Seravin's Tales of the Night Below (Two Updates this Week - 07/24/07)

[Seravin]

The Journey

Perhaps a day and a half had passed in travel through the endless tunnels. The four friends had been shown the way by four gnome scouts. The way was dangerous but equally wondrous. Here, a mile or more beneath the surface there were tunnels that spanned as wide as a city street. In some places these tunnels were lit by phosphorescent fungus, in others the light of the group’s enchanted pendants had cast rainbows through crystalline deposits embedded in the walls. Many of these tunnels and caves were not natural, but only the gnomes in the party knew that.

They had journeyed through caves full of bright, multi-hued fungus. Some they had been warned away from as poisonous, others had nearly sucked the life-heat from their bodies. Incredily some of the fungus had even moved of its own volition, fortunately the small party had been faster than the walking mushrooms.

Another series of caves had been filled with an acrid smell, like that of an alchemical lab. The source of the burning odors soon became apparent. What at first appeared to be smoking pools of acid had turned out to be mobile pools of slime. The rock in the caves had been burned almost to a glass-like appearance by these slimes, but again the party was able to quickly maneuver through the caves before the things had moved to attack them.

Finally there had been the small tunnels. This area of the journey, perhaps a mile long, had been criss-crossed with smaller tunnels about three feet across. When asked, the gnomes had told Kestral that they were created by giant burrowing worms. While none of these worms were seen no one thought the gnomes had been joking.

Now, two hours from the small, hidden cave they would use for their base, the four friends crept through a side tunnel that they were told would lead to the troll nests. Their lights were doused and they were all under the enchantment from Jallarzi’s wand that granted darkvision.

At least they were trying to creep through the tunnel. Ashimar and Kestral were leading, acting like well-practiced ghosts, making little to no sound. Even Jallarzi was moving with stealth that would earn the approval of a street-thief’s guildmaster. Kellron who was bring up the rear though…

In his full plate armor with his shield strapped to this arm, the tall human warrior was anything but silent. After about an hour of Kellron’s armor scraping the tunnel walls and the sound of kicked rocks echoing through the tunnels, Jallarzi finally snapped.

Pulling her dagger she stopped up short and turned around, glaring at Kellron. “If you don’t quiet down.” She hissed, as she lowered her dagger and pressed it close to his belt. “I’m going to take this dagger and use it!” The point of the dagger clinked across the chain links that protected the weak points of the paladin’s plate armor around the legs and hips. Jallarzi’s eyes continued to hold Kellron’s gaze. “You might not remember, but we’re going up against trolls and I would appreciate it if you kept quiet.”*

Kellron was a man blessed with the grace of Sarath and was thus not plagued by the fears of most men. However he was also a man of wisdom. He raised his arms slowly (and thus quietly). “I am trying Jallarzi, but this armor was not made for stealthy works. I will hang back a little further though.”

Jallarzi eye’s narrowed, obviously not satisfied. With a small sniff she turned away and sheathed her dagger and continued walking. Ashimar and Kestral who had stopped to watch the two exchanged glances and gave Kellron a pitying look. They then turned back to lead the way again.


* - This actually happened. I don't have it quite word for word, but the intent and language is pretty close. Kellron's player referenced it about 2 months ago, so he still remembers it to.

 

[Mortepierre]

At his side was a blade that seemed well suited to the warrior, across his back was a.

But a .. what? :\

 

[Seravin]

But a .. what? :\

eep!
Apologies - i was trying to get those two out last night 'cause I didn't think I'd have a chance to write for another week. I'll edit that right now.

Done - apologies, but I'm going to blame it on the long work days.

 

[Capellan]

It was long and tedious and it took longer than 8 hours.
We generally play for about 4 hours every week. I think it took about 8 game sessions to get through all of this, though there was one or two game sessions that were essentially side-quests.
By the end of it all, I hated running troll combats. :\

It's nice to know I am not alone in my opinion of that part of the adventure

I don't think we lost anyone in the troll caves, when we played, but it was still a very tedious affair, especially when the DM had the gnomes chuck a tantrum. They insisted that we not return unless we had killed every troll. When, after killing nearly twice as many trolls as they'd said were there, we retreated, he had them stone shape their tunnels shut and refuse to help us.

 

[Mortepierre]

eep!
Apologies - i was trying to get those two out last night 'cause I didn't think I'd have a chance to write for another week. I'll edit that right now.

No problem. It's just that with a SH of such quality, I hate to be left without details

 

[Seravin]

No problem. It's just that with a SH of such quality, I hate to be left without details

Thank you. Apologies for not replying sooner, but after many long months I'm finally done with the last project and able to hopefully devote a bit more time to posting.

