Selm's Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

[Selm]

Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil

This campaign is not new, and some of the readers from the old forums
have perhaps already read the beginning (until Episode 8 when the
boards changed), fell free to skip the beginning as it will be nearly
only reposts of the old story. As I got swamped by work in december
and january, I dropped the forums just enough for this story hour to
get forgotten in the server change ... but it is not dead, and it will
be reborn ... NOW

For my new readers, the title should have given you the main track:
this is a Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil campaign. We are
playing the official campaign, but as I'm a quite scheming DM I like
to add my own salt, as you will see in the story for those of you who
have played or mastered this campaign.

I also have to give you another warning: I'm French !! So please
bear with me for that It will not be beautifully written, at least
not as well as I'd like, but I hope you will be able to grasp the fun
and pleasure we have playing this campaign.

I will stop the introduction now, if you want to drop me a line or
two, the link is here.

You can also find an image of our group,here.
The game is : try to find who is playing each PC, and be warned, it is
surely not so easy

 

[Selm]

Introduction of the Player Characters

Selm' Return to the Temple of Elemental EVIL
DD3 campaign started in september 2001

Yet another Return campaign ... I've played the first one some years
ago with some of the players of this campaign for which I'm the DM. It
was deadly but a lot of fun and I must say it wasn't hard to find
players for the sequel ...

We are playing two times a month in average, and each Episode of this
story hour is a live game session. This is not a pbem campaign so the
flow is perhaps less regular than other story hours, but it will last
at least until the end of this year.

And now the cast, 7 Characters for 7 Players :
(DM note: I will track the level changes from time to time, this is
the Pcs at the beginning of the story)

Alahija - Half Elf - Female - Rog2/Sor2 - CG -
daughter of the Viscount Langard of Verbobonc

Ezekiel - Human - Male - Clr4 of Kord - CG -
has fought in the great crusade against Iuz

Killashalandilis - Human - Female - Pal4 of Mayaheine - LG -
knight attempting the entry into the Knights of the Hart

Lywen Selinker - Human - Male - Wiz4(Transmuter) - NG -
apprentice of Kerzalyn, the royal mage of Furyondy

Diane Derwyn - Human - Female - Fig2/Rog2 - CG -
reluctant bodyguard of Lywen

Gandigoot - Gnome - Male - Rng4 - CG -
trader and hunter of the greatest Kron Hills gnome town

Rousing Fox - Human - Male - Mnk4 - LN -
came from Veluna, linked to the Rao church

All this story started by a message sent by Rufus (leader of Hommlet)
to viscount Langard of Verbobonc. This message informed him that
troubles were starting near Hommlet and that humanoids were once again
rousing in the nearby temple. Rufus asked the help of Langard for
investigating those matters.
But Langard is now in a difficult political situation, a lot of the
Verbobonc nobles are still not trusting him and he must pose as a good
ruler for his viscounty. He decided to ask help from Furyondy and to
send his own daughter to Hommlet. At least he could have confidence in
her.

During this time, Brune, the friend of Rufus and prime wizard of
Hommlet was also asking help from Kerzalyn, an old friend of him and
the royal mage of Furyondy. Brune and Y'dey (the Canoness of
StCuthbert in Hommlet) were encountering difficulties to scry in the
future concerning the Temple (as they were doing for several years).
They saw strange anf frightfull images and concluded that something
was up with the Temple of Elemental Evil.
Kerzalyn was part of the Emridy Meadows battle, the first rousing of
the Temple in 569CY, and he was very concerned by a potential reborn
of the Temple of Elemental Evil. His own apprentice, Lywen was sent to
Hommlet with the help of Diane, has protection for his precious
apprentice. In fact Kerzalyn lost his previous apprentice during the
war and was quite protective towards this young fellow
Diane, promoted Lywen bodyguard, was a young noblewoman from Chendl
indepted to Kerzalyn for a small magical service some years ago. She
is a competent duelist and quite learned in history.

Belvor IV, king of Furyondy received the letter from viscount
Langard. The Temple has always been a real danger and Belvor decided
to send help (especially as his son, Thrommel, could be a prisonner
from the temple since 573). But once again political difficulties in
Furyondy prevented the king to send the Knights of Furyondy in an
offical mission. The war was still going on the frontier with Iuz. And
it will be ill considered if the King chose to help another country
against an "imaginary" threat rather than defend his own kingdom. So
two young people were secretly sent, not known by politicians and
devoted to the cause of good and Furyondy.
The first was Killashalandilis, a young knight from Crystalreach (a
region of Furyondy), it was her test to enter the Knights of the
Hart. The second was Ezekiel, a wolf nomad priest of Kord serving in
the Furyondian army since the great crusade in 586, his hate for
humanoids and his devotion to the cause of goodness were assured.

Gandigoot is a gnome of Tulwar, the greatest gnome city in the Kron
Hills, he works as a guide for merchants in the Hills. The caravan he
was protecting was recently attacked by gnolls near Hommlet. He stayed
in Hommlet to warn other caravans of the threat when the other gnomes
were going back to Tulwar.

Rousing Fox is a monk, he comes from a monastery near Mytrick in
Veluna. His blood was a little too hot for a monastery of Rao and his
master sent him on a travel to find wisdom. Try to do goodness around
you, said his master to Rousing Fox ... and so the young monk was on
the roads, travelling towards east and fabulous Greyhawk City.

And so started this story, in the end of spring, in year 591CY ...

... soon ...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Episode ONE - The Start of the Story
(All good ToEE stories must start at the Inn of the Welcome Wench)

 

[Selm]

Episode 1

Episode ONE - The Start of the Story
(All good ToEE stories must start at the Inn of the Welcome Wench)
Planting 14, 591CY

Alahija, daughter of the viscount of Verbobonc was travelling from
Verbobonc to Hommlet with her escort, the young knight
Killashalandilis and the wolf nomad cleric of Kord Ezekiel.

