I kill it and take its treasure.
Mar. 5th, 2006 11:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eveglassThe bad news is I did absolutely no productive work today. The good news is that I played 8 hours of D&D. Somehow I suppose this balances out.
In the grand tradition of Orpheus, I have written up the session as a short story. Well, perhaps not quite so short a story. The following is very long. As in, over 2800 words. You have been warned, so don't come running to me if you want to read it. It also has no dialogue. I was planning on putting some in, but I was tired and it took long enough as-is. If you don't like it, write your own story.
D&D Campaign, session 1:
Dramatis Personae:
Ivellios: a half-elven sorcerer from Cormyr
Seb: a ranger, formerly a druid who was protégéd to Ivellios's brother
Glothram Athelstar: a paladin of Tyr
Aran: a monk of Tyr
Panlos: a paladin of Lathander
Corrigan: a treasure-hunting rogue-turned-bard
Note that Corrigan, Seb, and Glothram are childhood friends
The story so far:
The Western Heartlands, along the banks of the River Reaching to the west of Cormyr, have become more prosperous in recent years. Hill's Edge, a river port on the northern edge of the Reaching Woods, has begun a vigourous trade with Scornubell, to the south of the same woods. Between the two, one of three resting ports is Morningvale, the home town of the party.
This area of the Western Heartlands used to be a dangerous place. Near to Hill's Edge, in the Far Hills within the Sunset Mountains, was Darkhold, the gathering place of the thieves' and assassins' guild known as the Zhentarim. The Zhentarim was in the habit of sending raiding parties of men, orcs, and goblins into the Western Heartlands and ravaging the towns and countryside. However, fifteen years ago during the Time of Troubles, Bane, the god of the Zhentarim, was killed, plunging the group into factional rivalries and chaos. Since then, Darkhold has not had the same power over the region, and trade has grown accordingly. However, goblins and orcs formerly belonging to the Zhentarim have taking to raiding in small bands over the last eight years, one such party killing Seb's parents.
To the north of Hill's Edge is the desert of Aneroch, previous home to the Netheril wizards. Though the Netheril wizards have long since passed into legend, their flying cities made from mountaintops and powered by Mythilar are still the subject of stories. There have been rumours of late that one of these flying cities appeared over Aneroch as little as two years ago.
*****
Enter our heroes.
It is the end of summer, and Corrigan, scouting in the city of Hill's Edge, has heard that the Ragged Edge horde of orcs and goblins have taken a fortress in the nearby Trialta Hills to the west of the city. The Brightstone Keep in these hills is rumored to contain treasures, since a company of Purple Dragon knights from Cormyr recently abandoned it to head north into the desert. Corrigan has assembled the party in the city and arranged lodgings at the Puzzler's Box, a respectable inn whose innkeeper, Kendor Amad, is an old friend.
While unloading the barges, Aran overhears a dwarf and a half-elf mention the name "Makal" from the Guttering Candle Inn, who is in need of treasure-hunters. Though he can make little else of the conversation, the prospect is interesting enough that Corrigan decides to pay Makal a visit after checking in to the Puzzler's Box.
After the party drops their gear and Corrigan greats Kendor, the two paladins of the group (Glothram and Panlos) proceed to get information from the town watch, while the rest of the group makes their way to the Guttering Candle, a seedy bar on the outskirts of town.
At the Guttering Candle, Aran and Corrigan proceed inside while Ivellios and Seb wait just outside. With a hefty bribe to the bartender, Corrigan finds out that Makal is a surly dwarf sitting at the far end of the bar, dressed in a grey robe (which Aran recognizes as a monkish habit, though Corrigan does not) and nursing a single drink. He unsuccessfully tries to bait Corrigan into using her two swords (enchanted elven blades which she can use quite handily). Finally, to Corrigan's words of "I have friends," Aran appears, Makal draws a dagger in a lightening-fast motion and just as quickly sheathes it upon seeing Aran's own monkish habit. Telling Aran to sit, he explains his mission.
