Session 7 – A-mazing Undead…

After the last mass battle with one giant blue jelly critter, and having a chance to walk round without running up against another lethal set of beasties, we decided to leave the nest of bugs in the Hive to another day.

Looking on the map, we only had the two areas to check – The hive (Which is a dead end), and through the dusty doors in the main living area of this level.

No noise could be heard behind the door, and a smell of decay could be detected coming from behind the large iron doors.

The door was locked with 2 large padlocks, and after a few clicks and twists, I, the locksmith general had them off (and packed away in my backpack).

The bar was removed, and using some rope, we pulled the door open, to see within, a set of darkened stairs disappearing downwards into the dark, musty air.

With a lantern lit, we set off down into the gloom. At the bottom of the stairs, a 10-foot wide passage set off, entering into a small maze with various corridors leading off, with 3 areas of the floor, carved with a motif.

The motif is 10 foot across, with 3 blade like patterns joining in the middle, and 3 symbols in between the blades – A palm, 2 crossed arrows, and a never-ending 8 strip. The carving felt magical, so we decided to avoid crossing it.

Of the parts we could see, the rest of the maze was empty – One corridor disappears off behind a rune, and couldn’t be checked.

The other side of the maze, we found an empty room, and then in a second chamber, we found 7 figures standing upright.

Each figure was a desiccated, rotting skeletal figure. They looked very old, with the 2 furthest away looking the newest of the 7.

Quiros, using a Mage Hand spell, used a torch, and set fire to one, but it didn’t burn that well. So, he rammed the burning torch into the thing’s face, and it turned it’s head, and started to moan. The other creatures in the room did the same, and they all started to lurch across the room towards us – apart from the 2 on the other side of the room.

I ripped the head off one with a throwing star, and Thorin the ranger eldritch blasts another one to bits, as they shamble forward, into the Paladin Heskaar. Quiros Ices a third, as the zombies continue to drop.

Rhogan lance of Faith’s the fourth zombie, and Heskaar then swipes out the 5th creature, leaving the 2 better conditioned ones, standing at the back.

After the paladin falls to the 2 zombies swiping back at him, ripping him up, I – the super scout, jumps in and with a perfect stance, cleaves one zombie in two, with a single slice.

Thorin then attacks, and then backs off. Quiros then chill touches the last remaining zombie, and Rhogan Healing strikes it to death!

We search the room, and find nothing, and in the next room we can see 4 vertical sarcophagi – we decide to back off and tend our injuries.

We leave the maze, and move back upstairs, and take a full rest – ready for the next test.

Held on 11th Oct 2008 at 09.45 hours, at K-I-A library.

In Attendance: Barry, Mark, Dave, Richard, Andy, Iain Apologies: Che

1] Age of Membership: I raised the point of age of club members. Under 12’s are currently not permitted to be members. There are no restrictions on under 12’s from a GCN or insurance point of view. D and M suggest that if under 12’s are accompanied by a parent or guardian during their attendance at the club, this is acceptable. All the committee present agreed that the rules on membership should be amended.

2] Table booking: M reported that the online table booking system is now in operation, in an effort to encourage use of the website. The suggested use is booking 3 tables each for 3 two hour slots and leaving 1 table free. M suggested that tables should be booked for specific games and the committee agreed. The booking system will continue until the new year, when it will be reviewed.

3] Roleplaying on the landing: In order to control noise levels, all roleplaying sessions on the landing should be supervised by a committee member. On the possibility of extra roleplaying sessions in the library, D said he would discuss with C this issue further.

4] Membership liaison: B suggested that members of the club could be appointed to liaise between the membership and the committee. Suggested candidates are Anthony and Jacob. I and A will approach them to discuss the subject.

5] Club funds: M suggested ideas for funding from any member of the club would be welcome. Suggestions included hiring of an outside venue for special events. The committee decided that no more terrain is currently required as there is still unpainted/unassembled material.

6] Regularity of club meetings: M suggested more regular committee meetings, possibly every 2 months. The committee agreed this would facilitate planning of events.

7] Painting competitions: A list of entrants will be drawn up so interested members can be reminded . A reminder will be given at the meeting and I and A will be responsible for drawing up the lists for the Warhammer 40K and Warhammer competitions respectively.

