Session Two - Played August 1st, 2009
Note - The adventure for this session was a heavily modified version of "The Charmed Grotto" by Dysan Logos. No disrespect intended.
The session began play with our heroes on the road from Chateau Frontiere to Kestle, a journey of now less than one hundred leagues. Their first day of riding they only cover about thirty miles as the torrential rains of spring had begun. They ride in silence, the wet damp affecting their moods heavily.
As night falls they make a camp at the roadside, though the small copse of trees offers no protection, the springs leaves have not yet sprung. Unable to make a fire, they huddle under their blankets, eating their cold rations. Sleep comes quickly and happily for some but not those on watch.
First watch goes by without incident and Mather is woken to take second watch. He settles himself down and is thankful the rain has stopped. As he sits, pondering trying to get a fire going so he can write in his book, he hears an ethereal singing coming from deeper into the hills.
Swayed by what he hears he starts to follow the sound and sees a sight that few in the West see anymore; a group of elves walking through the woods singing to themselves an old song from before the time of man. Enchanted, Mather sits and watches them until they pass from sight and hearing.
Then he realizes that he is well and lost. He spends the next hour and a half stumbling about in the darkened woods, cursing himself for being charmed by the sound of the elves.
Meanwhile back at camp, Vesna has not been woken for third watch and thankfully Erim, with military precision awakes five minutes before he is to start fourth watch. He sees that Vesna is still sleeping and that Mather is no where to be seen and quickly raises the camp.
A lantern is lit, Erim and Fergus decide to head in one direction, Guillaume and Vesna another. Digger mumbles sleepily to guard the camp but a kick from Fergus gets him to his feet and he offers to search in a third direction. As soon as everyone is out of sight, Digger doubles back and crawls back into his bedroll.
Hungry and cold, Mather hears voices from over the next ridge and rushes thinking he has found his campmates. Unfortunately it is not what he assumes and be walks into the middle of five bandits who quickly draw arms.
Mather quickly tells them he has no money and identifies himself as an Acolyte of Kalin. Seeing that they look quite unhealthy he offers instead his services as a healer, cook, scribe or even mender of clothing. Four of the bandits are obviously unnerved by his being a servant of a God, but the bandit leader is nonplussed and instead suggests those skills will make Mather a valuable slave!
Are these bloody woods just thick with bandits? proclaims Fergus loudly as he and Erim have found the bandits and Mather. All the bandits turn, as behind them Vesna and Guillaume have arrived as well.
A brief scuffle breaks out and when the bandits see the other two heroes have arrived, four of them break off into the woods at full speed. The bandit leader is not so intimidated, but after a brief word or two with the heroes he too chooses flight over fight.
Back at the campsite, Digger is awoken by the smell of pipeweed on the damp woodsy air. Looking around he sees an old human man, walking with a staff, a big hat, a big book and a long white beard smoking a pipe. Craving the pipeweed Digger actually gets up from his warm bedroll and goes to meet the man.
A quick conversation, shared pipeweed and Digger learns the man is named Alfrick and is heading south to Toulyon, the capital of Elise. For some reason Digger tells Alfrick that his last name is OShay, which Alfrick comments is a strange name for a Hobbit but makes nothing more of it.
At this point everyone arrives back at camp and Mather is delighted as he recognizes Alfrick as being an Acolyte of Kalin as well. The two begin to talk of news and Alfrick tells them that the King of Aquilar has proclaimed himself Emperor of the West. This leads to a bit of a discussion about whether this will lead to war, which Alfrick thinks it will and that is why he is heading to Toulyon. The Baron of Elise being a strong supporter of Aquilar may try and push this so that he can encourage a war and reclaim Argonne and seize the Freehold.
The news unsettles Erim who fears that this will lead to war with Adaire and that he needs to get home. The others try to calm his fears, but he is upset and not willing to be assuaged. Falrick shares a nice breakfast with them, helping them light a fire by providing a bundle of dry twigs from his pack.
As they eat, he tells them of the upcoming town of Royal Mount, or Mont Royale as the Elisians are calling it since they took control of the area, and that their warden a man named Old Bill, has gone missing for three days now. Perhaps the party could investigate and lend a hand? All readily agree except for Erim, who says nothing and looks anxious.