This is another first draft, so if you see any errors please let me know.

-seravin

 

[Seravin]

First Contact

Silently, under a spell of invisibility and aided with a spell of darkvision, Ashimar crept forward; this next part was going to be straightforward if dangerous. While the others waited somewhere behind, his mission was to scout out the cave that was somewhere before him. A cave infested with some fifty trolls. Giant trolls with a strength greater than that of any ogre and vitually immortal, capable of healing every weapon-made wound. Doubtlessly, thoughts of fire were in the forefront of Ashimar’s mind as he made his way through the wide tunnel.

In and out and lots of fire. That was the sum total of their plan. Catch the trolls where they were weakest, apply alchemical and magical fire, and then run away. The gnomes had promised that their hidey-hole would be safe, assuming they could outrun any surviving trolls long enough to make it there. All Ashimar had to do was sneak in, find out where the trolls were fewest, and sneak out. Simple.

A guttural sound stopped the young rogue in his tracks as he peered into the grayness that his magical vision revealed to him. He saw nothing, but heard another growling sound followed by a meaty thud and a snarl of pain and anger. Cocking his head slightly the former rogue moved forward, his hand tightening on his rapier. Hopefully it would be enough if the worse came.

There were two trolls ahead, standing about ten feet apart and eyeing each other warily. Created, rather twisted, in ages past, trolls were the ultimate shock troops. Standing nine to ten feet tall and weighing around a quarter-ton, trolls were gangly creatures with hands twisted into claws and an intelligence that was on par with a slow child; a viscious, carnivorous child. Their hide was rubbery and strange looking under the darkvision spell, but it seemed to pulse with a life all its own.

Ashimar eyed the tunnel with an appraising eye. The widest opening was between the two trolls, otherwise he could try to maneuver around between either troll and the tunnel wall, which was a space of about five feet in either case. He grimaced but he was certain he could do this. A slow, steady step would see him through.

He was twenty feet away when both of the trolls looked up and sniffed the air with interest. Ashimar’s eyes widened and he suddenly wished that he was a witch who could talk to people with his mind. The troll on the right took a step forward and sniffed again and Ashimar began to back up. This wasn’t going good. Both trolls grinned a feral smile, showing sharp fangs where most people had teeth and began to move forward slowly, following the intriguing…enticing scent. The trolls were hungy, but then trolls are always hungry.

Ashimar scrambled back almost thirty feet before he softly swore in a way unbecoming to a new priest of Sarath and stopped. When the lead troll got near enough, Ashimar spoke the command word that activated his magic boots and then stepped forward and lunged. Ashimar was working from surprise and was able to place the tip of the blade exactly where he wanted to. The keen tip bit cleanly through the hide and sank deep into the troll, going all the way through the left lung before Ashimar was fully extended. The blow would have killed a human. The abrubt pain caused the troll to howl, a howl that could be heard clearly up and down the tunnel. Fortunately for Ashimar both trolls were momentarily disorientated by his sudden appearance.

Far down the tunnel, about sixty feet away, Kellron, Kestral, and Jallarzi and Sarah (Jallarzi’s familiar) all looked up and then looked at each other. Kestral said the same thing that Ashimar had said when faced with the approaching trolls.

Events seemed to speed forward into double time after that. Using the hastening magic of his boots, Ashimar struck twice more at the troll he had just wounded, but the wounds beneath the shifting flesh was already starting to close.

Kestral made her way down the tunnel, also under the benefit of Jallarzi’s darkvision spell, pulling out her enchanted light amulet from underneath her leather armor. As soon as Ashimar and his monstrous opponents came into sight she stopped and prepped to throw the amulet to get some light in the area.

Kellron wasn’t far behind, but weighted down with his armor, he had to break out into a full out run just to get near Ashimar and the trolls. Wisely, he stopped before he was in range of the trolls swiping claws.

The trolls were the next to move, the one in front of Ashimar clawing and biting, but only hitting solidly once. The other troll moved forward to attack Kellron and swiped at the paladin , the great clawed hand pounding off his shield.

Jallarzi finally moved forward her hand reaching into her spell component pouch and words springing to mind. When she was close enough, she fired off a burst of three magic missiles against he troll fighting Ashimar.

The fighting continued for several seconds, with Kestral throwing out two enchanted amulets to light up the tunnel and Jallarzi casting magic missiles before the odds shifted to the trolls, as two more trolls appeared, running towards the sound of the fight.

“Sarath.” Muttered Kellron, invoking divine strength from the god as he swung at the troll. Ashimar muttered the same sentiment as he furiously thrust into the troll he was fighting.

