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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wulf Ratbane" data-source="post: 99181" data-attributes="member: 94">Session Fourteen-- cheese, wine, and roasted man-fleshNIKOLAI’s FOURTEENTH SESSION JOURNALWith the Arxephext destroyed, and presumably that threat vanquished, we took some well-earned rest in Mirrormere. Jaag and Hastur were working on some mithril breastplates, made from the mithril we had recovered, and I spent some time constructing a small shrine near the site of the Miller's death.After a time, however, the road beckoned. Kellan received a letter from his superiors about a missing paladin near a village named Hommlet. We traveled to Verbobonc and then south towards Hommlet.We found a caravan that had been attacked, and upon investigation, ran into Ginblossom and Maddog, the two half-orc bodyguards of the gnome, Honkin Puddinsack. Apparently they survived the gnomes encounter with Wells, or perhaps were paid off. Maybe I'll ask them.In any case, we found what we presumed to be the source of the bandits that had attacked the caravan, and assaulted their cave stronghold. As it turns out, the goods of the caravan were a side-benefit to these unfortunates, who were dining upon the caravan travelers. We fought a poorly executed battle, and despite our best efforts, we lost Jaag. We drastically reduced their numbers, however, and were able to retreat to Verbobonc, where we were able to have Jaag raised.Now, we must return, and wipe out the cannibals who threaten the road to Hommlet. There is greater evil further on, and we will likely have to deal with that as well.*****KELLAN’s FOURTEENTH SESSION JOURNALTo the Radiant Lady Gloriana Taskmettle, greetings: Upon receipt of your instructions, we made ready to journey to Homlett by way of Verbobonc. We waited one day while a mithril breastplate was completed for Nikolai, it being in the best interests for the survival of all of us to do so. We (Rodrigo, Nikolai, Jagg, and myself - Jorie and Tanthril stayed behind) spent five days travelling to Verbobonc, where we visited the Temple of Heironeous for more information on the whereabouts of Stirling Dale. As you probably know, Dale left about 2 1/2 weeks before our arrival, with no word since - he departed in the company of a caravan of adventurers and travelers. (It appears most travel is away from Homlett, supporting the idea that some unpleasantness is developing there.) We set out the next day for Homlett, and after spending the night out-of-doors, we discovered the wreckage of a caravan on the morning of the second day. Three wagons, which had been crudely marked in dwarven runes (meaning  “fire,” “man,” and “snake”), were filled with the corpses of the horses that led them, and burned bodies were all about. We did the best we could for the bodies, and we were about to head out when we spotted two half-orcs (who we had nicknamed Wine and Cheese) we had encountered before during our quest for the gems (surprisingly, they do not have the aura of evil upon them). They were not at all forthcoming with what might have happened; I suspected they know more than they let on, but after unsuccessfully trying to get them to divulge more, we moved to investigate a cave in a gully they indicated lay to our east. We entered the cave, following a long tunnel downward, and at the end found a gruesome sight: a large cave, with a keep-like structure against the rock wall, and a group of cannibal cultists devouring human remains over their campfires. We immediately gave battle - Jaag charging headlong at the wall while being peppered with crossbow bolts; I chose to advance more slowly, firing my crossbow to try to pick off the bowmen as I advanced to the gate. Suddenly, that tactic was discarded, as the cultists that had first fled into the keep suddenly returned to the battle with reinforcements, surrounding Jaag-- and killing him. As I waded into the fray, Nikolai kept healing magics on us and attacked as he could; Rodrigo killed many with his blasts of fire; and at the last minute, when it appeared we might not be able to emerge alive, the two half-orcs came to our rescue. We finished all but a handful of the cultists. They fled into the keep and closed the inner door; we were unable to penetrate the enclosure, and so we retreated to regroup and seek divine intervention for our dwarven friend. The priests at the Temple of Fharlanghan were able to return him from the dead, and we now plan our return to destroy the cultists—in particular their leaders, whoses bodies were humanoid, but who had yellow slitted eyes like a lizard's). I have not forgotten our original quest to find Stirling Dale, but it is hoped this perfidious cult will have some clues to his whereabouts. In service of the Great Knight, I remain your humble servant, Kellan Evershar*****RODRIGO’s FOURTEENTH SESSION JOURNAL     I had originally thought that burning itch in my crotch was just a touching reminder of my final encounter with Dria...and the miller's wife...and her daughter. The road from Mirrormere had been a long one and it had been some weeks since I had exercised my magical repertoire. 