Summary:
The party entered The Chamber of Eyes, killed everything inside, and took all the treasure. Queequeg was named MVP and given all the loot.
Phat Lewtz:
Queequeg's Tier 6 Set
Line(s) of the Night:
"I miss James." - Blake, Craig, Jeff, Megan, Pati, Sean, and Simon
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Foray into the Chamber of Eyes
Summary:
The party moved deep into the chamber, discovering a side door and a passageway splitting left and right. Orchid checked the side door, hearing nothing and discerning no traps. Gareth burst into a rectangle shaped bathroom. A statue against the far wall depicted a half woman and serpent monster, centered in the middle of a spa. The murky water looked neither warm nor inviting. A partitioned wall in the center of the room obscured line of sight. Otherwise, the room was empty.
The adventurers backtracked and turned right. Orchid leaned against the door at the end of the hallway, but heard and discovered nothing. Gareth against shouldered his weight against the door. The door flew open, revealing a pack of hobgoblins and humans in the midst of a poker game. A gleaming scimitar and stacks of gems and gold piled high on their gaming table. Three goblin archers could be seen in a back chamber. Upon the party entering, they slid out of view.
The hobgoblins and humans roared at the party, rising from the table and reaching for swords and weapons. They soon surrounded Gareth. Gareth took a commanding stance and rained cold steel at all who came at him. Gilic rushed to Gareth side, providing flanking assistance. Shava eased into the fray, calling forth a holy glow that damaged foes and invigorated friends. Cedric let forth a scorching blast that burned multiple enemies. Taegahn took aim, mostly missing. A stray arrow that did find a target tore into a hobgoblin with devastating effect. Orchid pursued the pack of archer goblins hidden in the back of the room, spraying them with a cloud of gleaming shirkens.
Too soon, the last humanoid fell. The party searched the room and gathered the loot. They discussed who should get the sword, but put that decision off for later.
The barracks proved a dead end, so the party tracked back the hallway and approached another closed door. Gareth again broke into the door. Two duergar shouted something in their language clearly met as a warning and Orchid could hear the sound of opening doors and retreating feet down a side hallway. Everyone closed with the duergar, but the fight was quick with the numbers so against the evil dwarves. When the last fell, Queequeg searched their bodies, but found only the chain armor they wore and the warhammers they wielded.
The adventurers turned their attention to the hallway from which they earlier had heard retreating footsteps. The passageway was disconcertingly quiet. The party approached a locked door that Orchid searched thoroughly. When she couldn't pick the door open, Gareth hefted his mighty axe and bit into the solid wood. A jolt of electricity coursed through his axe and up through his body when the weapon met the door. The party backed away carefully and instead turned their attention to a door further down the hallway.
The party stepped through that door and into a room covered with carvings and glyphs of eyes. The Chamber of Eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED
Phat Lewtz:
+1 life drinking scimitar
Lines(s) of the Night:
"Taegahn attacks!" - Sean playing Blakes' character. Sean proceeded to roll a 1 and 2, missing his intended target and the broad side of the dungeon wall.
"Taegahn attacks!" - Sean playing Blakes' character. In a separate encounter, Sean proceeded to roll two 1s, missing the entire universe.
"I like how your staff is bent." - James, referring to Sean's miniature. Craig giggled and took another interpretation.
Baked Good(s) of the Night:
None. /hunger /sob /bawl
The party moved deep into the chamber, discovering a side door and a passageway splitting left and right. Orchid checked the side door, hearing nothing and discerning no traps. Gareth burst into a rectangle shaped bathroom. A statue against the far wall depicted a half woman and serpent monster, centered in the middle of a spa. The murky water looked neither warm nor inviting. A partitioned wall in the center of the room obscured line of sight. Otherwise, the room was empty.