Jallarzi invoked her own invective and for the first time in her career, a ball of flame exploded by her magical will, consuming all four trolls. The first two trolls were completely overwhelemed and dropped, though their bodies were already repairing the damage caused by the weapons – fortunately the tales were correct and the wounds caused by the fire stayed as they were.

Ashimar and Kellron both stepped forward to engage the new trolls, trusting the girls to take care of the two downed creatures. Kestral and Jallarzi were only too happy to oblige. Kestral stepped forwad, pulling out a ceramic flask of caustic acid. She was going to take great care in applying it. Jallarzi, thinking quickly, conjured another ball of flame, this time much smaller and less explosive. A three foot diameter flaming sphere appeared on top of the other downed troll and began to burn merrily away.

It was desperate now. Everyone knew that the explosion almost certainly drew more trolls and they needed to stop the two surviving trolls before they fled. Kellron and Ashimar fought furiously and managed to score several hits, their armor and speed respectively allowing them to avoid the return blows.

Kestral finished applying the acid expertly, burning the trolls eyes out. It spasmed once as the acid ate through the thin wall past its eyes and into the brain. Whatever spark of life the troll had, passed with a shudder. “We have more trolls coming guys.” She called out and moved towards the two amulets, intent on retrieving them before they fled.

Kellron and Ashimar both finally dropped their two new opponents as Jallarzi conjured a second flaming sphere onto one of them. As the first troll shuddered, Jallarzi maneuvered that sphere onto the remaining body. The group looked around and breathed heavily. The trolls weren’t very bright fighters, relying more on brute strength then anything else, but Kellron and Ashimar hadn’t gotten away entirely unwounded – aching ribs and bleeding flesh attested to that. Fortunately, Jallarzi’s explosive fireball had turned the tide into their favor.

Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, the four friends (and Sarah the familiar) hurried away back down the tunnel. They would return in the morning and see if they could replicate this minor feat.

There was a lot of this. Go in, hit the guards, and retreat. I still hate running troll encounters two years later. The next post will skip a few days ahead.

edits: some spelling and grammatical errors pointed out by AsEver.

 

[Seravin]

The 100th Day

The Topknot trolls were so named by the gnomes for the thick shock of black hair that grew straight up from the troll’s heads – a sign of favor from their demon-god, Vaprak. This particular clan of trolls was led by their tribal shaman, Greezelet, a rarity in that the shaman was a female, and a double rarity for Greezelet sported a second head which granted her a cunning that matched her visciousness.

These two traits were much admired by the members of the Topknot clan, for though their numbers were fewer than the Slaverer’s, they had always managed to fight the Slaverer’s to a standstill. However, now the Topknots were nervous.

Trolls of both clans had died by the touch of the demon called fire; that which caused wounds that did not heal and pain that did not abate. In a short period of time the Topknots had been reduced by half, so weakened that if the Slaverer’s were to attack the Topknots would be forced to flee.

Greezelet was forced to bring her tribe into her cave here they could meet the fire head on. The scent of warm, meat creatures, like those the tentacled things used as slaves, was heavy in the air about the dead trolls. The shaman knew that these creatures were the ones to bring the fire. She also knew they would come back. Twice now the creatures had killed the guards and then fled.

This time the creatures would find no guards. The creatures would most likely come in further and she and the remaining trolls would overwhelm the creatures and eat them. They would then take the fire the creatures bore and use it against the Slaverers. Greezelet was looking forward to the confrontation.

----

It was their third foray into the troll caves and the small group of friends was playing it cautious. The first two forays had been very successful and had set the tone of their attack. Ashimar would scout ahead and figure out where the trolls were. He would then start the attack. Kestral would follow up by throwing their enchanted light pendants into the general area, illuminating everything around. Jallarzi would then follow up with a magical induced haste and let off fireball that would target the trolls who had always been reasonably bunched together. Kellron who had been stationed to protect the women while Ashimar scouted would then rush forward as fast as he could.

It had worked perfectly twice before. Jallarzi would continue to lay out spells, including two or three flaming spheres to lay upon the casualties and Kestral would pepper any standing trolls with arrow fire to distract them. So far nine trolls had fallen in this manner and it had been reasonably easy, though their healing potions were starting to get low. Still, it was a good start.

