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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wulf Ratbane" data-source="post: 879" data-attributes="member: 94">NINTH SESSION-- a simple snatch and grab (no, Rodrigo, not that...)KELLAN’s NINTH SESSION JOURNALTo All whom these presents come, greetings -After defeating the hag at the bridge, we made our way east to reconnoiter the position of the nearest unknown gems that were indicated by the location ability of the gem I possess. As we suspected, two gems are located at the tower of John Wells, the local mage. (Does the Order have any information on this fellow?) Rather than launch an assault with very little information, we headed back toward Mirrormere to head off the approach of an unknown group carrying three more gems to town.As we discovered, the gems were being carried by a "businessman" at the behest of Wells, who wished to purchase them. We accompanied the merchant and his bodyguards back to town, in order to keep track of the gems and to have a final showdown with Wells as to his intentions towards the town. Upon discussion, we ascertained that Wells' plan was to collect all the gems under his protection, so as to deny them to the dragon that wishes to achieve dominance through their use. I am reasonably confident that he is at least not against us, even if his methods seem to be veiled in secrecy; it would behoove me to continue to keep an eye on him, however. As a matter of course, I did not volunteer that I retain possession of one of the gems; he certainly knows it anyway, and I find it wiser to be able to retain the ability to track the other gems, as well as keep at least one of them under the control of someone I trust in case Wells turns out to be a double-dealer.It had transpired that another gem was being carried to the dragon by a hill giant and his hellhound minions. Wells had been unable to stop the giant's mission, but our party set out to try to ourselves (the alternative would be to let the dragon gain more power). We defeated the giant in a high-pitched battle that taxed our resources, but thanks to our prior planning, no lives were lost.We will soon know our next move.In the service of the Great Knight, I remainYour obidient servant,Kellan Evershar------------------------------NIK’s NINTH SESSION JOURNALSubject:  John WellsIt seems that my companions are distrustful of this fellow, and I'm trying to determine why, precisely.  He is pretty arrogant and insufferable, but that hardly means he's behind any of this evil.  He is a spellcaster, possibly a  bard, possibly of a power able to use teleportation magic.Negatives:  He's associated with a Drow (Dria, a priestess of some goddess of lust, apparently).  He's mysterious - this spooks the locals, apparently. He's been less than forthcoming with information.  Both Dria (the Drow) and an unidentified lizardman were seen at his tree-house.  I think my companions mistook the lizardman for the half-dragon; perhaps this is the reason for the  distrust.  Kellan seems to think that he has a minor taint about him; the sort of thing you might get for being a cheat at cards, for example.Positives:  He's helped us through the procurement of magical items, especially with the aid of Dria.  For that matter, he's procured Dria for Rodrigo's benefit, although I think that sort of "procurement" might be considered against the law in some municipalities.He claims to be investigating the gem-amulets - this is as plausible as him collecting them for nefarious purposes, I suppose.So what do I make of this strange man?  I honestly do not know. More information will be required to determine whether he is a bane or boon to the village of Mirrormere.------------------------------RODRIGO’s NINTH SESSION JOURNALPatience is a virtue and of course I am very virtuous.  Despite the bloodlust coursing through the rest of my comrades I was able to keep things from escalating out of control.  The sight of half orcs all but sent Kellan into a rage.  Determining that the strangers on the road-- the little man and the two half orcs-- held the stones we were after was a large piece of the puzzle.  Probably the most useful piece of information was discovering just what Wells is paying for these, 5000 gold each!  Hopefully we will be able to use at least one of these as bargaining tool to get the much needed supplies and armor that will help us succeed. ------------------------------DM’s NINTH SESSION COMMENTARYA very simple session. Having ascertained by email earlier in the day that the group was simply going to hunt down the stones, I came prepared with two encounters:The first was a gnome rogue-7 (Honkin Puddinsack) and two half-orc bodyguards (Ginblossom, a barbarian/drunken master-5, and Mad Dog, a barbarian/cleric/sacred fist-6). The party showed amazing restraint and I was disappointed not to need their statblocks at all!The next fight was the giant, and like all successful fights against giants, the secret to their success was superior missile fire. Big Jimmy was half dead from Tanthril’s bow and Rodrigo’s flaming spheres before he even had time to come barrelling into them. I came dangerously close to pulverizing Tanthril; close enough to lure Jaag to come running in to help. Despite his dodge bonus against giants, Big Jimmy laid Jaag flat on his back with an attack of opportunity…Thus prolonging Jaag’s career as perpetual whipping boy… Never before has one man been in so many wrong places at so many wrong times. As you might suspect, I have a little warm spot in my heart for the poor bastard…</blockquote>

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