With that they break camp, bid adieu to Alfrick, who gives Mather some scrolls to drop off for him at the office temple in Ardens when they get there, and head on the road towards Royal Mount.
Above the clouds are dark and threatening and a light drizzle starts to fall.
To be continued....
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New Dawn of the West: Session Two
Session 2 Part 2
They arrive a couple of hours later at the town of Royal Mount and instantly get why it is called such. The hill that is sits in the shadow of bears a passing resemblance to a saddle. Certainly, as they pass the new Elisian signpost heading into town, the Elisians have translated mount as mountain and as such renamed the town Mont Royale. An honest mistake to be sure.
It doesnt take them long to find the only inn in town, a quaint two story affair named The Brass Boar. It also didnt take them long to meet the inns proprietor Basil Boarshead. Basil was rather unhelpful, quite insulting of the Elisians (referring to them as Snotty Leezy Bastards!) and rather abusive of his help, Pelwyck.
Erim is hesitant as they eat to continue on with them, instead insisting that he needs to get back to Adaire if war is brewing. This leads to the group inquiring as to how he came to be in Elise. Erim tells them the story of his encounter with Harn the Hunter in the Silverwood and is surprised that they believe him without hesitation. All voices chime in that he seems to have been set on a path and it is best not to ignore it. He refuses to accept but agrees to at least help the group find Old Bill.
Try as they might they couldnt get much out of him or Pelwyck who seemed not quite slow but certainly focused on the coppers he could get out the heroes for menial tasks. Eventually Erim is able to bribe him with some silver coins to get the story out of him that Old Bill went up into the hills to deal with the reports of bandits and what have you. He doesnt say anymore than that.
Just when it seems that he will get no where, Erim is called over to a table by a local with one arm. He introduces himself as Darrik and says he was the local Warden before Old Bill. He tells Erim about how Old Bill made a deal with the goblins up in the hills that he would leave a cow for them every month and they would leave the town and local farms alone. Seemed to be working but now Old Bill is missing and Darrik thinks it was the goblins who got him. Erim buys him some pints and is thankful for the information.
Meanwhile Mather, Digger and Guillaume have all gone shopping in town. Digger has a bit of a run in with a baker over a missing gooseberry pie, but Guillaume pays for the damages. He then meets a tanner name Beff, from who he buys a new pair of boots. Of course he does not endear himself as his heavy Elisian accent makes him continually call Beff Beef. An Elisian insult for Pendrians is to call them Roast Beefs due to their fondness for said dish. Once again Guillaume is unaware of his accidental racism.
Regrouping and sharing the info, they agree to mount up and head out first thing in the morning. Guillaume is extorted on the cost of rooms for the night by Basil and the group gets some sleep. Not counting a brief midnight event with Digger getting chased out of the kitchen.
Rising with the dawn and a quick breakfast our heroes made off for the hills. Above them the skies remained dark and dismal, threatening to burst at any moment. Still their mood was pleasant enough as they rode as high as they could into the hills and then made their way on foot.
It was while on top of one hill they could see the trade road and understood why bandits would hide up here. One could see an approaching caravan from miles off and still have time to reach the road to cry Stand and deliver!
Searching the area the party was having no luck finding this cave or any sign of Old Bill. As a discussion began about whether to go higher into the hills or back down, Digger sat himself on a rock, took out his pipe and lit it. Resting his feet on the rope tied around the rock, he whistled to his companions and pointed to where the rope when down in a whole in the hillside.
It would seem they had found their first sign of Old Bill.
To be continued...
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They arrive a couple of hours later at the town of Royal Mount and instantly get why it is called such. The hill that is sits in the shadow of bears a passing resemblance to a saddle. Certainly, as they pass the new Elisian signpost heading into town, the Elisians have translated mount as mountain and as such renamed the town Mont Royale. An honest mistake to be sure.
It doesnt take them long to find the only inn in town, a quaint two story affair named The Brass Boar. It also didnt take them long to meet the inns proprietor Basil Boarshead. Basil was rather unhelpful, quite insulting of the Elisians (referring to them as Snotty Leezy Bastards!) and rather abusive of his help, Pelwyck.
Erim is hesitant as they eat to continue on with them, instead insisting that he needs to get back to Adaire if war is brewing. This leads to the group inquiring as to how he came to be in Elise. Erim tells them the story of his encounter with Harn the Hunter in the Silverwood and is surprised that they believe him without hesitation. All voices chime in that he seems to have been set on a path and it is best not to ignore it. He refuses to accept but agrees to at least help the group find Old Bill.
