Post by David on Sept 26, 2005 16:09:37 GMT -5
On the morning of 616 / 5 / 1, a day normally spent celebrating spring and Beltain, the heroes decided to leave Nulb for Klarr. The plan was to lay low there for a few days, attempt to contact the "sex witches" and generally keep River safe. Ah, the best laid plans...
The journey began easily enough, with the heroes heading northward toward Dyvers and Sebonawych. The first night, however, just before dawn, a group of slaadi stalked the group and attacked. River definitely got the impression that the monsters were hunting them and even said something to that effect. During the fight, Kara slipped away to deal with more of the monsters. The heroes battled five red slaadi, ultimately vanquishing the lot. Andorallan's new alaghi body proved a definite asset, while Soren and Laurel were little more than meat shields. The heroes tended to their wounds and set off before dawn...
Then Jellie told about a series of dreams she'd been having involving a strange woman and weaving...
Early the next morning, a faerie folk, a booka showed up and began talking with the party. He warned them of a large encampment of goblins raiders ahead and was generally quite well at ease, until suddenly he screamed that the party was evil and fled. Unfortunately, the ruckus also attracted the goblin scouts' attention...
The heroes headed around the bandits while Kara stayed behind and made a diversion. Unfortunately, even many hours later, Kara didn't return. The heroes elected to go on and make for Klarr, expecting the wizardess to do the same.
The rest of the 2nd passed without sighting any other monsters. Unfortunately, though, Trillian decided to put on one of the magical rings the slaadi were carrying. He suddenly became quite contrary as well as immensely strong. Oy! Later, when the group camped at the edge of the road, he tried on the other ring the slaadi had, only to become invisible. He then became convinced that the rest of the group was out to get him and fled. River, Soren, and Laurel search for him, only to have Flora arrive with an invisible bundle in her mouth. Rings of contrariness and weakness do not mix well...
The group camped and when they awoke on the 3rd, began to travel overland toward Klarr. Unfortunately, again just before dawn, the party's camp had visitors. The ogres and hill giants were hunting, over a full day's march from Klarr and clearly avoiding the area. The heroes heard them before they saw the brutes...
The group awoke and, based on the initial estimates, decided to run. Soren grabbed the incapacitated Trillian and she, Flora, and Doby raced for cover. Jellie whipped up a magical distraction, but River, Laurel, and Andorallan chose to fight while Thera managed to remain asleep!
At first, River's arrows rained withering death on the ogres. Laurel proved largely ineffective, but Andorallan slaughtered one ogre after another. Jellie's phantasms proved unable to do much more than stall the hill giants but the ogres began to whittle the heroes down.
That's when Soren came back. Doby had been injured while fleeing, so she used her healing powers to restore him. Leaving Trillian in the woods, the pair charged back to save River, only to discover Flora racing past them and further distracting the rest of the ogre hunting party.
But it was too late. Doby's arrows wounded several foes and Soren's lighting bolt got their attention, but one turned and killed River. Death was instantaneous. Stunned the heroes fought off the rest of the hunting party and fled into the night...
Fearful of pursuit and badly wounded themselves, the group plunged headlong well past morning. At the base of a group of foothills they rested and took stock of their situation. River was dead. Kara was missing. Trillian was incapacitated. The quest was over. And Klarr was at least a day's hike farther.
The group rested and slowly made their way through the hills, bringing River's body along. Late in the day of the 5th, Kara found the group and in the evening, again while resting at night, the group was attacked yet again. This time, it turned out to be a case of mistake identity. A monastic deva named Asriel had sensed the evil of the slaadi fetuses within them and attacked. Having Kara in the party did nothing to convince the angel of the party's true ethics...!
Ultimately, however, Asriel agreed not only to heal the party and remove the Limbo-spawned parasites, but to act as their guardian and defender. Kara, for her part, dispelled Trillian's curse, but his strength did not return. Only time would heal that magic...
On the afternoon of the 7th of May, the heroes finally arrived in the little township of Klarr. They spoke briefly with Dor, the hobbit sheriff, before finally meeting Esmerelda StrongArm, a town witch. The heavy-set old woman read the tarot for each of the heroes, giving them hints of their destiny.
Once safely in Klarr, the heroes decided to rest for a while. Trillian needed several days to recover his strength from the cursed rings. And with River dead, the group had to figure out what to do next. Asriel, however, became convinced of the importance of the heroes' mission and elected to remain as their guardians, even though there were many other good beings in need of aid. For her part, convinced the heroes were in safe-keeping in Klarr, Kara headed north to Amberwood in order to get Chastity's aid.