The adventurers backtracked and turned right. Orchid leaned against the door at the end of the hallway, but heard and discovered nothing. Gareth against shouldered his weight against the door. The door flew open, revealing a pack of hobgoblins and humans in the midst of a poker game. A gleaming scimitar and stacks of gems and gold piled high on their gaming table. Three goblin archers could be seen in a back chamber. Upon the party entering, they slid out of view.
The hobgoblins and humans roared at the party, rising from the table and reaching for swords and weapons. They soon surrounded Gareth. Gareth took a commanding stance and rained cold steel at all who came at him. Gilic rushed to Gareth side, providing flanking assistance. Shava eased into the fray, calling forth a holy glow that damaged foes and invigorated friends. Cedric let forth a scorching blast that burned multiple enemies. Taegahn took aim, mostly missing. A stray arrow that did find a target tore into a hobgoblin with devastating effect. Orchid pursued the pack of archer goblins hidden in the back of the room, spraying them with a cloud of gleaming shirkens.
Too soon, the last humanoid fell. The party searched the room and gathered the loot. They discussed who should get the sword, but put that decision off for later.
The barracks proved a dead end, so the party tracked back the hallway and approached another closed door. Gareth again broke into the door. Two duergar shouted something in their language clearly met as a warning and Orchid could hear the sound of opening doors and retreating feet down a side hallway. Everyone closed with the duergar, but the fight was quick with the numbers so against the evil dwarves. When the last fell, Queequeg searched their bodies, but found only the chain armor they wore and the warhammers they wielded.
The adventurers turned their attention to the hallway from which they earlier had heard retreating footsteps. The passageway was disconcertingly quiet. The party approached a locked door that Orchid searched thoroughly. When she couldn't pick the door open, Gareth hefted his mighty axe and bit into the solid wood. A jolt of electricity coursed through his axe and up through his body when the weapon met the door. The party backed away carefully and instead turned their attention to a door further down the hallway.
The party stepped through that door and into a room covered with carvings and glyphs of eyes. The Chamber of Eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED
Phat Lewtz:
+1 life drinking scimitar
Lines(s) of the Night:
"Taegahn attacks!" - Sean playing Blakes' character. Sean proceeded to roll a 1 and 2, missing his intended target and the broad side of the dungeon wall.
"Taegahn attacks!" - Sean playing Blakes' character. In a separate encounter, Sean proceeded to roll two 1s, missing the entire universe.
"I like how your staff is bent." - James, referring to Sean's miniature. Craig giggled and took another interpretation.
Baked Good(s) of the Night:
None. /hunger /sob /bawl
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Seven Pillar Hall
Summary:
Gilic barged into the chamber, holding out a money purse and bellowing, "Aye, I've got 20 gold for your wee slave there. I've need of a good porter and that one will serve nicely." The hobgoblin slavers glanced at each other and then at their two leaders towards the back of the room.
The two robed leaders paused for just a moment before sneering at Gilic. "Who said anything about a slave? You've got the wrong room dwarf. Best take yourself and that mop you call a beard right back out the door you came from before someone gets hurt."
Gilic didn't seem to register either the threat or the insult. "You can't fool me, laddy. I overheard you deciding the fate of this hear slave as my friends and I passed by. You suspect to get 10 gold for the whelp. I offer 20." He held the coin purse higher and shook it back and forth, producing a heavy jingling sound.
The leaders gave each other a knowing look and then murmured low, "20 gold. And a 5 gold processing fee."
"Done." Gilic reached into the purse, deftly withdrew a handful of coins and threw the rest at the nearest hobgoblin. He turned to the halfing and grabbed him roughly by the arm. "Come with me, boy. I've got a pack with your name all over it, I do. You've had a nice vacation with this lot, but fun time is over. High time you did some real work." The hafling began to protest but Gilic shoved him roughly and stifled his complaint. Orchid smiled at him toothily, forcing the halfing to chuckle nervously.
