Wulf's "Lazy Days" Campaign Story Hour
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Wulf Ratbane
Adventurer
SESSION TWENTY-SIX: the tainted sword captured
KELLAN’s TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION JOURNAL
To the Radiant Lady Gloriana Taskmettle, greetings -
We have taken time since our return to Verbobonc to train and seek counsel about our next moves to make in the jungle valley. As you surely now know, the local clergy have welcomed my decision to pursue a clerical path in concert with my continued paladin training, and have decided that since Nikolai and I make an effective team in the past, I would be placed under his guidance as we fight challenges of interest to both our churches.
To wit, the church of Fharlangn is concerned about the possibility of a powerful gate that would allow transport to several sites, and they do not want it in the hands of an evil group like the yuan-ti. Thus, we are to return to the valley to destroy them. Now armed with the phylactery of faithfulness formerly owned by Stirling Dale, and warned by my superiors that I need to sort out the situation with the mongrelmen (somehow, this seems more difficult than dealing with vampires and yuan-ti!) I helped prepare for the journey back.
Nikolai kept busy in the meantime by communing for more information about the road ahead of us. I was most interested in gaining more guidance in the matter of Stirling Dale; while it would certainly seem unconsionable to form an alliance with him to defeat the yuan-ti, especially since we would need to turn on him in the end (a circumstance which he would certainly forsee), it would make tactical sense to ally with him against our common foe. The commune suggested that 'neither road (agaisnt the yuan-ti or against the vampire) should be traveled alone', which seemed to indicate that such an alliance might be fruitful; however, more contemplation and diplomacy will certainly be required in such a situation.
We did not return via the yuan-ti gate; rather, since Rod and Nik's powers of magic have developed over time, they were able to transport us directly to the mongrelmen's cave. They were, of course, disgruntled to see us; somehow, our destruction of the bugbear threat to them and our proven valiant deeds have not impressed them, but they are still 'hung up' on my not rutting with the chosen leader's mate. Having nearly given up on being able to get them to understand my way of thinking, but still mindful of the need and opportunity to bring them somehow under the influence of Heironeous, I and my companions first contacted the Lady to gather what information we could about the current situation.
The yuan-ti were relatively content, having taken over the bugbear stronghold; the bugbear leaders had fled to the jungle. We decide to try to contact Stirling Dale next; we were instead confronted that evening with seven vampire-spawn (2 yuan-ti and 5 tasloi) that we were able to drive off (again, they turned to mist and fled after taking fatal damage; we still do not have means to permanently finish them off). We decided to start out the next morning to find the bugbear leaders.
We eventually found them in a burial mound, one decorated with illustrations of anthropomorphic snake and leopard people. Entering the mound, we once again encountered the same vampire spawn form the night before, and the bugbear ranger and his cleric consort. After an extremely close fight, we were able finsih them off; Jaag, Jorie, and Nakhtibastet (our sphinx ally) were all but dead, Rod was not with us, and Nik and I were literally back-to-back with little health left when a well-timed healing spell enabled me to continue fighting them; the bugbear cleric eventually turned to flee, but a fly spell cast on me allowed me to keep up with her, and I eventually slew her out in the jungle.
To be continued...
*****
JAAG’s TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION JOURNAL
Ahhh! The foul taste of death still lingered in my mouth as I slowly opened my eyes and felt the pain of my battle weary corpse come alive once more. It must have been a truly fierce battle, as I could remember almost nothing of the fighting itself. Only faint images of the old feast hall and their ghosts passed through me, not nearly as vivid as my first visit to the afterlife. I do not think my weary soul will survive a third journey back to this world. Sometimes, I hear their voices, calling my name, calling me back to the feast hall to tell my tales and share the sacred ale passed only among the dead. They'll be watching me, I know. You are not forgotten, old ones. Give me your strength and wisdom, and I shall repay you with courage and honor! But today, I must rest my bones and recover my senses. "Hey! Nikolai! Bring me my ale! I'm thirsty!"
See if I do Heironeous any favors from now on! Hmmph! That Kellan fellow is really brave, or really foolish. More the latter, I think. No wonder humans are so short lived!
After a few days of rest, we chose to return through the portal gate once more, though I had my trepidations. We arrived in the mongrelmen's cave this time, and took time to reassess the situation. A day of information gathering revealed the following:
The sphinx told us the bugbear chieftain and his wife were in hiding in the forestl the lady of the lake said she would return our rod of restoration in exchange for the special sword being used by the bugbear chief; and the yuan-ti, who had taken advantage of our assault on the bugbears, have apparently now finished what we started at the bugbear camp.
Jorie and Nik helped to narrow down our search for the bugbear chieftain. Then the sphinx led us to the old burial site where we believed they hid. We knew the bugbears were hiding from the yuan-ti, so it was best to expect traps and alarms nearby. We found their hidden entrance at the burial mound and proceeded into the darkness, while the sphinx stood guard at the entry.
It didn't take long before we were met with perhaps a dozen undead--zombies mostly. Kellan and Nik were quick to turn them to dust, but our troubles didn't end there. Vampire spawn arrived, surrounding us. Ahh! An ambush! Luckily, Stirling Dale was not among them, but the bugbear chieftain and his wife were, along with the black blade that had taken my life!
