Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Three Kingdoms and Empire
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 4997657" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>“It’s a start,” Barouk coughs, as the huge cloud of dust created by the falling bridge slowly settles. </p><p></p><p>“Let’s get out of here,” Corbin says. His normal brown color is gaining a layer of grey. “If there are more flying things- or if that dragon comes back- well, we don’t want to be here for that.”</p><p></p><p>The rest of the party agrees, and they move away from the bridge. “We need to warn the town about everything we’ve found,” Jorr states. “They need to know what’s coming. An army of goblins is no laughing matter.”</p><p></p><p>The party moves quickly, hurrying down the trail, but as they draw up to where Warklegnaw lives, the giant draws off. “What’s wrong, Warklegnaw?” asks Corbin. </p><p></p><p>“Nothing,” the giant grunts. “But I must go.”</p><p></p><p>“Why?” exclaims Barouk. “We could really use you against the Hand!”</p><p></p><p>“Aye,” nods Jorr.</p><p></p><p>“I am old,” Warklegnaw rumbles, “and my tribe must be alerted to this goblin army. I must rouse them to battle.” He smiles. “If you are lucky, they will send warriors to aid you. But I am sore, and old; my teeth are loose and my bones ache. I am done.”</p><p></p><p>With that, the giant departs, and our heroes can only pray that he will gain them further aid.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Back to the causeway, where the accursed hydra dwells. They party stops to look for signs of the hydra that lives in the water, but it is too well hidden. </p><p></p><p>”Sure is sneaky, for something the size of a house,” Corbin sighs.</p><p></p><p>“You know,” Corbin muses, “this hydra might actually help us. It could slow the advance of the goblins if we leave it here.”</p><p></p><p>The group chews on this idea for a few moments. While the hydra is a danger to the local folk and has clearly already slain several people, it could be devastating to the goblins. They decide to try to pass by it without fighting it again. To this end, the party creeps along as quietly as possible.</p><p></p><p>The hydra, however, may be a dumb brute, but it has a <em>lot</em> of eyes and ears. </p><p></p><p>When it attacks in a huge explosion of swamp water and muck, things go to pieces very rapidly. The hydra’s huge, razor-sharp teeth tear at the party.</p><p></p><p>Barouk concentrates on his <em>ki,</em> and his fists burst into flame. He leaps, striking at the hydra, smashing one of its eyes. </p><p></p><p>Another head darts in at him and he tumbles over it. Its jaws snap shut on empty air.</p><p></p><p>“Go!” the monk roars. “I’ll hold it off!”</p><p></p><p>The others run.</p><p></p><p>Barouk leaps to the side as a massive, dagger-toothed maw snaps at him. This time, however, <em>another</em> head comes in at him from the side, crushing down upon his left thigh. Blood squirts out. Barouk roars and pounds his fist into the joint of its jaw. Bone crunches, and the flames on his fists sear it. Its grip weakens, and he knifes his other hand into its eye. </p><p></p><p>With a scream, the hydra releases him. He lands sprawling on the causeway, almost rolling into the swamp, and starts to scramble to his feet. Before he can rise, however, another hydra head rips into the meat of his back.</p><p></p><p>Barouk screams.</p><p></p><p><em>Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!</em></p><p></p><p>Arrows land in the beast’s body. Then, summoned creatures, called forth by Corbin, are all around the hydra, biting and clawing at it. It screams from its remaining mouths, and grabs Barouk by the shoulder with one mouth and by the leg with another. It begins tearing him apart. Blood is everywhere, splashing in huge arterial waves. Barouk howls, and manages one final blow- as he is torn in two.</p><p></p><p>“Barouk!!” Corbin cries. “NOOOOOO!!”</p><p></p><p>“Time to go!” shouts Jorr.</p><p></p><p>“No!” Corbin counters. “We need his body!”</p><p></p><p>“Are you mad??”</p><p></p><p>“The staff, Jorr! I can bring him back to life with it!!”</p><p></p><p>Grimacing, the ranger turns back to the hydra and begins grimly landing arrow after arrow in it. Corbin keeps conjuring more beasts to keep it occupied- including a shark in the water- and the hydra cannot escape. It shrieks angrily again as a hippogriff lands on it and starts worrying its back. The beast thrashes about; the shark attacks its bloody flanks. More arrows, and more; until it finally collapses, still screaming, in the water, a bloody mass of bites. </p><p></p><p>Corbin scrambles forward to where Barouk lays, nearly ripped in twain. “Help me carry him!” he cries. Together, he and Jorr lug the gory corpse off the causeway.</p><p></p><p>“So much for leaving the hydra to kill the goblins,” grunts Jorr.</p><p></p><p>“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Corbin replies grimly. “I don’t think my creatures killed it, and they only stay around for a few moments. It might have survived.”</p><p></p><p>They put Barouk’s corpse down. Corbin draws forth the <em>staff of life</em> that they recovered from underneath Vraath Keep, closes his eyes and holds it over the dead dwarf. </p><p></p><p>Slowly, it begins to glow- and Barouk’s ravaged body knits. After a few moments, his eyes flutter open.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Back at Drellin’s Ferry, our heroes grimly tell Speaker Wiston about their findings. “You’re facing a lot more than a few score goblins, I’m afraid,” Corbin tells him. “They had a dragon guarding the bridge at Skull Gorge. That alone is serious cause for concern. From the documents we found, it looks like they’re confident that they can take the entire valley, even Brindol.”</p><p></p><p>“This is bad,” the speaker mutters, pacing back and forth. “Very bad.” He halts, and stares at the party. “What can we do?”</p><p></p><p>“Prepare,” says Barouk. “Work on your defenses. Train with weapons, including bows or slings.”</p><p></p><p>Wiston nods. “And what will you be doing?”