The party took their leave of the room and moved a ways down the passageway before stopping to talk to their new purchase. The hafling introduced himself as Rindall Halfmoon of the Seven Pillar Hall, the son of Erra Halfmoon. Rendall tracked down the hobgoblin slavers to collect on the extensive bar tab they ran at his mother's inn and tavern, the Halfmoon Inn. Grateful for his rescue, Rendall was a veritable fountain of information. He told the party that the Mages of Saruun rule Seven Pillar Hall and much of Thunderspire Labyrinth. The Mages employ Brug, an ogre, as their chief enforcer of law and order in Thunderspire. The Mages outlawed slavery, forcing the Bloodreavers to the outskirts of Thunderspire, a den known as the Chamber of Eyes. Rendall opined that the Mages didn't forbid slavery from moral qualms, but because the Bloodreavers refused to pay a cut of their earnings. Rendall offered to escort the party to the Seven Pillar Hall and the Halfmoon Inn to stay as his guests. The party agreed.
Upon arriving, Rindall gave a full tour the Hall, a massive cavern carved out in the middle of an ancient mountain. Numerous landmarks were pointed out, including a raging river slicing through the middle of the cavern, complete with thundering waterfall; numerous shops and provisioners; a massive 30ft tall minotaur statue with a set of crackling runes at its foot; a Temple of Torm and; a second tavern, Rothar's Tap Room.
Rindall next took the party to his mother's inn, the Halfmoon. Upon entering, the adventurers were greeted to a bustling tavern area, a massive ogre flanked by two human conspicuously sitting at the bar. The ogre thundered to no one in particular for another ale. He caught the party's movement in the corner of his eyes, turned his head slightly to take them in, and then smiled broadly, unleashing a deep, rumbling chuckle as he said, "Newbies."
The ogre turned to fully face the party as his two human guards stepped ominously backwards. A knotted great club leaned against the bar next to him. The ogre continued to grin as he said, "I've naught see this lot in town before. Sean? Blake? You seen rabble here before?"
"No sir. They must just arrived," the two guards said in complete unison.
"Well, we must welcome them to the Seven Pillar Halls. Welcome, rabble!" The ogre paused a moment. A cough from the now subdued tavern crowd broke the silence.
"Welcome, rabble!" the ogre repeated. He continued, not waiting for a response, "As newly arrived, you likely don't know about the entrance tax. We can't be everywhere at once when visitors step into our halls, but since we've stumbled into each other so fortuitously, I'll be collecting the gold per head right now.
He paused again as his grin began to fade. His face quickly hardened as he growled lowly, "That'll be seven gold."
Taegahn suddenly spoke, "I'm surprised you can even count to seven."
With surprising speed, the ogre grabbed hold of his great club as he leaped toward the party. He crammed his face into Taegahn's, his club held high above him. "What was that, elf? I don't think I heard you right."
Behind and out of sight of the ogre, Rindall flapped his arms and shook his head at the party. Taegahn inferred the implied message and squeaked to the ogre, "Uh, nothing sir." Gilic stepped forward and said, "Brug, I presume. 10 gold entrance tax? I have that right here, laddy."
Brug didn't move, instead moving closer to Taegahn, nose-to-nose. "I'm afraid the tax just went up. I didn't know you had a smartass in the party. That's extra. 5 gold per. Any other smartasses I need to assess?"
No one spoke. The ogre grunted approval, turning to Gilic. "15 gold, dwarf." He held out a paw of a hand. Gilic counted out the coin and Brug dropped it into a fold of his belt harness. "C'mon Sean and Blake, let's head over to Rother's. I can't take the stink of this place anymore today."
Rendall sighed deeply when the enforcers left, begging the party not to anger Brug and the Mages of Saruun anymore during their visit. After enjoying an ale or two and meeting Rindall's mother, Erra, the party excused themselves to a room in the inn so they could plan out their next move. After much discussion, the adventurers decided to travel through the Dragon's Door to the Chamber of Eyes, the well-known den of the Bloodreavers. After resting and marshaling their resolve, the party set out. Earlier, Queequeg commissioned Rindall to draw up a map leading to the door of the Chamber of Eyes.