8] Range of games: The committee discussed whether non Games Workshop games need to be further promoted (i.e. set a table aside specifically for non-GW games). The committee decided that a good range of games has been introduced into the club and continues to be the case, so no game should be given precedence when booking tables.

9] Sutton Games Club: B reported the Sutton-in-Ashfield Games Club is up and running and the club should consider planning inter-club events.
10] Club Identity: M suggested that the club needs a specific identity and committee members need to be identifiable to new members. The first step should be to design a logo and the design should be thrown up to the membership. An announcement to this effect will be made at the next meeting.

11] Charity event: A suggestion was made that the club should organise an event for Children in Need. However, after discussion, the committee decided there was not enough time this year to follow up the suggestion. However, such an event will be considered for next year. However, R will investigate whether the library is organising an event this year which the club could donate to.

12] Next meeting: The next meeting will be provisionally scheduled for 22nd November at 9.15am.

Into the Deep blue…

After the mad rush of violence from the last fight of rats and the Red Jelly, the group heads towards the snake-like musk smell.

The cavern we found was riddled through with burrows in the wall, and a couple of pit traps – one which had 2 victims – a goblin, and a strange multi-legged lizard like bug – the same size of a pony – but with spiky feet, and nasty mandible mouth parts.

Thinking on my schooling, I identified they critters as Kruthiks – nasty hive creatures.

On remembering this, the group began to hear a nose from within the burrows, and we could see movement. They hunt in packs, removing treasure back to their hive. If we are lucky, we could find a king’s treasure.

As Quiros casts a light down the burrow, the hive noise increased, but nothing appeared in the cavern. Having tried noise and light, I sneaked around the tunnel, and Identified a vast pile of treasure, but a giant critter guarding it, along with more of the pony sized monsters running around.

We decide to leave this hive till later – there doesn’t seem to be anywhere else down here to explore, so we can always come back later to claim our rewards. We will return with oil and torches.

In the meantime, we fall back to the slime covered doors, and start to investigate.

Kurt removes the slime from around the door, and we begin to hear water noises from within.

I push open the doors to find a set of fungus covered stairs leading down to a slimy pool, and a island with bones and bits of metal over it’s surface.

Kurt throws a stone into the water and a dead giant rat, but nothing appears from the depths.

Pinching two planks from the mined area, we use them to cross over to the island, and with no volunteers, I bravely run over to the island.

Ripples appear in the water, as a large blob of blue jelly rushes out of the water to attack me, with a foul stench, overpowering me and Heskaar.

As the party throw in attacks at the great giant jelly, I teleport out of harms way, before recovering from the stench.

With the creature throwing out blasts of acid, and slamming into party members, more ranged attacks are thrown in, but nothing seems to harm the creature.

As the monster moves to the doorway, cutting off Quiros and Heskaar from an escape route, I start throwing in ranged attacks.

With another blast of acid, Kurt falls down, and when Heskaar cuts the creature in two, finally killing it, another blast of acid finally kills Kurt.

With us all injured, and Kurt dead, the party closed the slimy Bronze door, and we all rest.

Jelly and I scream….

With the dead of Erik, it was a somber group who checked out the rest of the

mined area.

Hidden behind one pile of waste we found a prisoner of the Goblins - A Dragon

born - tied up and gagged, and beaten by his cruel guards.

Heskaar, a Paladin of Bahamat, was happy to join our little group in clearing

out the evil in this ruin.

After a quick rest, we moved to check out the grotto area of the complex.

Breaking a Sunrod, I looked down the tunnel, into a natural cavern, dropping

15′ foot, into a rough natural cavern, full of giant rats and Stalagtites amd

Stalagmites.

More natural rock closed off passages from sight, as the giant rats stared out

at the party as we moved further into the area.

Further in, a large set of doors, covered with mould and rust, seemingly

unopened in years, had words scratched into the green slimy covering, saying

‘Stay out… Really’. The writing was in common, and roughtly done.

Deciding to leave that door for the time being, we headed back into the main

cavern area, and decided to work our way through one of the cut off tunnels -

packed with rocky spurs.

More Rats seemed to appear, their beedy eyes beaming out of the dark with a

evil reddy hue.

With Quiros casting a light into the area, the rats shrunk back from the glare,

and didn’t attack as I pushed my way past, until I could see a second cavern

behind the first.

But this one wasn’t empty.