On the 12th of May, the two wizardesses returned and Chastity managed to reincarnate River. The former half-elven archer-ranger returned to life as a black, human warrior.
And so, the heroes now ponder their next move...
The journey began easily enough, with the heroes heading northward toward Dyvers and Sebonawych. The first night, however, just before dawn, a group of slaadi stalked the group and attacked. River definitely got the impression that the monsters were hunting them and even said something to that effect. During the fight, Kara slipped away to deal with more of the monsters. The heroes battled five red slaadi, ultimately vanquishing the lot. Andorallan's new alaghi body proved a definite asset, while Soren and Laurel were little more than meat shields. The heroes tended to their wounds and set off before dawn...
Then Jellie told about a series of dreams she'd been having involving a strange woman and weaving...
Early the next morning, a faerie folk, a booka showed up and began talking with the party. He warned them of a large encampment of goblins raiders ahead and was generally quite well at ease, until suddenly he screamed that the party was evil and fled. Unfortunately, the ruckus also attracted the goblin scouts' attention...
The heroes headed around the bandits while Kara stayed behind and made a diversion. Unfortunately, even many hours later, Kara didn't return. The heroes elected to go on and make for Klarr, expecting the wizardess to do the same.
The rest of the 2nd passed without sighting any other monsters. Unfortunately, though, Trillian decided to put on one of the magical rings the slaadi were carrying. He suddenly became quite contrary as well as immensely strong. Oy! Later, when the group camped at the edge of the road, he tried on the other ring the slaadi had, only to become invisible. He then became convinced that the rest of the group was out to get him and fled. River, Soren, and Laurel search for him, only to have Flora arrive with an invisible bundle in her mouth. Rings of contrariness and weakness do not mix well...
The group camped and when they awoke on the 3rd, began to travel overland toward Klarr. Unfortunately, again just before dawn, the party's camp had visitors. The ogres and hill giants were hunting, over a full day's march from Klarr and clearly avoiding the area. The heroes heard them before they saw the brutes...
The group awoke and, based on the initial estimates, decided to run. Soren grabbed the incapacitated Trillian and she, Flora, and Doby raced for cover. Jellie whipped up a magical distraction, but River, Laurel, and Andorallan chose to fight while Thera managed to remain asleep!
At first, River's arrows rained withering death on the ogres. Laurel proved largely ineffective, but Andorallan slaughtered one ogre after another. Jellie's phantasms proved unable to do much more than stall the hill giants but the ogres began to whittle the heroes down.
That's when Soren came back. Doby had been injured while fleeing, so she used her healing powers to restore him. Leaving Trillian in the woods, the pair charged back to save River, only to discover Flora racing past them and further distracting the rest of the ogre hunting party.
But it was too late. Doby's arrows wounded several foes and Soren's lighting bolt got their attention, but one turned and killed River. Death was instantaneous. Stunned the heroes fought off the rest of the hunting party and fled into the night...
Fearful of pursuit and badly wounded themselves, the group plunged headlong well past morning. At the base of a group of foothills they rested and took stock of their situation. River was dead. Kara was missing. Trillian was incapacitated. The quest was over. And Klarr was at least a day's hike farther.
The group rested and slowly made their way through the hills, bringing River's body along. Late in the day of the 5th, Kara found the group and in the evening, again while resting at night, the group was attacked yet again. This time, it turned out to be a case of mistake identity. A monastic deva named Asriel had sensed the evil of the slaadi fetuses within them and attacked. Having Kara in the party did nothing to convince the angel of the party's true ethics...!
Ultimately, however, Asriel agreed not only to heal the party and remove the Limbo-spawned parasites, but to act as their guardian and defender. Kara, for her part, dispelled Trillian's curse, but his strength did not return. Only time would heal that magic...
On the afternoon of the 7th of May, the heroes finally arrived in the little township of Klarr. They spoke briefly with Dor, the hobbit sheriff, before finally meeting Esmerelda StrongArm, a town witch. The heavy-set old woman read the tarot for each of the heroes, giving them hints of their destiny.
Once safely in Klarr, the heroes decided to rest for a while. Trillian needed several days to recover his strength from the cursed rings. And with River dead, the group had to figure out what to do next. Asriel, however, became convinced of the importance of the heroes' mission and elected to remain as their guardians, even though there were many other good beings in need of aid. For her part, convinced the heroes were in safe-keeping in Klarr, Kara headed north to Amberwood in order to get Chastity's aid.
On the 12th of May, the two wizardesses returned and Chastity managed to reincarnate River. The former half-elven archer-ranger returned to life as a black, human warrior.
And so, the heroes now ponder their next move...
And 2nd level cleric Thera took on an ogre for at least 3 rounds before falling.
