oak tree and the secret passage below it. After a few moments discussing which direction to go in, they decided to follow the way that went vaguely southward, as that was the right direction. The passage was raw earth, and rounded, only five and half feet high at its tallest points, and sometimes so low, Ratchis had to nearly crawl to make it through. Occasionally, they passed the tangled roots of trees above them, and passageways and doors that led off to the left and right. They marched for what seemed an eternity, exhaustion and the after-effects of the poison whittling away at their alertness, until after many hours, they were walking mindlessly, and many could not even feel their legs any longer. Eventually, Martin swayed and nearly fell over.  (28)“We have to stop,” said Beorth to Ratchis, who was leading the way. Ratchis’ grunt of a response betrayed how tired he was as well, and they made a make-shift camp in the tunnel, just past where it had split into three directions (they took the one directly across the one they had come through). The others slept fitfully as Ratchis watched over them, and then he woke Jeremy. “Your turn,” Ratchis said. “Yeah, okay,” said Jeremy groggily. Ratchis handed him a skin. “If you start to slip into sleep take a sip of this stuff, but only one sip! It will help you stay awake.” “What is it?” Jeremy asked curiously, and looking a little more awake. “Narsh’che,” Ratchis said, slipping into his orcish accent. “Orcish Bloodwine.”  (29)Jeremy stood watch for several hours, until he felt he was nodding off. He stood and paced and whistled quietly, but his lids still threatened to close, so finally he took a mouthful of Ratchis’ drink. He felt the heat of the foul-tasting and viscous liquid pour slowly down his throat and spread out in his stomach like a wildfire. He gagged, and tasted his own bile mixed with the bloodwine come up to the back of his throat and then subside. “The orc wasn’t kidding,” Jeremy commented quietly, surveying the darkness with his new-found alertness. A few hours later, he could no longer remain awake and did not dare drink more of that horrid stuff, so he awoke Beorth, who kept watch for another four hours afterward. Finally, the party awoke, prepared spells and continued on for another three hours, finally coming to another round door, beyond which they found a round room very similar to that which they had regained their weapons. In a wooden chest they found about enough food stored to last them about three days, the red leather bag of animals (which Martin took) and a bone scroll tube. Inside the tube Martin found a spell scroll he could decipher without the read magic spell. Jana however did cast it, and saw that it was a spell that created a tiny hut that provided shelter from the elements. Ratchis boosted Jeremy up through the trap door, and he found himself in the middle of a thick thorn bush, which a little hollow just in the center. The area around them was a thin forest of barren scrubby trees, interspersed Kazrack followed, also boosted by Ratchis, and hefted into the small area by Jeremy. Jana and Martin cam after, but now the entire area beneath the bush was full and there was no room for Beorth or Ratchis to come up unless someone else left the cover the thorns. “One of us is going to have to go out there,” said Kazrack. “Do you think it’s safe out there?” Martin said. “Well, we are going to have to go out there eventually,” said Jana flatly, and began to crawl out of the bush. Kazrack stopped her. “I hear something over there,” the dwarf said, gesturing beyond thorn bush to a clump of trees about forty feet away. “Sounds like gnome voices.” “Martin, do you think you could send Thomas to look around?” Jeremy suggested. “Thomas? Did you hear that?” Martin thought. “I don’t wanna go,” Thomas said. “I’m scared.” “If you don’t want to go I won’t force you,” Martin said, reassuringly, taking Thomas from his robes and scratching him under the chin. “But you can just climb this tree right here and look around and tell us if it’s safe. Where would you be safer than in a tree?” “Oh, okay…” Thomas leapt deftly from Martin’s hand, over the thicker branches of the bush and up onto a nearby pine that was very tall. He climbed up quickly at first, but then slowed down. “Something isn’t right about this tree,” Thomas said. “There is?” Martin inquired. “Yeah,” Thomas crept up to the halfway point of the tree. “I smell… AHHHHHHHHH!” An animal leapt from the shadows of the upper tree branched down at the tiny familiar. It was a wolverine clinging to the trunk and coming down head first snarling viciously. But it was no ordinary wolverine, it had dark red fur like a smoldering fire, that bristled in waves like a flame, and its eyes shone bright red; its breath like steaming sulphur. “Thomas!” Martin cried aloud, as the fiendish wolverine leapt forward to tear Thomas in half with one powerful bite.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notes:(27) Vicious Gnome is the catch-all terms for gnome who had gone evil, making their usual tricks and jokes into cruel and often deadly things for their own enjoyment.(28) DM’s Note: At this point, if Martin had taken even one more point of subdual damage from the forced march he would have passed out.(29) Narsh’che is orcish bloodwine, used to instill bravery and alertness in orcs, it is brewed from nut of the sarvann tree (which is found in fetid swamps) and the dung of wild boars.(30) The spell was Tiny Hut.</blockquote>

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