It turns out that Brightstone Keep in the Trialta Hills does indeed contain treasure: a gem mine. Makal knows how to get to it, how to get in, and what it contains. However, in recent years a "small army" of orcs, approximately twenty-five, have moved in and claimed the Keep as their own. Furthermore, the chief orc worships a dark god and has undead followers. Makal seems convinced that six people, plus himself, can take the orcs and gain the treasure. When asked how he knows this information, he informs Corrigan and Aran that he and his now-dead friend helped the Cormyran Purple Dragon Knights take the mines initially. Corrigan finally concludes by bargaining Makal from a 50/50 split of the treasure to 70/30, giving Makal a double-share, much to the annoyance of Aran. (And, out of game, the rest of the party -- it was a sloppy job of negotiating by me, and I admit that.) Makal asks us to meet him the following morning at sunrise outside the Guttering Candle.
With that, Corrigan, Ivellios, and Seb return back to town, while Aran stays behind to patrol the seedy area.
Meanwhile, Panlos and Glothram have gone off to the city guard and receive a far warmer welcome from Collan Mar, sergeant of the watch, than the rest of the party received at the Guttering Candle. Mar, though apologetic that Captain Tyrron has retired for the night, offers any help he might be able to provide. He leads the paladins to an antechamber where he tells them that a company of orcs bearing a certain standard have been raiding caravans near Hill's Edge. These orcs make their home in the Trialta Hills, and the standard is of the same company who killed Seb's parents. In the last six weeks, the attacks have been less frequent, as there was a company of Purple Dragon Knights from Cormyr camped near the city. Though Mar wishes he could be of more assistance, he regretfully informs the paladin, "that's all I know," and offers them to return at dawn the next morning to meet Captain Tyrron. Panlos and Glothram agree, and return back to the Puzzler's Box.
The two groups arrive back at the same time, Corrigan greeting the paladins with "we've got a job!" She explains the situation, emphasizing the presence of undead orcs and the opportunity to Do Good (paladins like that), and explaining how the dwarf Makal "drove a hard bargain." In the end, it is decided that the party will meet Makal after sunrise, so that the paladins can make their morning meeting with Captain Tyrron. At which point, Panlos asks, "Where's Aran?" As if on cue, Aran stumbles into the room, covered with blood.
It turns out that Aran had been drawn to the sounds of a screaming woman coming from an alleyway. Charging in, he saw three men cackling before the figure of a huddled woman. As he took a few steps further into the alley, the vision shimmered and disappeared, leaving nothing there. On turning, however, Aran saw that his way out was barred by two bird-men, Kenku from the south. The larger one was wearing the insignia of the Order of Long Death.
The larger kenku leapt, kicked off the wall, and charged at Aran with his claws outstretched, leaving a gaping wound in Aran's side. The smaller kenku tumbled behind Aran, flanking him with the same move, and pulled a black curved knife. Aran, hit the larger kenku with a flurry of blows, and golden ice suffused over its body. The kenku returned blow-for-blow, again hitting Aran with his claws, while the smaller struck from behind, landing a savage blow with his knife. Bleeding heavily, Aran ran from the encounter to the sound of kenku hooting and cat-calls.
As Aran enters the Puzzler's Box, Panlos heals him and he is informed of the plan. The party discusses their course of action, while Corrigan goes downstairs to ask Kendor (the innkeeper) if he knows anything that might help her in the situation. Though he knows little more than rumours, he informs her that in the last few weeks, several parties have gone off to Brightstone Keep and not returned. Also, he tells her there are rumours of undead and ghosts at the Keep. With these pleasant thoughts, Corrigan joins the rest of the party in sleeping.
*****
The next day, Panlos and Glothram return to the city walls to meet Captain Reganor Tyrron. They arrive at sunrise, and Panlos conducts a service to Lathander for the benefit of the city guards, offering them the blessings of his god. Once done, Tyrron takes the two paladins aside to give them further information.
Tyrron had apparently spoken with a Purple Dragon lieutenant, who had told him they were on guard against "shades" from the north, and had been called to help protect the city of Everesca. Though he would like to help the paladins, he cannot spare any of his guardsmen to go with them. He can, however, provide them with a map drawn by Korrak the ranger, who had pursued the orcs to the Keep.
