Post by David on Apr 16, 2012 15:04:19 GMT -5
Ourobos of Diancecht, one of Greyhawk's most powerful and well-respected clerics, put out a call for heroes. Answering the message were Styr (mystic of Blizzard), Clod (dwarven fighter), Zylvanar (drow druid), Gilgamesh (burly tiger-cub), Nikaris (talking black jaguar and majordomo of Gamoth of Ki), Dr Morbius, and Sir Tristan. After a meeting in Ourobos' grove, the heroes set out from Greyhawk to the Shrine of Saint Darias -- the cleric has lost contact with his allies in the Gnarley Forest and requires their magical hammer for some purpose.
On the Ides of April, the group takes a ferry across the Selantin River to West End, continuing on to Oakpoint where most of the group shares a room in the inn. The drow, cats, and mystic, however, sleep out-of-doors where they are attacked by a group of bandits. The druid's entangle handles the problem and the next morning the heroes move on. The next night the cavalier joins the others camping and they meet woodsmen, but otherwise pass the night without incident. The third night the whole group camps in the woods and then spends the next three days getting lost before finding the right trail to the Shrine.
On the afternoon of the sixth day out, the group reaches the ruins of the Shrine and enters the central courtyard to investigate the sack of the holy site. Entering the stable, they encounter six 15' long giant lizards that the drow druid hastily speaks with. The beasts are servants of lizard beings they dislike and Zyl convinces the lizards to help the heroes attack them. Entering the main chapel, the heroes find and battle over a dozen troglodytes. In the ensuing combat all the lizards are slain as are most of the reptile-men. Unfortunately, the mystic chooses valor over wisdom and charges into combat, getting seriously wounded. Without anyone else to heal him, the heroes are forced to retreat into the woods where they encounter two different waves of troglodyte hunters/trackers. It's only the druid's entangle spells and the jaguar and tiger's ferocity that keep the heroes alive! Styr, meanwhile slips into a mortal coma. Tristan rides for help to the nearest town.
Two days later, a large wolf runs into the heroes camp, followed by a sparrow. The bird transforms into a teenage man with long dark hair. He explains that he's a druid and was told the heroes needed help. Mikhail proceeds to heal the wounded before leaving mysteriously. Tristan arrives soon afterward with a bag of goodberries.
On the 23rd, the heroes attack again, this time storming one of the out-buildings and battling down to some basements. There, they are caught in a three-way encirclement between hallways and Tristan is overwhelmed and slain. The rest barely manage to escape -- it's the great cats that cover their retreat and again Styr is taken out.
The heroes rest two more days in the woods, although this time there are no reptilian visitors. Then elves ambush the group and shoot three arrows into Zyl before the party can even react. With a bit of convincing, the heroes demonstrate that the drow is actually a neutral druid in the service of one of the Archdruids of the East. The elves leave to watch on the troglodytes and keep an eye on the heroes. It takes the party two MORE days to heal all the wounds from this additional encounter...
On the Ides of April, the group takes a ferry across the Selantin River to West End, continuing on to Oakpoint where most of the group shares a room in the inn. The drow, cats, and mystic, however, sleep out-of-doors where they are attacked by a group of bandits. The druid's entangle handles the problem and the next morning the heroes move on. The next night the cavalier joins the others camping and they meet woodsmen, but otherwise pass the night without incident. The third night the whole group camps in the woods and then spends the next three days getting lost before finding the right trail to the Shrine.
On the afternoon of the sixth day out, the group reaches the ruins of the Shrine and enters the central courtyard to investigate the sack of the holy site. Entering the stable, they encounter six 15' long giant lizards that the drow druid hastily speaks with. The beasts are servants of lizard beings they dislike and Zyl convinces the lizards to help the heroes attack them. Entering the main chapel, the heroes find and battle over a dozen troglodytes. In the ensuing combat all the lizards are slain as are most of the reptile-men. Unfortunately, the mystic chooses valor over wisdom and charges into combat, getting seriously wounded. Without anyone else to heal him, the heroes are forced to retreat into the woods where they encounter two different waves of troglodyte hunters/trackers. It's only the druid's entangle spells and the jaguar and tiger's ferocity that keep the heroes alive! Styr, meanwhile slips into a mortal coma. Tristan rides for help to the nearest town.
Two days later, a large wolf runs into the heroes camp, followed by a sparrow. The bird transforms into a teenage man with long dark hair. He explains that he's a druid and was told the heroes needed help. Mikhail proceeds to heal the wounded before leaving mysteriously. Tristan arrives soon afterward with a bag of goodberries.
On the 23rd, the heroes attack again, this time storming one of the out-buildings and battling down to some basements. There, they are caught in a three-way encirclement between hallways and Tristan is overwhelmed and slain. The rest barely manage to escape -- it's the great cats that cover their retreat and again Styr is taken out.
The heroes rest two more days in the woods, although this time there are no reptilian visitors. Then elves ambush the group and shoot three arrows into Zyl before the party can even react. With a bit of convincing, the heroes demonstrate that the drow is actually a neutral druid in the service of one of the Archdruids of the East. The elves leave to watch on the troglodytes and keep an eye on the heroes. It takes the party two MORE days to heal all the wounds from this additional encounter...