They encountered two travellers setting camp on their last night
before arriving at Hommlet. The two were a man and a woman, clearly
nobles by their clothes or rich merchants but without anything to sell
... after some discussion they learned that they all intended to go to
Hommlet and decided to camp and finish the road together.
It was hard for Alahija to hide her title as Killasha (landilis but
it's long really ) was always adding "Your Lordship" when she was
addressing her. Finally they learned who each other was.
The two strangers were from Chendl (as Ezekiel and Killasha). The man
was named Lywen Selinker and the woman declared herself has his
bodyguard and was named Diane Derwyn.

The night went well ... they arrived at Hommlet on the 15th of Planting.

As the day is almost done, they decide to go to the Inn and to see
Rufus tomorrow. So they enter the Inn of the Welcome Wench.
As Vesta and her mother are helping at the fortress for a special
diner, they are "welcome" by the barmaid Maridosen. She's quite rude
but very professional and they are soon around a table with hot soup
in their bowls and Celene wine in their cups.
The inn is not overcrowded but there is a lot of people, townfolks but
also travellers, merchants and adventurers. They speak a little with
Maridosen and learn of a gnome staying at the inn and having been
attacked by gnolls some days ago. They also spot a man in black (the
MIB as he was quickly called) wering black armor alone at a table in
the back of the room. And wo said that bad people wear always black ?
They learn that the man has quite a sinister reputation of drunker
and bar fighter ...
Soon after, a strong man wearing arms and armor enters the Inn. He is
warmly welcome by Ostler, the inkeeper in the kitchen tonight because
his wife and daughter are not here. After he sits at the table of the
town guards. They quicly learn that he's named Elmo and is the town
militia captain.
Killasha goes to speak with the gnome, worried by the gnoll rumor; and
Ezekiel with Elmo, as it's always good to speak with the military
chief Ezekiel also goes to the bar asking Maridosen about the black
fellow at the back of the Inn.

It turns out that Elmo was aware of their expected arrival and agreed
when Ezekiel says him that they will see Rufus tomorrow. Maridosen
knows few about the black armored guy, he doesn't speak a lot, pays
his bills and drink too much, he has already been in prison for drunk
fight one or two times if she remembers well ...
The gnome, named Gandigoot - yes Gandigoot, not Gundigoot as the name
of the innkeeper (Ostler is named Gundigoot as his wife and daughter)
imagine the pain - decides to go to the newcomers table to warn
them of the gnoll danger.
During this time, a young man, quite common by appearance, was earing
their conversation. He was a monk seeking wisdom in travels and was
quite concerned by the poor gnomes attacked by dangerous beasties such
as gnolls. He asks to join the table, and the party is complete.

Gandigoot convince them to go hunting gnolls tomorrow, but after their
meeting with Hommlet leader, Rufus. During this time, Killasha is
looking intensly in one direction ... the Man in Black, and finally
get what she deserved, he's coming right on them ...
As the other are still speaking of gnolls, two heavy gauntlets hurt
the table.
MiB "Why are you looking at me like that ?"
Killasha "Well, you're wearing black color ... and ... it's black
... and black is bad, no ?" you deserve a detect evil thinks Killasha
and she starts to concentrate
MiB "Stop that magic" he's advancing towards Killasha who jump up from
her stool.
As Killasha is not stopping, a gauntled fist struck her in the face,
but she's a strong and determined fellow and she keeps her
concentration. To her surprise, black is not always bad as the man in
front of her isn't wearing those bad auras she learned to see.
Reassured, she sits back on her stool ...
Around the table people look another way and all is back to normal,
everyone was thinking that the young knight will duel her black
nemesis but she keeps her temper ... another day ...
Finally Gandigoot is asking the man about his name and profession. His
name is Xaod and he says that he's "chasing evil around the world" ...
Hearing that by the word, Gandigoot asks him to join them on their
gnoll hunt. Rendez-vous is taken for tomorrow early afternoom!

Soon after everyone goes to sleep after a long busy day. Hommlet seems
to be a peaceful town but dangers are seemingly waiting just outside.
The first game session was over, and they were all living well ... the
Inn of the Wecome Wench is not so dangerous, besides MIBs ... but a
Temple campaign could not be played only in the Inn ...

... soon ...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Episode TWO - Another Day in a Quiet Little Town - Part 1
(DM: You're approaching the moathouse.
Players: Hey we're searching an old fortress, what do you want with a
"moathouse" ?
DM: Oh god, ok, I'll stop English ... 8) )

 

[Horacio]

Oh, one of my favorites story hours make its return!

Allez, Selm, racontez-nous ton historie!!!!

 

[Selm]

Oh, one of my favorites story hours make its return!

Hi Horacio, long time without hearing you. I'm happy to read again from you, and see from your profile image that your new daughter (it was a daughter ?) seems to enjoy too.

Allez, Selm, racontez-nous ton historie!!!!

Tu peux compter dessus ...
I already have a lot to repost

By the way, do you continue your story hour ? Or is your game finished ?

see you,

 

[Selm]

Episode 2-1

Episode TWO - Another Day in a Quiet Little Town - Part 1
(DM: You're approaching the moathouse.
Players: Hey we're searching an old fortress, what do you want with a
"moathouse"?
DM: Yeah, I'll stop english ok ... 8) )
Planting 16, 591CY

It was dawn and the sun was rising in the sky. Killasha is already
awake and praying Mayaheine. Ezekiel awake soon after and at 7h30 they
are nearly all around a table in the dining hall of the Inn of the
Welcome Wench.
Nearby ... Rousing Fox is doing body exercises behind the inn, Lywen
is in his room studying his spells and Diane is still asleep.

