Post by David on Apr 23, 2012 14:57:20 GMT -5
The heroes (Styr, Clod, Zylvanar, Gilgamesh, Nikaris, Dr. Morbius, and Shyana) are camping in the Gnarley Forest, preparing to again attack the Shrine of St Darias when they hear the sound of combat elsewhere in the woods. Clearly, someone is dying. The humans, Styr and Dr Morbius light a torch while the rest rush through the darkened wood to lend assistance. They arrive at the scene of a battle. Many humans already lie dead, but one human (able to see in the dark?), one orc, and one winged lizard-man are still on their feet fighting seven strange creatures. The beasts are similar to wolves or hyenas, but are particularly muscular and vaguely ape-like with partially prehensile tails and claws that easily grip tree bark. Indeed, these monsters seem to easily be able to battle from the sides of the great Ipt trees and leap from branch to branch, with fang-filled mouths dripping saliva as the jump. Working together, the heroes quickly take out the monsters (aarnz). Unfortunately, the two parties do not at first trust one another, but the new-comers have all adventured with Nikaris and Gilgamesh, so the cats help smooth things over and Thug, Greeshnak, and Fluffy join the party.
In the morning, this larger party attempts to charge through the front of the chapel, but almost immediately run into trouble. Troglodyte war darts rain down from the other buildings and, at least initially, the heroes can't reach the trogs inside the chapel because five giant lizards block the way and attack. Zyl easily convinces the lizards to change sides with a simple speak with animals but in the courtyard Shyana goes down to the missile fire and Gilgamesh goes after the trogs in the stable, smashing down the doors. Greeshnak joins the cub. Fighting three battles, the heroes have trouble.
Nikaris runs to the tiger's rescue, followed by Zylvanar. Clod holds his own quite well, but Thug is overwhelmed by trogs and falls in the back of the chapel. Dr Morbius shows spunk and fights fiercely before falling. By the end of the fight, over a dozen troglodytes lie dead, but nearly all the heroes are also down, save Styr, Nik, and Gilgamesh. Unfortunately, Styr quaffs a blood-red potion on one of the troglodytes and transforms into a werebat. The black jaguar and tiger recognize the effect and leave, dragging their drow ally to the "safety" of the elves.
Nikaris offers to go back for the elven priestess is "someone with fingers and a thumb" will tend to Zylvanar. The elves half-heartedly agree and a small group goes back to rescue Shyana as well as the "humans" (Dr Morbius and Thug) and dwarf (Clod). In the process, they scare off the werebat, last seen flying into the late-morning skies. This means Greeshnak (an orc) and Fluffy (a winged lizard man) remain behind. When Shyana recovers, she convinces her elven allies to recover Fluffy too.
The heroes rest up, using most of Zylvanar's remaining goodberries to recover. They also meet a human scholar, Maximilian, who was headed to the Shrine to fetch a tome for his master. In the morning, this new group returns to the shrine in order to rescue or avenge Greeshnak (Sir Tristan is almost certainly beyond help at this point!). The party goes through the living chambers and enters the lower levels, but there waits at the three-way hallway. Creatures wait in each direction. Using flaming oil to block two halls, Thug leads the cats in a frontal assault in the third direction, near the well. The half-orc goes down and only their superior speed and leaping ability allows the cats to survive. Meanwhile, one of the troglodytes holds Clod. The heroes beat a swift retreat, resting in the woods for two more days.
The elves send one of their own to oversee the party, an elf named Draegar. The heroes try one most assault, this time searching the out-buildings which are now empty. The group has a long and difficult fight in the chapel, taking out several leaders before being forced to retreat. But, this time, no one falls and all the heroes escape after killing nearly two dozen troglodytes, mostly young ones, but also one that was quite powerful.
In the evening, the young human druid, Mikhail, arrives in the party's camp. He explains that he had come looking for them as it has already been a full week since his earlier visit. The elves had told him where the party was. The young druid then cures the various wounds of the group, telling the party that they need to do a service for the elves when they're done and THEN come to Klarr. The drow should remain covered and at ALL costs not appear hostile NO MATTER WHAT....
In the morning, this larger party attempts to charge through the front of the chapel, but almost immediately run into trouble. Troglodyte war darts rain down from the other buildings and, at least initially, the heroes can't reach the trogs inside the chapel because five giant lizards block the way and attack. Zyl easily convinces the lizards to change sides with a simple speak with animals but in the courtyard Shyana goes down to the missile fire and Gilgamesh goes after the trogs in the stable, smashing down the doors. Greeshnak joins the cub. Fighting three battles, the heroes have trouble.
Nikaris runs to the tiger's rescue, followed by Zylvanar. Clod holds his own quite well, but Thug is overwhelmed by trogs and falls in the back of the chapel. Dr Morbius shows spunk and fights fiercely before falling. By the end of the fight, over a dozen troglodytes lie dead, but nearly all the heroes are also down, save Styr, Nik, and Gilgamesh. Unfortunately, Styr quaffs a blood-red potion on one of the troglodytes and transforms into a werebat. The black jaguar and tiger recognize the effect and leave, dragging their drow ally to the "safety" of the elves.
Nikaris offers to go back for the elven priestess is "someone with fingers and a thumb" will tend to Zylvanar. The elves half-heartedly agree and a small group goes back to rescue Shyana as well as the "humans" (Dr Morbius and Thug) and dwarf (Clod). In the process, they scare off the werebat, last seen flying into the late-morning skies. This means Greeshnak (an orc) and Fluffy (a winged lizard man) remain behind. When Shyana recovers, she convinces her elven allies to recover Fluffy too.
The heroes rest up, using most of Zylvanar's remaining goodberries to recover. They also meet a human scholar, Maximilian, who was headed to the Shrine to fetch a tome for his master. In the morning, this new group returns to the shrine in order to rescue or avenge Greeshnak (Sir Tristan is almost certainly beyond help at this point!). The party goes through the living chambers and enters the lower levels, but there waits at the three-way hallway. Creatures wait in each direction. Using flaming oil to block two halls, Thug leads the cats in a frontal assault in the third direction, near the well. The half-orc goes down and only their superior speed and leaping ability allows the cats to survive. Meanwhile, one of the troglodytes holds Clod. The heroes beat a swift retreat, resting in the woods for two more days.
The elves send one of their own to oversee the party, an elf named Draegar. The heroes try one most assault, this time searching the out-buildings which are now empty. The group has a long and difficult fight in the chapel, taking out several leaders before being forced to retreat. But, this time, no one falls and all the heroes escape after killing nearly two dozen troglodytes, mostly young ones, but also one that was quite powerful.
In the evening, the young human druid, Mikhail, arrives in the party's camp. He explains that he had come looking for them as it has already been a full week since his earlier visit. The elves had told him where the party was. The young druid then cures the various wounds of the group, telling the party that they need to do a service for the elves when they're done and THEN come to Klarr. The drow should remain covered and at ALL costs not appear hostile NO MATTER WHAT....