Session I (Part 8)
Okay here’s the last part of the first session. I can’t believe it took me this long to spit it out. For those of you who’ve read this far, thanks and I hope it was worth it for you. This is a HUGE post!
-------------
Kelec’s wolf had bounded to the front of the party, followed by Gorbag, then Gareth. Li Hai followed closely behind, while Kelec was farther back yet, his hairy brow furrowed in thought.
The party made their way north, under the dark boughs of the Tsai Nau woods. There was little underbrush in this part of the forest, and the terrain was fairly flat. After about three solid hours of travel, Gareth finally had to call for a rest. The noble was unused to traveling at such a breakneck pace, and he obviously wasn’t as up to this sort of thing as the other men.
Once the rest was called, Gorbag flopped down on the ground, while Li Hai continued forward past his lazing companions and scanned the area around them nervously, with his crossbow, loaded, but held at his side. He had kept it readied throughout their journey.
Kelec squatted down to rest alongside Gorbag and Gareth. The wolf pawed impatiently at the ground, showing its clear desire to continue on.
“How much farther,” Gareth asked Kelec.
“Ah…not much more, in fact were nearly there.”
After about ten minutes of rest, Li Hai urged the party onward, and they continued on their way. It had been barely five minutes when the party heard s wolf howling close by.
Kelec called for a halt, and listened for a few seconds. The howl came again, and this time Kelec’s wolf howled back a reply, and bounded off in a northwesterly direction.
Despite calls for him to stop, the wolf soon was gone from their sight.
“Damn that mangy mutt,” Kelec cursed, and started to run in the direction that the wolf had gone. Gareth, Li Hai, and Gorbag were more than able to keep up with the stubby dwarf.
After two minutes of running, the party halted when they saw Kelec’s wolf waiting for them at the base of a large moss-covered rocky outcropping that thrust out of the forest floor at a very sharp angle.
The area surrounding the outcropping seemed to have fewer dead leaves than other parts of the forest floor.
Also, once they got closer, the companions could make out a small opening in the rock that started about five feet off of the ground. It looked like it had some sort of stone statue placed inside.
Upon seeing this Kelec said that this site was sacred to the druids. As he said that, another wolf trotted out of the tree coming from the north. It was Thornfur.
Kelec immediately greeted the large white wolf, and explained to the party that Thornfur was the guardian of this particular patch of forest. He said that he hadn’t mentioned him before because he didn’t think it was necessary to.
Thornfur, using his strange form of empathic communication, told the companions that the rock outcropping was a shrine to the Illitol. As they came closer to outcropping, they saw placed in the opening in rock’s side, an elaborate ivy-covered statue of a thin human with a flowing beard and a wild mane of hair battling a monster that dwarfed the man. The monster was humanoid, had a long, sharp nose, and had broad shoulders and horribly, long arms that ended in nasty looking claws. The statue captures a moment when the man gracefully sidesteps the monster’s clumsy attacks and slips his scimitar through the monster’s heart.
“Is that Illitol?” Gareth asked.
The dwarf answered, “Yep, I guess this shrine’s a memorial to Illitol’s victory over Radeem the Mad.”
Li Hai quickly asked, “Radeem the Mad, who’s that?”
Kelec, not seeing the odd look Gareth gave Li Hai, went on to tell how Radeem the Mad was a powerful sorcerer who had used all manner of magicks to unite several ogre tribes over a century ago. Kelec said that Radeem also had many troll servants, noting that the monster statue obviously represented a troll. He continued to say that beyond that, he didn’t know that much about him, other than the fact that Illitol raised a swamp over the ruins of Radeem’s stronghold after he had defeated the villain with the help of a powerful monk from Ghost Mountain.
Gareth noted the possible link between Radeem’s legacy and the strange men who were dwelling in these parts of the woods. That was merely conjecture as of yet.
Thornfur interrupted Gareth with an impatient growl, and then went on to describe the situation at hand. Kelec understood all of what the white wolf said, and had to relate much of the finer details to the others, who were not that adept at interpreting images from the mind of the forest guardian.
What Kelec related to them was that less than a half a mile away, the party would find a woodsman’s trail that would lead them to “the gateway to the swamp,” where Thornfur and his wolves had observed dangerous “two legs,” coming and going. He also noted that the men could “bite at them from afar,” which Kelec translated as the men having bows and arrows.
What lay beyond the gateway, Thornfur knew very little. It is an altogether twisted place. Though Illitol raised a swamp over the den of Radeem the Mad, Thornfur said that his pack never ventured inside. Dangerous beasts lurk therein, who do not share the “covenant of forest guardians.”