Meanwhile, Aran goes off to meet Makal, as per their arrangement. He brings the dwarf to the Puzzler's Box to meet the rest of the party. Through intensive questioning by Panlos, Makal reveals more of the backstory of the Keep: approximately fifty years ago, prospectors from Hill's Edge had built the keep to protect a mine (which they thought was iron, but turned out to contain diamonds as well). However, soon afterwards waves of orcs and goblins under the leadership of Smerdegar occupied the keep before moving further south. An army, led by a Thean Zalkin, had occupied the keep but the Zalkin disappeared or died shortly thereafter and the precise location of the treasure is unknown. Currently the keep is held by the necromancer Curgeon Sawtooth, a worshiper of the demon prince Orcis. Makal had been part of a party defending against the orcs, who told him all this information. Though pressed about which order of monks he belongs to, Makal is noncommittal, saying that it is the "old order." Though his story seems suspicious to the paladins, they sense no evil on him, and agree to help him in his quest to gain the treasure and kill the orcs.
*****
The party sets out along a wagon trail heading towards a ring of halfling villages surrounding the Trialta Hills. The day passes uneventfully and the party makes camp in high grassland.
Just before dawn, during Panlos's watch, the sound of thunderous rustling wakes everyone but Ivellios and Glothram. Panlos sees an angry brown bear rushing through the grass and quickly wakes Seb. As Panlos casts light on his shield, Seb steps between the party and the bear and attempts to calm it. The bear slows to an amble and collapses, apparently from deep claw and bite-marks on its back. While Seb and Panlos heal the bear, with Aran standing at the ready, Corrigan looks in the direction the bear came from.
There is a hulking figure, 10 feet tall, a troll.
Ivellios and Glothram quickly wake to deal with the new threat. Glothram and Aran charge at the troll, but not before it launches a gigantic spear. The troll charges and the spear grazes Glothram's side, tearing flesh from below the half-cinched armour on his arm. Ivellios casts a lighting bolt at the troll, Seb hits it with an arrow, and Glothram prepares himself for battle by casting Divine Favour.
As Panlos charges and enters the range of the troll, he is hit by its claws to his chest and shoulder, but Panlos returns the blow with force. The two continue to trade blows, with the troll biting deep into Panlos' wounded shoulder. Aran hits him weakly and glows with golden light, but the troll is not deterred.
Ivellios again casts a lightening bolt, blasting the troll and only barely missing Corrigan in the process. Seb moves in to join the group in trading blows with the troll, slashing with his sword and taking a slash from the troll's claws. Panlos deals a mighty hit, and Corrigan dashes in to hit the troll deep into his collarbone. These final blows are too much, and the troll falls to the ground.
Having some experience with trolls, Glothram and Panlos continue to dismember and char the remains of the troll, ensuring that it cannot regenerate. At this point, it is dawn and Makal is only beginning to wake up. As Corrigan taunts him and Panlos performs his morning ritual to Lathander, Seb decides to remain with the wounded bear. The rest of the party continues on.
*****
The party continues to the foothills of the Trialta Hills, with Seb, the bear, and Seb's wolf-companion Eamon following several hours behind the rest of the group. (Read: Seb's player needed to leave)
The group follows Korrik's map through the overgrown paths until they see two mountain peaks, and between them Brightstone Keep. It is a winding road to the plateau, and by the time the group approaches it is dusky and beginning to be treacherous. The keep's entrance, a massive gate, has been destroyed and filled in by boulders and rubble. To either side are towers manned by orcs.
Makal tells the group he has rigged a small diversion, a mini-avalanche, to distract the orcs and allow the group to enter unnoticed. He scampers off, telling the group to wait twenty minutes and then enter. The group decides that Aran will scale the occupied tower, kill the lookout orc, and the rest of the group will enter and smite the enemy.
All goes according to plan. Aran disposes of the lookout with little trouble, knocking him unconscious and binding him, while the rest of the party enters the keep. At first, they seen nothing but rubble in the courtyard of the keep, when they hear a low growling. From a nearby well, a Winter Wolf emerges.
Thinking fast, Ivellios shoots it with a magic missile. Corrigan realizes that the beast is chained to the well, though she cannot tell how long the chain reaches. The wolf breathes ice on the paladins and Aran, who had been advancing towards it. All three manage to avoid the worst of the breath weapon, skilfully dodging out of the way. Aran checks the chain and realizes it is long enough by far for the beast to attack anywhere in the courtyard. As he is making this discovery, the paladins charge but are still feeling the effects of the breath weapon and miss their target.
