2 June 2015
On the way out of town, the party stopped at the castle construction site, to talk with laborers and with the magic-user Burne. He agreed to show them around the village when they got back, and revealed that he and Rufus are vassals of the Viscount of Verbobonc. There was a bit of subterfuge, as Kheldar and Burne each tried to make sure the other really knew Wilfrick. Further out, not far along the overgrown trail, Kheldar sought and found a woodland creature to befriend. The plump (18-pound) rabbit had a good reaction to him, told him it had heard big thumpy runners (the horsemen) the night before, and agreed to accompany him. It was happy to be carried.Progress along the overgrown track was slow and tiring, taking them two and a half hours to clear a little over two miles of severe overgrowth, most of it while climbing hills. Finally, the land leveled out, and then the trail descended into a shallow, swampy area, and not long after that, they came to the ruins of the moathouse.
They hobbled all of their horses just off the end of the causeway leading to the moathouse, and left Feodoric to guard them. The party advanced cautiously, and rather than being surprised by the Giant Frogs in the weeds, they spotted the frogs, and in fact surprised them! Kheldar got off six sling bullets in his two segments of surprise, killing one of the larger frogs. Karox only had one segment to act, though her bow gives a rate of fire of 2, so with the triple rate for surprise, she got six arrows off, killing one of the “small” Giant Frogs. In the first full round of combat, the speedy Kheldar and Anaïs went before the frogs, though they didn’t kill either of the remaining couple, and Anaïs lost her dagger in the weeds. Then the frogs jumped in. The larger one jumped clear over the party, and bit Valiniriel on the leg, nearly taking it off. The smaller one jumped right in front of Billet Graham. In simultaneous attacks, it missed, and he didn’t, though he didn’t kill it. Everyone swarmed the frogs, but Valiniriel got bitten again, and half-swallowed. Then they finished the frogs off. Graham healed the magic-user, and while he recovered, the others searched around the frog pond, and inside the frogs, recovering a few sling bullets and arrows, but losing Anaïs’ dagger. They also found a 100 gp gem in the largest frog.
Next … Karox invited Feodoric along, and the entire party advanced to the drawbridge, where Kheldar checked for traps on the eastern half, and found none. They trooped across single-file and into the courtyard.
They turned to the tower next, not wanting to leave it unexplored behind them. Kheldar peeked through the arrow slit and saw nothing. Karox opened the heavy, warped door with no problem, and Kheldar sent his bunny friend in, asking it to go to the other side and back. The Huge Spider within couldn’t resist the snack, and pounced as the bunny was making its return trip. It surprised the party, so they didn’t get a chance to shoot at it before it yo-yo’d back up. They readied two flame arrows, and Kheldar climbed the outside of the tower. He fastened a rope on a merlon, and peeked over the edge. Surprise! Literally: the spider surprised him and bit him with a natural 20, crippling his arm with 2xd6 or 12 points. He failed a difficult (-30%) Climb Walls roll to rope down as he was falling unconscious, and thus took falling damage of 2d4-2. All told, he was at -6 and will have gnarly scars on his arm. Luckily, Kheldar matched that critical hit with a natural 20 on his Saving Throw against poison. Graham healed him, but not enough to even get him conscious (though any attention was sufficient to keep him from dying). Graham insisted on killing the spider before they went back to town. So, he cast Sanctuary on himself, and walked inside the tower, while Karox stood by with a flame arrow ready. Unfortunately, Graham couldn’t see the spider, as he doesn’t have infravision. Fortunately, it failed its Saving Throw, and so couldn’t attack him. Karox stepped in anyway, and fired blindly, hoping to at least light up the ceiling area. She scored a critical hit, and hit the spider anyway. That made it mad, and it jumped down to kill her. Graham hit the thing for a little damage. Anaïs used her round getting into place for a backstab, but then Valiniriel cast Magic Missile and finished it off in a spray of ichor.
