We continue from within the kobold enclave…
- We plan: Rem’e intends to shoot a flare down a hallway, then we’ll attack what we see (force missile, etc). Liadan prepares her wind spell.
- We plan on carrying the treasure out the southern passage.
- Liadan and Rhun move the Asmodeus statue into the Eastern tunnel …Ariza’s fire trap is on the other side.
- We begin
- Rem’e shoots a flare up the southern passage. There are squeals of surprise … but Liadan can’t see them … Ariza senses two or three. Rem’e rapid reloads.
- Ariza creeps down the tunnel – an arrow flies down the hall!
- Rhun readies his light crossbow and watches the rear.
- Liadan hits a kobold with a force missile.
- Rem’e shoots the same kobold and misses… it has cover around the corner of the wall.
- Ariza moves forward and hits with rapier and kills it! She sees another that’s blinking stars out of its eyes. It turns and bolts.
- Rhun watches behind – I can hear kobolds chittering behind the statue, but not close. He heads up the southern hall.
- Liadan walks up the same and looks down hallway, Rem’e follows…
- We head out of the lair
- Heading out — we put an hour between us and the lair, and set up camp. We march through the badlands, scrub brush … we find a hill and eat jerky. Liadan and Rhun rest – Rem’e and Ariza take first watch so that the magic users can charge up. It is overcast but the moon is bright, illuminating the clouds.
- Rem’e and Ariza feel the ground tremble about two hours in …and two ankhegs pop through the earth and attack!
- BATTLE:
- Rem’e blasts first ankheg with his gun – roar of pistol wakes Liadan & Rhun
- Rhun grabs his mace and runs up next to Ariza
- Liadan readies shocking grasp
- Ankhek
- chomps Rhun with an acidic bite – ow!
- other chomps Ariza with acidic bit – even more ow!
- Ariza thows alchemist’s fire at nearest (that just bit her) – and cooks it a bit. The fire continues to burn on it.
- Rem’e shoots and hits!
- Rhun misses with mace
- Liadan – touches the beast and burns it well
- Ankhegs
- First one hits Rhun and he goes down!
- Second one spits acid at Ariza and Rem’e
- Ariza dodges it
- Rem’e catches some of the acid (ow)
- Ariza drinks a potion of cure light wounds
- Rem’e shoots – a big chunk of plate crumbles
- Rhun stabilizes
- Liadan sends scorching ray against ankheg – ankheg squeals — it cooks inside its own shell like a lobster!
- Ariza and Rem’e try to dodge a spray of acid – Rem’e misses the worst but gets splashed
- Ariza attacks and her magic fizzles in her hand.
- Rem’e captain morgans his foot on top of Rhun and takes a blast at ankheg — it’s hurt! Rapid reload.
- Liadan – force missile – monster drops
- Ariza gives Rhun a potion – he wakes and splutters and cures himself and sits up and looks at the team to see who’s hurt.
- Rhun channels energy and though he feels a chill in his flesh, Sarenrae pours healing on the companions.
- We decide to move couple hundred yards to a lower elevation, but enough to still see – we settle in, and the rest of the night passes without interruption.
- In the morning, we work our way back to the mine
- A small watchtower has been built – it spots us from a distance; we hear an alarm that goes up to the camp.
- A couple of guards make their way out to us. After a bit of discussion – we are welcomed.
- We see there are miners, guards, supplies, tents, a whole small community has built up here.
- We stay the night and visit the mine – no one goes into the crypt – but everyone is excited about the mine. In the morning we look at the original archway among the ruins – it remains untouched.
- We head back to Basilisk Bluff without incident – it is a 2 day hike back. We arrive after dinner. Cronen and Habistaw are around. Heminile is not. Wu is not. Grold and Durn are there. Warsh is away.
- We walk into the bar and Habistaw yells “The dragon slayers have returned!”
- Liadan: “The title is a bit premature…”
- There is a smattering of applause
- Cronen sticks his head out, and says – “Oh great! Welcome back.”
- We head to Habistaw and sit with him. Ariza settles him down. We sit and chat. Lots of pleasant conversation. Habistaw keeps claiming how wealthy we are.
- We speak with Cronen about how things are, about our adventure; Wu is still here; Heminile is gone; Warsh has headed back.
