Seas of Fire

[rootbeergnome]

Session 1, part 3

The ship has landed. It is a massive rotting fish. The reek is almost beyond belief. Its mouth is open and an unhealthy green glow emanates from it as seven dog-sized rotting creatures run toward me.

I think I should explain a bit more about the world here. In the sky above and between the Pillars of land there is a thriving ecosystem of strange coral-like plants and fungus that grow together sometimes very thickly, often creating nigh impenetrable floating forests that are full of life. Within and around these "Floating Coral Forests" there dwell naturally flying creatures, some as small as insects and others at least as large as Earth's whales. This was one of those creatures...except decaying and hollowed out with bald white-faced, blood-teared men in black robes coming out of it. I did describe the "AirShip" as fish-like, but I would say it is more like a large decaying manta ray-like thing with flat fins running along its sides parallel to the ground. It is rather unearthly, and a bit hard to describe, but I did draw a sketch of it later. I hope to make a campaign website and post sketches and information, Ill keep everyone posted.

All of my companions are running, wisely, from the ship, and the rotten rat-creatures, which are now enveloped in an unnatural darkness by a figure in the mouth of the fish-ship who’s only differentiation from the other two robed figures is a small red dot on his forehead. Upon seeing the ship, the halfling says, “I don’t want this ship anymore.” No kidding.[/b]

This is a bit confusing, but the third figure to step from the ship was casting spells that created darkness around the rat-creatures. Imagine a cloud of supernatural darkness with ravening gnashing rotten rat-things within it, and imagine that inky cloud of teeth and claws sweeping over you and enveloping you, the characters imagined this, and decided it was time to run.

The ship lifts into the sky and the dead eyes come to life as powerful green lights burst forth from them, searching the ground below the decaying fish as it sails toward us.

Searching. Searching.

We continue to run. [/B]

Mwahahaha!

 

[Deadly Puddingcup]

its been a while since ive read, so i may have missed or forgotten something, but the only part that confuses me is the illusionary forest. was it mentioned before that you were skeptical of this, were the trees right beside you. what made you want to step through the tree. im too lazy to read back much further, papers to do and all. so ill let you guys answer me instead. other than that, the story sounds good, really thrilling. nothing more exhilirating than running from something you're really scared of. im looking forward to what comes next.

 

[Deadly Puddingcup]

hehe nevermind, i went back and looked. i really wish i could be playing right now. damn you walmart, damn you college

 

[Rune]

Session 4, part 1

The rain falls down around us in a dense torrent. All that can be seen of the ship pursuing us is a steadily advancing green glow. As we cut through the shoulder-high grasses in a direction that we hope will take us back toward Lakeview, a bolt of lightning decimates a tree in the distance. It is the same tree that the halfling climbed earlier in the day. At least we have a good idea where we are.

A bright red flash splits the sky behind us as some glowing object falls to the ground.

The rotting fish floats ominously toward us. Closer.

I see that we will never outrun the ship and drop the body of the warrior before me. I drop to the ground and hide in the tall grass. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jared, Maialin, Luman, and Father Mehmet do the same. Seeing that Fruffy can pass through the towering grass without leaving a trail, I tell the kid to run to my house and send him on his way.

Virian and Dexerion make a reckless dash away from the ship. The tracker is with them.

I hear the voice of my friend, Jared, echo in my mind: “Let them run; their folly does not have to be ours.” I look to him and shake my head.

Something scuttles through the wet foliage somewhere beside me, moving quickly toward my fleeing companions.

The tracker stumbles. In seconds, a bestial creature is upon him, claws and teeth slashing and snapping at the hapless man. He wards it off as best he can, but is clearly overpowered.

Dexerion continues to run, but Virian turns around to aid the tracker in some manner. He sings a subtle song, which creates the audible illusion of something large moving through the grass behind the creature. Regrettably, it is not to be diverted.

I whisper to the Sun-Priest, “Can you drive this abomination ahead of us away?”

“I sense it is a most unholy creature, but I fear it is beyond my power; it is not undead.”