Alahija and her escort go to the fortress in the early morning, they
are awaited as Elmo informed Rufus of their arrival yesterday
night. As soon as he learns her name, the guard at the gate let
Alahija pass into the keep and escort her to the meeting room, on the
first floor of the keep dungeon.
After something like fifthteen minutes, Rufus arrives and Brune five
minutes after him (Brune is in fact Burne in the official campaign but
whe changed the name as it does not sound well in French). They are
two men between fourty and fifthty years old, Rufus is a clearly a
fighter beeing a strong man with greying hairs; Brune is a little
older, his hairs are nearly white as his beard, he has more than one
wrinkle and a severe gaze.
After some presentations, Rufus explains them why he has requested
some help. Some signs seems to indicate that the old Temple near the
town of Nulb, known as the ruins of the Temple of Elemental Evil, is
once again getting some power.
Humanoids attacks are more and more common, as the recent gnoll attack
on a gnomish caravan demonstrates it. And by experience, each and
every thing must be taken with great care when you deal with this
temple.
Recent investigations by Elmo and others have proven that a hobgoblin
tribe now occupies the temple grounds, but nothing more precise is
known on the temple activities, especially about the lower levels,
which "should" be entirely colapsed.
The three agree to study the matter and search for these humanoids,
Alahija announce their intention to hunt the gnolls, having attacked
the gnomish caravan, this very afternoon. Rufus is pleased but advises
them to be carefull, there is no need for more deaths around Hommlet,
enough courageous adventurers have already given their lives for
goodness in the fight against the temple ten years ago.
Brune then speak for the first time, saying them that some friends
should also come from Chendl to help them in the arcane domain. They
inform him that these friends are already in town, arrived yesterday
with them, which "seems" to make Brune happier.

They depart from the keep and go back to the Inn of the Welcome Wench,
preparing for the gnoll-hunt during the afternoon.
Killasha is her going to the temple to Pelor. She encounters Yether
the Keen, priest of Pelor in Hommlet who is readying the temple for
the midday office. He is happy to see a new member of the faith in
Hommlet, even if Killashalandilis is a paladin of Mayaheine, this is
nearly the same for him. Yether is a friendly man, devoted to Pelor
and the good of Hommlet inhabitants, Killasha promised to come back
often and Yether promised her his aid if necessary.
Gandigoot also has an urgent affair and goes to the tanner shop (who
is not working with elephant hide!), the leatherworker Naddy Tomanloft
is a friend of him as all the gnomes in Hommlet. In fact he wants a
new leather armor, this is a special matter as it needs good leather
and an armorer. Rendez-vous is taken for tomorrow morning with Alphon,
halfling head smithy of hommlet and his armorer at the tanner shop.
"You will get the best Gandigoot, you're such a courageous fellow
thats you deserve it." In fact he starts to have a gnoll slayer
reputation as a survivor of the gnoll attack on the gnome caravan he
was escorting near Hommlet a week ago. Gandigoot also proposes to the
tanner to take a drink at the Inn, they plan to make a great gnome
party tomorrow evening at the Welcom Wench. "This will be great for
sure."

-- Have we lost some of the group ? --

But the morning is only starting for someone ... Diane, who slowly
awakes for eleven. Lywen is already waiting for her since more than
one hour, having finished his studies for nine hour and a half.
Diane promises to be quick trough her door and starts to put her
clothes, even without tacking the time for a bath ... which is a real
effort for her. They finally quit the inn for half and eleven, when
the others are going back ... whaoo, good schedule budies ... grinning
...

Lywen and Diane are bring to Brune as soon as they said that they are
here to see him. He must have spread the word that he's expecting two
people from Chendl as the others have said him that they must pass
this morning.
They are guided to the fourth floor of the dungeon and enter Brune's
private quarters. The old wizard is alone, he's reading a book, sat at
a table in the center of the room. He close his book when his guests
enter and make a sign for them to come sitting at the table.
The discussion is short, clear and straightforward. Brune does not
like to lose his time babbling and this seems to perfectly suits Lywen
and Diane. He explains them that the Temple of Elemental Evil seems to
be resurrecting again. The Canoness of St Cuthbert and himself have
monitored the temple since ten years, using divination to prevent any
bad surprise as the revival of the demoness Zugtmoy in the year 579.
And bad signs are rising, the divinations were becoming harder and
harder since nearly half a year, as if a powerfull force was opposing
them. And the last one two weeks ago showed a big "living" fire and a
great black nothingness, which are clearly not good omens.
After this divination he informed Kerzalyn, Lywen master, and Kerzalyn
conducted the same divination at Chendl, getting the same results. It
was important enough for the two powerfull wizards (and the priests
who helped them) to justify further inquiries. This is Lywen task
here, with the other group from Chendl and Verbobonc which was
requested by Rufus for the same reasons.
Brune think that Spugnoir, a local mage, could know more about the
temple as he's often adventuring in the region. But he has disappeared
since two days and they should start their researches with him. (He is
used to run a potion shop in the west of the town.)

Following Brune's advice, Lywen and Diane go to the potion shop. It
is built in the new part of the town, on the other side of the river
than the small castle. The shop is in fact very small, a glass window
lets see some medical herbs and bottles and there is very few room in
the shop, just enough for three people between the entry and the
desk. And just now at the desk a young girl is reading a book, she's
alone in the shop which is quite uncommon.
Lywen and Diane explain her who they are and why they are here. The
young girl, who's name is Renne, is very happy that some people decide
to search her father and she gives them all the informations she
has. She does not know much as her father do not allow her to
adventure with him, but she's very aware, intelligent and perhaps even
more wise than her father who seems to like adventuring a little too
much ... They learn that Spugnoir is currently investigating the old
fortress eastwards of town, he went there two days ago, and he's not
yet returned. This is not in his habits as he informs his daughter if
he plans to go out for more than a day. Besides, as it is not the
first time that he goes to this place, he said Renne that gnolls seems
to be around the fortress, even if he didn't know why or where is
their camp.
With all these new informations Lywen and Diane are going back to the
Welcome Wench, promising Renne that they will go to the old fortress
and search for his father.