The wolf also said that among the two legs, was the “Bringer of Storms” who flew on a thin, dark cloud and was no friend of the forest. Thornfur’s pack had once been attacked by this man, losing three of their adult males to the this strange foe’s power.
“Are you sure you’re understanding the wolf right?” Gareth asked Kelec incredulously.
“Aye I think I am. Thornfur’s mind works in images not words, and I see in his half memories a man with a writhing mane of long, black hair, unleashing all manner of destruction while flying on a dark cloud, no….something else….I’m not certain what he means by “dark cloud”, but I’m sure this guy’s dangerous.”
“Flying on a cloud!?! What kind of nonsense is that?” The nobleman exclaimed.
“It’s a powerful bit of nonsense if such a thing’s true,” Li Hai retorted and eyed Gareth with annoyance. After a brief second, he then turned to Kelec and asked, “Kelec ask this wolf to tell us more. Is this flying cloud guy around right now?”
Kelec related that Thornfur and his pack had only encountered the man once, nearly two moons ago. They hadn’t seen him since. Thornfur also said that of the few other animals that he had the ability to communicate with, none of them had seen the man either. The wolf had only told the companions, so that they would take care.
The four men discussed their situation for a few more minutes, and it was finally agreed that they would proceed into the “gateway of the swamp.” Thornfur said the swamp was an impassable mire of dark, murky water, and that this gateway was the only place he’d seen men coming or going from. The wolf also told the party that the men had only arrived at the beginning of the summer. Before that, there was no gateway.
Thus Kelec, Gareth, Li Hai, and Gorbag left the shrine, saying goodbye to Thornfur and Kelec’s wolf companion, as made their way towards the gateway to the swamp.
-------------
Kelec led the party to the trail that Thornfur had described, and indeed it was not much. Only Kelec could really make out the true path, and he led the way with his eyes carefully scanning the forest floor.
As they followed the dwarven woodsman, the humidity grew worse, and soon it was nearly unbearable to Gareth and Gorbag in their heavy metal armor. A fetid smell was in the air, and after no more than three miles, the party broke through the trees and saw a vast marsh.
After the relative quiet of the forest, the croaks of frogs, buzzing of insects, and the cries of marsh birds filled the companions’ ears. The smell of moist decay filled the air. The mucky, humid haze that hung over the marsh as well as the rushes grew as high as eight feet in some areas, obscured the party’s vision.
As they continued forward, they all could now make out the trail, which seemed to continue more or less straight towards a wooden bridge constructed from reinforced planks. The bridge was a little over fifteen feet in length, but only three feet wide.
Before the bridge, about twenty feet to the left of the trail, the party saw an old garbage heap. Broken chairs, rotted wood, and scraps of old canvas were piled along with chunks of rusted iron, and the remains of a wagon. A handful of gold coins was scattered atop one of the pieces of discarded canvas.
Li Hai and Gareth both walked towards the pile, while Kelec inspected the trail closely for footprints. Gorbag stood beside the dwarf, idly waiting to continue.
As Li Hai and Gareth approached the pile, Kelec said, “So I bet that that’s what’s left of that cara….”
Kelec was cut off abruptly as a near deafening wail erupted from the pile.
Li Hai immediately dropped to the ground aiming his crossbow at the garbage heap, but not yet firing a bolt.
Gareth cried, “What is that!?” The noble began backing up nervously as he drew his long sword.
Gorbag covered his ears with his massive hands and began to moan in pain. He still stood, but he looked like the mere sound alone could make him fall over at any second.
Kelec brought out his club, cursed loudly, and ran towards the refuse pile. As he climbed the pile, he began to wildly smash any and all debris he could. “It’s a shrieker alarm you fools!! Help me destroy them!!!”
Without a second thought Gareth leapt into action and ran to the pile, stabbing everything deeply with his sword.
“Shriekers?” Li Hai muttered, stood up, and ran over to the pile to help.
Gorbag, however, barely understood what the dwarf said, and continued to stand their, hands over ears, crying in pain.
Kelec, Li Hai, and Gareth broke up much of the top layer of garbage, and after another ten seconds or so had passed. The horrible wail ceased.
“Damn it!! Any guards in the area will know we’re here now!!” Kelec exclaimed.
“Its not our fault dwarf!! How were we to know that this heap of garbage was trapped?” Gareth shot back.
“You MORON! I wasn’t blaming you, I was just……..darn it……Help me make sure we destroyed the rest of the shriekers. They look like mottled green and blue mushrooms I think.”