Try as they might they couldnt get much out of him or Pelwyck who seemed not quite slow but certainly focused on the coppers he could get out the heroes for menial tasks. Eventually Erim is able to bribe him with some silver coins to get the story out of him that Old Bill went up into the hills to deal with the reports of bandits and what have you. He doesnt say anymore than that.
Just when it seems that he will get no where, Erim is called over to a table by a local with one arm. He introduces himself as Darrik and says he was the local Warden before Old Bill. He tells Erim about how Old Bill made a deal with the goblins up in the hills that he would leave a cow for them every month and they would leave the town and local farms alone. Seemed to be working but now Old Bill is missing and Darrik thinks it was the goblins who got him. Erim buys him some pints and is thankful for the information.
Meanwhile Mather, Digger and Guillaume have all gone shopping in town. Digger has a bit of a run in with a baker over a missing gooseberry pie, but Guillaume pays for the damages. He then meets a tanner name Beff, from who he buys a new pair of boots. Of course he does not endear himself as his heavy Elisian accent makes him continually call Beff Beef. An Elisian insult for Pendrians is to call them Roast Beefs due to their fondness for said dish. Once again Guillaume is unaware of his accidental racism.
Regrouping and sharing the info, they agree to mount up and head out first thing in the morning. Guillaume is extorted on the cost of rooms for the night by Basil and the group gets some sleep. Not counting a brief midnight event with Digger getting chased out of the kitchen.
Rising with the dawn and a quick breakfast our heroes made off for the hills. Above them the skies remained dark and dismal, threatening to burst at any moment. Still their mood was pleasant enough as they rode as high as they could into the hills and then made their way on foot.
It was while on top of one hill they could see the trade road and understood why bandits would hide up here. One could see an approaching caravan from miles off and still have time to reach the road to cry Stand and deliver!
Searching the area the party was having no luck finding this cave or any sign of Old Bill. As a discussion began about whether to go higher into the hills or back down, Digger sat himself on a rock, took out his pipe and lit it. Resting his feet on the rope tied around the rock, he whistled to his companions and pointed to where the rope when down in a whole in the hillside.
It would seem they had found their first sign of Old Bill.
To be continued...
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Session 2 - Part 3
It doesnt take the party long to climb down by rope with Mather slipping on the climb and Fergus handily catching him. Once they are all inside they begin to look around what quickly is revealed to be a grotto. As they look though they see that all the moss and fungi in the grotto are black and rotted, filling the air with an unpleasant smell.
They notice only two exits from this place and as one is covered in spider webs, large spider webs, they opt for option two. This takes them a bit deeper into the caves and they come to an underground river side. As they debate what to do next, Digger notices back the way they came what looks like crude stairs leading up one of the walls.
Doubling back they soon become aware of whispering at the top of the stairs. Digger sneaks up and can hear goblins arguing in hushed tones about whos going to warn the others. Digger signals back that there are goblins and then sneaks up and attacks the goblins.
He kills one right off the drop but is struck by a spear from one of the remaining two. Hearing Digger cry out in pain, Fergus and Erim bound up the stairs, with Erim leaping past Fergus and making short work of one of the goblins. Fergus dispatches the rest while everyone catches their breath.
Vesna and Mather tend to Digger as the group starts to speculate if the goblins went back on their deal with Old Bill. Looking at the pathetic state of the goblins, thin and sickly, Guillaume wonders if maybe something happened to the cow and the goblins thought maybe Old Bill did it.
Deciding to keep looking the group has a much better vantage of the grotto from here and can see two other passes. One is adjacent to the spider web passage and the other is near the river beach. A short debate and they decide to try the pass near the river.
Entering the pass two by two, they find it branches again. As they discuss which way to turn, the choice is taken from them as two hobgoblins charge out of the right hand passage. The fight is on.
Unable to get past Fergus and Guillaume to attack, Erim calls for them to retreat into the branch where it is wide. They do and after a furious melee, the hobgoblins lay defeated. As they regrouped they could hear the sounds of more goblins coming from the left passage. They retreat back the way they came and decide to try the passage near the spider webs.