A large blob of red, like a beached jellyfish, floated in the room, and on

’seeing’ me, it came pulsating into the party, as the Rats all started their

attacks - running in from other areas. As a scout, and a important member of the party, I decided a complete fallback to better ground was advisable, so I teleported to the back of the party - Scouting the rear of the group really!

The fight was close quarters,a nd brutal, with the big jelly creature ripping

into the party. Heskaar the Paladin stepped forward to meet the Jelly creature,

and was rewarded with a acid coated slam from the blob, burning flesh, and

destroying clothes.

The thing was massive, with arrows disappearing into it’s massive body, with no

affect, and only Quiros able to slow the creature with Chill touch attacks.

Heskaar strikes the creature with a mighty blow, and suddenly the the creature

split into two seperate blobs, and carried on pounding the party.

The fight continued, with Rhogan dropping with the acid burns mounting up on

his body. Dragged to one side, and healed, I stepped over Rhogan to protect him

from more attacks, as the battering continued.

Soon, I dropped from the attacks, over the CLeric and the Paladin.

Kurt side steps the blob, and manages to first aid Rhogan, who was seconds from

death.

At this time, only Quiros and Kurt were still up, as Kurt finally beats of the

two remaining blobs.

We all quicky rested, trying to heal our wounds.

Later, we searched the blob’s area, and found nothing, so following a long

tunnel further in the grotto, I sneaked off into the darkness, and started to

smell a snakelike musk.

I quickly returned to the group, and we got ready to move onwards.

The Hounds of Hell…

Or what not to get a Dwarf as a surprise gift!

The group falls back to the entrance hall, and some of the heroes swap places, before heading back towards the room where I found the bell, and the 2 Goblin Guards.

Now, we have left Rhogan and Kurt back at the entrance hall, and the rest of the party moved on with the Dwarf battler – Erik, looking for trouble.

The four of us - Erik, Quiros, Thorin, and myself (Arannis), moved through the double doors, and headed up the long corridor, back in the room with the table, and the two curtains hiding 2 more corridors leading further on.

It was deathly quiet, and so, me being the scout, I ‘scouted’ the way forward, looking through the curtains, and seeing that the 2 Goblin guards were hiding around the corner.

3 doors could be seen – 1 double set at the far end (Where the goblins were hiding), and then 1 single door down each of the corridors.

Keeping a careful watch down a corridor for movement, I took up a position to stare down the left corridor, whilst Erik checked the right corridor.

Quiros then created a ghostly noise against a wall in the Left corridor. Seemingly before the noise ended, out popped the Goblin from around the corner, and the side door was ripped open as 5 more goblins rushed out to attack.

As they started to argue and yell, as no targets could be seen, I Barrage blasted all 6, killing 3, and blinding 2, before Thorin ran in to do battle at my side, with Quiros offering ranged support.

As this kicked off, 5 more Goblins poured out of the other door, joining with the goblin further back, to swap Erik the dwarf.

Soon, Erik was chopping goblins down left and right, and yelling for more blood. This seems to have been the reason why the back double doors opened up, and a giant fat Goblin came bouncing out to attack the dwarf, yelling ‘Balron the fat’, as all the other Goblins yelled the same.

Yet more goblins appear at the back of the room, throwing Javelins and chucking bolts, as both fights continue.

Quiros takes down the fat Goblin, as the dwarf finishes off his last target.

Meanwhile, I’m doing fantastic, until the goblins target me, and I go down under a hail (Must have been 15 javelins hitting me at the same time) of thrown weapons. More goblins throw stuff at the other heroes, as I stop bleeding, after being bandaged up by Thorin. The rest of the party finish of the goblins, and after a short rest, we move on.

The side rooms are scabby barracks, with some crates stored in a corner.

The main double doors lead into another barracks, and a side room curtained off, that must have belonged to the fat goblin leader.

It’s in a chest, in this side room, where I make the biggest find so far – a magic stick (Or wand as the wizard would have me call it – supposedly, it helps him through his magic better, and with more damage), and over 500gp of coins.

Quiros gets the wand, and then we locked up the room, and took an extended rest, ready for the next day of fighting.

The rest time was quiet, and we soon made our way back to the main entrance, and then upwards to the top door, and the beastly sounds coming from within – perhaps it’s female Goblins singing?