The battle was vicious and without mercy. In the end, the chieftain's wife tried to run away with the sword, but Kellan chased her down and vanquished her. Rodrigo protests the possibility of trading the sword to the lady of the lake in return for our rod of restoration. Frankly, I think it best melted down and crafted into a dwarven blade, but it's mithril is tainted with dark magic, I'm sure of it.
***** NIKs TWENTY SIXTH SESSION JOURNAL
We returned to the Lost Valley today.
We had returned to Verbobonc with our tails between our legs and two dead companions, but the things we learned there made us decide to go back. Kellan has joined the ranks of Hospitalers in the meantime, and has begun some clerical training. I have been asked to watch over this aspect of his development.
Jorie has been resurrected as a badger. "Time to see how the other half lives," was his grandmother's only words to us.
Perhaps we should buy him a shovel. No, he couldn't use it, he has no opposable thumbs.
Jaag has been returned to us as well. Apparently he is making a name for himself in the Dwarven Halls of Heroes.
We decided to go after the remnants of the bugbears first, and got a big surprise when they were aided in fighting by several vampire spawn. The battle was ugly, and nearly lost; Kellan, Jaag, Jorie, and the Sphinx all went down at one point (yes the Sphinx aided us, after several of us had gone down).
I had been wounded by the bugbear chieftain's Wounding blade, and was losing blood, but I was still confident. I dimension doored to the opposite side of the battle, and was able to get Kellan, then Jaag, then Jorie, then the Sphinx back on their feet. Or paws, as the case may be. We then routed the last of our enemies, and recovered the Wounding blade, which the Lady of the Lake wants, perhaps to give to some unsuspecting would-be King. I will, however, leave it Rodrigo to call her a "watery tart."
KELLAN’s TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION JOURNAL
To the Radiant Lady Gloriana Taskmettle, greetings -
We have taken time since our return to Verbobonc to train and seek counsel about our next moves to make in the jungle valley. As you surely now know, the local clergy have welcomed my decision to pursue a clerical path in concert with my continued paladin training, and have decided that since Nikolai and I make an effective team in the past, I would be placed under his guidance as we fight challenges of interest to both our churches.
To wit, the church of Fharlangn is concerned about the possibility of a powerful gate that would allow transport to several sites, and they do not want it in the hands of an evil group like the yuan-ti. Thus, we are to return to the valley to destroy them. Now armed with the phylactery of faithfulness formerly owned by Stirling Dale, and warned by my superiors that I need to sort out the situation with the mongrelmen (somehow, this seems more difficult than dealing with vampires and yuan-ti!) I helped prepare for the journey back.
Nikolai kept busy in the meantime by communing for more information about the road ahead of us. I was most interested in gaining more guidance in the matter of Stirling Dale; while it would certainly seem unconsionable to form an alliance with him to defeat the yuan-ti, especially since we would need to turn on him in the end (a circumstance which he would certainly forsee), it would make tactical sense to ally with him against our common foe. The commune suggested that 'neither road (agaisnt the yuan-ti or against the vampire) should be traveled alone', which seemed to indicate that such an alliance might be fruitful; however, more contemplation and diplomacy will certainly be required in such a situation.
We did not return via the yuan-ti gate; rather, since Rod and Nik's powers of magic have developed over time, they were able to transport us directly to the mongrelmen's cave. They were, of course, disgruntled to see us; somehow, our destruction of the bugbear threat to them and our proven valiant deeds have not impressed them, but they are still 'hung up' on my not rutting with the chosen leader's mate. Having nearly given up on being able to get them to understand my way of thinking, but still mindful of the need and opportunity to bring them somehow under the influence of Heironeous, I and my companions first contacted the Lady to gather what information we could about the current situation.
The yuan-ti were relatively content, having taken over the bugbear stronghold; the bugbear leaders had fled to the jungle. We decide to try to contact Stirling Dale next; we were instead confronted that evening with seven vampire-spawn (2 yuan-ti and 5 tasloi) that we were able to drive off (again, they turned to mist and fled after taking fatal damage; we still do not have means to permanently finish them off). We decided to start out the next morning to find the bugbear leaders.
We eventually found them in a burial mound, one decorated with illustrations of anthropomorphic snake and leopard people. Entering the mound, we once again encountered the same vampire spawn form the night before, and the bugbear ranger and his cleric consort. After an extremely close fight, we were able finsih them off; Jaag, Jorie, and Nakhtibastet (our sphinx ally) were all but dead, Rod was not with us, and Nik and I were literally back-to-back with little health left when a well-timed healing spell enabled me to continue fighting them; the bugbear cleric eventually turned to flee, but a fly spell cast on me allowed me to keep up with her, and I eventually slew her out in the jungle.
To be continued...