- We head out for a stroll, and we seek out Tuxel’s place… There’s a light on in Tuxel’s house. Ariza tries to spy on Tuxel.
- Ariza tries to look through the shuttered window – and big crack of sound (fumble!) – Wu comes forward with blade in hand.
- Ariza bluffs — “Was checking on you — tried knock but got no answer”; Tuxel eyes her suspiciously, but says that all is well. “Go away though, I’m busy”.
We go to bed, and rise next morning – we spend a few days.
- In the main room we hear a big commotion. “Murderer!! Murderer!! She killed Porto and Alsi Appledor” – Larod, the farmer, screaming “I saw that dirt covered elf tramp do it, and she took off!”
- Cronen looks troubled; Dessa looks more troubled.
- Two farmers have been murdered in their beds. This is Dessa’s family. She’s sitting white knuckled with hands gripping a table.
- Cronen has quieted Larod down – and Larod is accusing Heminile.
- Heminile walks in at that moment – and everything goes dead quiet.
- “There she is! I saw her leaving! I walked in and they were dead!”
- Cronen: “Heminle – what’s happening here??”
- Larod: “Make her hold the sword and tell the truth!!”
- Lots of soldiers are now eying Heminle with dark looks.
- Cronen … “Let’s get this over with. Did you you murder the Appledoors at their farm?”
- Heminile: “No.” She grasps the sword and it blazes with light — she looks resigned, and for a split second she locks eyes with Liadan with a “watch how they treat elves around here” look. Then as it blazes with light, she grabs Vervinia and bolts out the door.
- Tuxel: “After her!!” A bunch of soldiers take off after her.
- Liadan takes off after her too. Rhun follows Liadan.
- Ariza climbs the wall out in the courtyard to look.
- A soldier near another on the ground tells us, “She punched him in the face, and then she just vanished!”
- Rhun heals the wounded soldier who comes back to consciousness.
- Ariza and Rem’e do a survival check – can’t sense anything.
- Everyone is out looking – but there’s no tracking Heminile.
- Liadan turns to Cronen “Things may not be as they appear. Do you mind if we look into this?”
- Cronen: “You? No.” Calls to the sergeant and several soldiers: “Go to farm and confirm this. Larade, I want to talk to you.” Then quietly to us “Heroes, I’d like to speak to you later. I could use your help.”
- Confusion reigns.
- Rem’e to Larade: “What happened?”
- “We were going to check on the Appledoors … to check on harvest … and Heminile, that bloodthirsty craven elf, and she was coming out of there and she saw us and we ran. And Keb and I saw it!”
- Keb: “That’s right – we saw it! She must of done it – you saw the sword and she ran!”
- Rem’e and Liadan: “Was there blood on Heminile”?
- Keb: “Who knows? She was far away when she took off.”
- Ariza knows with certainty that she saw no blood on Heminile.
- We look for Habistaw – but isn’t there.
- Word travels like wildfire that Heminile has murdered Porto and his wife Alsie. In the next hour, Cronen has interviewed Larode closely. Mid afternoon arrives … none of the soliders have found anything. They return without finding any sign of Heminile.
- Dinner hour comes along. Dinner is very simple fare. The place is packed; the food is not up to par; thing are being held just together, but everyone is there. Some are standing and eating. Some are looking for drama, some are angry, some are shocked – farmers are shocked, soldiers are less so. We have a table – we’ve been camped out listening. We hear a lot.
- “I can’t believe it” – “I can believe it…” … if the sword is glowing then she’s a liar … she helped me with … she threatened me once …
- Dessa – not first family to die; One of the stories from a soldier – was ambushed by goblins – odd circumstances; Appledore cousin died.
- Other Appledores in the area – there is an Aunt (not present) – soldier who was killed is her son. There is a brother.
- In the middle of all this, Habistaw comes wandering in … “Wow! Big crowd.” … He’s soaking it all in. He sees us – “Look at this crowd tonight – it’s wonderful isn’t it. Had this vision today – can’t wait to share it!” He wanders off.
- One of the serving staff ask if we’d like to meet with Cronen.
- He has an office in the depths of the inn where we find him studying something. There is alcohol on his desk.