Sneaking up to the door, I could hear 3 Goblins with raised voices, arguing about something.

Looking under the door, I could see that the corridor moves off down a short flight of stairs, in to the darkness.

The group all hides behind a turning, as Quiros opens the door, using door opening magic (What is it? You say – don’t ask me, I’m not a mage – he just mumbled something and waved his hands!), and we all looked in.

The corridor moved off a fair way, with a opening to the right, leading into some grotto/cavern, and the main corridor running on, before opening up into a large cavernous hall, where goblins were digging out the walls, and the floor falls 10 foot down, where the mining has dug away rock.

Standing on small blocks of the remaining floor, are 3 Goblins, all armed with Crossbows. We strike them at range, and after a couple of hits, we hear a growling noise as 2 large lizard dog things run up a ramp, and attack the Dwarf – we was not pleased. I was just thankful he was in the way – they were massive, covered in scales, and giant team – nasty!

Thorin gets ripped up by one such doglike critter, as more bolts are rained in. After what seems like ages, the 2 dogs are dropped to the floor, but the crossbow goblins shoot Erik, and he drops to the floor, bleeding to death.

I teleport behind the Goblins, as they run up the ramp to attack us with hand weapons.

Thorin charges in, as Quiros launches a Cloud of Daggers, and I strike from behind. More bolts are fired off, and Quiros drops from such attacks, leaving Thorin and myself against 3 goblins.

I nail one through the guts, as I run up the ramp, to take on another Goblin, but Thorin fell leaving 3 heroes down, and 2 goblins to face me.

Suddenly, Quiros jumps up, pulling strength from nowhere, before firing another Cloud of daggers into the goblins, killing one more.

The final Goblin attacks me, but using my Riposte attack, he soon backs off to try to take me down with crossbow bolts, but a couple of attacks later, and he drops.

We suddenly run to try to save the 2 fallen heroes, but Erik has died – his wounds were too bad to treat.

We quickly search the area, and find a little more gold, and a holy symbol of Bahamut – I pack it all away.

This looks like a dead end, so, with the dead body of Erik wrapped up, we have the Cavern turning top check out, and the dusty doors back in the main area, to check.

Hopefully, Erik will be the last of us to fall for some time.

For whom the bell tolls…

Morning arrived, with the storm still thundering away outside. Luckily, the group had not been disturbed all night, but movement has been heard down dark corridors, as the Goblins moved away into more defendable positions – or was it to launch an attack to wipe us out?

As I thought may happen, the Goblins feared my martial prowess, and under my watchful eye, left the party alone. My fame is starting to spread – even the dull as dishwater inhabitants of a mountain ruin are beginning to fear my approach – either that or we were very lucky!

Checking out the 3 corridors leading from the room, and not wanting to be jumped from behind, some of the party stayed in the entrance room, keeping watch, and holding the way out if we needed to run.

The rest of us – I leading the way as normal, and quietly, followed by a very noisy Rhogan, Quiros and Thorin, sneaked off toward the left most corridor, to continue the mapping of the place, and discover our fortune and fame. With a lantern glowing for the party, I skipped in and out of the edge of the light, checking the way.

This passage ended in a door – iron bound and solid, with the noises of Goblins and beasts skulking behind it, and a curtained corridor off to one side. We then moved off, through a black curtain, and into a storage room, filled with crates – all with human lettering on the wood. This would have been the stores that the Goblins had been stealing.

The next room was empty as well – this one was a barracks, with more ways leading off – one back to the main entrance, and a double set of doors, covered in dust, and seemingly not approached by the goblins.

We then returned to the entrance room for a rest, and then set off on the last passage to investigate, the last passage.

————————————————————–

This led to a 3 door room – one set of double doors – like the first, but without the dust, and looking through a gap, a passageway stretches off for 50 paces.

A single door was quickly opened, to discover a small store room – with more crates like the first storeroom, but this one also had bloody hemp sacks on the floor – the smell was something else – one could have described it as having the feel of a Dwarvish butcher – but that would be kind to the room! The bags contained body parts – so mangled as that you couldn’t identify the whole body. We quickly left, closing the door to hold back the rotting stench.

The last door to check was another single door, but with the noise of goblins behind it.

It was at this time I had a rush of blood to the head, and before I could stop myself, I opened the door.