As the four friends are dealing with the winter wolf, the door to the keep opens and four orcs emerge, followed by a troll. Glothram seizes the moment as the orcs charge past him, and cleaves mightly, killing two of them and hacking at the troll. The two remaining orcs converge on Corrigan.
Ivellios again shoots the wolf with a powerful magic missile, as it jumps onto Panlos and bites his unwounded shoulder, freezing his flesh. Aran and Panlos return the blows to the wolf, dealing as good as they receive. Meanwhile, Corrigan handily dispatches one orc and the other, surprised at the quick death of his friend, manages to lodge his own ax in the rubble pile as Corrigan deftly dodges it. The troll and Glothram are engaged in deep combat.
Again Ivellios casts his magic missile upon the wolf, who narrowly misses yet another hit on Panlos. Aran yanks the chain around its neck and pummels his head with a killing blow. At the same time, Corrigan dispatches the final orc.
Leaving only the troll.
The troll is enraged at the death of its "pet" and lands three hulking blows upon Glothram, nearly killing him. Panlos, near at hand, braves the troll's rage to heal his friend, and Glothram, revived and with a shout of "Tyr!" on his lips, lands another strike into the troll's flesh.
And now the party is all concentrated on the troll. Ivellios casts another magic missile. Corrigan enters the fray, taking a strike to the chest as she hits with her enchanted swords. The troll, angered now at Panlos, leans over Glothram to hit the paladin of Lathander. Glothram takes advantage of the situation and embeds his sword in the troll's stomach. Ichor sprays down upon him. Panlos is struck and appears dead, but immediately revives from the blow. Glothram hits again, twisting his sword in the open wound. Aran, finally free of the wolf, tumbles over and strikes it with a stunning fist. Golden ice gleams over the body of the troll. It totters and finally shatters as it hits the ground.
Just at their moment of victory, there is a shout and the sounding of a horn. From the top of the keep, a black-cloaked orc emerges holding a gnarled spear. At one end of the spear is a human head. As if on cue, the gates of the Keep opens and orcs rush out, proving that the victory was not quite as complete as the party thought.
And that's it. I'm now going to make a phone call or two and then go to bed. G'night all.
In the grand tradition of Orpheus, I have written up the session as a short story. Well, perhaps not quite so short a story. The following is very long. As in, over 2800 words. You have been warned, so don't come running to me if you want to read it. It also has no dialogue. I was planning on putting some in, but I was tired and it took long enough as-is. If you don't like it, write your own story.
D&D Campaign, session 1:
Dramatis Personae:
Ivellios: a half-elven sorcerer from Cormyr
Seb: a ranger, formerly a druid who was protégéd to Ivellios's brother
Glothram Athelstar: a paladin of Tyr
Aran: a monk of Tyr
Panlos: a paladin of Lathander
Corrigan: a treasure-hunting rogue-turned-bard
Note that Corrigan, Seb, and Glothram are childhood friends
The story so far:
The Western Heartlands, along the banks of the River Reaching to the west of Cormyr, have become more prosperous in recent years. Hill's Edge, a river port on the northern edge of the Reaching Woods, has begun a vigourous trade with Scornubell, to the south of the same woods. Between the two, one of three resting ports is Morningvale, the home town of the party.
This area of the Western Heartlands used to be a dangerous place. Near to Hill's Edge, in the Far Hills within the Sunset Mountains, was Darkhold, the gathering place of the thieves' and assassins' guild known as the Zhentarim. The Zhentarim was in the habit of sending raiding parties of men, orcs, and goblins into the Western Heartlands and ravaging the towns and countryside. However, fifteen years ago during the Time of Troubles, Bane, the god of the Zhentarim, was killed, plunging the group into factional rivalries and chaos. Since then, Darkhold has not had the same power over the region, and trade has grown accordingly. However, goblins and orcs formerly belonging to the Zhentarim have taking to raiding in small bands over the last eight years, one such party killing Seb's parents.
To the north of Hill's Edge is the desert of Aneroch, previous home to the Netheril wizards. Though the Netheril wizards have long since passed into legend, their flying cities made from mountaintops and powered by Mythilar are still the subject of stories. There have been rumours of late that one of these flying cities appeared over Aneroch as little as two years ago.
*****
Enter our heroes.