By Ashimar’s reckoning it was late in the day, perhaps almost nightfall in the world above them. They had deliberately started late on this foray so as not to appear at the same time as they had before – though telling time in these lightless depths was difficult. Quietly and invisibly the new-made priest scouted forward into the dark caverns. Yesterday they had gone in almost a hundred feet into the main cave and still hadn’t seen the far end with the enchanted vision granted by Jallarzi’s magic. Fortunately the ceiling was visible some forty feet overhead which was a reassuring comfort of boundaries. Unlike last time though there were no trolls just waiting around in the main cave. Ashimar frowned at that and went forward a little further just to be sure. Unsurprisingly, the light amulets they had left behind in the last foray were now gone.

Satisfied that there were no trolls in the immediate area, Ashimar made his way back to the tunnel entrance where his friens were waiting. “There’s no one out there.” He whispered to his three companions.* None of them jumped, having been warned by Kestral that something was coming.

The group quickly discussed what to do and eventually decided to explore the area quickly and see if they could find any trolls left behind. Agreeing on a direction, Ashimar started out again, to his right, keeping the wall within arm’s length. It wasn’t long before he found the first cave – though he could have found it by stench alone. A fungus grew in the cave that smelled like rotting blood and meat. No one liked the looks of that ill-favored cavern and quickly left. Kestral contemplated trying the fungus briefly but decided not to. There was no way the experiment could be worth it.

It was in the next cave that they found the trolls. It was a small group – only four of them, standing guard-like at the mouth of the cave. Ashimar couldn’t see the back of this cave from where he stood but knew there could be more beyond, but it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Reaching into his vest he pulled out a small cloth bundle. He unraveled it and let the light amulet fall out. With a quick expert hand, Ashimar whirled the chain about and let the amulet fly. The lighted jewelry flew true and landed about fifteen feet away from the trolls.

Jallarzi was quick and let off her first fireball. The blast of fire knocked down one of the trolls (unknown to the party, a survivor from the last foray who wasn’t quite as dead as they thought – but it only had 10 hit points or so) but the other three remainined standing and immediately began to snarl and yalp.

The noise didn’t last long. Ashimar activated his boots of speed and darted forward, drawing his keen rapier as he moved so he could lay into the closest troll. Kellron muttered something about heavy armor and lumbered forward at a dead run, hoping that Ashimar would be able to take care of himself. Meanwhile Kestral moved closer, pulling her bow out and took aim on one of the trolls that hadn’t moved yet. The shaft sunk deep and Kestral grinned in satisfaction.

The trolls still standing batted at Ashimar once and then fell back. Ashimar smelled the blood and the fear and pursued. For her part, Jallarzi called forth a haste enchantment and summoned a flaming sphere on top of one of the trolls. It howled in pain and tried to get away.

Kellron finally got close enough and charged the remaining distance to the trolls, daring the closest one to claw at him. The creature did so and hit hard, but Kellron followed up with hit of his own just as hard.

Blows were traded back and forth between the retreating trolls and the adventurers, but the trolls were on the losing end. Jallarzi managed to keep one of the flaming spheres moving onto the same troll and conjured a second one. It didn’t take long for the first group of trolls to drop. Before Kellron could lay the final blow on the last standing troll though, Ashimar heard a growl towards the back of the cave.

More trolls. Not sixty feet away. The young man shook his head in disgust. The trolls were too close and the group wouldn’t be able to get away in time. Taking the teachings of Sarath to heart, Ashimar decided to press the attack. He re-activated his boots and surged forward into the heart of the new troll pack.

The ensuing fight was brutal. Jallarzi didn’t have any fireballs left and little time remained on her haste. She summoned another sphere and began using her magic missiles where she could.

For their part the trolls fought with more cunning and it soon became apparent why. A monstrous, two-headed troll appeared at the edge of Ashimar’s sight. The beast was obviously female and it was bedecked in furs and skulls. The beast was also bearing a shifting enchantment that seemed to make it look like there were three of them. Ashimar swore and moved to engage it.

The trolls were many – more then they had faced before. Ashimar was by himself at the forefront, trying to defend the wide expanse of the open cave and Kellron found himself running trying to catch up before he was intercepted by two of the trolls. Kestral levitated upwards to escape the beasts and use her bow from a safe distance. Jallarzi maneuvered her spheres to where they could do the most good and fired off as many magic missiles as they could.

The heroes stood their ground; but they stood it separately. In desperation Jallarzi used one of her precious charges from her Staff of Frost and summoned an Ice Storm to deal with a group of the creatures.

And though the trolls fell one by one, it wasn’t enough.