For the looting phase of that encounter, Anaïs climbed the handy rope to the top of the tower, and poked around in the spider’s nest. Icky stuff, but no treasure. Examination of the floor of the tower did not reveal any hidden trap doors, though a thorough search of the dried husks and other litter netted some silver and copper coins, and an ivory box the size of a large book. Low on spells and with one unconscious comrade, the party debated options, and finally elected to retreat to Hommlet.
Back in Hommlet, the party inquired at the church about healing for poor Kheldar. Unwilling to pay the steep 50 gold pieces for a single Cure Light Wounds spell, they stayed overnight at the Inn of the Welcome Wench, so Brother Graham could pray for four Cure Light Wounds spells. Anaïs generously paid for everyone’s food and lodging for the night.
With a day to kill in the village (waiting for the cleric to replenish his spells), the party did a little exploring. Kheldar found the mage Burne in the common room being fussed at by two local farmers. They were nearly demanding that he “do something” to stop the brigand attacks. After they departed, Burne mentioned to Kheldar that the inn was in a bit of an uproar, as the innkeeper had been robbed, though none of the patrons had. He was perplexed as to how the thieves had managed to locate the well hidden money box. Kheldar played dumb and shocked.
There was also some trading to be done: they visited the traders’ shop for more arrows, where they met the owner, Rannos Davl, a greasy, round, slow man, and his assistant or maybe partner, Gremag, a greasy, tall, thin, odd man (both human). Rannos offered them 65 gp for the ivory box, though they elected to get another estimate. He also sold Karox 20 arrows for 4 gp, which is a little high, though at least the arrows looked good. And the party took his offer of a man-at-arms named Ulfric, who is “good with a bow,” though he seemed a bit green—he claimed to have “been up against it,” in a battle with some brigands. Rannos took one day’s rental, 2 gp, up front, and laughingly warned the party to make sure to bring Ulfric back. They declined the offer of another bearer, a likely lad, but superfluous to their present needs. Kheldar briefly cased the place, noting the very sturdy door to the back room, and two good-looking locks.
At the party’s request, Valiniriel cast Detect Magic from the front yard of the inn, covering both a few items they had among them and everyone in the common room of the inn. He thus identified Anaïs’ newly acquired dagger as magical. No one else asked him about anything specific, so he didn’t mention any other party magic items. He did point out a waist-high scroll (or other item of similar proportions and size) and boot-high dagger, both concealed on a sneaky-looking fellow in the common room.
Kheldar wanted to check out—i.e. case—the moneychanger’s shop, so he went over to get the frog gem assayed. The moneychanger, Lem, offered him 75 gp for it, if he would send the others over, “especially that young elf lass.” Done. Kheldar’s observations didn’t reveal any obvious weaknesses—the guards and dogs are taciturn and single-minded. The front dog refused Kheldar’s offer of a cold cut, with a most ungracious growl and snarl. Anaïs duly went over, got an offer of 80 gp for the ivory box (to be considered later), and accepted an offer to go out daisy-picking with Lem. Happy Day!
They turned to the tower next, not wanting to leave it unexplored behind them. Kheldar peeked through the arrow slit and saw nothing. Karox opened the heavy, warped door with no problem, and Kheldar sent his bunny friend in, asking it to go to the other side and back. The Huge Spider within couldn’t resist the snack, and pounced as the bunny was making its return trip. It surprised the party, so they didn’t get a chance to shoot at it before it yo-yo’d back up. They readied two flame arrows, and Kheldar climbed the outside of the tower. He fastened a rope on a merlon, and peeked over the edge. Surprise! Literally: the spider surprised him and bit him with a natural 20, crippling his arm with 2xd6 or 12 points. He failed a difficult (-30%) Climb Walls roll to rope down as he was falling unconscious, and thus took falling damage of 2d4-2. All told, he was at -6 and will have gnarly scars on his arm. Luckily, Kheldar matched that critical hit with a natural 20 on his Saving Throw against poison. Graham healed him, but not enough to even get him conscious (though any attention was sufficient to keep him from dying). Graham insisted on killing the spider before they went back to town. So, he cast Sanctuary on himself, and walked inside the tower, while Karox stood by with a flame arrow ready. Unfortunately, Graham couldn’t see the spider, as he doesn’t have infravision. Fortunately, it failed its Saving Throw, and so couldn’t attack him. Karox stepped in anyway, and fired blindly, hoping to at least light up the ceiling area. She scored a critical hit, and hit the spider anyway. That made it mad, and it jumped down to kill her. Graham hit the thing for a little damage. Anaïs used her round getting into place for a backstab, but then Valiniriel cast Magic Missile and finished it off in a spray of ichor.