It is the end of summer, and Corrigan, scouting in the city of Hill's Edge, has heard that the Ragged Edge horde of orcs and goblins have taken a fortress in the nearby Trialta Hills to the west of the city. The Brightstone Keep in these hills is rumored to contain treasures, since a company of Purple Dragon knights from Cormyr recently abandoned it to head north into the desert. Corrigan has assembled the party in the city and arranged lodgings at the Puzzler's Box, a respectable inn whose innkeeper, Kendor Amad, is an old friend.
While unloading the barges, Aran overhears a dwarf and a half-elf mention the name "Makal" from the Guttering Candle Inn, who is in need of treasure-hunters. Though he can make little else of the conversation, the prospect is interesting enough that Corrigan decides to pay Makal a visit after checking in to the Puzzler's Box.
After the party drops their gear and Corrigan greats Kendor, the two paladins of the group (Glothram and Panlos) proceed to get information from the town watch, while the rest of the group makes their way to the Guttering Candle, a seedy bar on the outskirts of town.
At the Guttering Candle, Aran and Corrigan proceed inside while Ivellios and Seb wait just outside. With a hefty bribe to the bartender, Corrigan finds out that Makal is a surly dwarf sitting at the far end of the bar, dressed in a grey robe (which Aran recognizes as a monkish habit, though Corrigan does not) and nursing a single drink. He unsuccessfully tries to bait Corrigan into using her two swords (enchanted elven blades which she can use quite handily). Finally, to Corrigan's words of "I have friends," Aran appears, Makal draws a dagger in a lightening-fast motion and just as quickly sheathes it upon seeing Aran's own monkish habit. Telling Aran to sit, he explains his mission.
It turns out that Brightstone Keep in the Trialta Hills does indeed contain treasure: a gem mine. Makal knows how to get to it, how to get in, and what it contains. However, in recent years a "small army" of orcs, approximately twenty-five, have moved in and claimed the Keep as their own. Furthermore, the chief orc worships a dark god and has undead followers. Makal seems convinced that six people, plus himself, can take the orcs and gain the treasure. When asked how he knows this information, he informs Corrigan and Aran that he and his now-dead friend helped the Cormyran Purple Dragon Knights take the mines initially. Corrigan finally concludes by bargaining Makal from a 50/50 split of the treasure to 70/30, giving Makal a double-share, much to the annoyance of Aran. (And, out of game, the rest of the party -- it was a sloppy job of negotiating by me, and I admit that.) Makal asks us to meet him the following morning at sunrise outside the Guttering Candle.
With that, Corrigan, Ivellios, and Seb return back to town, while Aran stays behind to patrol the seedy area.
Meanwhile, Panlos and Glothram have gone off to the city guard and receive a far warmer welcome from Collan Mar, sergeant of the watch, than the rest of the party received at the Guttering Candle. Mar, though apologetic that Captain Tyrron has retired for the night, offers any help he might be able to provide. He leads the paladins to an antechamber where he tells them that a company of orcs bearing a certain standard have been raiding caravans near Hill's Edge. These orcs make their home in the Trialta Hills, and the standard is of the same company who killed Seb's parents. In the last six weeks, the attacks have been less frequent, as there was a company of Purple Dragon Knights from Cormyr camped near the city. Though Mar wishes he could be of more assistance, he regretfully informs the paladin, "that's all I know," and offers them to return at dawn the next morning to meet Captain Tyrron. Panlos and Glothram agree, and return back to the Puzzler's Box.
The two groups arrive back at the same time, Corrigan greeting the paladins with "we've got a job!" She explains the situation, emphasizing the presence of undead orcs and the opportunity to Do Good (paladins like that), and explaining how the dwarf Makal "drove a hard bargain." In the end, it is decided that the party will meet Makal after sunrise, so that the paladins can make their morning meeting with Captain Tyrron. At which point, Panlos asks, "Where's Aran?" As if on cue, Aran stumbles into the room, covered with blood.
It turns out that Aran had been drawn to the sounds of a screaming woman coming from an alleyway. Charging in, he saw three men cackling before the figure of a huddled woman. As he took a few steps further into the alley, the vision shimmered and disappeared, leaving nothing there. On turning, however, Aran saw that his way out was barred by two bird-men, Kenku from the south. The larger one was wearing the insignia of the Order of Long Death.