Rindall's map proved worthy of the 5 gold it cost. It didn't take the party long to reach an ornate door, a great eye in its center, eye stalks flowing from it like rays of sunshine. Orchid heard guttural voices behind it, expertly picking the lock. Shava noted a balcony fifteen feet up to the left of the door. Queequeg and Gareth stepped up to the door and burst into it, revealing a squad of howling goblin beserkers. From the balcony outside, two bugbears came into viewing, climbing down and flanking the party from behind. The adventurers created to fronts, Queequeg and Gareth plowing into the goblins, while Gilic stepped up to the bugbears. Taegaghn shot through the doors and up a set of stairs into the balcony the bugbears had just vacated, unleashing a barrage of arrows into their backs. Gareth sliced into raging goblins, while Queequeg provide supplementing attacks and healing. Orchid flanked a bugbear effectively, but drew both their ire and paid dearly with a pounding attack. Shava healed her numerous times. Cedric split his attention between both combats, delivering withering area-of-effect attacks to the goblin beserkers. Finally, the last goblin and bugbear fell to the ground dead.
TO BE CONTINUED
Phat Lewt(s):
Belt of Sacrifice
Line(s) of the Night:
"If you break that, I will kill you." - Megan to Jeff, as Jeff taps on a ceiling rafter.
"I want you to take care of it asshole." - Megan to Blake, when Blake asked how he should slide out his chair.
"Hobgoblitar!" - Blake, unintentionally inventing the name of James' next character.
"I'll show you my crotch rocket, bitch." - Simon to Craig, after Craig called Simon's motorcycle a crotch rocket.
"Do you remember that time you were really awesome?" - Sean to Blake.
"Is his name Mr. Wiggles?" - James, asking about Megan's flashlight pig.
"No, Mr. Wiggles takes batteries and hides under the bed." - Craig
Baked Good of the Night:
None. /hunger /sob /cry
Gilic barged into the chamber, holding out a money purse and bellowing, "Aye, I've got 20 gold for your wee slave there. I've need of a good porter and that one will serve nicely." The hobgoblin slavers glanced at each other and then at their two leaders towards the back of the room.
The two robed leaders paused for just a moment before sneering at Gilic. "Who said anything about a slave? You've got the wrong room dwarf. Best take yourself and that mop you call a beard right back out the door you came from before someone gets hurt."
Gilic didn't seem to register either the threat or the insult. "You can't fool me, laddy. I overheard you deciding the fate of this hear slave as my friends and I passed by. You suspect to get 10 gold for the whelp. I offer 20." He held the coin purse higher and shook it back and forth, producing a heavy jingling sound.
The leaders gave each other a knowing look and then murmured low, "20 gold. And a 5 gold processing fee."
"Done." Gilic reached into the purse, deftly withdrew a handful of coins and threw the rest at the nearest hobgoblin. He turned to the halfing and grabbed him roughly by the arm. "Come with me, boy. I've got a pack with your name all over it, I do. You've had a nice vacation with this lot, but fun time is over. High time you did some real work." The hafling began to protest but Gilic shoved him roughly and stifled his complaint. Orchid smiled at him toothily, forcing the halfing to chuckle nervously.
The party took their leave of the room and moved a ways down the passageway before stopping to talk to their new purchase. The hafling introduced himself as Rindall Halfmoon of the Seven Pillar Hall, the son of Erra Halfmoon. Rendall tracked down the hobgoblin slavers to collect on the extensive bar tab they ran at his mother's inn and tavern, the Halfmoon Inn. Grateful for his rescue, Rendall was a veritable fountain of information. He told the party that the Mages of Saruun rule Seven Pillar Hall and much of Thunderspire Labyrinth. The Mages employ Brug, an ogre, as their chief enforcer of law and order in Thunderspire. The Mages outlawed slavery, forcing the Bloodreavers to the outskirts of Thunderspire, a den known as the Chamber of Eyes. Rendall opined that the Mages didn't forbid slavery from moral qualms, but because the Bloodreavers refused to pay a cut of their earnings. Rendall offered to escort the party to the Seven Pillar Hall and the Halfmoon Inn to stay as his guests. The party agreed.