- He looks up. “Thank you heroes – I could use your help with this. My wife is beside herself with things going on. A lot of things are afoot and amiss – I don’t believe it for a second about Heminile. I don’t know if you’re woodcrafy, but perhaps if you look for Heminile, she will approach you. Please convince her to come in. And while you’re out… If you do a full patrol circuit …there’s a family of prospectors who haven’t come back – not too worried: one is a wizard, but if you wouldn’t mind it would be a huge help. … Many of the soldiers here don’t trust Heminiele. What say you?”
- Liadan “I’m inclined to agree with you. What arrangements have you to protect Dessas’s family?”
- “(Aunt) won’t let anyone on her property – she’s a little estranged from the rest of the Appledores.”
- “What of Heminile?”
- Cronen: “She has no place with wilds or with us — I’ve known her forever, as has Stephano – we’ve been in so many scrapes, there’s no way we’d lose faith in her.”
- Liadan: “The soldiers?”
- “She’s more skillful than them and they have some predjudices”
- Ariza and Rhun: “What does Vervinia do?”
- Cronen: “My brother may have wanted her – but as oldest I claimed it – as is my right. Vervinia – she was legendary – the sword has been used to root out injustice. …”
- Liadan: “Will you make sure Heminile will be treated fairly?”
- “She will be called to account with proper justice. The farmers respect her… and there’s no way she’s a cold-blooded murderer.”
- Liadan: “How is the sword a magical object”
- Cronen: “I don’t know – it’s been enchanted multiple times.”
- Cronen tells us about the missing family. There’s a three day circle around.
We head outside the walls over near the farm where the murders took place and wait for Stephano the next day. Cronen has a piece of paper with mark showing that we have permission to investigate. The soldiers think it’s a little odd that we’re there, but they leave us be. We set up camp nearby but not with the soldiers. We have a fire. The night passes without incident.
- Stephano shows up. He acknowledge our presence – he’s reluctant for us to enter, but Rhun convinces him to allow Rem’e and himself to come in.
- Rem’e looks at door – it was damaged by being kicked in.
- Both bodies have been moved back to their beds; someone took their time with this and enjoyed it. They were killed slowly — stomach, arms, legs, faces disfigured a bit. He has more injuries than she does. Maybe a short sword, maybe a large knife.
- Rem’e sees that nothing appears to have been stolen.
- Stephano asks “Be quick please, the family is coming.”
- Rem’e notes that they have rings and jewelry still on them. No bruising except around the woman’s neck.
- Ariza checks around the outside – Liadan too. Can’t find anything. Rhun can’t detect magic. Stephano asks us to help dig graves.
- Dessa shows up, Cronen too, also Aunt and brother (to Dessa). Stephano Longdraw holds a brief, honest ceremony – bodies are given back to the earth. “Thank you Erastile. Hope that justice will be served.” Aunt leaves on her own very shortly after. Dessa, brother, and Cronen hang around, but we sense this is not the time for interrogation.
- As we prepare to leave, Habistaw appears riding a pony – “Rhun! Rhun!”
- “I’m so glad I caught you; I was inspired yesterday – such inspiration! To make sense of it sing this!”
The Magnificent Journal of Habistaw the Devine – 27 Rova, 625gha
Problems big? There’s a lot of, and it’s clogging my brain
Ranger’s like my old toga, classic look but she’s stained.
If heroes want to solve this mystery, help the story take shape
Find assassin and mad dwarf, to Boulderham they’ve escaped
- We head to Boulderham. This is an abandoned town. Our first stop – an old grizzled farmer Tabar will take us in for the night. Welcome to sleep in the barn.
- Liadan: “Have you seen Heminile?”
- “She’s why I’m out here… she respects me, and I respect that.” He’s on the up-and-up. “Got soup on – it’s good and hot – won’t get that out in the wilds.”
- We spend the night in peace.
- We continue on our way – we sleep in the wilds. The next day we’re scheduled to reach Boulderham. One road reaches into the town – we don’t see any tracks (Ranger in her favored realm!). Collection of six shacks — a couple of farmsteads and a barn. We see no signs of habitation.
