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Time for Adventure! (A Homebrew Campaign Log)
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<blockquote data-quote="pukunui" data-source="post: 6913909" data-attributes="member: 54629"><p><strong>SCARLET MOON HALL</strong></p><p><em>Dramatis Personae:</em> Berrian, Karth, Tasklar</p><p><em>Source:</em> "Scarlet Moon Hall" (<em>Princes of the Apocalypse</em>)</p><p></p><p>NB. This episode's recap is brought to you by Karth (edited by me)!</p><p></p><p>I was sitting at the inn, nursing another beer, my scowl enough to keep the other patrons from coming closer. My contacts had said they might finally have some information for me regarding the sigil I hunted. I thought back to how my life ought have been ... actually not too different, a life of battle, but with my people rather than as a wanderer, the last of my tribe. I stroked Tamaich's blade ... something to be proud of, a remnant of my ancestors. I laughed to myself. The others looked on fearfully, remembering that septon who bad decried it as a cursed weapon.</p><p></p><p>The little halfling slid next to me, showing me the familiar bowl-like symbol of the fire cult. <em>"A wagon heading north. A merchant carrying goods stamped with the symbol you had us watch for. He mentioned Scarlet Moon Hall, several days from here. Said he was gonna sell beer to the druids gathering there for a festival."</em> </p><p></p><p>I tossed over a small sack of coins. The next day, I gathered what companions I could find, the elf and the bard. It would appear the elf's sister (?) was off on a tryst with her lover, while my buddy Gil was on a heist. Or something. Though the elf is a dandy, he is deadly with the blade, and the bard has been a faithful companion for years. They would be sufficient. No need for the others ... or so I thought.</p><p></p><p>The land was dry. The weather unseasonably hot. Following the merchant's trail, we came across a hill, on its top a great burning effigy and a ruined tower or keep. Scattered on the hillside were several small campfires. We agreed that this was not a case of running in blades bared. For once, we would try talking first. Perhaps it was the absence of the elf's sister, but more likely the thief, that made us act sensibly.</p><p></p><p>The first group we came across seemed harmless enough: a bunch of young tree huggers having fun. Apparently some grand druid was planning a ritual the next day that would stop the damn heat. A few pleasantries and then we moved on. </p><p></p><p>The next group were a strange pair of men in red robes. More druids, of the Circle of the Scarlet Moon. The hosts of this festival. They had a bear chained next to them. I didn't like that, for bears are my totem animal. Fortunately, I was able to hold back the red wave and, literally biting my tongue, listened as Tasklar asked them of the wagon. They said they hadn't seen it. Strange.</p><p></p><p>Heading further up the hill, we encountered an odd pair of hunters. Rough-looking men, but men who were still willing to share their beer. My type of men.</p><p></p><p>Further around to the right, we found another group of huggers, including a short stunted one from some swamp. They were dozing by their fire. They didn't seem to know anything about a merchant either. Had the man not made it this far?</p><p></p><p>The group furthest to the right was different: three cloaked men and two enormous wolves, almost as big as me! As we got close, I heard one of the wolves speak, muttering something in Goblin. Stepping back in shock, I realized that these weren't wolves but worgs! And the three men were actually bugbears in disguise! </p><p></p><p>A mighty battle ensued. The bugbears couldn't get past Berrian's shield as he gradually wore them down, while Tasklar attempted (and failed) to mark them with guiding bolts. As for me, I had held my temper long enough. As I felt the rage build up, I jumped towards the worgs, marking one as a new fur cloak and the other as a new bedroll for the bard. My shield and my furious resilience protected me from the worgs' sharp teeth and claws as I hacked them down.</p><p></p><p>The nearest group of druids came running to see what had caused all the noise. They were horrified to learn that the druids they had previously met at this eastern-most camp had obviously been killed by the bugbears. Yet there was no sign of them anywhere.</p><p></p><p>With our enemies defeated and looted, I quickly cut out the heart of one worg. Searing it in the flames of the bugbears' campfire, I offered to share it with the others, but they all turned the honor down. After a quick meal, I skinned the two worgs as I thought about how my new cloak would look.</p><p></p><p>Deciding to warn the other groups that all was not as it seemed, we headed off around the hill, past the hunters, and on to a larger group led by a half-elven druid in the same red robes as the druids with the bear. She did not seem concerned about the danger. However, when questioned of the wagon, Berrian let me know that she seemed to know more than she was saying. Curious.</p><p></p><p>Pushing on to the final fire along the western slopes, we met another druid, a painted wood elf named Gariena, who was making music with a pair of faeries! She seemed more with it than the other druids. I asked if I could make music with her and proceeded to impress everyone with my playing of the Orcish war screamer (aka "bagpipes"). Tasklar joined in too, but much to everyone's amusement, he just made an awful noise. The faeries had a lot of fun teasing him after that. Gariena warned us not to stay the night with her because she couldn't make any promises that her companions wouldn't prank us. Fair enough!