As they move through the passage, wary of any spiders that may be lurking, they enter another alcove and are surprised to discover the bandits they had encountered in the woods the night before. None of them look particularly healthy either, with two seemingly at deaths door.
They talk with the bandits and learn rather quickly that Old Bill had passed through the area a couple of days earlier. They also tell them about how everything is rotting outside the cave exit that is further along this path. They are dying, the goblins are dying everything is dying.
Deciding to deal with the goblins first, Erim turns the group around as Mather takes mental notes of what he has heard. A worried look crosses his face. He says nothing, still unsure of what he suspects.
As they get back to the entrance to the grotto, they see now twelve goblins have made their way out of the back area and are looking for them. The goblins dont look too healthy either, but they appear to have some fight in them.
Erim steps out with his hands up and calls for parlay with the goblins. A rather healthy looking one steps forward and announces his name is Pissdog and that he speaks for them. Erim tries to negotiate a truce, but the goblins are antsy and upset about their other clan members being killed by the heroes. Quickly tempers flair and a fight is on.
The sickened goblins are no match for the strong party and in short order eleven of the twelve are dead. As they look they see Pissdog making a break for it up the rope they used to enter. Then they see the cut rope fall back down. Their choice made, they turn and head back into the area with the bandits.
The bandits conditions are worsening. The two that were close to death have passed and the others are very sick. Mather checks their symptoms and announces to the group that as he suspected, they have the Burning Plague. Everyones hearts stop at the mention of a disease which five hundred years ago killed seventy-five percent of the West and pushed civilization into a dark age.
Fergus insists that they give these men release from their torment and Vesna assists him. The bloody deed done, they suck up their courage and head towards the direction from which a faint breeze is coming. They pass by the dead and desiccated corpses of no less than ten giant black widows and then they step out into the light finally outside the caves.
All around them is nothing but rotting plant life and dead animals. Something more than the Burning Plague is going on here.
To be concluded...
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It doesnt take the party long to climb down by rope with Mather slipping on the climb and Fergus handily catching him. Once they are all inside they begin to look around what quickly is revealed to be a grotto. As they look though they see that all the moss and fungi in the grotto are black and rotted, filling the air with an unpleasant smell.
They notice only two exits from this place and as one is covered in spider webs, large spider webs, they opt for option two. This takes them a bit deeper into the caves and they come to an underground river side. As they debate what to do next, Digger notices back the way they came what looks like crude stairs leading up one of the walls.
Doubling back they soon become aware of whispering at the top of the stairs. Digger sneaks up and can hear goblins arguing in hushed tones about whos going to warn the others. Digger signals back that there are goblins and then sneaks up and attacks the goblins.
He kills one right off the drop but is struck by a spear from one of the remaining two. Hearing Digger cry out in pain, Fergus and Erim bound up the stairs, with Erim leaping past Fergus and making short work of one of the goblins. Fergus dispatches the rest while everyone catches their breath.
Vesna and Mather tend to Digger as the group starts to speculate if the goblins went back on their deal with Old Bill. Looking at the pathetic state of the goblins, thin and sickly, Guillaume wonders if maybe something happened to the cow and the goblins thought maybe Old Bill did it.
Deciding to keep looking the group has a much better vantage of the grotto from here and can see two other passes. One is adjacent to the spider web passage and the other is near the river beach. A short debate and they decide to try the pass near the river.
Entering the pass two by two, they find it branches again. As they discuss which way to turn, the choice is taken from them as two hobgoblins charge out of the right hand passage. The fight is on.
Unable to get past Fergus and Guillaume to attack, Erim calls for them to retreat into the branch where it is wide. They do and after a furious melee, the hobgoblins lay defeated. As they regrouped they could hear the sounds of more goblins coming from the left passage. They retreat back the way they came and decide to try the passage near the spider webs.
As they move through the passage, wary of any spiders that may be lurking, they enter another alcove and are surprised to discover the bandits they had encountered in the woods the night before. None of them look particularly healthy either, with two seemingly at deaths door.
They talk with the bandits and learn rather quickly that Old Bill had passed through the area a couple of days earlier. They also tell them about how everything is rotting outside the cave exit that is further along this path. They are dying, the goblins are dying everything is dying.