Upon arriving, Rindall gave a full tour the Hall, a massive cavern carved out in the middle of an ancient mountain. Numerous landmarks were pointed out, including a raging river slicing through the middle of the cavern, complete with thundering waterfall; numerous shops and provisioners; a massive 30ft tall minotaur statue with a set of crackling runes at its foot; a Temple of Torm and; a second tavern, Rothar's Tap Room.
Rindall next took the party to his mother's inn, the Halfmoon. Upon entering, the adventurers were greeted to a bustling tavern area, a massive ogre flanked by two human conspicuously sitting at the bar. The ogre thundered to no one in particular for another ale. He caught the party's movement in the corner of his eyes, turned his head slightly to take them in, and then smiled broadly, unleashing a deep, rumbling chuckle as he said, "Newbies."
The ogre turned to fully face the party as his two human guards stepped ominously backwards. A knotted great club leaned against the bar next to him. The ogre continued to grin as he said, "I've naught see this lot in town before. Sean? Blake? You seen rabble here before?"
"No sir. They must just arrived," the two guards said in complete unison.
"Well, we must welcome them to the Seven Pillar Halls. Welcome, rabble!" The ogre paused a moment. A cough from the now subdued tavern crowd broke the silence.
"Welcome, rabble!" the ogre repeated. He continued, not waiting for a response, "As newly arrived, you likely don't know about the entrance tax. We can't be everywhere at once when visitors step into our halls, but since we've stumbled into each other so fortuitously, I'll be collecting the gold per head right now.
He paused again as his grin began to fade. His face quickly hardened as he growled lowly, "That'll be seven gold."
Taegahn suddenly spoke, "I'm surprised you can even count to seven."
With surprising speed, the ogre grabbed hold of his great club as he leaped toward the party. He crammed his face into Taegahn's, his club held high above him. "What was that, elf? I don't think I heard you right."
Behind and out of sight of the ogre, Rindall flapped his arms and shook his head at the party. Taegahn inferred the implied message and squeaked to the ogre, "Uh, nothing sir." Gilic stepped forward and said, "Brug, I presume. 10 gold entrance tax? I have that right here, laddy."
Brug didn't move, instead moving closer to Taegahn, nose-to-nose. "I'm afraid the tax just went up. I didn't know you had a smartass in the party. That's extra. 5 gold per. Any other smartasses I need to assess?"
No one spoke. The ogre grunted approval, turning to Gilic. "15 gold, dwarf." He held out a paw of a hand. Gilic counted out the coin and Brug dropped it into a fold of his belt harness. "C'mon Sean and Blake, let's head over to Rother's. I can't take the stink of this place anymore today."
Rendall sighed deeply when the enforcers left, begging the party not to anger Brug and the Mages of Saruun anymore during their visit. After enjoying an ale or two and meeting Rindall's mother, Erra, the party excused themselves to a room in the inn so they could plan out their next move. After much discussion, the adventurers decided to travel through the Dragon's Door to the Chamber of Eyes, the well-known den of the Bloodreavers. After resting and marshaling their resolve, the party set out. Earlier, Queequeg commissioned Rindall to draw up a map leading to the door of the Chamber of Eyes.
