Another session, another PC death. It may be noticed by now that if a player is missing, their PC is still run and is still quite capable of being killed off. Adventuring is dangerous business, after all.
BlueJay, Fineach, and Avalon (formerly Maria's) players only played sporadically, if that. Now one is passed, one is working offshore, and the other has left the group for personal reasons. Such is life.
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7/13/20 -
PCs with players in attendance
Yelrah, halforc barbarian
Klayton, human warlock
Svetlo, human cleric
PCs with players NOT in attendance
Avalon, ? bard
Bluejay, dwarf fighter
Kirsten, elf ranger?
Albrecht, human sorcerer
NPC henchman
Ulster, human fighter
The plan for the evening's session was to return safely to Ironguard Keep and hand the items over to Mario, so they could get paid. Things started off well, with a second visit (and lunch) with the Beekeeper from session 9 (who warned them of fresh troll spoor in the area), but quickly went awry as a pack of (5) hungry owlbears found the Group.
As the horrid beasts shrieked and charged from the woods, the Group was momentarily stunned - because the Owlbears won initiative. Fair Avalon of the Hurdy-Gurdy fell beneath the claws and beaks of three of the beasts, with Albrecht and Yelrah getting tagged by the other two (the dice were unkind - multiple critical hits AND exploding damage dice).
Upon their initiatives, the Group rapidly plunged into the river (PUN!), preferring the unknown waters and rapids to the known owlbears. When they finally washed ashore, most had taken damage and a few were utterly exhausted (1 level of exhaustion) from the watery escape. Saddened by the loss of their companion, Klayton bled upon his rug, calling forth his magic cabin.
That evening passed uneventfully, as the dice were again unkind, but this time to the DM. That trend continued until the Group reached Ironguard Keep. Passing through the gates, they found Brunhilde - one of the Keep Magus's apprentices - on duty, who said that Yelrah’s book had been examined and that he should see her later that evening when the gates closed.
Being mercenary bastards at heart, the Group went immediately to Mario’s for the rest of their payment. He handed them their gold and asked them to clean up before joining him for dinner. Fondly remembering the last meal, the Group agreed.
Dinner provided full stomachs, bottomless wine glasses, and interesting news. Chief among the news was that the person they picked the items up from was referred to as Old Granddad, being an ancestor of Mario Favarro. Furthermore, it was learned that individuals could commission enchanted items through Mario, and with a suitable down payment and a wait time of no longer than ten years, they would have an item close to what they want - no one really argues with a Lich, especially when he’s the only game in town.
This saddened Yelrah, who was tired of his rusty goblin dagger and was hoping for a shiny new magic sword. While the two blades that had been retrieved were spoken for, Mario reminded Yelrah of the odd stone sword in the shop. Yelrah then purchased Stone Cleaver - 'a heavy blade of gray stone cracked and reeking of elemental power, carved from the heart stone of a powerful earth spirit and inlaid with geometric sigils in black marble' - for a now-forgotten sum (also, the description is in quotes because I lifted Stone Cleaver word-for-word from a blog that is now also forgotten).
Poorer, but better armed, the Group went to bed - some at the Lion’s Den, some in their shared apartment. While in the apartment, Yelrah and Klayton came to an agreement. Klayton would gladly pay Yelrah 300gp for Yelrah’s magic belt (from an earlier session). The deal was sealed in the sight of Svetlo Sudca, cleric of Odin, and partner in crime.
During the night, Klayton’s shrunken head again visited him in a dream, offering power for the small favor of a body. When the shrunken head was not forthcoming about why and what type of power, Klayton said no. The shrunken head nodded slowly (quite the feat without a neck) and the dream ended.
The following morning, Yelrah sought out Brunhilde at the Lord Magus's tower. She was with fellow apprentice Gudrun and shared that not only did the book contain spells, but it detailed a Chest of Many Stairs, which opened to stairs to a variety of locations, depending on where the Chest was located.
Access to the Hive Dead, the Wandering Glade, and the Black Library were all called out by name. They then offered to buy the book for 225gp. Yelrah asked for time to consider the price, then thanked them and left to seek out his roommates.
Klayton and Svetlo meanwhile had gone to see Captain …. the Warden. She paid them for their butchery (harpy feathers, ogre tusks, some other random body parts) and more importantly for information. Klayton spoke of all he knew of Mario and Old Granddad, as well as what the Twk-Men had said. They took their pay and left.
Everyone rendezvoused at the Lion’s Den, where Bluejay thanked them for their adventures, but declared a friendly parting of ways. As Bluejay said goodbye, Ulster spoke up and asked about decent armor, weapons, and kit (the DM also swore to do the guy’s character sheet before next session).
Deemed a fine use for cash, Ulster was given a sack of coin and sent on his way. While he shopped, Yelrah told Svetlo and Klayton of the book and what it contained, and that the ladies of the tower offered to buy it for 225gp. Klayton (may have) stated that he was bad at math, so they should ask a price divisible by three, and it was agreed. So off they went, and convinced the ladies to sell the book for 300gp, which was promptly split among them.
While at the Magus’ tower, Klayton attempted to tell the ladies of his shrunken head, but couldn’t get the words out, instead spitting out a giant tequila wurm (like in the movie Poltergeist), which crunched loudly under multiple boot heels. His untoward actions resulted in Brunhilde sending them away.
Over dinner, it was decided that the Group may know where the Chest of Many Stairs is, and it was considered the next place to visit. Then other options were raised (along with several mugs of the Lion’s Den finest), and it was decided that instead of the abandoned wizard’s tower and its suspected Chest, they would instead visit the caves under Wyrmsback Ridge and capture a pod man to return to the Keep.
Realizing that they would need more muscle to replace their rapidly dwindling comrades, they looked about the room and spied Morgan Ironwolf, who agreed to join them for an equal share of the treasure.
Until next time….
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DM Note - When the campaign was active, I was reading lots of Goblin Punch blog posts and Echoes from Fomalhaut 'zine issues, among others, which is where several of these items and places come from; I promise I am not nearly clever enough to do so myself.
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