Deciding to deal with the goblins first, Erim turns the group around as Mather takes mental notes of what he has heard. A worried look crosses his face. He says nothing, still unsure of what he suspects.
As they get back to the entrance to the grotto, they see now twelve goblins have made their way out of the back area and are looking for them. The goblins dont look too healthy either, but they appear to have some fight in them.
Erim steps out with his hands up and calls for parlay with the goblins. A rather healthy looking one steps forward and announces his name is Pissdog and that he speaks for them. Erim tries to negotiate a truce, but the goblins are antsy and upset about their other clan members being killed by the heroes. Quickly tempers flair and a fight is on.
The sickened goblins are no match for the strong party and in short order eleven of the twelve are dead. As they look they see Pissdog making a break for it up the rope they used to enter. Then they see the cut rope fall back down. Their choice made, they turn and head back into the area with the bandits.
The bandits conditions are worsening. The two that were close to death have passed and the others are very sick. Mather checks their symptoms and announces to the group that as he suspected, they have the Burning Plague. Everyones hearts stop at the mention of a disease which five hundred years ago killed seventy-five percent of the West and pushed civilization into a dark age.
Fergus insists that they give these men release from their torment and Vesna assists him. The bloody deed done, they suck up their courage and head towards the direction from which a faint breeze is coming. They pass by the dead and desiccated corpses of no less than ten giant black widows and then they step out into the light finally outside the caves.
All around them is nothing but rotting plant life and dead animals. Something more than the Burning Plague is going on here.
To be concluded...
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Session 2 - The Conclusion
The smell of rot and death surrounds them as they start to follow a path of decay. Each step they feel thousands of insects crunch beneath their boots, barefooted Digger is less than impressed. As they move along they see a stream with brackish water, floating dead fish and a dead dear at the side of it. The bloated belly of the dear is bursting with maggots. As they watch the maggots turn into flies abnormally fast and fill the air with a black buzzing cloud.
They decide to let Digger scout ahead and see if he can find the source of all this death and decay. He moves ahead, leaving the group behind him as he rounds a bend in the path. As far as he can see is nothing but dead plants, animals and tons of insects. He finds a small knoll and climbs up it to get a better look. As he crests it he comes face to face with the very dead and very animated Old Bill!
Zombie Old Bill swings his sword at Digger, slashing the Hobbit across the chest. Digger cries out in pain and he rolls backwards down the knoll. As he lands at the bottom he looks up to see Zombie Old Bill lurching towards him, his sword ever ready.
A shadow falls over Digger as the others arrive. Fergus and Erim lay into Zombie Old Bill with their mightiest blows, quickly dispatching him. Vesna and Mather tend to Diggers wounds as Guillaume clears his throat looking back the way they came.
Everyone turns and to their horror they see the zombies of the bandits, goblins and hobgoblins shuffling towards them. Twenty is all, not a fight they can win.
Vesna steps forward and shows her holy symbol of Yor shouting in Turonic with a commanding voice. Three of the zombies turn and start shuffling back towards the cave for less than she had hoped for.
The group begins to make a defensive line when Fergus has an idea. He tells the group to move further up the path and see if they can find the source while he distracts the zombies. At first they do not want to, but Fergus makes it clear that it wasnt a suggestion. Nodding they turn and dash off as Fergus makes a lot of noise calling out the zombies.
Erim leads the charge up the path as they can start to see green leaves further up ahead, they are getting close to the source. As they round yet another curve in the path, they are stunned to see that they have reached the source and it is not what they expected at all.
Standing in the middle of the path, holding out a blackened wooden staff is a man. He is wearing tattered black robes and the stench of death and disease emanates from him. His face and hands show the signs of decay and various diseases and at his feet insects flow out from under his robes turning green to black as they spread out into the foliage. His cracked and skull-like face breaks into a disturbing grin as he sees the heroes.
They have come face to face with a Dark Druid!
Erim wastes no time, muttering and oath as he leaps forward with his sword ready to strike. The Dark Druid moves first and as Erim swings he touches the blade with his hand. In horror Erim watches as the sword rusts and crumbles to dust.
Guillaume tries to take a shot with his wheellock, but the rotting has gotten into it and the chamber misfires, damaging the weapon beyond repair.
Vesna attempts to duplicate her move with the zombies, but this evil is no undead and he laughs a drying cackling laugh at her, muttering a curse in her own language at her that makes her face pale with shock and horror.