It's now time for lunch, Alahija, Killasha, Ezekiel, Rousing Fox,
Gandigoot (not the innkeeper, the gnome) are eating at the Inn of the
Welcome Wench when Lywen and Diane come back from the keep.
They agree to meet for two o'clock and to two go to prepare as they
took their breakfast at eleven, it's not yet time for lunch
But they do not depart without speaking at least a little of the
Spugnoir incident, this seems to awaken the interest of their friends
too, they'll see after lunch.
But some are eager to know more and Killasha (you know she's so kind)
runs to the potions shop. She enters the small shop and does not see
anyone, after one minute, a young girl goes up behind the desk. Afraid
for the girl's security, Killasha asks her if she wants some help, but
another voice then goes out from behing the desk and a helmet with a
sturdy dwarf head under it appears. Haunor is payed by Spugnoir just
for this task and seems to sincerely stick to it (at least Killasha
will not asks him that ... his gaze surely says enough). Nevertheless
she proposes her help if "anything is needed" and Renne thanks her and
encourages her to come back if she ever need any potion. When
Killasha goes out she can hear the two resuming their queens game
behing the shop desk.
During this time, Gandigoot is visiting his friend Joman Dart, the
halfling at the old trading post. He searches wolf traps for "big bad
woofies" and finally takes three big wolf iron traps. Poor gnolls you
don't know to await with tihs dreadfull gnome. "Because if you need
three gnomes for a gnoll, one is enough if he has a lot of traps."

At one hour and a half nearly everyone is ready, they encounter Xaod
who says that he will be there at two o'clock, and they discuss the
plan for the gnoll-hunt.
It seems that gnolls have been seen near the old fortress to the east,
at least that's what the young girl said. Beside, it's possible that
this Spugnoir will be there and he could perhaps give them more
informations ... so they decided to go there ... quite easily ...
As they all have horses, Rousing Fox decides to buy one, just
... immediatly. He does not know much about horses but there is a
stable in Hommlet and a friendly dwarven helps him to chose a good
horse. One hundred and seventy five golden pieces later, Rousing Fox
has a good horse with a saddle and all he needs to ride, except
training. But this he will have soon.

-- On the road again --

It's early afternoon, they finally depart to the fortress, the old
outpost of the Temple of Elemental Evil. The road starts beyond the
keep, behind Hommlet hill.
Once again they can pass by the walls of Rufus and Brune's keep. The
small castle seems so reassuring ...

After some time on the dusty road towards Nulb, they arrive at a
crossroad. To the north awaits Nulb and to the east the fortress,
determined, they go east.
Slowly the landscape starts to change, the brushy hills around Hommlet
become less and less common, and they start to enter a marshland.
Their guide, the gnome Gandigoot, is scouting before the party on his
warpony, nearly a hundred meters ahead of the others.

Suddenly two creatures jump on the track and attack Gandigoot. They
look like huge badgers with a black fur, glowing red eyes and big, big
claws. Hopefully for Gandigoot, his pony isn't even afraid, it's a
courageous animal and two dire badgers will not frighten it, sometimes
Gandigoot even says that it's quite a blockhead for that. Avoiding the
beasts, the pony backtrack on the road and Gandigoot jump on the
ground.
The others, seeing that Gandigoot is attacked (and hearing the cries
for help) prepare for the fight. Alahija takes her bow, Diane,
Killasha and Ezekiel run towards the fight, Lywen studies the
situation and rousing Fox is trying to calm his horse. But for the
upcoming two rounds, Gandigoot is alone against the two big badgers.
Alahija tries to help him by firing at the badgers but misses and is
forced to stop because of the arrival of the others into the fray.
Nevertheless our gnome successfully survived, mauled but linving,
until the charge of Ezekiel and Killasha. The badgers are finally
easily dispatched, but this first fight opened their eyes: hommlet is
a peacefull town but its neighbouhood is surely less friendly.
Besides, Gandigoot was mad against Alahija because she shot and
arrow while he was fighting the badgers. She could have hurted him and
he do not like to be hurted, gnolls and badgers are already enought
for him without adding half-elves.

After having packed the frightened horses, they resume the march. A
light fog starts to cover the land, as it slowly morph into a swamp,
which does not seem to make them happy :rolleys:
Gandigoot decides to once again scout ahead of the party and takes the
lead on his mighty warpony. When they really enter the swamp, the road
becomes a trail towering out of the swamp by three or four feets. They
dismount and continue on foot (but with the horses behind them
obviously).

-- Arrival at the Moathouse --

DM: "Finally, nearly three hours after your depart from Hommlet, a form
appears in the fog, this seems to be the moathouse."
... silence ...
After some confusion everybody understand this moathouse is the old
fortress they are searching for. Alahija and Gandigoot advance while
the others are waiting out of sight.
Taking their time and using the fog, the half-elf and the gnome reach
the drawbridge with mastersfull discretion. They start to investigate
the old bridge which seems to be quite strong. During this time, Diane
is also advancing and reaches them just when Alahija starts to cross
the wooden drawbridge. They discuss the plan with Gandigoot and she
backtracks to inform the others, the two rogues and the ranger are
doing quite a great scouting team really ...
The plan is simple:
- Alahija goes to the moathouse broken door, she looks into the
courtyard.
- When Alahija advances (this means the courtyard is clean), Gandigoot
advances to take the position at the door.
- During this time, Diane informs the others and they start to slowly
advance when Gandigoot goes on the bridge.
Good plan, clear and simple ... this should work ... most of the time.