The larger kenku leapt, kicked off the wall, and charged at Aran with his claws outstretched, leaving a gaping wound in Aran's side. The smaller kenku tumbled behind Aran, flanking him with the same move, and pulled a black curved knife. Aran, hit the larger kenku with a flurry of blows, and golden ice suffused over its body. The kenku returned blow-for-blow, again hitting Aran with his claws, while the smaller struck from behind, landing a savage blow with his knife. Bleeding heavily, Aran ran from the encounter to the sound of kenku hooting and cat-calls.
As Aran enters the Puzzler's Box, Panlos heals him and he is informed of the plan. The party discusses their course of action, while Corrigan goes downstairs to ask Kendor (the innkeeper) if he knows anything that might help her in the situation. Though he knows little more than rumours, he informs her that in the last few weeks, several parties have gone off to Brightstone Keep and not returned. Also, he tells her there are rumours of undead and ghosts at the Keep. With these pleasant thoughts, Corrigan joins the rest of the party in sleeping.
*****
The next day, Panlos and Glothram return to the city walls to meet Captain Reganor Tyrron. They arrive at sunrise, and Panlos conducts a service to Lathander for the benefit of the city guards, offering them the blessings of his god. Once done, Tyrron takes the two paladins aside to give them further information.
Tyrron had apparently spoken with a Purple Dragon lieutenant, who had told him they were on guard against "shades" from the north, and had been called to help protect the city of Everesca. Though he would like to help the paladins, he cannot spare any of his guardsmen to go with them. He can, however, provide them with a map drawn by Korrak the ranger, who had pursued the orcs to the Keep.
Meanwhile, Aran goes off to meet Makal, as per their arrangement. He brings the dwarf to the Puzzler's Box to meet the rest of the party. Through intensive questioning by Panlos, Makal reveals more of the backstory of the Keep: approximately fifty years ago, prospectors from Hill's Edge had built the keep to protect a mine (which they thought was iron, but turned out to contain diamonds as well). However, soon afterwards waves of orcs and goblins under the leadership of Smerdegar occupied the keep before moving further south. An army, led by a Thean Zalkin, had occupied the keep but the Zalkin disappeared or died shortly thereafter and the precise location of the treasure is unknown. Currently the keep is held by the necromancer Curgeon Sawtooth, a worshiper of the demon prince Orcis. Makal had been part of a party defending against the orcs, who told him all this information. Though pressed about which order of monks he belongs to, Makal is noncommittal, saying that it is the "old order." Though his story seems suspicious to the paladins, they sense no evil on him, and agree to help him in his quest to gain the treasure and kill the orcs.
*****
The party sets out along a wagon trail heading towards a ring of halfling villages surrounding the Trialta Hills. The day passes uneventfully and the party makes camp in high grassland.
Just before dawn, during Panlos's watch, the sound of thunderous rustling wakes everyone but Ivellios and Glothram. Panlos sees an angry brown bear rushing through the grass and quickly wakes Seb. As Panlos casts light on his shield, Seb steps between the party and the bear and attempts to calm it. The bear slows to an amble and collapses, apparently from deep claw and bite-marks on its back. While Seb and Panlos heal the bear, with Aran standing at the ready, Corrigan looks in the direction the bear came from.
There is a hulking figure, 10 feet tall, a troll.
Ivellios and Glothram quickly wake to deal with the new threat. Glothram and Aran charge at the troll, but not before it launches a gigantic spear. The troll charges and the spear grazes Glothram's side, tearing flesh from below the half-cinched armour on his arm. Ivellios casts a lighting bolt at the troll, Seb hits it with an arrow, and Glothram prepares himself for battle by casting Divine Favour.
As Panlos charges and enters the range of the troll, he is hit by its claws to his chest and shoulder, but Panlos returns the blow with force. The two continue to trade blows, with the troll biting deep into Panlos' wounded shoulder. Aran hits him weakly and glows with golden light, but the troll is not deterred.
Ivellios again casts a lightening bolt, blasting the troll and only barely missing Corrigan in the process. Seb moves in to join the group in trading blows with the troll, slashing with his sword and taking a slash from the troll's claws. Panlos deals a mighty hit, and Corrigan dashes in to hit the troll deep into his collarbone. These final blows are too much, and the troll falls to the ground.