*****
JAAG’s TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION JOURNAL
Ahhh! The foul taste of death still lingered in my mouth as I slowly opened my eyes and felt the pain of my battle weary corpse come alive once more. It must have been a truly fierce battle, as I could remember almost nothing of the fighting itself. Only faint images of the old feast hall and their ghosts passed through me, not nearly as vivid as my first visit to the afterlife. I do not think my weary soul will survive a third journey back to this world. Sometimes, I hear their voices, calling my name, calling me back to the feast hall to tell my tales and share the sacred ale passed only among the dead. They'll be watching me, I know. You are not forgotten, old ones. Give me your strength and wisdom, and I shall repay you with courage and honor! But today, I must rest my bones and recover my senses. "Hey! Nikolai! Bring me my ale! I'm thirsty!"
See if I do Heironeous any favors from now on! Hmmph! That Kellan fellow is really brave, or really foolish. More the latter, I think. No wonder humans are so short lived!
After a few days of rest, we chose to return through the portal gate once more, though I had my trepidations. We arrived in the mongrelmen's cave this time, and took time to reassess the situation. A day of information gathering revealed the following:
The sphinx told us the bugbear chieftain and his wife were in hiding in the forestl the lady of the lake said she would return our rod of restoration in exchange for the special sword being used by the bugbear chief; and the yuan-ti, who had taken advantage of our assault on the bugbears, have apparently now finished what we started at the bugbear camp.
Jorie and Nik helped to narrow down our search for the bugbear chieftain. Then the sphinx led us to the old burial site where we believed they hid. We knew the bugbears were hiding from the yuan-ti, so it was best to expect traps and alarms nearby. We found their hidden entrance at the burial mound and proceeded into the darkness, while the sphinx stood guard at the entry.
It didn't take long before we were met with perhaps a dozen undead--zombies mostly. Kellan and Nik were quick to turn them to dust, but our troubles didn't end there. Vampire spawn arrived, surrounding us. Ahh! An ambush! Luckily, Stirling Dale was not among them, but the bugbear chieftain and his wife were, along with the black blade that had taken my life!
The battle was vicious and without mercy. In the end, the chieftain's wife tried to run away with the sword, but Kellan chased her down and vanquished her. Rodrigo protests the possibility of trading the sword to the lady of the lake in return for our rod of restoration. Frankly, I think it best melted down and crafted into a dwarven blade, but it's mithril is tainted with dark magic, I'm sure of it.
***** NIKs TWENTY SIXTH SESSION JOURNAL
We returned to the Lost Valley today.
We had returned to Verbobonc with our tails between our legs and two dead companions, but the things we learned there made us decide to go back. Kellan has joined the ranks of Hospitalers in the meantime, and has begun some clerical training. I have been asked to watch over this aspect of his development.
Jorie has been resurrected as a badger. "Time to see how the other half lives," was his grandmother's only words to us.
Perhaps we should buy him a shovel. No, he couldn't use it, he has no opposable thumbs.
Jaag has been returned to us as well. Apparently he is making a name for himself in the Dwarven Halls of Heroes.
We decided to go after the remnants of the bugbears first, and got a big surprise when they were aided in fighting by several vampire spawn. The battle was ugly, and nearly lost; Kellan, Jaag, Jorie, and the Sphinx all went down at one point (yes the Sphinx aided us, after several of us had gone down).
I had been wounded by the bugbear chieftain's Wounding blade, and was losing blood, but I was still confident. I dimension doored to the opposite side of the battle, and was able to get Kellan, then Jaag, then Jorie, then the Sphinx back on their feet. Or paws, as the case may be. We then routed the last of our enemies, and recovered the Wounding blade, which the Lady of the Lake wants, perhaps to give to some unsuspecting would-be King. I will, however, leave it Rodrigo to call her a "watery tart."
Wulf Ratbane
Adventurer
FYI-- I updated session 25 with a "lost" Rodrigo journal.
Eridanis
Bard 7/Mod (ret) 10/Mgr 3
Pulse Check
Just a bump to let you all know that we're still playing, but Wulf has been busier than any human being should be with his work situation. Coming up: finishing up the jungle madness, then movign on to something completely opposite. Plus, PirateCat's guest appearance!
Just a bump to let you all know that we're still playing, but Wulf has been busier than any human being should be with his work situation. Coming up: finishing up the jungle madness, then movign on to something completely opposite. Plus, PirateCat's guest appearance!
Wulf Ratbane
Adventurer
I've handed off the reins on updating to dinkeldog, so we'll have more regular updates!
Sorry about snoozing at the wheel here, but it really has been crazy at work...
Wulf
Sorry about snoozing at the wheel here, but it really has been crazy at work...
Wulf
!
Wulf Ratbane
Adventurer
Re: Whatever...
Well, I'm currently commuting every other week, so it throws a kink in things.
At the moment, however, I'm updating that other story hour, so there!
Wulf
Old One said:
Well, I'm currently commuting every other week, so it throws a kink in things.
At the moment, however, I'm updating that other story hour, so there!
Wulf
Evil Gnome
First Post
this just needs a BUMP!!!
Wulf Ratbane
Adventurer
It needs an update is what it needs.
Good thing I handed that job off to dinkeldog, or else he'd be here bitchin' about it himself.
Good thing I handed that job off to dinkeldog, or else he'd be here bitchin' about it himself.