... soon ...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Episode TWO - Another Day in a Quiet Little Town - Part 2
(Alahija playing with her newfound little friend )

 

[Selm]

Episode 2-2

Episode TWO - Another Day in a Quiet Little Town - Part 2
(Alahija playing with her newfound little friend )
still Planting 16, 591CY

Back into motion, Alahija is hidden behind the broken doorway of the
moathouse. Suddenly, and before Diane could explain the plan to the
others, she decides to enter the courtyard as it seems really empty
and quiet.
Now from another point of view ...

Utreshimon was nearly sleeping, he was taking a sun bath in the
Moathouse courtyard for three hours now and decided to refresh a
little in his new lair.
Finally life could be fun even outside the Lortmill Mountains think
the young dragon. He finded this abandonned keep three days ago and
discovered men inside. They are now trapped in the underground of the
keep and try to go out from time to time. It's hard to sleep while
waiting for those pathetic attacks, but it's really entertainning, and
Utreshimon likes to play games.
He killed some men two days ago and started to eat them. Hum, he has
already finished the first in fact, his mother has always said him
that he was eating too quickly. Now he's not so hungry and wait for
fun.

Then, while he's refreshing in the main room of his lair. Have I said
that old castle ruins make great dragon lairs ? He suddenly sees a
woman crossing his courtyard. Waooo, meat delivery service, thought
the dragon ... his mother said him that when he will have a great
treasure, food will be delivered directly in his lair from time to
time, usually nearly enought to live without hunting, and so keeping
time to study magic (this is why older dragons are wiser and better in
magic, you know). So, as his mother said him, Utreshimon started to
pack a tresure (not only because he likes gold pieces and shiny little
jewels ... he likes them too that's right but anyway he has to do it,
sad dragon life, they all have to do it, to eat ... adventurers ),
but he was young and his treasure was'nt so impressive, he wasn't
hopping to see tresure seekers so soon. Chance must be with him
thought the dragon when going out of his lair.

The little woman was too short and frail to be human, she must have
some elven blood and elves aren't as tasty as humans but hopefully
Utreshimon has food for now and he could play with this one. He
advanced gracefully in the courtyard, jumping on the sand with the
help of his wings. As he's still young his wings are really greater
than his body and when running, he's nearly like flying one meter
above ground.

(Alahija then saw a huge blue dragon running at top speed right on
her. Even if Utreshimon is not so big by dragons standards, his
six meter body with the tail and great wings were really enought to
frighten the young half-elf.)

The first funny thing to do with a prey is to roast it and then see
its frightened face. Utreshimon doesn't think twice and breath a
deadly bolt of lightning right towards the intruder. He is really
surprised when he sees the small creature jumping on the ground and
rolling under the bolt, it was unusual, she wasn't even a little burnt
... strange thinks Utreshimon, if you couldn't have confidence in your
breath what will be a dragon life. He should have aimed better, yes it
has to be that, poor aim surely, perhaps he wasn't so lucky today
actually. Anyway the prey will only last longer, which means more game
... and this is good for Utreshimon.

(Alahija was mad, a dragon in this old moathouse, this was surely not
expected. She is still asking herself how she could have escaped from
the deadly lightning bolt while going back on her feet. That's when
the dragon started to pound at her)

Utreshimon is now trying to get his two claws on the human. If he
could do it, it will be so great. Humans are always fun when they are
trapped, some even pledge for mercy. And the dragon likes to see
terror in the eyes of his prey. But this tiny little thing is evasive,
it seems she doesn't even try to fight the dragon but only evade his
attacks, it must be fear, she must be completely terrified thinks
Utreshimon. This is great game today, happy dragon day ...

---
When Gandigoot saw Alahija advance, he followed the plan and came to
took her place at the door. Quickly he knew that something was not as
planned, just when a crackling bolt of lightning passed five meters in
front of him. He arrived at the door and saw the newfound pet of
Alahija ... or was it the opposite ?

The gnome fires a crossbow bolt into the dragon's shoulder. The bolt
connects but dosen't seem to harm it much, even if it is enought for
the dragon to give to this little fellow an eloquent gaze.
Gandigoot isn't a fool, he nearly saw death one week ago fighting
gnolls and two of his friends were slain during the attack. One must
survive to get the corpses to the priest of Hommlet ... and isn't it
better if the survivor is him ?
He was once again on the drawbridge and saw water under him, he was
faintly remembering of a potential danger but Gandigoot was more
preoccuped by the dragon than by physical properties of water and
lightning and decided to jump into the moat. Hopefully he can swim and
he started to put as much distance as he could between him and the
blue dragon.
You need three gnomes to fight a gnoll on equal terms, Gandigoot never
learned how much gnomes you need for a dragon, but he was sure that
one is far from the count. And he is probably right ...
---

Utreshimon is suddenly bitten by something on his shoulder, turning
his head to investigate, he sees a bolt and a gnome. The human-elf
wasn't alone, good ... two are better than one, it will be even more
fun. But gnomes are bad, too small and not very tasty, poor dragon,
not even a good fat human with a big belly, these ones *are* tasty.
Well, stopping his dreams of food, the dragon tries to bite Alahija,
if there was other treasure hunters, he could still have fun even if
he finishes this small one.

(Alahija desperatly tries to avoid the dragon attacks, she knows that
her friends will run to help her as they must have seen the dragon now
and Gandigoot surely fled to warn them.
She only has to survive until their arrival and timely rescue.)