The room was very large, with torture equipment and a real life torturer dressed in hide armour and a leather mask! He was working on a Goblin on a rack, as 3 other goblins looked on.

Quiros launched a Cloud of Daggers at the main group, Rhogan cast a magical Lance at the leader, and then they shot me!

Down I went – annoyed at the damage my overcoat had been hit with, and started to bleed to death. My fame has seemed to have spread a little too quickly – I seem to be targeted wherever I go!

With the fight around the door, Rhogan healed me to wakefulness, as the Torturer ran through the door, with his Hide armour glowing with a magical glow, as our party hit him again and again, but the attacks just bouncing off.

And then the armour stopped glowing as we moved further away from the doorway, and the Goblin bolts. As the Goblin Torturer chased us, away from the safety of the door, his fellow goblins slammed the door shut behind him, and we soon finished him off.

The Hide armour was special – Quiros agreed immediately with all our thoughts, and so we decided that the armour should go to the person it would help the most – Thorin took the armour (Sadly, the leather face mask wasn’t part of the armour) – magical armour called Bloodcut armour, and then after a quick rest, we pressed on.

The Goblins had meantime, covered the door with an Iron Maiden. After a couple of shoves, Rhogan and myself forced our way in, with bolts firing at Rhogan.

I led the attack again, this time with my most potent attack – the Blinding Barrage – many shurikans covered the 3 goblins, dropping 2, and injuring a 3rd, whilst a Spearman ran in.

A little time later, all the goblins were dead, and we started the search of the cells, along a long corridor.

All the rooms were empty, apart from the goblin that had been on the rack. The little rat only spoke a few words, and they all seemed to be annoying – ‘Don’t hurt us’, and ‘Splog’ which we though may be its name.

We left it in the cell and moved on.

————————————————————–

The double doors with the long passage behind were next to open. Leaving the rest of the party, I quickly sneaked down, to scout the area, and located another large room, 2 large curtains hiding part of the furthest wall, with a table of food, 2 Goblin guards, and a warning bell.

The bell must be to warn whatever was behind the curtains. We couldn’t let them raise the alarm, so sneaking ever closer, I nipped in, snatched the bell, and ran back down the corridor to my friends, waiting to ambush the guards.

But something is not right here – normally, goblins outnumbering a target 2 to 1 in their own place, would have chased me – it’s a idiot thing to do – just like a Goblin, but these sneaked off to report the occurrence, and holed up behind the curtains.

I took a quick look around the curtains, and could see more doors, and the goblin guards hiding behind a wall.

At this, we backed off to plan the attack – lets hope my opening gambit isn’t blasted with 2 bolts like last time!

The way forward seems to offer a few battles – We have -

The Goblins hiding behind the bell room
The Goblins and beasts just off the main entrance, and
The dusty double doors that even the goblins fear to go near.

It seems as if the next battle with be the goblins near the bell room. I wonder for what the bell will attract when it’s rung?

Thoughts from the dark…

Whilst the group made camp, and watches were set, a hasty meal was consumed.

While worried eyes peered down the corridors, and ears strained for noises that would make the heart race in fear, the camp became quiet, as all work was completed, armour cleaned, and swords sharpened.

It was in the dark of the evening, while idle hands fiddled with buckles, and nervous toes rattles in their boots, that the mind starts to work overtime…

The camp guards had something to do - walk around, looking in the dark corners of the room, or even poking their head outside in the cool air - the rest of the group had nothing but sleep to wrestle with.

I was loosing the battle - whilst I do not sleep, the trance I fall in to is as close as I can get to sleep, but my mind was on other things.

Why did I come adventuring?

I’d left home early in life, to see the world, and so far, I had only seen mad men recruiting for mad quests, and a few Kobolds and Goblins - and that had taken me close to the edge of life.

Was it the money? Well, yes, that helps in enjoying one’s self, and a house with retainers does cost money.

Was it the fame? Well, yes, as that helps you get in to places most serfs only dream of! And those places all have a high fame rating for entry.

But the question of why I had come adventuring wasn’t answered by fame or fortune when it came to me. It was for one reason, and one reason only… A girl. Well, a couple of girls really - maybe 4 if I was really honest.

It started well enough - she was sweet, and thought me great and a real catch, but her family were poor, and I really needed to join with a famaily that matched my own status. Yes, my Father may have only been a soldier of not very high ranking, but still, I wasn’t going to join a fisherman’s family - the smell for goodness sake!