2 weeks of hearing Kellan sing kum-ba-ya by the campfire can try anyone's patience. While I debated the purchase of a means of transportation more befitting a man of my stature (either a fine coach or a palanquin born by eunuchs or burly women), a new mission came to us via Kellan's superior. I am not sure of the details but according to Kellan and Nik (as they are officially in charge of details) we needed to go find someone who had gone missing. Now mind you in my limited experience a missing person generally has meant several things: 1) They are dead. 2) You have a chance to be a hero. 3) Heroes get Women and Loot. With these 3 principles in mind I signed myself and my flaming nether regions up for another go at an adventure. For the sake of timeliness I will forward past the investigating, watching, reconnoitering, and other minor details and get right to the fight. As usually I boldly saved the day with a magnificent display of pyrotechnics. Unfortunately our stout Dwarven friend was not stout enough as he fell to a swarm of baddies. In the process I had managed to lose that troublesome burning that had continually brought me fond memories of my time in Mirrormere. My thanks to Jaag’s valiant assault on the front gate: It gave me just enough time to cure my itch.***** JAAG’s FOURTEENTH SESSION JOURNALCannibals! They were cannibals I tell you! I took advantage of Nik's expeditious retreat spell and decided to chase them to their doors, perhaps 120' away. Of course, I was expecting my fellows to come along behind me at any moment, but I was feeling fleet of foot and all that.So I had them behind their doors. The fools were trapped inside! I rapped on their door and taunted their mothers! My fellows would be joining me any minute now. I had nothing to fear. That was when the foul smell of cooked gnome should have told me not to stand all alone at their front door.I could hear them unbarring the door, so I prepared to stand my ground and face their charge. All 25 of them. They all had this hungry look in their eyes, and some were holding forks in their other hand. My friends should be along any second now to assist me.I started swingin' at some kneecaps, to cut them down to size. One! Two! Three! They were fallin' like sparks from an anvil. I was getting a few nicks myself, but my companions were not far behind me. I was surrounded now. They managed to circle me while I was cutting down a pair of them. Things were not looking good. They were starting to poke me with their forks, testing the meat. One of them said I looked dry.Meanwhile, Rodrigo was throwing fireballs. I could hear some of them screaming before they finally got crispy. Serves them right.Nik and Kellan arrived to aid me at last. I was in no shape to continue, and there were three of them still around me. If I had turned to run now, several of them would have finished me for sure. I chose to stand my ground and take one of them down with me instead. That was when one of the smaller ones tumbled past me and stabbed me in the back!  Argh! With my last breath I yelled to my companions, "Don't let them eat me!" And then I fell.My next memories were quite blurry. I remember sitting at a great feast hall. Many dwarves, some famous and some infamous, were telling their war stories. Then, like a whisper, I heard Nik's voice asking me if I wanted to be returned from death. What a silly question! Then I remembered my own story and how I had died, and felt I had unfinished business to take care of with those cannibals. An old dwarf next to me leaned over and said I should excuse myself. "It isn't many who get a second chance, boy! Get back there and finish what you should!" He had a familiar face, that one did. So I returned.Of course it took me a couple days to get my strength back. But at least my companions were good enough not to let them eat me. My time on the other side seems like a dream. Next time I join them, I shall have my own stories to tell. Meanwhile, <cough><cough> I think I'll need another drink to help get my strength back.</blockquote>

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