I consider this for a brief second and ask him to keep an eye on the body of Baneir. I sneak forward to confront the raging monstrosity.

The tracker shouts out his last words: “Run! Save yourselves!” In an instant, he is shredded by the monster’s claws and tossed aside.

I continue my advance.

The creature pounces on top of the fallen tracker and rips his throat out.

In a fit of rage and nausea, I rush forward to strike the creature, but I cannot land a blow. In a moment, it does not matter. The creature seems to melt into the wet sod. Virian runs forward to meet me.

At about that time, the rotting ship flies over my hidden compatriots, its green eyes searching.

I dive for cover in the dark stalks of the savannah. A huge spear arcs through the storm to stand, quivering, in the ground beside the four-armed bard. It is made completely out of bone.

Affixed to the bottom of the ship, two skeletal torsos crank back a massive ballista and load it.

Virian picks up the bone spear. As he does so, maggots crawl out of its porous shaft and onto his own flesh. He tosses it back toward the floating vessel, but it flies pitifully short of its mark.

I run forward to grab the body of the tracker and bolt in the direction that Dexerion has fled. Virian rushes toward me to help me carry the body.

In a flash of lightning, we can see that another airship has approached from the north. The flying fish has apparently noticed it; the green glow leaves the eyes and the ship changes course to head south.

Behind me, I am dimly aware that my friends are also on the move. I glance back and see that Maialin and Luman are carrying Baneir’s corpse. Ahead, we are met by Dexerion and Fruff. Apparently, the little halfling has found a tiny cave on his way to my house and turned back to guide us to it.

My angry concern for the youngster almost outweighs my relief.

The cave presents a tight crawl for us larger folk, but we manage to get inside of it. After a short time, it widens out.

Unfortunately, there is some animal in here with us.

It has tentacular feelers, a pig nose, patches of wild fur, and wide claws. It is roughly the size of a large hog. Fruffy knows this animal. It is a barunburrow. They are territorial and fierce, when cornered. I should be concerned, but, given our present situation, I am relieved that this is our only companion. Between my trail rations, Virian’s fascinating music, and Fruff’s strange chirping and cooing noises, the animal forgets us and curls up to sleep, broken only once, by the rat-thing’s foolish foray into the personal space surrounding the creature.

We are safe tonight and rest.

 

[Rune]

Session 4, part 2

I awake late. The halfling has apparently befriended the barunburrow, naming it, “Kulp,” for some reason. The wizard is perusing his books, the bard is practicing on his instruments, Jared and Maialin are practicing slight of hand, Luman is sharpening his sword, and Father Mehmet is…not here.

Outside, he is praying. And sunlight pours through the clouds falling on him alone. I am witnessing a divine recognition of a goodly man. I wait for him to finish and then I have a brief word with him.

Then, we head home. To my home, I should say.

It is a beautiful morning, the kind of beauty that only surfaces after a terrible storm. We cannot help but be cheerful, even as we carry the bodies of two dead men.

My sod hut and my gardens are in view. Toady greets us and informs me that in the early morning a message has arrived. I am to appear at the courthouse tomorrow at noon regarding the assault on Jared in the city streets the other night. I am to bring my companions.

I leave them in my hut for a while and take Father Mehmet and the dead bodies to the temple of Shimdar. As soon as we enter the city, he is recognized and welcomed home. I am viewed as a hero, despite my protestations. At the temple, the bodies are laid on slabs in a sunlit room and Father Mehmet and I take our leave, still chatting.

Sometime later, I return to my home with disturbing news to share with my guests. Apparently, word has spread rapidly through town that we are responsible for saving Father Mehmet and we have been invited to a function this very night, which we cannot very well refuse.

The head of the Guild Ambassadors, a rotund gnome named Seebo Gooman, is throwing a banquet in our honor. We are the heroes of the hour and must be present.

Maialin speaks first: “I can’t go. I have nothing to wear.” Now that she has clarified it, I see the problem plainly; we are a mess.

Perhaps it is time to go shopping.

