Post by David on Jan 11, 2016 19:46:56 GMT -5
Venturus Drake, ever the shrewd merchant and businessman, assembles a party of adventurers to explore the recently reactivated gate a day's walk from Portown. Joining the merchant are his granddaughter, Bethany, and her familiar, Cleo, Cliffy of Portown, Wynd and Thundr, Joe StrongArm, Marc, and Sul Absil (sent by Venturus' son, Moorak, from Amberwood). The group spends the first three days walking to the gate, catching the trail of wererats, tracking them back to Portown and the catacombs under the graveyard where Xarella Snowbird lives, and then heading back again to the gate. Finally, the group tests out the gate and arrives in forested mountains.
Cliffy casts fly on himself while Bethany transforms into a copper dragon. The two scout from the air and the elven cartographer recognizes the region. Within a short time, Cliffy realizes that the heroes are now in the Yeomanry, near the where the Jotuns give way to the Little Hills. The group then spends the next five days walking to Loftwick and en route, Joe picks up Dalilah, a beautiful 16 year old girl intent on becoming his apprentice and learning magic. Once the group arrives at Loftwick, they hear of giant bandits near Farvale and head there, making short work of the lone family of hill giants preying on travelers crossing the narrow passes. The group returns to Farvale and rests for an extra day, only to be awoken in the evening by alarms. A large band of giants has come to avenge their kin!
The heroes find themselves up against seven formorians, five hill giants, and nine ogres. Cliffy unleashes a fireball that incinerates three ogres and hurts several giants. A crippling boulder smashes the flying elf -- he's saved by his stoneskin spell, but sent hurtling away from the fight! Bethany, meanwhile, has cast mirror image on herself and is leading a charge right toward the giants with Marc and Sul Absil as well as Venturus and Joe. Wynd, meanwhile, hangs back in the town and rains arrows of death into the jotuns. Bethany's images keep several of the ogres and a couple giants occupied while the elf peppers the hill giants with boulders. Venturus, Joe, Marc, and Sul Absil wade into combat. The minotaur and beastmaster are both seriously wounded, Venturus is badly mangled and nearly killed. Joe, however, fairs quite well until a lucky boulder shot pulverizes his skeleton, killing the young transmuter instantly. Cliffy flies back into the fray, unleashes multiple lightning bolts into the giants, crippling several and killing others. Thundr charges into battle just as things get dicey, but the heroes pull through and save themselves and Farvale.
The town holds a celebration in the party's honor and offers a hero's burial for Joe. (+1 social level in the Yeomanry)
That afternoon, Wynd speed zephyrs back to Loftwick where he convinces a priestess of Pyrhea to raise Joe in exchange for a quest. Next stop -- the Crystalmists where the heroes are to slay a lair of frost giants...!
Cliffy casts fly on himself while Bethany transforms into a copper dragon. The two scout from the air and the elven cartographer recognizes the region. Within a short time, Cliffy realizes that the heroes are now in the Yeomanry, near the where the Jotuns give way to the Little Hills. The group then spends the next five days walking to Loftwick and en route, Joe picks up Dalilah, a beautiful 16 year old girl intent on becoming his apprentice and learning magic. Once the group arrives at Loftwick, they hear of giant bandits near Farvale and head there, making short work of the lone family of hill giants preying on travelers crossing the narrow passes. The group returns to Farvale and rests for an extra day, only to be awoken in the evening by alarms. A large band of giants has come to avenge their kin!
The heroes find themselves up against seven formorians, five hill giants, and nine ogres. Cliffy unleashes a fireball that incinerates three ogres and hurts several giants. A crippling boulder smashes the flying elf -- he's saved by his stoneskin spell, but sent hurtling away from the fight! Bethany, meanwhile, has cast mirror image on herself and is leading a charge right toward the giants with Marc and Sul Absil as well as Venturus and Joe. Wynd, meanwhile, hangs back in the town and rains arrows of death into the jotuns. Bethany's images keep several of the ogres and a couple giants occupied while the elf peppers the hill giants with boulders. Venturus, Joe, Marc, and Sul Absil wade into combat. The minotaur and beastmaster are both seriously wounded, Venturus is badly mangled and nearly killed. Joe, however, fairs quite well until a lucky boulder shot pulverizes his skeleton, killing the young transmuter instantly. Cliffy flies back into the fray, unleashes multiple lightning bolts into the giants, crippling several and killing others. Thundr charges into battle just as things get dicey, but the heroes pull through and save themselves and Farvale.
The town holds a celebration in the party's honor and offers a hero's burial for Joe. (+1 social level in the Yeomanry)
That afternoon, Wynd speed zephyrs back to Loftwick where he convinces a priestess of Pyrhea to raise Joe in exchange for a quest. Next stop -- the Crystalmists where the heroes are to slay a lair of frost giants...!