This is the tale of another group going through the RTEE mega-adventure. The following might contain a few spoilers, so use your own judgment as to whether you read on...
*
Long weekend afforded us the chance of a “double-header”. Unfortunately, it started to blur together, and I’m not really sure where the break was.
*
****Spoiler Space****
*
Session 3 + 4
- - - - - - -
Last session, the party had just defeated Geynor Ton and the gnoll captain Garrik. Having been uncertain about the contents of the room beyond, they contemplated waiting until the Obscuring Mists cast by Ysslansh had dissipated. Strange squeaks from the mists compelled them to move on. Knowing that there was excavation going on (thanks to Spugnoir), they split up and picked their way along the sides. Eventually, they came to the northwest corner and discovered the statue. They studied it for a bit, not sure what to make of it. When they had finished, the mists had gone away, revealing the pit in the center of the chamber. After a bit of flailing, they managed to grab the rope hanging in the center of the pit, and pulled it up.
*
They made their way down into the darkness, being exceptionally vigilant, trying to figure out where the troglodyte went. As the platform came to rest on top of the spire, the grell in the chamber made its move, attempting to grab hold of Jenna. Perhaps it was their vigilance on the way down, maybe it was heroes luck, but they managed to decimate the beast quickly. Again they began looking for the troglodyte. Deciding that he must have gone down, though they weren’t sure how, they made for the other platform. Again, paranoia paid off as they noticed that the veins in the stone obelisk were following them.
*
On the cave bottom, they set out, searching for Ysslansh. It didn’t take long for them to spot him, hiding amongst several large rocks. A few arrows from the party quickly fell the cleric. While the party was distracted, Festrath, also hiding in the cave, took the opportunity to mount his assault. While his offensive was well conceived, it didn’t take long for him to succumb to the party as well. A brief search of the chamber later, and they were on the way back up and out. After a brief skirmish with the remaining gnoll guards, the party decided it was a good time to stop and rest.
*
In the morning, they set about to root out the remainder of the cult from the moathouse. They had a brief, rather one-sided, battle with the ghouls in the crypts before managing to set off the portcullis trap. A few hours were spent trying to find a way out. In the process, Jenna decided that perhaps they should investigate the spire below further. Remembering something from Geynor’s journal, they began some experimentation. Igniting a cone of incense in the torch they found earlier, they began looking around. Being rather curious, Jenna climbed the pillar, and noticed a peculiarity in the obelisk. Throwing caution to the wind, she touched the stone and vanished!. Panic gripped the party. Gefton, on the ladder below her, caught the falling torch and yelled to the others in the party. He then climbed up to see what she might have done. Setting the torch on the top of the pillar, he reached out an touched a strange gem at the point of the obelisk. He, too, vanished. Serena, hoping to figure out how to release her friends tried touching the stone while not touching the torch. Much to her chagrin, she too vanished. This left Torgga, Charmaine, and Spugnoir in the cavern. None of the three were willing to touch the spire, though they were in no hurry to desert their friends.
*
Elsewhere, the three each ended up in a strange room of purple-veined black stone. An ominous voice speaks, giving them direction before offering a blessing in the form of fruit. Serena stands her moral ground, refusing to accept the blessing of the Dark God, while Gefton and Jenna don’t seem to hesitate.
*
Torgga was about to head back up the spire when her friends returned. They discussed their experiences, not quite sure what to make of it yet. Not sure what else could be accomplished here, they gather up their things, including the torch, and head up. Another hour is spent looking for a way out, before they discover a secret door in the crypt. Following the cramped passage to its exit, they emerge not very far from where they entered the dungeons. They quickly pack up and head back to Hommlet.
*
Their first stop was the Inn of the Welcome Wench, trying to find Elmo, the town constable. They meet with him, showing him the journal and the references to Hommlet. He is duly concerned and asks them to accompany him, to save him the time of rounding up the militia. They agree, as does Spugnoir. Elmo says he will be right back, and they will leave once he returns. He’s gone a few minutes and returns with Jaroo, the druid.
*
A quick hike brings them to the mill, where they confront the two workers in the main room. When Elmo questioned them about strangers staying there, they quickly reveal that the mill owner had allowed some friends to stay in the cellar. Thinking that there wouldn’t be much resistance, Elmo asked the party to keep an eye on anyone in the cellar while he and Jaroo checked the back room. The group agreed, and they split up, Spugnoir going with Elmo.
*
When the party got to the bottom of the stairs, they were promptly attacked by the cult in the cellar. Charmaine fired an arrow at Toridan, striking him solidly in the chest. Toridan rushed up, slashing Charmaine with his axe. Master Dunrat, the leader of the cult, cast Rage on Grune before sending him forward to attack. Chenashi and Vacra worked their spells trying to weaken the party, while Toridan and Grune pressed the attack. The battle was lively, but the heroes quickly overpowered the evil cult members. When it was over, they noticed that Elmo had not yet joined them. Puzzled and somewhat concerned, they went upstairs to see what was going on.
*
They found Elmo standing over the corpse of a strange humanoid creature, his axe covered in blood, and Spugnoir looking somewhat the worse for wear favoring a nasty welt on his head. The pair explained that the body was that of Jaroo, or rather a doppelganger that had taken his place. When they had come into the back room, the doppelganger clobbered Spugnoir from behind, dazing him, then it attempted to overpower Elmo. It had caught Elmo by surprise, but had not struck well enough to subdue him. He managed to catch it with his axe, but the beast would not let up enough for Elmo to regain his balance. Fortunately, Spugnoir’s head cleared just enough for him to be able to cast his one remaining spell, a Magic Missile. That staggered the beast, letting Elmo get in a killing blow.
*
With the appreciation of Spugnoir and Elmo, the group retired to the Inn for the evening. Since it was still relatively early, Jenna used an identify spell on several of the magical items that they had found. In the morning, the rest of the group sold off a few of the mundane items from their loot, while managing to scrounge two more pearls for Jenna. A visit to Spugnoir allowed them to get all of their potions identified (at cost). Two more identifies later that day gave them the information on all of the magic items they had found. With only a few of their more expensive pieces of loot left to sell off, the decided to make a day trip to Verbobonc for a visit to the market. Aside from a few incidentals, the only purchase was a fighting dog that Charmaine bought.
*
On their return to Hommlet, the plan for the next day was to do some further exploration at the moathouse, Spugnoir had mentioned horrible beasts that had taken up residence in another set of tunnels, then make their way to Nulb and the Temple of Elemental Evil.
*
Chris Dial
0 comments:
Post a Comment