I give some funds to Maialin and she heads off to outfit herself. The halfling purchases a ridiculously enormous purple hat with an equally ridiculously enormous purple feather. Dexerion and Virian head out to take care of some unknown business. Jared, Fruff, and I go to the public bath, where we strip and soak in the warm waters.

Until the screams begin to flood the bath chambers.

A fire elemental, used to heat the baths, has escaped from its bonds.

Jared dresses and runs outside of the bathhouse, presumably seeking help. I dress quickly and run forward to help the guard as it appears. Fruff finds a bucket of water and casts a spell of illumination on it, hoping that the magic will make the water…magically useful.

I dash toward the men’s bath and grab a towel. I soak it and run back toward the elemental. I toss the towel at it. It burns up before it ever reaches the elemental. Fruff’s bucket of glowing water has a similar effect, becoming a cloud of glowing steam.

The guards are valiant in their defense of the city. Every single one of them that lands a blow on the elemental is charred in a gout of flame. I, like some of the guards, use a ranged weapon. Little seems to effect the creature of flame. Jared returns with two more guards, who rush in and die flaming deaths as quickly as their companions.

Fruff throws some soap in another bucket of water and yells out as he tosses the mix toward the elemental: “Hope it’s magic soap!”

Just as the remaining guards flee for their lives, a woman enters, dark robes flowing around her. She tosses some interlocked rings at the flaming creature and I watch in shock as they expand to envelop the elemental.

I ask her what we should do with it. She does not know.

So we kill it.

 

[Rune]

Session 4, part 3

The wizard is rattling on about thanks and heroism, or somesuch. I am not listening. I run outside and come across Maialin.

Wow, she looks good! She is wearing a tight dress with a slit along the side and long, loose sleeves (no doubt concealing her knives). To compliment the dress, she is wearing thigh-high boots. I am reminded that I have still not purchased my own outfit for this evening.

When I am able to, I drag Fruff with me to get some clothing, accompanied by Jared. In a short period of time, we are prepared for the night’s festivities.

A group of disheveled teenagers confront Maialin and tell her that her bumbling at the “art” has placed her in the eye of those who could help her learn to better her skills. They ask her to join them. Unable to make such a quick decision, Maialin agrees to meet them an hour before dawn at the fishing docks.

Eventually, Virian and Dexerion join us and the time comes to depart for the banquet. We need not travel far; a carriage has been sent to collect us.

At the gates of the palace of the Ambassadors, I see that Toady has shown up, wearing a tuxedo, the existence of which has previously been unknown to me. He has been denied entrance to the banquet.

I speak to the man at the door, handing him my invitation.

“This young toad is with me. He is my servant. My gardener. My friend.”

Ultimately, Toady is allowed to join the excitement of a stuffy banquet. With freely flowing rum.

I spot a few people with whom I am acquainted, chiefly among them, Father Mehmet, and chat idly with them for a bit.

Seebo makes his appearance, surrounded by a full harem of halfling women.

“Ah, the heroes. Tell me, did you learn anything interesting while you were out saving our illustrious High Sun Priest? Why do you suppose that he was kidnapped in the first place?”

I am careful with my response. “My guess is as good as yours.”

In a short period of time, the talk turns more toward the heroes of the day, that is to say, to us. For some reason, the fat gnome keeps wanting to call us a “company.”

“What,” he says, “is the name of your company?”

The question is completely unexpected and I struggle to come up with something. Eventually, I say, “We are the Company of the Wooden Heart.” The ever-resourceful halfling is quick to produce the wooden heart of one of the scarecrows that inspired the name. Seebo backs away in disgust. For a moment.

Seebo is a gambling man. He tells us that the time has come to reward our efforts and gives us each an option. Two hundred in gold, or the spin of a roulette wheel. Only Virian opts for the money. I am curious to see what playing to the ambassador’s whimsy will produce.

In the end, Jared holds an arrow, Maialin holds a small glass bottle of fluid labeled with the word “sticky,” Fruffy holds a small ring carved with feathers, Dexerion holds a leather ring, and I hold an ever-flaming torch.

I promptly hand the torch to Toady, collect my friend, Jared, and leave the party, which has become duller than I can possibly bear.