Having some experience with trolls, Glothram and Panlos continue to dismember and char the remains of the troll, ensuring that it cannot regenerate. At this point, it is dawn and Makal is only beginning to wake up. As Corrigan taunts him and Panlos performs his morning ritual to Lathander, Seb decides to remain with the wounded bear. The rest of the party continues on.
*****
The party continues to the foothills of the Trialta Hills, with Seb, the bear, and Seb's wolf-companion Eamon following several hours behind the rest of the group. (Read: Seb's player needed to leave)
The group follows Korrik's map through the overgrown paths until they see two mountain peaks, and between them Brightstone Keep. It is a winding road to the plateau, and by the time the group approaches it is dusky and beginning to be treacherous. The keep's entrance, a massive gate, has been destroyed and filled in by boulders and rubble. To either side are towers manned by orcs.
Makal tells the group he has rigged a small diversion, a mini-avalanche, to distract the orcs and allow the group to enter unnoticed. He scampers off, telling the group to wait twenty minutes and then enter. The group decides that Aran will scale the occupied tower, kill the lookout orc, and the rest of the group will enter and smite the enemy.
All goes according to plan. Aran disposes of the lookout with little trouble, knocking him unconscious and binding him, while the rest of the party enters the keep. At first, they seen nothing but rubble in the courtyard of the keep, when they hear a low growling. From a nearby well, a Winter Wolf emerges.
Thinking fast, Ivellios shoots it with a magic missile. Corrigan realizes that the beast is chained to the well, though she cannot tell how long the chain reaches. The wolf breathes ice on the paladins and Aran, who had been advancing towards it. All three manage to avoid the worst of the breath weapon, skilfully dodging out of the way. Aran checks the chain and realizes it is long enough by far for the beast to attack anywhere in the courtyard. As he is making this discovery, the paladins charge but are still feeling the effects of the breath weapon and miss their target.
As the four friends are dealing with the winter wolf, the door to the keep opens and four orcs emerge, followed by a troll. Glothram seizes the moment as the orcs charge past him, and cleaves mightly, killing two of them and hacking at the troll. The two remaining orcs converge on Corrigan.
Ivellios again shoots the wolf with a powerful magic missile, as it jumps onto Panlos and bites his unwounded shoulder, freezing his flesh. Aran and Panlos return the blows to the wolf, dealing as good as they receive. Meanwhile, Corrigan handily dispatches one orc and the other, surprised at the quick death of his friend, manages to lodge his own ax in the rubble pile as Corrigan deftly dodges it. The troll and Glothram are engaged in deep combat.
Again Ivellios casts his magic missile upon the wolf, who narrowly misses yet another hit on Panlos. Aran yanks the chain around its neck and pummels his head with a killing blow. At the same time, Corrigan dispatches the final orc.
Leaving only the troll.
The troll is enraged at the death of its "pet" and lands three hulking blows upon Glothram, nearly killing him. Panlos, near at hand, braves the troll's rage to heal his friend, and Glothram, revived and with a shout of "Tyr!" on his lips, lands another strike into the troll's flesh.
And now the party is all concentrated on the troll. Ivellios casts another magic missile. Corrigan enters the fray, taking a strike to the chest as she hits with her enchanted swords. The troll, angered now at Panlos, leans over Glothram to hit the paladin of Lathander. Glothram takes advantage of the situation and embeds his sword in the troll's stomach. Ichor sprays down upon him. Panlos is struck and appears dead, but immediately revives from the blow. Glothram hits again, twisting his sword in the open wound. Aran, finally free of the wolf, tumbles over and strikes it with a stunning fist. Golden ice gleams over the body of the troll. It totters and finally shatters as it hits the ground.
Just at their moment of victory, there is a shout and the sounding of a horn. From the top of the keep, a black-cloaked orc emerges holding a gnarled spear. At one end of the spear is a human head. As if on cue, the gates of the Keep opens and orcs rush out, proving that the victory was not quite as complete as the party thought.
And that's it. I'm now going to make a phone call or two and then go to bed. G'night all.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Gaming
Date: 2006-03-06 09:55 pm (UTC)welcome to come join Andrew and I in the game I'm DMing. If your only interested in playing your bard, then we'll have to come up with something else.
Re: Gaming
Date: 2006-03-07 02:47 am (UTC)I can make it work
Date: 2006-03-07 10:31 am (UTC)Re: I can make it work
Date: 2006-03-07 01:13 pm (UTC)