After one more minute, the young dragon is already tired of his game.
He grabs Alahija in one of his claw and pound her until she stops
moving (humans are not smart enought to stop moving before beeing
dead most of the time). He's now free to follow the small gnome who
will surely lead him to the other treasure hunters. As his mother was
teaching, humans are never alone, seek and kill the wizard and you
will be safe.

(Alahija:"And the timely rescue! Where is the timely rescue ?
You do *know* that I'm dying right now ... do you ?")


Utreshimon always follows the advices of his mother, as we will see
next week For now he's tacking of, the body of Alahija bleeding
in the courtyard ... Where is the rescue team ?


... soon ...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Episode TWO - Another Day in a Quiet Little Town - Part 3
(Yes you're level 4 and after, this dragon was not SOOO big ...)

 

[Selm]

Episode 2-3

Episode TWO - Another Day in a Quiet Little Town - Part 3
(Yes you're level 4 and after, this dragon was not SOOO big ...)
you know that this is Planting 16, 591CY, yes you know ... or if you
don't, you should.


Gandigoot is swimming in the moat, he's still under the shock of what
he has seen. A DRAGON, a real living DRAGON .... he was sure at the
beginning that it was an illusion but his crossbow bolt touched
something and the gaze the dragon gave him could not be an illusion,
it was too much real, to much frightening. Swin small gnome, save your
life, you will have a story to tell.

If Alahija is now dying on the floor of the moathouse courtyard, she
did not fell without shouting for help and her friends know that
something is wrong. They are all running towards the moathouse, Diane
is even at the door as she not even had the time to reach them and
tell them of "the plan" before Alahija entered the moathouse.


This is at this moment that they see the form of the blue dragon
taking off from the courtyard. Even if the players are aware of what
is arrived to Alahija, the characters are all very surprised and
frightened. This is a real DRAGON (and they are only level 4 ...).

The dragon flies onto the portal at the entry of the moathouse (he is
searching the gnome) and sees the group of adventurers running right
on him.
(So his mother was right once again thought Utreshimon, there was a
group of treasure hunters. And this time they are bigger and seems
more dangerous than the first two.)
Without hesitation the dragon realeases a deadly breath on the coming
party. The huge bolt of lightning scorchs the earth and some of the
rescue team. Diane sees the bolt pass above her, beeing already on the
bridge and Lywen is already out of the bolt's way having changed his
straight running line the round before (those two are sneaky ). If
Rousing Fox could barely escape the big bolt with extreme speed, the
three last members of the party are badly hurt. Ezekiel was a little
protected by a resist element spell he casted last round and by an
endurance spell since the badger incident, it saved his life as the
deadly energy passes trough his body and plate armor. Killasha's
paladin abilities were not enought to protect her from the bolt and
she endures a great suffering when the electricity engulfs her, but
she's still alive after it (Killasha and Ezekiel are now near 4-5 hps
...) and this is not good in front of a dragon ... Beside we should
not forget Xaod, for his first adventure with the party, he discovers
and endures the breath of a blue dragon, even if his resistance seems
better than for the two other plate mail fighters, the pain is great
(NPCs seems better than PCs on saving throws).

(Utreshimon is quite happy, this bolt was a great success and it
bolsters his confidence. The first failure of the day with the little
human-elf was bad aim, it is now certain.
But a point attracts the dragon's attention, there is a man casting a
spell in the back of the tresure hunter's group. This is a wizard for
sure and Utershimon knows that he must kill the wizard first.
This should be easy as the three fighters seem badly hurt and should
flee for sure.)

The dragon takes off once again and flights right on the group of the
three fighters and Lywen, who is alone without his bodyguard.
But this is without counting on the courage and determination of
Killasha and Ezekiel, the two take their swords and prepare for the
fight. Lywen does not hesitate more and cast a pack of magic missiles
on the dragon.

(This is not planed, disgusting direct confrontation against three
heavily armed fighters and a wizard, Utreshimon changes his mind.)

The group of adventurers is surprised when the dragon changes the
course of his flight. He passes well above them, makes a great
semi-circle in the sky and turns back towards the moathouse. Lywen
uses this time to fire two more volleys of magic missiles him. And, as
you surely understand, it starts to make him angry.
During this time, Rousing Fox has jumped the small river and is now on
the west side of the moathouse (the drawbidge is on the south side). He
plans to enter the old ruined fortress by the broken west wall. And
suddenly remarks that he doesn't see the dragon anymore. Where is the
foul beast ? Rousing Fox looks behind him just in time to see a giant
blue arrow rushing at him. Quite afraid, the monk desperatly tries to
escape the grapple which will surely be followed by a bad fall of no
less than fifty meters ... and death as you can imagine. No sooner
said than done, Rousing Fox jump on the other side of the moat, hoping
to escape the dragon attack and hide in the wall debris. But, hindered
by his haste, he takes a bad hop and falls into the moat, nevertheless
escaping a certain death ... only to discover that he can not swim ...

While the dragon is going back into the moathouse, Ezekiel and
Killasha are healing themselves and are able to cure the most part of
their injuries, but this seriously depletes their magical power.
If Gandigoot is only starting to go out of the water hidden in the
middle of some high weeds, Diane has carefully entered the courtyard
during the dragon's absence, crossing the drawbridge and passing the
broken doorway.
But she only has time to discover the body of Alahija laying on the
ground before the dragon comes back into his lair. This time there is
only one adventurer and the dragon does'nt hesitate even one second
before attacking. Diane is quickly pushed to the wall and forced into
a defensive stance. She has to defend herself against the claws, the
tail, the bites and altogether a furious dragon. After two combat
rounds it becomes evident that Diane will not survive a lot more
alone, then she notices an old door at the base of a tower near her
(this is one of the four rempart towers, the south west corner tower
is entered from the courtyard, near the entry door). Diane uses her
superior initiative to rush into the cover of the tower basement. She
is once again able to escape the dragon's attacks, but he starts to
destroy the old door and will soon be able to reach her. The stairs to
the first floor of the tower are broken, it seems that her luck stops
there. Diane manages two more stabs onto the dragon before the door
completely breaks open, this time she will not be able to escape his
attacks, her superior mobility will not help her ... is this the end?