Rindall's map proved worthy of the 5 gold it cost. It didn't take the party long to reach an ornate door, a great eye in its center, eye stalks flowing from it like rays of sunshine. Orchid heard guttural voices behind it, expertly picking the lock. Shava noted a balcony fifteen feet up to the left of the door. Queequeg and Gareth stepped up to the door and burst into it, revealing a squad of howling goblin beserkers. From the balcony outside, two bugbears came into viewing, climbing down and flanking the party from behind. The adventurers created to fronts, Queequeg and Gareth plowing into the goblins, while Gilic stepped up to the bugbears. Taegaghn shot through the doors and up a set of stairs into the balcony the bugbears had just vacated, unleashing a barrage of arrows into their backs. Gareth sliced into raging goblins, while Queequeg provide supplementing attacks and healing. Orchid flanked a bugbear effectively, but drew both their ire and paid dearly with a pounding attack. Shava healed her numerous times. Cedric split his attention between both combats, delivering withering area-of-effect attacks to the goblin beserkers. Finally, the last goblin and bugbear fell to the ground dead.
TO BE CONTINUED
Phat Lewt(s):
Belt of Sacrifice
Line(s) of the Night:
"If you break that, I will kill you." - Megan to Jeff, as Jeff taps on a ceiling rafter.
"I want you to take care of it asshole." - Megan to Blake, when Blake asked how he should slide out his chair.
"Hobgoblitar!" - Blake, unintentionally inventing the name of James' next character.
"I'll show you my crotch rocket, bitch." - Simon to Craig, after Craig called Simon's motorcycle a crotch rocket.
"Do you remember that time you were really awesome?" - Sean to Blake.
"Is his name Mr. Wiggles?" - James, asking about Megan's flashlight pig.
"No, Mr. Wiggles takes batteries and hides under the bed." - Craig
Baked Good of the Night:
None. /hunger /sob /cry
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Owlbears and Entrails
Summary:
The party finished outfitting themselves in preparation for the days journey to Thunderspire Labyrinth. They set out early in the morning on horseback, establishing a brisk but vigilant pace. In the middle of the afternoon of the first day, the adventurers came upon deep furrows parallel and perpendicular to the well-traveled road. Suspicious, they dismounted. After tying off the horses a safe distance away, Gareth approached a furrow. Suddenly, the ground shook violently. The nearby horses rose up in fear and the adventurers lurched back and forth trying to keep their balance. Some fell flat while a few maintained a precarious, upright stance.
At the very back of the line, Cedric fell flat on his back. Staring up into the blue afternoon sky, the tremoring rippled nearby him. A bullette exploded from the ground in front of Cedric and attacked the hapless wizard. The rest of the party closed in, forming a circle around the heavily armored beast. Orchid tumbled behind the bulette, distracting it enough to deal devastating damage to its softer underbelly. Gareth and Gilic formed a solid front, supplemented by Queequeg, while Taegahn and Shava fired from range. Cedric managed to disengage from range and rain icy cold upon the butette, damaging and immoblizing it. As many blows bounced off the creature's thick hide as actually landed, but eventually the bulette was vanquished.
That very night, in the throes of deep sleep, a mating pair of owlbears struck the slumbering camp. Gareth was immediately grabbed by the first monstrosity. Shava too fell victim to the second owlbear's attack. Both adventurers shouted out for help as their flesh was rend and their bones snapped. Shava nearly perished but for some careful healing on the part of Cedric, Gilic, and Queequeg. Taegahn fired nearly point blank into the owlbear grabbing Shava, separating the foul-smelling ursine from his gravely wounded sister.
At this point, Taegahn turned to Queequeg and said, "My friend Queequeg, I just noticed you're wearing hide armor now."
Queequeg swung and missed an owlbear just as it was sinking its clicking beak into the head of a screaming Gareth. "Indeed, Taegahan. I donned chain earlier in our adventures, but Gilic pointed out that the heavy nature of that --ACK! IT HAS YOUR ENTIRE HEAD IN ITS MAW, GARETH! ITS ABOUT TO EXPLODE LIKE A MELON! DIE, BEAR-THING, DIE!