</p><p></p><p>I was still concerned about the bear, though, and managed to convince the others to head back down the hill. Instead of sticking to the trail, though, we went straight down to the first camp of druids, warned them of the danger and suggested they leave, and then headed over to the red-robed druids.</p><p></p><p>Ignoring their protests, I began a ritual to commune with the bear. The druids didn't like that one bit and, attacking us, revealed themselves to be fire wizards! The battle was mighty, and the camp was soon a blazing ruin, but I was protected by my magic fire-resistant armor and my bestial rage. My friends and I cut down the hateful wizards, marked with the symbol of those that had destroyed my tribe!</p><p></p><p>Unfortunately, we also had to put the enraged bear down, but hey ... it was war. And the bear had been about to maul the bard to death. I made my peace with the beast's spirit as I committed its body to the flames. After that, we convinced the remaining druids to leave, explaining that the Scarlet Moon druids were really fire cultists. Most decided to leave at once, but the gnomish swamp druid said he would help. He claimed to have seen the fire mark previously. In fact, he seemed quite angry about it.</p><p></p><p>Heading back to the red-robed half-elf and her encampment, I crept up behind one of her guards and surprised him with a loud ''boo!''. A drawn sword wasn't exactly the reaction I had been expecting, although he had looked pretty nervous about something! Once again battle was joined. The hunters from the next camp over joined in, revealing themselves to be werewolves as they clawed and bit at Tasklar!</p><p></p><p>Gariena and her faeries came down to help us, and soon the werewolves and the fire cultists all lay dead on the ground. Worryingly, though, the bard had been bitten at least once and was beginning to feel a bit funny. He will need watching in the future, especially around the next full moon ...</p><p></p><p>After clearing out the last of the "false druids", we headed uphill to the ruined keep ... where it all turned to custard. As we crested the hill, we saw two fire mages praying in front of the burning wicker giant. Rushing forward, we focused our attacks on them, killing one mage before he could react. Unfortunately, the bard's shatter spell also broke the giant apart, which unleashed a raging creature of fire that quickly enveloped Berrian and me in flames!</p><p></p><p>Though I was only mildly hurt, Berrian was not so lucky. With crossbowmen up on the scaffolding firing down on us, the surviving fire mage hurling flames at us, and hell hounds and a fiery-haired fighter bearing down on us, we were forced to flee.</p><p></p><p>Having been forced to put aside my desire for vengeance for now, I vow to return another day and finish the job ...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pukunui, post: 6913909, member: 54629"] [B]SCARLET MOON HALL[/B] [I]Dramatis Personae:[/I] Berrian, Karth, Tasklar [I]Source:[/I] "Scarlet Moon Hall" ([I]Princes of the Apocalypse[/I]) NB. This episode's recap is brought to you by Karth (edited by me)! I was sitting at the inn, nursing another beer, my scowl enough to keep the other patrons from coming closer. My contacts had said they might finally have some information for me regarding the sigil I hunted. I thought back to how my life ought have been ... actually not too different, a life of battle, but with my people rather than as a wanderer, the last of my tribe. I stroked Tamaich's blade ... something to be proud of, a remnant of my ancestors. I laughed to myself. The others looked on fearfully, remembering that septon who bad decried it as a cursed weapon. The little halfling slid next to me, showing me the familiar bowl-like symbol of the fire cult. [I]"A wagon heading north. A merchant carrying goods stamped with the symbol you had us watch for. He mentioned Scarlet Moon Hall, several days from here. Said he was gonna sell beer to the druids gathering there for a festival."[/I] I tossed over a small sack of coins. The next day, I gathered what companions I could find, the elf and the bard. It would appear the elf's sister (?) was off on a tryst with her lover, while my buddy Gil was on a heist. Or something. Though the elf is a dandy, he is deadly with the blade, and the bard has been a faithful companion for years. They would be sufficient. No need for the others ... or so I thought. The land was dry. The weather unseasonably hot. Following the merchant's trail, we came across a hill, on its top a great burning effigy and a ruined tower or keep. Scattered on the hillside were several small campfires. We agreed that this was not a case of running in blades bared. For once, we would try talking first. Perhaps it was the absence of the elf's sister, but more likely the thief, that made us act sensibly. The first group we came across seemed harmless enough: a bunch of young tree huggers having fun. Apparently some grand druid was planning a ritual the next day that would stop the damn heat. A few pleasantries and then we moved on. The next group were a strange pair of men in red robes. More druids, of the Circle of the Scarlet Moon. The hosts of this festival. They had a bear chained next to them. I didn't like that, for bears are my totem animal. Fortunately, I was able to hold back the red wave and, literally biting my tongue, listened