At this exact moment, a deep-sounding battle cry resonates through the
moathouse courtyard. Ezekiel, Killasha and Xaod are finally arrived!
The dragon has not even time to go out of the door where he is nearly
stuck before a massive sword tears through his flesh. Ezekiel's
two-handed great sword has conected!
This seems bad for the blue dragon, one more round and two more
profound scars mark his body, those three are dangerous for sure!

(Utreshimon is not happy, really not happy and he will not make nice
to those freaky bastards! They even stab him while he was playing with
his new toy! And while they should be roasted, they are fighting him
as if his electric breath was nothing.
This must be the wizard, his mother has said him, the wizards are the
greater curse for dragons.
But there was no time for melancholy, if he stands here longer he will
die and he doesn't want to die. He still has a long life to live, even
several centuries, those despiteful treasure hunters are such a pain.)

All seems good for the party, when the dragon takes off. The massive
cloud of sand raised by his strong wings nearly blind the whole group
as the dragon prepares a new deadly lightning bolt.
But the priest of Kord will not die here today, protecting his eyes
from the sandy cloud, he stabs the dragon with divine fury calling his
god to his help. Once again his deadly great sword touch the dragon's
flank and cuts a deep wound into it.

(This HURTS BAD .. how could this human hurt Utreshimon so bad with a
single blow ... he survived the dragon breath, sees trough his sand
cloud and could kill him with two more blows like this one.
He must be a professionnal treasure hunter, a dangerous one, one of
those deadly dragon-slayers and Utreshimon's mother has warned him
against this kind. He was too young, he should flee, but they were too
numerous around him ...
He must be more cunning than those humans, and he will survive, to
kill them later, to avenge his honor and take back his lair and
treasure.)

The dragon then shouted a terrible cry, the last blow of Ezekiel has
been enough and the beast was deadly wounded.
Unable to breath once again, the dragon crashed on the east wall of
the courtyard, his large body still convulsed by spasms. All party
members could see the dragon's demise.
All ... or nearly all, Rousing Fox has finally finished his fight for
life in the moat and has climbed the ruined wall. However he arrived
too late to fight the dragon but he could see the deadly blow of
Ezekiel. Alahija was still slain in the sandy square entrance, it was
a miracle that her corpse was not more severely damaged during the
fight. And Gandigoot ... arrives at the door with the party horses and
his mighty warpony, they have fled when the dragon appeared and the
gnome successfully find them and took them back, all or ... nearly
all, as Ezekiel and Rousing Fox horses are still missing.)


The monster defeated, Ezekiel turns his attention to Alahija. They all
know that it is too late, they were too far away when she was attacked
and Killasha is shaken to the core, she has fallen to her mission of
protection. But the guardian angel of Alahija is strong and she is
still alive! Ezekiel heal her and after some minutes she regains
consciousness, tired and without any force but alive.
With happiness and pride they decide to investigate the ruined keep.
A bloody trail attracks their attention and, while the others help
Alahija, Rousing Fox and Lywen enter the dragon's lair, a great hall
partially colapsed. They discover two corpses, one already one third
eaten, this one seems to have been a priest and the other probably a
rogue. The priest's corpse wears an ocre robe and a strange holy
symbol, a black triangle with a golden Y into it, each branch of the Y
finishing in the middle of one side of the black triangle. A strange
lilas colored stone mask lies beside the head of the priest.
Diane and Killasha join them but they are unable to indentify the holy
symbol, the dragon seems to have killed the two and dragged them into
his lair.

During this time, Ezekiel, Xaod and Gundigoot are still standing
beside the dragon. Alahija is recovering and starts to be able to walk
again by herself. Xaod has touched the dragon with his sword to be
sure that he's dead for good and they are debating about what they
should do with his corpse. They decide to behead it and take back the
head to Hommlet as a proof of their fight. Ezekiel rises his
two-handed sword and prepares for the strike.

(Hey, what are they doing, they want to kill him for good. Utreshimon
was sure to have duped them, but they seem to be more cunning than
what he thought.
The dragon wanted to escape later, when they are all out, and when the
dreadfull fighter and the wizard have departed. But this very one
fighter is preparing to kill him ... right now!)

The blue dragon suddenly awakes, he was not dead, he was trying to
dupe them. Ezekiel and Xaod attack him immediatly, but the dragon is
able to take off.
They pursue him outside the keep, Alahija and Gandigoot firing arrows
onto the beast, but the monster is finally able to escape.
This is a big reversal of fortune, they will not have any big dragon's
head to show ... but on the road they are able to find back the two
escaped horses and Gandigoot manages to calm them.

(Ouch, it is even hard to flight with such serious injuries,
Utreshimon is greatly surprised, angered but also afraid, for the
first time of his life.
He was nearly slain by some pityfull humans. What a shame!
It will takes him months to recover from such injuries and he has lost
his lair ... his precious treasure ...
The dragon flights, fleeing the dreadfull party. He will perhaps never
see them again, but if anytime it arrives, their visages are engraved
in his memories forever ... with a strong desire for revenge ...)


Ezekiel, Xaod, Killasha, Gandigoot and Alahija return to the
moathouse. Lywen, Rousing Fox and Diane are still there exploring the
dragon's lair. Rousing Fox has heard a sound coming from a dark
passage, advancing with a torch of eternal light, he discovers a stair
going down into the drakness. Following the advices of Lywen, he
prudently comes back to the great hall.
They discover another stair on the other side of the hall, but this
one is ruined and was going up to the colapsed first floor. Diane is
in the courtyard, trying to see into the moathouse rooms trough the
small windows. The building seems abandonned as she's not able to see
anyone or any sign of recent activity.