Taegahn unleashed a flurry of arrows and said, "You were saying, the heavy nature of . . . "
Queequeg helped pry Gareth's head out of the owlbear's snapping beak. "Yes, quite right. Gilic pointed out that the heavy nature of chain mail unnaturally inhibited my innate tactical abilities. Though not nearly as tough, hide armor grants me better tactical maneuverability. I was reluctant at first but -- BY THE JUSTICE OF TORM, GARETH! YOUR GUTS LIE STREWN ALL OVER. AHHHHH! DON'T STEP ON THAT! HE MUST NEED THAT TO LIVE!
Taegahn calmly unleashed another volley of steel-tipped wood. "Interesting. Well, my dragonborn friend, it just so happens I wear a set of hide bloodcut armor. It's served me well so far, but is truly better suited for a melee type. Such as yourself. Afterwards, I would most like to trade armor with you, if you would be so inclined."
Holding Gareth's kidney in one hand, dripping sword in the other, Queequeg paused to look over at Taegahn. "Why my dear Taegahn, how extraordinarily generous of you my friend. Yes! I accept your generous offer."
Suddenly, the owlbears raised their beaks to the sky and shrieked a piercing cry, interrupting Queequeg and Taegahn's conversation and temporarily stunning Gilic and Shava. The rest of the party shook off the haunting cry and continued attacking the beasts. The monsters finally realized they were over matched and fled off into the woods. The next morning, the party tracked them to their lair. Badly wounded, the party finished off the adults and killed the younglings for good measure. Gilic donned a magical helmet found in the owlbear's nest.
The next day, the party entered the Storm Horn Mountains. Ominous dark clouds hovered overhead as the adventurers traversed narrowing mountain passes. Side trails splintered off in all directions, sometimes leading in entirely new directions, other times winding back. The main path led to a door in the side of the mountain. The party stepped through into a hallway of masonry and torchlight. The traveled some distance before they heard voices. They heard a guttural humanoid say loudly, "We could get five gold for this halfing, we could."
A smaller voice responded, "My good friend, I assure you I'm worth not even the clothes on my back. If I could just see my way past you and be on my way, I'd be in your debt."
The other laughed sharply, "I don't think so."
Gilic whispered, "Aye, I've got an idea. Let's enter the room, posing as the mercenary band were meant to be. We'll offer to buy the haflin' for ten gold, double that bloke's offer. If he agrees, the haflin' might have something interesting to tell us. If he doesn't, we might have something interesting to show them slavers."
TO BE CONTINUED
Line(s) of the Night:
"That's important, give it back!" - Jeff, referring to the guts that a hungry owlbear just ripped out of him.
"Hey, way to spit all over your character sheet." - Craig, commenting on Blake slobbering over everything in front of him.
"Nothing came out of my nose yet!" - Craig noticing that Diet Coke wasn't spraying out of his nostrils while he laughed.
Baked Good of the Night:
Megan's molasses cookies. Yummy!
The party finished outfitting themselves in preparation for the days journey to Thunderspire Labyrinth. They set out early in the morning on horseback, establishing a brisk but vigilant pace. In the middle of the afternoon of the first day, the adventurers came upon deep furrows parallel and perpendicular to the well-traveled road. Suspicious, they dismounted. After tying off the horses a safe distance away, Gareth approached a furrow. Suddenly, the ground shook violently. The nearby horses rose up in fear and the adventurers lurched back and forth trying to keep their balance. Some fell flat while a few maintained a precarious, upright stance.
At the very back of the line, Cedric fell flat on his back. Staring up into the blue afternoon sky, the tremoring rippled nearby him. A bullette exploded from the ground in front of Cedric and attacked the hapless wizard. The rest of the party closed in, forming a circle around the heavily armored beast. Orchid tumbled behind the bulette, distracting it enough to deal devastating damage to its softer underbelly. Gareth and Gilic formed a solid front, supplemented by Queequeg, while Taegahn and Shava fired from range. Cedric managed to disengage from range and rain icy cold upon the butette, damaging and immoblizing it. As many blows bounced off the creature's thick hide as actually landed, but eventually the bulette was vanquished.