For the looting phase of that encounter, Anaïs climbed the handy rope to the top of the tower, and poked around in the spider’s nest. Icky stuff, but no treasure. Examination of the floor of the tower did not reveal any hidden trap doors, though a thorough search of the dried husks and other litter netted some silver and copper coins, and an ivory box the size of a large book. Low on spells and with one unconscious comrade, the party debated options, and finally elected to retreat to Hommlet.
Back in Hommlet, the party inquired at the church about healing for poor Kheldar. Unwilling to pay the steep 50 gold pieces for a single Cure Light Wounds spell, they stayed overnight at the Inn of the Welcome Wench, so Brother Graham could pray for four Cure Light Wounds spells. Anaïs generously paid for everyone’s food and lodging for the night.
587 CY, Wealsun the 3rd: Healing!
After a night of restorative sleep, Kheldar was still not at all well. Valiniriel seemed better, though still not at full strength. Graham used his four Cure Light Wounds spells and quickly fixed them both up.With a day to kill in the village (waiting for the cleric to replenish his spells), the party did a little exploring. Kheldar found the mage Burne in the common room being fussed at by two local farmers. They were nearly demanding that he “do something” to stop the brigand attacks. After they departed, Burne mentioned to Kheldar that the inn was in a bit of an uproar, as the innkeeper had been robbed, though none of the patrons had. He was perplexed as to how the thieves had managed to locate the well hidden money box. Kheldar played dumb and shocked.
There was also some trading to be done: they visited the traders’ shop for more arrows, where they met the owner, Rannos Davl, a greasy, round, slow man, and his assistant or maybe partner, Gremag, a greasy, tall, thin, odd man (both human). Rannos offered them 65 gp for the ivory box, though they elected to get another estimate. He also sold Karox 20 arrows for 4 gp, which is a little high, though at least the arrows looked good. And the party took his offer of a man-at-arms named Ulfric, who is “good with a bow,” though he seemed a bit green—he claimed to have “been up against it,” in a battle with some brigands. Rannos took one day’s rental, 2 gp, up front, and laughingly warned the party to make sure to bring Ulfric back. They declined the offer of another bearer, a likely lad, but superfluous to their present needs. Kheldar briefly cased the place, noting the very sturdy door to the back room, and two good-looking locks.
At the party’s request, Valiniriel cast Detect Magic from the front yard of the inn, covering both a few items they had among them and everyone in the common room of the inn. He thus identified Anaïs’ newly acquired dagger as magical. No one else asked him about anything specific, so he didn’t mention any other party magic items. He did point out a waist-high scroll (or other item of similar proportions and size) and boot-high dagger, both concealed on a sneaky-looking fellow in the common room.
Kheldar wanted to check out—i.e. case—the moneychanger’s shop, so he went over to get the frog gem assayed. The moneychanger, Lem, offered him 75 gp for it, if he would send the others over, “especially that young elf lass.” Done. Kheldar’s observations didn’t reveal any obvious weaknesses—the guards and dogs are taciturn and single-minded. The front dog refused Kheldar’s offer of a cold cut, with a most ungracious growl and snarl. Anaïs duly went over, got an offer of 80 gp for the ivory box (to be considered later), and accepted an offer to go out daisy-picking with Lem. Happy Day!
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