The other members of the group rejoin them into the moathouse hall and
Killasha remembers that the priest of Pelor has tell her about a group
of ocre robed men who have been seen near hommlet two weeks ago, the
dead priest should be a member of this group.
Lywen and Diane decide to venture into the dark stair to investigate
the source of the sound Rousing Fox has heard sooner. Lywen uses his
last magic to turn Diane invisible and allow her to see in complete
darkness. Without more hesitation, Diane silently sneak into the
darkness. She starts to descend step by step and suddenly freezes when
a sound comes from under the staircase. Two ugly creatures, she
quickly identify as gnolls, go out of their concealment, they are
wearing armors and use polearms, briefly discussing between them, they
resume their hidding one minute later. This is not normal, gnolls are
not organised creatures and there has to be someone or something
behind the scene. Diane decide to go back and inform the other members
of the party.

They are tired, without any more magic and some if not all of them are
hurt. There seems to be more danger in the cave and more fight. As
someone said one day: "You must survive today to fight evil tomorrow."
Even if Gandigoot would like to explore a little more, even if only
the basement, the party decides to go back to Hommlet and rest before
going further into the keep.
So decided, they return to the small town of Hommlet, without any gnoll
head and not even a small dragon scale but with two corpses wearing
dark clothes (the ocre robed priest is wearing a dark chain mail under
his robe) and as you know: a man wearing dark clothes is a bad man
But some of them are asking themselves even more questions than before
about the presence of dark priests around Hommlet.

-- Return to Hommlet --

Arriving at the town, they stop by the castle to speak with Rufus and
Brune. Xaod returns to the Inn of the Wecome Wench because as he said
: "I will not put my hands into your business."
With the two corpses, they produce quite an impression and Rufus
immediately speaks with them in the courtyard of the castle. When they
present him the holy symbol, he immediatly accepts to take them to
Brune and they follow him to the dungeon.
They do not wait long in the meating room of the dungeon this time,
and soon are all around the table with Rufus and Brune. Diane presents
the symbol to Brune and he seems even more serious than before, if it
is possible. The old wizard asks them if they know the symbol, Lywen
seems to know but is not sure and seems to fear what he think it
is. He should hve been right as Brune explain what he knows about this
dark holy symbol.
The inverted dark triangle with a golden Y is the symbol of the Elder
Elemental Eye, the dark gold behind the Temple of Elemental Evil and
its perverted elemental cults. But this god is in fact dreaded
Tharizdun, an extremely old god devoted to evil, insanity and complete
destruction. This god was so utterly evil that he was trapped out of
our plan of existence by the alliance of all the other gods (even the
evil ones). He is now imprisoned since long centuries, and only thinks
of one thing, to be free again, free to destroy Greyhawk.

I don't know if you think as me, but it seems bad. This time this is
not a small evil, not even a great evil as the Old One, but a big bad
EVIL, Tharizdun himself.

After a small lesson about the Temple and the time of Emridy Meadows,
when the demoness Zugtmoy was trapped into the Temple depths, the
group goes out of the keep. They plan to see Canoness Y'dey of the
St Cuthbert church, with Brune's support, to ask for her help and
magical powers. They want to summon the dead spirits of the two
corpses they found at the moathouse, to ask them questions.
At the church of St Cuthbert, Canoness Y'dey accepts to help them, but
as she can't cast thoses spells today, they must wait for tomorrow.
They agree to conduct the ceremony tomorrow in the middle of the
morning. Even if Y'dey is pessimist about the priest (his face is
probably too beaten to allow his corpse to speak), she thinks that the
other one will be able to say something.

It's the end of the day, their first day in Hommlet. One of them has
already nearly played poker with death and they have all been
seriously hurt.
While they are on the road for the Inn of the Welcome Wench, they are
all asking themselves if they will survive one more day in the :
* Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil *

Some technical details:
- Alahija dropped to -4 life points before beeing able to stabilise
with a great dice roll
- Ezekiel and Killasha suffered 40 damage (on 6d8, quite a big score)
during the dragon's breath, Killasha was dropped to 4 life points and
Ezekiel survived because of his spells, however finishing at 8 Hps.
- Utreshimon still had more than 40 Hps when he started to take off the
second time, but Ezekiel used divine might to inflict 20 pts on one
attack and when Utreshimon finally escaped with his third take off,
after his bluff attemp, he was down to only 4 Hps (on his 108 at the
beginning of the encounter).
- The blue dragon is a big bluffer, he duped them with a huge 27 on
his bluff check. And Xaod, the only one doubting a little about his
death, only rolls a 13 on his sense motive check. Sneaky dragon


THIS was a fight ... and surely not the last one ...

... in something like two weeks ...
(the game session is this saturday)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Episode THREE - Return to the Moathouse
(How to plunder a dragon's lair?)

 

[Rousing Fox]

Haha. The return of the Return. We'll be able to make a few comments again

 

[Selm]

Comments

As I said in the first post, this is a table campaign played around
twice a month. The first sessions were played in the end of last year
(2001), and as I repost the reports, some comments could be out of
context. For example, you will not have to wait two weeks for the
remaining of the story

We have advanced in the campaign and will be playing Episode 13 next
saturday. But I will not reveal anything of the destiny of my
courageous PCs.

I hope you will enjoy the story, especially as I think that this
campaign was played a lot. I will ask to all my readers to restrain
from saying anything about the story itself. But if you want to
comment about how you lived trough the campaign scenes that my PCs
played, it will be a pleasure to read.

May Mayaheine protect you ... if it is enought ...