</p><p></p><p>“Well,” Corbin replies, “the notes we found also mentioned that one of the goblin commanders is on some kind of secret mission in the ruins of the old city of Rhest, maybe looking for something. The one we took out didn’t know what he was up to, but had the sense that it was important.”</p><p></p><p>“So, whatever he is doing, we’re going to stop him,” says Barouk.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> To the ruins of Rhest!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 4997657, member: 1210"] “It’s a start,” Barouk coughs, as the huge cloud of dust created by the falling bridge slowly settles. “Let’s get out of here,” Corbin says. His normal brown color is gaining a layer of grey. “If there are more flying things- or if that dragon comes back- well, we don’t want to be here for that.” The rest of the party agrees, and they move away from the bridge. “We need to warn the town about everything we’ve found,” Jorr states. “They need to know what’s coming. An army of goblins is no laughing matter.” The party moves quickly, hurrying down the trail, but as they draw up to where Warklegnaw lives, the giant draws off. “What’s wrong, Warklegnaw?” asks Corbin. “Nothing,” the giant grunts. “But I must go.” “Why?” exclaims Barouk. “We could really use you against the Hand!” “Aye,” nods Jorr. “I am old,” Warklegnaw rumbles, “and my tribe must be alerted to this goblin army. I must rouse them to battle.” He smiles. “If you are lucky, they will send warriors to aid you. But I am sore, and old; my teeth are loose and my bones ache. I am done.” With that, the giant departs, and our heroes can only pray that he will gain them further aid. *** Back to the causeway, where the accursed hydra dwells. They party stops to look for signs of the hydra that lives in the water, but it is too well hidden. ”Sure is sneaky, for something the size of a house,” Corbin sighs. “You know,” Corbin muses, “this hydra might actually help us. It could slow the advance of the goblins if we leave it here.” The group chews on this idea for a few moments. While the hydra is a danger to the local folk and has clearly already slain several people, it could be devastating to the goblins. They decide to try to pass by it without fighting it again. To this end, the party creeps along as quietly as possible. The hydra, however, may be a dumb brute, but it has a [i]lot[/i] of eyes and ears. When it attacks in a huge explosion of swamp water and muck, things go to pieces very rapidly. The hydra’s huge, razor-sharp teeth tear at the party. Barouk concentrates on his [i]ki,[/i] and his fists burst into flame. He leaps, striking at the hydra, smashing one of its eyes. Another head darts in at him and he tumbles over it. Its jaws snap shut on empty air. “Go!” the monk roars. “I’ll hold it off!” The others run. Barouk leaps to the side as a massive, dagger-toothed maw snaps at him. This time, however, [i]another[/i] head comes in at him from the side, crushing down upon his left thigh. Blood squirts out. Barouk roars and pounds his fist into the joint of its jaw. Bone crunches, and the flames on his fists sear it. Its grip weakens, and he knifes his other hand into its eye. With a scream, the hydra releases him. He lands sprawling on the causeway, almost rolling into the swamp, and starts to scramble to his feet. Before he can rise, however, another hydra head rips into the meat of his back. Barouk screams. [i]Thunk! Thunk! Thunk![/i] Arrows land in the beast’s body. Then, summoned creatures, called forth by Corbin, are all around the hydra, biting and clawing at it. It screams from its remaining mouths, and grabs Barouk by the shoulder with one mouth and by the leg with another. It begins tearing him apart. Blood is everywhere, splashing in huge arterial waves. Barouk howls, and manages one final blow- as he is torn in two. “Barouk!!” Corbin cries. “NOOOOOO!!” “Time to go!” shouts Jorr. “No!” Corbin counters. “We need his body!” “Are you mad??” “The staff, Jorr! I can bring him back to life with it!!” Grimacing, the ranger turns back to the hydra and begins grimly landing arrow after arrow in it. Corbin keeps conjuring more beasts to keep it occupied- including a shark in the water- and the hydra cannot escape. It shrieks angrily again as a hippogriff lands on it and starts worrying its back. The beast thrashes about; the shark attacks its bloody flanks. More arrows, and more; until it finally collapses, still screaming, in the water, a bloody mass of bites. Corbin scrambles forward to where Barouk lays, nearly ripped in twain. “Help me carry him!” he cries. Together, he and Jorr lug the gory corpse off the causeway. “So much for leaving the hydra to kill the goblins,” grunts Jorr. “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Corbin replies grimly. “I don’t think my creatures killed it, and they only stay around for a few moments. It might have survived.” They put Barouk’s corpse down. Corbin draws forth the [i]staff of life[/i] that they recovered from underneath Vraath Keep, closes his eyes and holds it over the dead dwarf. Slowly, it begins to glow- and Barouk’s ravaged body knits. After a few moments, his eyes flutter open. *** Back at Drellin’s Ferry, our heroes grimly tell Speaker Wiston about their findings. “You’re facing a lot more than a few score goblins, I’m afraid,” Corbin tells him. “They had a dragon guarding the bridge at Skull Gorge. That alone is serious cause for concern. From the documents we found, it looks like they’re confident that they can take the entire valley, even Brindol.” “This is bad,” the speaker mutters, pacing back and forth. “Very bad.” He halts, and stares at the party. “What can we do?” “Prepare,” says Barouk. “Work on your defenses. Train with weapons, including bows or slings.” Wiston nods. “And what will you be doing?” “Well,” Corbin replies, “the notes we found also mentioned that one of the goblin commanders is on some kind of secret mission in the ruins of the old city of Rhest, maybe looking for something. The one we took out didn’t know what he was up to, but had the sense that it was important.” “So, whatever he is doing, we’re going to stop him,” says Barouk. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] To the ruins of Rhest! [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Three Kingdoms and Empire
Top