Before I leave, I see the arc of lightning that stretches across the clear night sky outside of the balcony, reaching from one floating object toward another. Followed by an explosion.

And then, someone bursts in, yelling, “The fish-market section of town is on fire!”

 

[drunkadelic]

Jared again,

I would like to point out some moments of note that might not have matched well with Rune's point-of-view style storytelling.

1. The halfling spent the entire time in the bath house naked. From the time he stepped into the bath (which turned the immediate waters around him black, by the way) until we had slain the fire elemental, he was buck naked. But no one noticed because he is one furry kid.

2. The halfling also used "animal friendship" on the barunburrow. The creature reacted so well to the little guy that he now serves as Fruffy's mount. As we prepared for the party in our honor, not only did the halfling buy a huge foppish hat, but he also bought top hats for his wallaby companion and the barunburrow as well. What a sight we must have been riding down the lane. In any case, one of the funniest moments of the session was when the attendant at the bath told the little guy he'd have to chain his uncivilized pets outside. Jared, noticing Fruff's dissatisfaction at this immediately professed, "Of course they're civilized, man! Look, they're wearing top hats!"

3. Roderick (Rune's character, and the narrator) told Jared at one point during the campaign that there was a disturbance at the docks the other day...and that the gnome-serving human investigators sent to check it out were found dead. What a mystery.

I anxiously await next session.

Cheers,

Jared

 

[rathor]

missed info

Hail friends! Dexerion here!

Meakly wish to inform your ever listening ears to the victories that my four armed companion and I were able to place under our own belts this very strange day!

We kept running from that fish not only because of its foul stench, but also, as my bardic friend said, "we are honorable fellows." We lured that hiddious beast away from our companions. If only viriann and the tracker would have kept running, as I exclaimed several times during my own flight, prehaps the brave tracker would still be with us. I morn his passing, and only hope the preist at the temple will understand that his sacrifice was essential to the fathers suvival.

While we were walking to lakeview the following day, my brainstorming about the black-robbed undead was inturrupted by my fathers voice. He wispered to me, "you must find out about the sight wreaths, it is very important." I knew that he would only contact me in this way if he was very troubled. I sat upon the task as soon as I got to the city. I wanted to meet with Renyold anyway. (oh yes, and the clatter of the blonde fellows sword broke my concentration for a mer moment. I had trouble understanding sight wreaths and think that I may not have grasped what my father, and old mystical master, told me.)

Viriann and I set upon the arcane school immediately. When we arrived we found out that Renyold was still in evaluation. I sent a message to him asking him to meet me in the arcane school courtyard. While I was busy doing this Viriann found another professor and began questioning him on various matters. I attempted to join the conversation but the professor seemed distracted and aggrivated at our nagging so I quietly waited for renyold.

He arrived with the news that he was accepted as a new professor and I used the opportunity to treat him to lunch at the nice gnomish resturaunt. It was unfourtunate I picked this place for the dwarven host recognized us immediately as the royal ounturouge.

Dispite our distasteful meeting with the Dwarf. The three of us enjoyed a fine meal and very interessting small talk. Before we left I mentioned what my father had asked me to find out about and renyold told me he would see what he could find out.

It was then I went shopping. I sold my bow and arrows and picked up a large staff. I also bought a nice, heavy, large, black, hodded cloak and robe. I stored it away for later use and found a fairly nice purple tunic and golden pantaloons for the dinner.

*Sigh* I seem to find myself chattering far too much, far too often. Prehaps I can learn a spell that would help me hold my tounge at times like this.

 

[Deadly Puddingcup]

hmm not a lot to say really. im really curious as to what the repercusions are going to be on the party for helping the father. nothing makes a campaign better though than not knowing exactly sure who you can trust.

 

[Rune]

hmm not a lot to say really. im really curious as to what the repercusions are going to be on the party for helping the father. nothing makes a campaign better though than not knowing exactly sure who you can trust.

I'm pretty sure I can trust Father Mehmet.

I'm also pretty sure I can't trust Seebo Gooman.

Call it a hunch.