That very night, in the throes of deep sleep, a mating pair of owlbears struck the slumbering camp. Gareth was immediately grabbed by the first monstrosity. Shava too fell victim to the second owlbear's attack. Both adventurers shouted out for help as their flesh was rend and their bones snapped. Shava nearly perished but for some careful healing on the part of Cedric, Gilic, and Queequeg. Taegahn fired nearly point blank into the owlbear grabbing Shava, separating the foul-smelling ursine from his gravely wounded sister.
At this point, Taegahn turned to Queequeg and said, "My friend Queequeg, I just noticed you're wearing hide armor now."
Queequeg swung and missed an owlbear just as it was sinking its clicking beak into the head of a screaming Gareth. "Indeed, Taegahan. I donned chain earlier in our adventures, but Gilic pointed out that the heavy nature of that --ACK! IT HAS YOUR ENTIRE HEAD IN ITS MAW, GARETH! ITS ABOUT TO EXPLODE LIKE A MELON! DIE, BEAR-THING, DIE!
Taegahn unleashed a flurry of arrows and said, "You were saying, the heavy nature of . . . "
Queequeg helped pry Gareth's head out of the owlbear's snapping beak. "Yes, quite right. Gilic pointed out that the heavy nature of chain mail unnaturally inhibited my innate tactical abilities. Though not nearly as tough, hide armor grants me better tactical maneuverability. I was reluctant at first but -- BY THE JUSTICE OF TORM, GARETH! YOUR GUTS LIE STREWN ALL OVER. AHHHHH! DON'T STEP ON THAT! HE MUST NEED THAT TO LIVE!
Taegahn calmly unleashed another volley of steel-tipped wood. "Interesting. Well, my dragonborn friend, it just so happens I wear a set of hide bloodcut armor. It's served me well so far, but is truly better suited for a melee type. Such as yourself. Afterwards, I would most like to trade armor with you, if you would be so inclined."
Holding Gareth's kidney in one hand, dripping sword in the other, Queequeg paused to look over at Taegahn. "Why my dear Taegahn, how extraordinarily generous of you my friend. Yes! I accept your generous offer."
Suddenly, the owlbears raised their beaks to the sky and shrieked a piercing cry, interrupting Queequeg and Taegahn's conversation and temporarily stunning Gilic and Shava. The rest of the party shook off the haunting cry and continued attacking the beasts. The monsters finally realized they were over matched and fled off into the woods. The next morning, the party tracked them to their lair. Badly wounded, the party finished off the adults and killed the younglings for good measure. Gilic donned a magical helmet found in the owlbear's nest.
The next day, the party entered the Storm Horn Mountains. Ominous dark clouds hovered overhead as the adventurers traversed narrowing mountain passes. Side trails splintered off in all directions, sometimes leading in entirely new directions, other times winding back. The main path led to a door in the side of the mountain. The party stepped through into a hallway of masonry and torchlight. The traveled some distance before they heard voices. They heard a guttural humanoid say loudly, "We could get five gold for this halfing, we could."
A smaller voice responded, "My good friend, I assure you I'm worth not even the clothes on my back. If I could just see my way past you and be on my way, I'd be in your debt."
The other laughed sharply, "I don't think so."
Gilic whispered, "Aye, I've got an idea. Let's enter the room, posing as the mercenary band were meant to be. We'll offer to buy the haflin' for ten gold, double that bloke's offer. If he agrees, the haflin' might have something interesting to tell us. If he doesn't, we might have something interesting to show them slavers."
TO BE CONTINUED
Line(s) of the Night:
"That's important, give it back!" - Jeff, referring to the guts that a hungry owlbear just ripped out of him.
"Hey, way to spit all over your character sheet." - Craig, commenting on Blake slobbering over everything in front of him.
"Nothing came out of my nose yet!" - Craig noticing that Diet Coke wasn't spraying out of his nostrils while he laughed.
Baked Good of the Night:
Megan's molasses cookies. Yummy!
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