The next girl (who I met whilst still with the first - well she was cute) was better off, but dull as dish water. She liked to be seen in the good Inns, wear the best clothing, and I didn’t moan when she bought me that cloak, or a new hat - got to look my part!

Then I met the next girl - fun loving, a party animal - more fun than I had ever had - but I still had the others on the go - one gave me new stuff, and the other one was great at the cleaning and such like.

Shame it all blew up, when they all met in town - good job I was there to see it, and managed to hid in the house of a real female friend - very helpful in the gaining of knowledge from the council - her being a clerk and all.

Well, when it comes to being an adventurer, I must say, it’s because it’s better than being back at home, with 3 families after my neck - or four, if the clerk has found out. I should feel a little bad at my youthful antics - I suppose I do. Trouble is I’d probably do the same if I went back right now. Perhaps adventuring, and relaying on myself with help me grow up…

Only way back is if I become a solid gold catch - rich, famous, and dashing - so far the last one is in the bag - just got to find the fame and fortune!

Best get some sleep - I’ll write up then next day’s adventures if I survive them!

Dusk arrived, just as the weary party reached the village of Winterhaven. Whilst classed as a village, it was one on the frontier of man’s civilised land, and one that had seen too many attacks to know that harsh words wouldn’t keep out the forces of darkness. So the village was surrounded by a strong stone and wooden wall, with one set of mighty gates as the only way in to the village proper. A large tower rose up from the centre of the village, and outside the wall, small farmsteads littered the landscape – all close enough to run for shelter in the village if needed.

Two guards, holding spears, stood near the gates, watching the darkening path, as the party arrived. An open door just inside the gates, showed a small gatehouse, with 6 more spears leaning against a wall.

The guards were happy to see the dusk so close, as they were about to close the gates for the night. No kobold bounties were in existence, but the Lord of the village may know more, but it is late, and he will not be about until the morning. The party was asked to rest at the village Inn.

Neither did they know much about the Shadowfell keep – the reason for our quest into this mountainous area. They thought the keep had been demolished – Great! Even less to draw, but a pile of stones – the money was all but ours.

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We moved on to the Inn - a poor and dark hovel to the heroes with taste, but it didn’t smell too bad – the main smells were bread and mead – so it could have been worse.

So glad my brethren can’t see me in such an establishment – I’m an adventurer now, so I should be able to put up with it, but it could damage my standing in the Eladrin Scouts Guild!

In the Inn, a really bad bard – Halfling, and drunk enough to sink a troll, was trying to play a medley of hits – all sounded the same – like a man strangling a cat.

Even with the cat-strangling going on, we heard the residents stop talking as we entered. Eyes all pointed into our direction, before conversations started again, but quieter.

There were a couple of Bar maids, a cloaked stranger in the corner nursing a mug, a old drunk with missing teeth at the bar, and a collection of farmers muttering over a couple of tables.

The party walked in, nervous in such surroundings – perhaps my fellow travellers believed this was a fancy establishment – what sheltered lives they must have led. With this in mind, I decided to take the leave, to allow my friends a rest, whilst I worked the room, to discover information that would help in our quest.

Mead and bread for the farmers was first, as I rushed into the room, trying to befriend the inhabitants.

The Farmers were happy to be bought mead, and they soon were chatting away. Information was hard to come by, but with my charm and skill at tickling out information, like a poacher at Salmon, I soon had the information I required.

* The Keep is only 2 miles away as the Crow flies, but will take a day to reach it.

* Kobolds have been upping the attacks in the surrounding area, and the Lord has done nothing to stop the attacks. The farmers say it is due to him not having the manpower to fight the beasts off.

Soon, the farmers decided to call it a night, and they left, leaving me with a emptier room, and less forward people to investigate.

First on the list, was the cloaked figure. On getting close, I robustly called him, asking if he wanted a drink. Even with my striking charm, he was a little bit backwards in coming forward, but a carried on, ignoring his requests for silence and peace, and bullied my way to his side. The man was a Elf – pale, with dark striking eyes, and a Ranger (According to the bar maid). He was staying at the Inn, and his name was Ninerin.