as Tasklar asked them of the wagon. They said they hadn't seen it. Strange. Heading further up the hill, we encountered an odd pair of hunters. Rough-looking men, but men who were still willing to share their beer. My type of men. Further around to the right, we found another group of huggers, including a short stunted one from some swamp. They were dozing by their fire. They didn't seem to know anything about a merchant either. Had the man not made it this far? The group furthest to the right was different: three cloaked men and two enormous wolves, almost as big as me! As we got close, I heard one of the wolves speak, muttering something in Goblin. Stepping back in shock, I realized that these weren't wolves but worgs! And the three men were actually bugbears in disguise! A mighty battle ensued. The bugbears couldn't get past Berrian's shield as he gradually wore them down, while Tasklar attempted (and failed) to mark them with guiding bolts. As for me, I had held my temper long enough. As I felt the rage build up, I jumped towards the worgs, marking one as a new fur cloak and the other as a new bedroll for the bard. My shield and my furious resilience protected me from the worgs' sharp teeth and claws as I hacked them down. The nearest group of druids came running to see what had caused all the noise. They were horrified to learn that the druids they had previously met at this eastern-most camp had obviously been killed by the bugbears. Yet there was no sign of them anywhere. With our enemies defeated and looted, I quickly cut out the heart of one worg. Searing it in the flames of the bugbears' campfire, I offered to share it with the others, but they all turned the honor down. After a quick meal, I skinned the two worgs as I thought about how my new cloak would look. Deciding to warn the other groups that all was not as it seemed, we headed off around the hill, past the hunters, and on to a larger group led by a half-elven druid in the same red robes as the druids with the bear. She did not seem concerned about the danger. However, when questioned of the wagon, Berrian let me know that she seemed to know more than she was saying. Curious. Pushing on to the final fire along the western slopes, we met another druid, a painted wood elf named Gariena, who was making music with a pair of faeries! She seemed more with it than the other druids. I asked if I could make music with her and proceeded to impress everyone with my playing of the Orcish war screamer (aka "bagpipes"). Tasklar joined in too, but much to everyone's amusement, he just made an awful noise. The faeries had a lot of fun teasing him after that. Gariena warned us not to stay the night with her because she couldn't make any promises that her companions wouldn't prank us. Fair enough! I was still concerned about the bear, though, and managed to convince the others to head back down the hill. Instead of sticking to the trail, though, we went straight down to the first camp of druids, warned them of the danger and suggested they leave, and then headed over to the red-robed druids. Ignoring their protests, I began a ritual to commune with the bear. The druids didn't like that one bit and, attacking us, revealed themselves to be fire wizards! The battle was mighty, and the camp was soon a blazing ruin, but I was protected by my magic fire-resistant armor and my bestial rage. My friends and I cut down the hateful wizards, marked with the symbol of those that had destroyed my tribe! Unfortunately, we also had to put the enraged bear down, but hey ... it was war. And the bear had been about to maul the bard to death. I made my peace with the beast's spirit as I committed its body to the flames. After that, we convinced the remaining druids to leave, explaining that the Scarlet Moon druids were really fire cultists. Most decided to leave at once, but the gnomish swamp druid said he would help. He claimed to have seen the fire mark previously. In fact, he seemed quite angry about it. Heading back to the red-robed half-elf and her encampment, I crept up behind one of her guards and surprised him with a loud ''boo!''. A drawn sword wasn't exactly the reaction I had been expecting, although he had looked pretty nervous about something! Once again battle was joined. The hunters from the next camp over joined in, revealing themselves to be werewolves as they clawed and bit at Tasklar! Gariena and her faeries came down to help us, and soon the werewolves and the fire cultists all lay dead on the ground. Worryingly, though, the bard had been bitten at least once and was beginning to feel a bit funny. He will need watching in the future, especially around the next full moon ... After clearing out the last of the "false druids", we headed uphill to the ruined keep ... where it all turned to custard. As we crested the hill, we saw two fire mages praying in front of the burning wicker giant. Rushing forward, we focused our attacks on them, killing one mage before he could react. Unfortunately, the bard's shatter spell also broke the giant apart, which unleashed a raging creature of fire that quickly enveloped Berrian and me in flames! Though I was only mildly hurt, Berrian was not so lucky. With crossbowmen up on the scaffolding firing down on us, the surviving fire mage hurling flames at us, and hell hounds and a fiery-haired fighter bearing down on us, we were forced to flee. Having been forced to put aside my desire for vengeance for now, I vow to return another day and finish the job ... [/QUOTE]
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