The laughing is cut short as Diggers sling bullet finds the mark and cracks into the Dark Druids head. His anger is evident as he turns his face towards the Hobbit and fixes him with a look that could kill.
Mather, sensing that this is a fight for the very survival of not only his life but all the life around them charges forward with his quarter staff and actually connects with the evil being causing him to stagger back.
Behind them they can hear Fergus getting closer, herding the zombies with him.
Guillaume, frustrated at the loss of his pistol, hurls the useless weapon at the Dark Druid in anger. It strikes true and the cold iron of the barrel causes the creature to scream in agony!
Reaching out with his hand and staff a wave of sickness emanates from him and both Guillaume and Erim double over vomiting, the victims of instant plagues! Mather, realizing he cannot fight this creature scrambles to retrieve the iron barrel, as all the wood has magically rotted away from the gun.
Digger lets sail another sling bullet and connects! The Dark Druid begins moving towards him and Erim passes out from the sickness and Guillaume is on his knees retching. Vesna shouts in Turonic again, but this time she is not trying to turn the enemy.
Her iron mace smashes into the head of the Dark Druid caving it in like an over ripe melon. An ungodly scream emerges from the diseased being as he crumples into a pile of filth and rot! A cloud of noxious air bursts out and envelopes the group as Fergus rounds the corner, zombies right behind him.
Choking on the air, the group rallies a defense over the body of Erim and the still vomiting Guillaume. A last stand if you will. Then the most wonderful thing happens the zombies all begin to slow as new branches and twigs sprout from the ground, enveloping them in living plants of green and brown. As the heroes watch confused, they hear the sounds of bag pipes and tin flutes approaching.
The sight they see next is one that awes them. Around the corner comes four brownies playing music and dancing along with them barefoot, hoisting up her skirt is a chubby, rosey faced red haired woman who is emitting an incandescent glow.
Kedikoi mutters Mather as he rubs his eyes. Its the Mist Queen!
The others are stunned as they watch the green of the hills return with each step she takes, spreading out like spilled cans of paint. The brownies play a lovely tune for to dance to and as she reaches the heroes they stop playing and she stops dancing.
This is no way for self respecting heroes to be she says with a smile Nyx, give them something to drink. Obeying her, one of the brownies hands then a water skin filled with the clearest and freshest water they have ever tasted. They all immediately feel better and the effects of the disease cloud pass. All except Erim, who remains dying at their feet.
Kedikoi leans down and places a gentle kiss on Erims forehead, giggling like a girl as she does. Slowly the colour returns to his cheeks and his breathing becomes stronger. As his eyes flutter open he is baffled at what he sees.
Kedikoi wastes no time and begins lecturing Erim about all this nonsense about going back to Adiare. If my husband needed you in Adaire you would still be there. Erim opens his mouth to protest, be the chubby fairy goddess silences him with a matronly wave of her hand. It is time you see that there are things much larger in this world that you and your silly Duke. Big things and thats why you and all these lovely folks have come together. You will see soon enough that it wasnt an accident. She smiles at the others, who remain silent, Vesna with her head lowered in awe.
Now then enough of this silliness Erim and get to your task, otherwise my sister Mave will have to come see you and well truth be told, Im the nice one. She smiles sweetly again, looks over her should and says to the brownies Play me out boys!
The music begins again as the group watches Kedikoi dance off, spreading life and renewal with each barefooted step. The party says nothing, just watches in absolute silence and with small smiles on their faces.
Once she is out of sight and the music has faded away the party turns and quietly heads towards the way they came and where they hope their horses are still waiting. As they pass by the body of Old Bill, Erim stares at the sword the old warden is holding out of the new undergrowth as if offering it to him. As Erim havers in his mind, Digger rolls his eyes and snarks Just take the damn sword boyo!
Erim does and the party moves on. Digger notices that Fergus has been unusually quiet since Kedikoi and pokes a bit to find out whats on his mind. Fergus shares with Digger how when his wife got he prayed to the gods to return her to health and they didnt. Then he felt the calling of St. Cuthbert and sees now that his wife dying was preparing him for the work he was to do now. Digger agrees and shares some hobbit wisdom about how when gods make their decisions it is best to go with the flow and not try and stand in the way. The two nod in agreement as they find their horses alive and well.