The next target was Illian the Old – a drunk with a interesting run of information. According to the old man, The Lord is weak and foolish – a fop and a fool – but someone we need to be watchful of -to make sure we do not get on the wrong side of him.

* Kobolds are also holed up at a waterfall in the mountains, and should be removed – a second job if we play the Lord right.

* The Kobolds are affecting trade – traders and merchants are refusing to approach the village, as the attacks continue – this could weaken and destroy the village if this continues.

Illian also pointed us to see the Sage – Valfren, who resides in the 5 story tower, just across from the Inn – he will know of the Shadowfall keep, and on how to reach the Lord.

This left us with 3 points of contact for the morning –

The Ranger Ninerin,
The Lord of the Village, and
The Sage Valfren.

With this, Thorin paid for the rooms – 4 gold for 1 week of lodgings for all of us – including breakfast.

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Morning broke, as we walked downstairs. Our first target for information was the ranger, but being antisocial, he had done a running to the wilderness before we had woken. Perhaps he likes the talk of stones and trees over real company! What a bore!

With that, we headed for the tower, and a meeting with a Sage. I was looking forward to meeting someone with my IQ, and was wondering about running a book on how long his white beard would be – I was thinking of a good half foot of beard was about to open the door.

After hearing footsteps walk down the whole tower, and hearing a dozen bolts being drawn back, a young looking chap, with a clean face peered out of the door. After introductions, we were lead in, and escorted up 4 flights of stairs, to a small living room, where this baby sage introduced himself as Valfren.

After a quick chat, he furnished us with some interesting information –

* Shadowfell keep could be a Goblin Lair.
* Tomorrow, he will have a map of the keep to give the party (That could be worth 250 gp for use, doing nothing!)
* We need to go north for 2 miles to reach the keep. He then supplied a rough map of the area.
* Valfren will talk with the Lord of the Village about the Kobold problem.

With this we made our leave, and wondered what to do next – it was early morning, so we decided to walk to Shadowfell Keep, and have a look around.

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The track was a rough trip on a cart, but we were on foot, and the miles passed swiftly. The only problem was that the trail kept switching back and forth, so we soon passed the 2 mile mark, before we were attacke

Once again, roadside graves pointed to trouble, when 6 kobolds leapt out of the scrub to attack – 5 fighters in armour, and a Kobold Cleric – Whatever next!

The Cleric had a dragon styled mask, and was set to cast a nasty spell, so as 3 kobold brutes charged down on me, I teleported behind the cleric, and stabbed in him the back!

Whilst normally I wouldn’t stoop to such underhand tactics, it was a bright day, I hadn’t slept well on the cold slab, that the Inn had said was a mattress, and the grease in my breakfast wasn’t settling right – So I had issues, and so I took them out on the cleric.

With that, the battle erupted. Kurt started throwing arrows around, Quiros launched ice bolts at anyone in range, and everyone else waded in to earn some glory.

The Kobolds were tougher than the last lot, so I relished the ear collecting – they should be worth something!

On searching the bodies, we found some gold, and a unholy symbol, that Rhogan said was for Orcus – as a lover of the dead, I’m sure all his followers were thankful at being helped over the threshold! Always happy to help!

We then set off towards the keep. After 7-8 miles, we reached the clearing, and the ruined keep.

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The area was full of rubble, and small spans of standing walls, no higher than a few feet. Someone had erected a wooden canopy over a set of stone stairs dropping down into the ground, and moved rubble away from the entrance.

Nothing grew in the area, and there was a lack of animal sounds in the clearing – was this supernatural, or a area over hunted by someone or thing?

As we decided what to do, a Storm front suddenly rushed off the mountains, heading southwards, directly for us. Without shelter, the storm would be very bad.

We had a quick discussion, and decided to head down the stairs – leaving the area was out – it was already mid afternoon, and the storm would hit in 30 minutes.

We could build a shelter, but it wouldn’t be as good as heading below.

So, with a heavy heart, I led the way below.

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The canopy was newly built, and the stairs were well made, but old. They flowed down to a square room, with 3 other exits leading off, and 4 columns. Across the room, down a corridor, a shadowy figure, armed with a spear, looked on a event further down the corridor.

As the rest of the party clomped around (making my silent floating a waste of time), the dirty little critter with the spear (A goblin as it happens), ‘mooned’ the party, and legged it around the corner, out of sight!

