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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 4170341" data-attributes="member: 16069">So we’ve got-Gina Female Gnome Priest of Garl Glittergold.Twiglet (Fe)Male Dwarf Fighter.Grungarak Male Half-Orc Ranger.Ronnie Bingo Male Human Paladin of Kord.The last character is one of the Pre-Gens available in the module, the player turned up without one, Ronnie may get replaced a little way into the piece, or maybe he’ll end up dead, maybe they all will.So three warrior types and a cleric-, no rogue, no magic-user. Not my idea of a balanced party but what do I know, I’ve only been playing the game for the best part of a quarter of a century.Castle Whiterock- The Road to Ruin.Turn 6.The Road to Castle WhiterockIt’s early the next morning, very early- and they’re on the road, and already not talking.Except for Twiglet.“I’m very nervous.” Twiglet nudges Gina who’s watching the Half-Orc Grungarak out front, leading the way.The track through the trees to Castle Whiterock is mostly overgrown, although the path is obvious, dotted along the way are dozens of dark stone heads, ancient moss covered statues- long-faced idols scarred by time and nature.Twiglet and Gina were at first interested in the strange stone monoliths, however after passing the thirty-first of them then they deserve nothing more than a cursory glance, they’re markers- to commemorate the road that once lead to Castle Whiterock, now nothing more than an overgrown trail.Ronnie, the Paladin, strays a little way back- where he can see them all, he keeps a close watch, and his hand on his sword.Gina looks at Twiglet, grins a little, “don’t be, it’ll be okay.” Gina lies.“I’ve never done this before, adventuring- I used to work at Pog’s Granitarium- Rock Bottom Prices, do you know it?” Twiglet continues, with an eager smile.Gina shakes her head.“We’re famous for our Mica, lovely stuff, the sheen… Anyway, what do you think we’ll find ahead- at the Castle.”“Monks.” Gina states and shrugs.“I’ve never seen a Monk- what’re they like. Are they very hairy?”Gina opens her mouth once or twice, but continues walking- “Hairy?”“Mmm. Why are they looking for Relics, I thought they liked curly-fruit, I mean bananas?”“Monkeys.” Gina smacks the flat of her hand against her forehead.“Mmm?”“That’s monkeys, these are Monks.”“Oh. What are Monks like?”“They’re religious, a bit faraway like, and they dress bad and wear flip-flops.”“Flip-flops?” It’s Twiglets turn to be confused.“Like sandals.” Gina explains.“Oh. Clip-clops, that’s what we call them, or Rock-slippers, we make them with layers of Sandstone and Pumice, they’re excellent for veruccas, actually I’m quite interested in podiatry- you know, as a hobby.”Gina nods, no longer interested, the Half-Orc has suddenly stopped, he’s staring at the tree-line, and unlimbering his great axe, a monstrously ugly looking weapon.“What’s…” Gina starts.“This is my first time above ground”, Twiglet babbles on, “is the light always left on for so long?” Twiglet indicates the sun.“Twiglet, I think…”“AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH.”And from the tree-line they come, burly men, humans, badly dressed and wild looking, two from each side, and screaming.They seem to be very mad about something, and have their weapons drawn.The first pair double-team Grungarak, the first swings his club low, the Half-Orc dances back and creates an opening, brings his great axe down in an overhand stroke, the bandits arm is severed just below the shoulder, the man crashes to the floor- dead. Grungarak pivots and checks the other man’s blow- the guy has wild eyes, he looks out of it, however the sight of his comrade’s severed arm seems to be having some effect, the bandit gibbers and swings- and is blocked again.Meanwhile.Gina grabs Twiglet by the arm, trying to drag the Dwarf away from harm, the screaming humans, one with a shortsword the other with a spiked club, close the distance fast.“Twiglet.” The Gnome screams, but it’s too late.Twiglet rushes forward, somehow the Dwarf seems to have readied his great axe, Gina doesn’t remember seeing him unlimber the huge weapon.CHUNKThe first bandit curtails his charge, his right leg now nothing more than a mess of blood, ripped flesh and shattered bone, he stumbles forward and crunches into the hard earth- dead.“Wow. Mmm. Sorry- I’m…”The other pulls up short, although still within striking distance, blinks once, then twice- turns tail and runs screaming into the dense woods.“Sorry, I’m new…” Twiglet babbles.Gina continues backing away, in a rush, the last of the bandits spies the Gnome, easier prey, he disengages from Grungarak who is almost sent sprawling when he over-extends himself with a wild swing, and screaming heads straight for the Gnome, club raised high.CRUNCHThe Gnome finds the Paladin, Ronnie, who’s en route to save her; alas she only gets in the way, tripping the servant of Kord as he approaches at speed. The pair end up in a heap on the rough track, the last bandit, still wild-eyed, about to smash one of them to pieces.THUNKThat is until Grungarak’s axe crashes into the man’s back- he collapses on top of the Paladin and the Gnome, dead.The Half-Orc nods at Gina, and grins at Ronnie- raises an eyebrow, the Paladin, still sprawled on the floor, growls.Suddenly the air is full of the sound of buzzing, Grungarak turns to stare, just in time to see Twiglet engulfed in a frenzied swarm of stinging hornets, which appear from nowhere, Twiglet flails and staggers trying to escape the storm, already stung all over.“Aaaaarghelpmeeeeeeee.” The Dwarf staggers and swats as he stumbles forward, the hornets in hot pursuit.Gina shuffles backwards in a rush, she’s up on her feet and scrambling away, “Help her”, she screams.Ronnie is also on his feet, but alas lost for what to do next, “Kord…” he mumbles.FWWWWWSTA smokestick flares and stepping into the swarm is Grungarak, the Half-Orc grabs hold of the stumbling Twiglet, hoists the Dwarf over his shoulder and retreats at speed, the dense burning fog keeping most of the hornets at bay.Grungarak shambles away from the now dispersing swarm, constantly looking back, beyond the hornets, scanning the tree-line.“Heal… him.” The Half-Orc shrugs the Dwarf off his shoulder and onto the ground. Twiglet stirs, “Exciting”, he mumbles and is sick down his armour. Gina’s quickly on the scene.Ronnie stands tall, stares at the back of Grungarak’s head a while and then grimaces.The Half-Orc’s off again, striding forward with purpose.“Where you going?” Gina looks up.“Wait there.” Gungarak orders.Ronnie follows behind the Half-Orc, draws his longsword en route. Grungarak heads into the woods on the right hand side of the track- disappears from view.The Paladin of Kord stares hard at the spot, a branch moves. He heads in.Less than a minute later he finds the creature, bent down examining the ground.“What is it?” The Paladin snarls.Grungarak looks up, grins, “There was someone here.”The Half-Orc stands and sniffs the air, looks behind him.“They went that way.”“Cillamar?”Grungarak shrugs.“Who was it?” Ronnie enquires.“Where’s your brother?”The Paladin screws his face up, “You…”Both go for their weapons.“Where are you?” Gina calls out.They freeze.“Are you there- Ronnie? Mister Half-Orc? Are you there?”The two continue to stand statue.“Are you there?” Gina sounds desperate, scared.“Here.” Grungarak plainly states and strides towards the sound of the Gnome’s voice.Ronnie waits a moment then bends to look at the ground, he can’t see anything there, he looks in the direction that the Half-Orc indicated, there’s nothing to see there either. The Paladin stands, sniffs the air- nothing.“Kord give me strength.” Ronnie makes his way out of the woods.</blockquote>

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