As they ride back into Mont Royale, they see that finally the clouds have broken and the sun shines down on the little town. Returning to the Brass Boar, they eat heartily, drink mightily and laugh and carry on. That night the townsfolk also come out in large numbers and a great celebration is had. Many toasts to Old Bill are raised and it is as if the dark mood that covered the sleepy town has passed.
Well fed, well drunk, well danced and well cheered they all sleep a little bit easier that night, knowing they did something good and made a difference in the lives of the citizens of the sleepy little farm town.
The end.
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The smell of rot and death surrounds them as they start to follow a path of decay. Each step they feel thousands of insects crunch beneath their boots, barefooted Digger is less than impressed. As they move along they see a stream with brackish water, floating dead fish and a dead dear at the side of it. The bloated belly of the dear is bursting with maggots. As they watch the maggots turn into flies abnormally fast and fill the air with a black buzzing cloud.
They decide to let Digger scout ahead and see if he can find the source of all this death and decay. He moves ahead, leaving the group behind him as he rounds a bend in the path. As far as he can see is nothing but dead plants, animals and tons of insects. He finds a small knoll and climbs up it to get a better look. As he crests it he comes face to face with the very dead and very animated Old Bill!
Zombie Old Bill swings his sword at Digger, slashing the Hobbit across the chest. Digger cries out in pain and he rolls backwards down the knoll. As he lands at the bottom he looks up to see Zombie Old Bill lurching towards him, his sword ever ready.
A shadow falls over Digger as the others arrive. Fergus and Erim lay into Zombie Old Bill with their mightiest blows, quickly dispatching him. Vesna and Mather tend to Diggers wounds as Guillaume clears his throat looking back the way they came.
Everyone turns and to their horror they see the zombies of the bandits, goblins and hobgoblins shuffling towards them. Twenty is all, not a fight they can win.
Vesna steps forward and shows her holy symbol of Yor shouting in Turonic with a commanding voice. Three of the zombies turn and start shuffling back towards the cave for less than she had hoped for.
The group begins to make a defensive line when Fergus has an idea. He tells the group to move further up the path and see if they can find the source while he distracts the zombies. At first they do not want to, but Fergus makes it clear that it wasnt a suggestion. Nodding they turn and dash off as Fergus makes a lot of noise calling out the zombies.
Erim leads the charge up the path as they can start to see green leaves further up ahead, they are getting close to the source. As they round yet another curve in the path, they are stunned to see that they have reached the source and it is not what they expected at all.
Standing in the middle of the path, holding out a blackened wooden staff is a man. He is wearing tattered black robes and the stench of death and disease emanates from him. His face and hands show the signs of decay and various diseases and at his feet insects flow out from under his robes turning green to black as they spread out into the foliage. His cracked and skull-like face breaks into a disturbing grin as he sees the heroes.
They have come face to face with a Dark Druid!
Erim wastes no time, muttering and oath as he leaps forward with his sword ready to strike. The Dark Druid moves first and as Erim swings he touches the blade with his hand. In horror Erim watches as the sword rusts and crumbles to dust.
Guillaume tries to take a shot with his wheellock, but the rotting has gotten into it and the chamber misfires, damaging the weapon beyond repair.
Vesna attempts to duplicate her move with the zombies, but this evil is no undead and he laughs a drying cackling laugh at her, muttering a curse in her own language at her that makes her face pale with shock and horror.
The laughing is cut short as Diggers sling bullet finds the mark and cracks into the Dark Druids head. His anger is evident as he turns his face towards the Hobbit and fixes him with a look that could kill.
Mather, sensing that this is a fight for the very survival of not only his life but all the life around them charges forward with his quarter staff and actually connects with the evil being causing him to stagger back.
Behind them they can hear Fergus getting closer, herding the zombies with him.
Guillaume, frustrated at the loss of his pistol, hurls the useless weapon at the Dark Druid in anger. It strikes true and the cold iron of the barrel causes the creature to scream in agony!
Reaching out with his hand and staff a wave of sickness emanates from him and both Guillaume and Erim double over vomiting, the victims of instant plagues! Mather, realizing he cannot fight this creature scrambles to retrieve the iron barrel, as all the wood has magically rotted away from the gun.