The noise of others putting on armour echoed down the corridor, and as the party spread out into the room, Thorin fell through a cloth stretched across a pit trap. Ten feet down, his fall was broken by his face, and a large pack of rats launched themselves at him.

Erik ran in to help Thorin, and jumped into the pit, by falling in.

As this occurred, 2 crossbow wielding goblins poked their heads around the corner, and with the cover of a goblin with a javelin, started taking pot shots at the party. A 4th goblin then joined the group, also armed with a Javelin.

The sudden attack took down Rhogan the Cleric. I quickly dragged him to safety, and saved his life with a deft touch, and a cleverly placed bandage.

The cleric threw healing around – mainly at himself, and even with Quiros sleeping some goblins, the rats were ripping large (Well – rat bite sided pieces) chunks out of the pit duo.

Rhogan then launched a breath attack, damaging javelin goblins and the rats, as Erik, having climbed out of the pit, collapses as the rats surge over his back. Thorin, next in line to use the rope out of the pit, does exactly the same – climbing up just enough to pass out of the pit!

As more of our group fall, the crossbow goblins run in to try to finish us off, as we hid behind the columns. As they then started shooting into the party, Rhogan and myself ran into the battle, as the rest of the party tried to save Thorin and Erik from bleeding to death.

I teleport to flank the goblins, and with the whole party throwing arrows, ice bolts and a axe at the goblins, we manage to fight them off, as the last goblin throws down his weapons, and legs it off down the corridor, and out of sight.

With the injuries, and the place going quiet, we stopped to rest, posting watches to wait the night out.

Hopefully the new day will be easier – but not with our luck!

Looking for work was a drag – most traders wanted to hired for peanuts, and then announced they wanted the guards for dragon killing duties, or some idiot wanted men to help storm some fortress, ran by a mad cleric to a blood god!

Luckily, we came across a trader only after a map of some old keep – not used in years. Easy job – 250gp for a few nights away from a warm bed, drawing a little map.

The gig was ours, so we decided to move on as soon as possible,

In our little groups the heroes moved on towards Winterhaven, down the same road, but at different times.

The wind howled, the scrubby green growth looked sorry for itself, and the road wandered on like a drunken sailor, always upwards, as the track left civilisation behind, and headed for the mountains.

As the group was admiring another set of roadside graves – a pointer to the dangers of not keeping an eye out for attackers – we were attacked. – Note to self… If you come across roadside graves, they are there for a reason – I.e. they were attacked on the road, as same area they were buried.

The attackers were doglike creatures, with red and brown scales, dressed in mix and match armour, but whilst old and rusty, looked up for the job. In 2 waves, the 8 barking demons attacked, trying to break up the party, in order to gang up on the weaker members of the group.

But the heroes kept together, and slowly beat the attackers back. Kobold blood, stained the road, giving colour to the scabby green growth on the side of the road, as their yells that instilled fear, began to loose power over the heroes, and became calls of pain.

Soon the fight was over, and the party bandaged their wounds, collected the ears (In case of a Kobold bounty) and continued the walk to Winterhaven.

A journal of Arannis and his travels with a band of adventurers. The party is made up of –

Arannis – Eladrin – A Way finder Scout and your humble Storyteller
Kurt – – Human – A Ranger of the Wilds
Erik – – Dwarf – A axe and hammer fighter
Quiros – – Human – A Ice Wizard
Thorin– – Half Elf – A Ranger of the Wilds
Rhogan– – Dragonborn – A Cleric of the Raven Queen

So far, no one has taken the lead in the group, but it will not be long before one becomes the group’s leader.

As for a name for the group – I have been trying on names whilst I write this journal – Arannis’s Stars has a certain glow to it – but if we were to be targeted, would my name make me the main target for such an attack? Perhaps we should call the group Rhogan’s Raiders! He seems a big enough fellow to take any attacks!

But the word Raiders – make it sound like we are vagabonds, bandits and scum – that cannot be allowed. I’ll have to keep watch, and see if we manage to do something heroic I can then name the party after – the Dragonslayers (or would that be classed as a racial slur on a Dragonborn?) – So far I only have the Kobold Killers – not a great name so far – still it works with Kurt’s Kobold Killers – KKK – who could take offence with that! Not very brave though.

More thought is needed.

So, on with this Journal, and on to high adventure!