Gareth and Kelec started scrambling through the debris, while Gorbag finally relieved from the throbbing screech, drew his sword and was looking around wildly for something to hit.
Li Hai, his crossbow aimed at the bridge, angrily said, “The alarm’s tripped. Might as well prepare for battle, because I’m sure someone’s coming to investigate.” He then moved to the edge of the bridge and found some cover against any possible enemies to cross it.
Gareth noted Li Hai’s action, and said, “Good idea. You cover us while Gorbag and I meet any guards or whoever’s over there. Gorbag follow me!!!”
The Mytherian’s call brought Gorbag to attention, and the orc obediently did as Gareth had told him. The orc, barely a step behind Gareth, began to cross the narrow bridge. As orc and Gareth started over the bridge, Kelec, his club still out, came to stand next to Li Hai, and expectantly watched the two men cross.
Gorbag and Gareth successfully crossed the bridge, and they found that the low, muck covered island that they had come to was choked with vegetation. Their feet sunk into the mud a few inches with each step, and going at normal speed was impossible. Gareth scanned the island, pushing his sword among the tall reeds and straining his eyes into the morass to make out anything. Gnats and mosquitoes danced around his eyes making it even harder to see clearly in this stinking morass.
Kelec, after seeing them safely across, came next. The dwarf noted the dark, murky water beneath the bridge, and said to the others, “This water looks pretty deep, I think. Be careful.”
Li Hai also came across with his crossbow readied as always.
The party now assembled on the other side of the bridge, and they decided to work out a marching order since the path became almost too narrow for even Gorbag to proceed without being consumed by the swaying reeds. At Gareth suggestion, it was agreed that Gorbag should have the honor of going first with Gareth only a few steps behind. Kelec would take the middle, and Li Hai would take the rear. Thus ordered, the four men walked along the path, high reeds on either side, feet sinking into the muddy ground.
After marching, rather trudging, for about ten minutes, the nervous party could see a break in the path ahead, and it looked like they were coming to another bridge. Gorbag seemed oblivious to the approaching area, but Gareth leaned around the huge man as they walked in order to see what they were coming to.
The noble wasn’t sure exactly what they were coming upon, since the most he could make out was some sort of skeletal wooden tower rising from the high reeds of another island. Leading to this new island, Gareth made out a well-constructed bridge, perhaps six or seven feet wide and nearly thirty feet long. As they continued their approach, they could now see that the bridge was built from scrap lumber, but it seemed to have a further purpose, due to a complex series of ropes and pulleys that were built into the railings of the bridge.
Taking all of this in, Gareth whispered back to Kelec and Li Hai, “Alright, there’s a fairly wide bridge with railings and a bunch of ropes attached in various places. I can’t make out much more right now, but I don’t see anyone yet.”
Kelec and Li Hai were ready for anything, and they continued to follow closely.
Gorbag finally pushed through the last of the reeds and clomped on to the bridge. Just Gareth was about to step out from behind the orc, two arrows hit Gorbag. One hit the orc in the left shoulder, while the other grazed his right arm. The arrows had been fired from the concealing reeds on the adjacent island. Neither archer could be seen.
As soon as the orc was hit, Gareth and Gorbag saw two men, emerge from the reeds. They were probably not the archers who had shot Gorbag, since neither had a bow, instead each was armed with a long sword. Both men were Mytherian, and they were garbed in chain mail and wore very dingy tabards. Their tabards bore the badge of the Clover Trading Company.
The older of the two men, a lanky man of middling years, raised his arm, and said, “Turn back in the name of the Master! You savages are not welcome here.”
Gorbag paid them no heed, still grimacing from the fairly deep wound, started across the bridge toward the two men.
Gareth followed the orc’s lead and began to cross the bridge, “Gorbag!! Watch out for the archers! You’re wounded!”
Kelec and Li Hai were now able to get a better view of the situation, and the dwarf followed his two companions on to the bridge with his club bared and Li Hai, finding some cover among the reeds on his side of the bridge, tried vainly to spot the hidden archers on the other island. As he was aiming his crossbow, he started muttering nervously to himself in his native Halthyte.
Now that the party could all take full stock of their surroundings, they all saw that the bridge they were on was actually a dam of sorts. Someone appeared to have undercut the natural revetement that originally held the water from the swamp, and built this bridge/dam to raise the level of the water in the swamp even further. Thus, the left side of the bridge had the marsh waters nearly lapping over its sides, while the right side of the bridge was little more than a muddy trench.