Digger lets sail another sling bullet and connects! The Dark Druid begins moving towards him and Erim passes out from the sickness and Guillaume is on his knees retching. Vesna shouts in Turonic again, but this time she is not trying to turn the enemy.
Her iron mace smashes into the head of the Dark Druid caving it in like an over ripe melon. An ungodly scream emerges from the diseased being as he crumples into a pile of filth and rot! A cloud of noxious air bursts out and envelopes the group as Fergus rounds the corner, zombies right behind him.
Choking on the air, the group rallies a defense over the body of Erim and the still vomiting Guillaume. A last stand if you will. Then the most wonderful thing happens the zombies all begin to slow as new branches and twigs sprout from the ground, enveloping them in living plants of green and brown. As the heroes watch confused, they hear the sounds of bag pipes and tin flutes approaching.
The sight they see next is one that awes them. Around the corner comes four brownies playing music and dancing along with them barefoot, hoisting up her skirt is a chubby, rosey faced red haired woman who is emitting an incandescent glow.
Kedikoi mutters Mather as he rubs his eyes. Its the Mist Queen!
The others are stunned as they watch the green of the hills return with each step she takes, spreading out like spilled cans of paint. The brownies play a lovely tune for to dance to and as she reaches the heroes they stop playing and she stops dancing.
This is no way for self respecting heroes to be she says with a smile Nyx, give them something to drink. Obeying her, one of the brownies hands then a water skin filled with the clearest and freshest water they have ever tasted. They all immediately feel better and the effects of the disease cloud pass. All except Erim, who remains dying at their feet.
Kedikoi leans down and places a gentle kiss on Erims forehead, giggling like a girl as she does. Slowly the colour returns to his cheeks and his breathing becomes stronger. As his eyes flutter open he is baffled at what he sees.
Kedikoi wastes no time and begins lecturing Erim about all this nonsense about going back to Adiare. If my husband needed you in Adaire you would still be there. Erim opens his mouth to protest, be the chubby fairy goddess silences him with a matronly wave of her hand. It is time you see that there are things much larger in this world that you and your silly Duke. Big things and thats why you and all these lovely folks have come together. You will see soon enough that it wasnt an accident. She smiles at the others, who remain silent, Vesna with her head lowered in awe.
Now then enough of this silliness Erim and get to your task, otherwise my sister Mave will have to come see you and well truth be told, Im the nice one. She smiles sweetly again, looks over her should and says to the brownies Play me out boys!
The music begins again as the group watches Kedikoi dance off, spreading life and renewal with each barefooted step. The party says nothing, just watches in absolute silence and with small smiles on their faces.
Once she is out of sight and the music has faded away the party turns and quietly heads towards the way they came and where they hope their horses are still waiting. As they pass by the body of Old Bill, Erim stares at the sword the old warden is holding out of the new undergrowth as if offering it to him. As Erim havers in his mind, Digger rolls his eyes and snarks Just take the damn sword boyo!
Erim does and the party moves on. Digger notices that Fergus has been unusually quiet since Kedikoi and pokes a bit to find out whats on his mind. Fergus shares with Digger how when his wife got he prayed to the gods to return her to health and they didnt. Then he felt the calling of St. Cuthbert and sees now that his wife dying was preparing him for the work he was to do now. Digger agrees and shares some hobbit wisdom about how when gods make their decisions it is best to go with the flow and not try and stand in the way. The two nod in agreement as they find their horses alive and well.
As they ride back into Mont Royale, they see that finally the clouds have broken and the sun shines down on the little town. Returning to the Brass Boar, they eat heartily, drink mightily and laugh and carry on. That night the townsfolk also come out in large numbers and a great celebration is had. Many toasts to Old Bill are raised and it is as if the dark mood that covered the sleepy town has passed.
Well fed, well drunk, well danced and well cheered they all sleep a little bit easier that night, knowing they did something good and made a difference in the lives of the citizens of the sleepy little farm town.
The end.
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Earth Alpha: Yet another RPG blog!
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I will read your campaign logs - in order - sometime...
I am mainly afraid of getting hooked on an irregular serial story
I am mainly afraid of getting hooked on an irregular serial story
C&C/D&D-related writings, Cortex Classic material, and other scraps: https://sites.google.com/site/x17rpgstuff/home
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20
Class-less D&D: https://github.com/ssfsx17/skill20