Ashimar’s keen sword bit deep many times, but the creatures kept healing a little bit at a time and he couldn’t hold a line with just himself. Fortunately his agility and his magic saved him from taking many hits

Kellron wasn’t so lucky. He invoked Sarath’s wrath and his divine might as he needed to and every hit with his sword bit deep and hard. The armor that slowed him down so much even prevented him from taking hits that would have shattered bones on an unarmoured man, but it didn’t prevent all the hits. Kellron was locked in a fight where he was trading an equal number of blows with a troll and he didn’t heal nearly as fast. Worse, while he was otherwise occupied, one of the trolls slipped past him and charged straight towards Jallarzi.

Ashimar found himself too far from Jallarzi and Kestral as the last of his trolls (the two-headed, magic wielding one) finally fell and the magic of his boots expended itself. Kestral was levitating high in the air so as to stay out of reach, but her bow wasn’t nearly as devastating as Kellrons’ sword.

Kellron was the first to fall as Ashimar finally caught up to him. Ashimar took a moment to bring the beast down and a lucky blow dropped it – though Ashimar knew it wouldn’t stay down to long. Before he could move further Jallarzi was dropped by a powerful blow from the troll.

Kestral descended, drawing her blade, and between her and Ashimar they dropped the final troll. They then took their remaining flasks of acid and alchemist fire and applied it to the trolls that were still healing.

The fight was over, though neither Kestral nor Ashimar would have said they won.**

* - I found my combat sheets from this time period. Apparently I was wrong about Panther’s player being gone at this time – or at least his character being gone. We must have been running Panther in the background at the time. Rather than confuse the issue, I’m going to continue to write as if Panther wasn’t there. He never decisevly turned any battle, but given that he could cast cure light wounds and Cat’s Grace and could use bard song, he certainly helped to sway the fights into the party’s favor.

** - Another error on my part at the time. There was a lot of paperwork involved here and I somehow messed up and was applying Rend damage with each troll hit. Kellron was only getting hit once a round, but it was like getting hit twice. No wonder he dropped. Everyone learned a valuable lesson from this fight by the end of it. But I still had two dead party members to deal with.

 

[Seravin]

What Next?

“Where did they get all of this?” Asked Kestral as she quickly dug through a pile of rocks.

Ashimar shook his head. “I don’t know. Is this a fox pelt?” He asks as he pulls down the the animal furs that had been hanging on the cave wall.

Kestral looked up and gave the silvery looking fur an appraising eye. “No.” She said slowly. “It’s a very expensive fox pelt. I have no idea how it got down here.” She said as she turned back to moving the rock pile.

The new-made priest and the courier worked quickly. Jallarzi and Kellron were dead, laid out on the bunk beds in their magical hut that was still enlarged behind them. Sarah, Jallarzi’s familiar, was keeping watch from the door.

For their part, Kestral and Ashimar were unsure what was going to happen next but it was certain to be expensive, so Kestral did a quick pass through the cave thinking that the shaman would have the tribe’s treasure close by.

Kestral’s intuition was dead on. On one wall of the cavern were the animal pelts and just below it was a large pile of rocks that was obviously covering something.

“Hold on. I think I know how it got down here.” Said the young woman as she straightened up. In her hand was a human skull. “It looks like somebody brought it down with them. Poor bastards.” She set the skull asid and pulled out another one and stopped. “What the hells…”

The elongated skull in her hand was almost black, though not with the appearance of age. The back of it had been bashed in with something large. The front though wasn’t human. The eye sockets were almost the size of the small woman’s palms and the mouth round and filled with sharp teeth, almost lamprey like. “Ugh.” She dropped the skull off to the side.

Ashimar shook his head. He had no idea what it was either.

Kestral moved a couple more bones and then stopped. Looking up gravely at her companion a slow smile of satisfaction started to form. “We’re rich.” Her hands reached down into the small pit and the tinkle of coin against coin could be heard. “Silver, gold, and platinum. There must be thousands of coins here and most of it is gold.” She whistled softly and her hands came up bearing two platinum bracelets set with aquamarine and tourquoise. “I take it back. We’re very rich. There’s a scroll case here and nice looking dagger too.”

Ashimar stepped off his precarious perch of rock bearing the pelts. He laid them on the ground next to Kestral. “Let’s gather this all up then.” He said, kneeling down next to her and scooping coins onto the pelt. “We’ll throw it in the hut and head back to Carmeneren. Maybe she can help us. Maybe not. If she can’t, there use to be a place called Silver Well where a person could ask Vieta to bring a soul back in return for a sacrifice.” He looked back at the hut. “Hopefully we have enough for two sacrifices.”

Kestral nodded and started scooping coins. Not much else needed to be said.

 

[Seravin]

The DM is a pinhead.

Apologies for the last post. As Wynterwolf so kindly pointed out, it was Kellron who died and Ashimar who helped Kestral loot the troll caves.

It's been corrected.