- We make a circuit around to the left of the town. We hear some singing from within the town. Sounds like a male voice – kind of sing-songy in an dwarven tongue and really off-key. We continue around looking for further signs of habitation. Adobe brick, thatched roofs with holes, but largely intact. Windows are some shuttered some broken.
- Rhun knocks, “hello?” — singing abruptly stops. Then something slams against the door. “What?!!” in gruff common.
- Rhun: “I’m a cleric of Serenrae – seeking rest, seeking peace, seeking …”
- “These are my pretties! Go away.”
- “What pretties?”
- “Go ask the girl!’
- Ariza looks through the window – he seems to be alone.
- “Where’s the girl? I’ll leave you in peace.”
- “Look to house over by the mill.”
- Ariza takes a moment for setting a tanglefoot trap at the door.
- We walk to other house. Liadan calls out in elven: “If that’s you Heminile, we wish you no harm – we just wish to talk”
- Ariza notices that some of the overgrowth is creeping towards us. Just as she begins to notice, vines start reaching towards her. A couple of arrows come zipping through the air and both of them find their mark on Rem’e. He drops prone in an attempt to dodge – but still gets hit. A couple of goblins shout in triumph!
- BATTLE:
- Rem’e shoots first goblin and it goes down!
- Goblins:
- Second goblin goes “woooooh!” (impressed by Rem’e shot), and tries another shot (miss)
- Goblins begin to boil out of the windows of far house (five goblins attacking totally) – one hits Rem’e, one hits Ariza (crit!)
- Other vine creature casts at Ariza but misses
- Rhun: runs around the side of the house and casts burning hands on vine monster — the vines blacken and whither some
- Ariza – stikes at goblin, light hit
- Liadan – scorching ray on plant thing and it burns more
- Rem’e steps back five feet and rapid reloads and shoots at one of the three goblins attacking him
- Monsters
- The vine creature attacks Rhun and misses
- Goblin with bow hits Liadan
- Goblin hits Ariza!
- Goblin moves up and swings at Liadan – miss
- Goblin moves up and swings at Rem’e – miss
- Rhun is hit from behind by an imp — he turns and grabs it, inflicting moderate wounds.
- Ariza – first attack, goblin let her hit it, second attack – it parries but misses
- Liadan – casts a flaming sphere on vine creature – and it burns a bit
- Rem’e steps five and uses focused aim on goblin in middle hits
- Monsters
- Goblins miss
- Vine creature grabs at Rhun – vines wrap around him and is entangled
- Imp attacks Rhun – he is stung and feels himself slow down (Dex -1)
- Big bugbear blows out of the building and swings at Ariza misses and falls to one knee
- Rhun casts inflict light wounds – takes attack of opportunity and is staggered – but vines collapse around him. Rhun then falls.
- Ariza steps to side of bugbear and hits with first shot.
- Liadan casts magic missile on bugbear and against the middle goblin – dropping the goblin!
- Rem’e shoots the bugbear and hits hard. Then he rapid reloads.
- Monsters
- Goblins attack Ariza – critted!
- Arrow whizzes over Rem’e’s head.
- Bugbear swings at Ariza and misses ridiculously – weapon goes flying – bounces off the ground
- Imp vanishes
- Rhun loses health and is unconscious!
- Ariza steps between Liadan and bugbear, swinging and missing with first attack, and second attack hurts it
- Liadan hits the bugbear with force missile (ow!)
- Rem’e turns toward the immediate goblin and shoots – Goblin swings at Rem’e but misses – Rem’e’s bullet hits
- Monsters
- Goblins miss Rem’e – arrow zips by Rem’e’s ear
- Goblin hits Ariza with a glancing blow
- Bugbear pulls out a small vial to drink it – Ariza swings with a dagger but misses – Bugbear downs it and disappears from view
- Rhun fails another saving throw … unconscious and dying!
- Ariza swings daggers at nearest goblin – goblin drops.
- Liadan heads around building and attends to Rhun – potion of cure light wounds – brings him back to 1 hp
- Rem’e shoots and hits goblin
- Monsters miss!
- Rhun stumbles past Liadan and channels energy – heals everyone a little
- Ariza – misses
- Liadan – force missile against far goblin and drops him
- Rem’e steps back and blasts remaining goblin – and blows him out of his boots!!
- 3200 XP for day (800 per)