As Gorbag, who probably took little of that in, got about nearly two thirds of the way across the bridge, the twangs of bowstrings could again be heard amid the reeds. An arrow flew toward Gorbag, but went high, while another shot towards Gareth who was not as lucky. The noble was shot in his right thigh and he nearly fell over in pain.
Li Hai, still muttering, let out a strange, excited sound, and then continued muttering.
Gorbag had reached the two men and he easily avoided there blows, showing himself to be surprisingly quick on his feet. He answered the tall man’s attack with a swing of his bastard sword, but was unable to hit the tall Mytherian who had warned them.
Gareth made it to the other side as well, but his attack on the other man fell short as well. The noble was nearly bumping into Gorbag as they fought side by side.
Kelec was unable to get around either of his companions to help with combat.
As they continued the melee, the hidden archers fired anew. This time Gorbag was hit, but it was barely a flesh wound. The second arrow hit Gareth in his chest, and the noble coughed, tried to say something, and fell to the ground beside the fighting Gorbag.
Gorbag again missed the lanky Mytherian swordsman. Absorbed in combat, the orc seemed oblivious to Gareth’s fall.
Kelec quickly leapt over Gareth’s prone form and with a wild shout and not a few curses laid into the shorter swordsmen with his club. He hit, but not soundly.
Li Hai, having studied the near perfect concealment of the archers, shot a bolt into the waving sea of reeds that hid them. He knew his shot was true when he heard a cry of pain come from the archer who had shot Gareth.
Li Hai’s shot proved deadly when only one arrow shot out of the reeds, missing Gorbag by a large margin.
The two enemy swordsmen were still confident; the tallest of the pair engaged the orc, while the other dealt with Kelec. Gorbag’s opponent made a low slash towards the orc’s groin, but the orc was too swift, avoiding the blow. Kelec however, was slashed across his chin. Blood began to pour from the wound, and a look fury came upon the dirty dwarf’s face.
The tall swordsmen who fought Gorbag, seemed as deft as the orc, and narrowly avoided the towering orc’s blow. With his third miss, Gorbag bared his teeth and growled in frustration.
Kelec missed his opponent with a wild, clumsy swing and nearly tripped over Gareth’s body in the process.
Li Hai took aim and fired. His shot flew into the reeds, and he assumed that he had missed.
The remaining archer now took aim at Li Hai, but his shot was lost in the reeds to Li Hai’s left.
The tall swordsman got through Gorbag’s defense and slashed Gorbag’s swordarm. The orc howled in pain and dropped his sword to the ground to the surprise of his foe.
The other swordsman missed Kelec, and began moving forward, trying to make the dwarf trip over Gareth.
With no sword, Gorbag lunged towards the swordsman with his massive arms outstretched. He received an opportunistic wound from his opponent, but shrugged it off, and grabbed the man underneath his armpits. The Mytherian couldn’t break the hold, and Gorbag dragged the man towards the railing that overlooked the held back water of the marsh. With no ceremony whatsoever, the orc tossed the man into the muck. The armored man sunk like a rock.
Kelec missed the other swordsman, but managed to avoid being pushed back over Gareth’s bleeding form.
Li Hai emerged from his cover, and fired a bolt at Kelec’s foe. He hit the man squarely in the chest, and the swordsman fell over unconscious.
Kelec looked back at his “saviour,” and said, “F**k you! I would’ve gotten him eventually!”
“Just get the archer! In the reeds! In the reeds!” exclaimed the Halthyte, who then began to reload his crossbow, even as he sunk back into his covered position.
Not giving a care to the archer, Kelec bent over Gareth’s body, and began chanting in a solemn tone. Kelec’s hand, touching Gareth’s brow, glowed blue for a moment, but quickly faded. The dwarf matter-of- factly said, “There he’s dinged (5). Now to the last one.”
Li Hai, with his crossbow loaded, crossed the bridge looking nervously towards where the other archer probably was still hidden.
No attack came, and Gorbag, who had retrieved his sword from where he had dropped it, said, “What happen to Gareth?”
----------
(5). “Ding” is Kelec’s ever so creative way of referring to a casting of the cure minor wounds spell.
. As you will see, however, *my* version of tambrosh is a bit different from its original source.
. Here's the 
), and by the time that the campaign ended, the characters had only made one foray into the Temple of All Consumption (being the great portion of RttTOEE). My point is that our campaign was not dominated by the RttTOEE. It was influenced by it, but I hope that mere fact doesn't turn away any would be readers. So I guess take that as a modified spoilers alert.....