play session day 14

7/29/2019 Play Session Day 14

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Play Day 14 - 15/01/2013In the lands of Taggriell

Date: Toilday 7th Desnus.The party begin this session, at midday, at the base of a large mound of loose grey rocks,having just killed one Gnome saboteur and captured another, of a pair that tried to catchthe party unaware in a rock avalanche.The captured Gnome, securely tied, begins to move again as Isabella's Hold spell wears off.The small Gnome looks across at his dead companion, "You bastards! You've killed Rhis! We

only wanted to slow you down. We weren't trying to kill you. He never said to kill anyone.""Who said that?" asked Isabella, "And I warn you now, speak fully and truthfully or else youwill end this conversation with less fingers than you began."Krondor looks very uneasy, "I don't think there's any need for torture."Isabella flashes a severe glance at the Dwarf, "If you can't stomach a bit of rough treatmentI suggest you find other things to do!"Krondor moves toward the grey rock mound, "I'll keep watch up the mound."

As he passes Seng, the Monk whispers to Krondor, "This is not right."Krondor slows and whispers back, "Follow your own path lad."The Dwarf strides away and Isabella turns to the Gnome, "Speak. Tell us everything and

you might yet live."The Gnome visibly upset looks at Isabella, "My name is Dwale and him over there, was Rhis.The Red Raven hired us to slow you down. We aren't part of his normal gang. He didn'twant anyone killed, just persuaded not to continue chasing him, that's all.""Why did he steal the vernal key?" demands Isabella.The Gnome begins, "He didn't steal it, exactly. He's only burrowed it, see. He needs it torescue his love, Geppa. She has been trapped in some strange cave, or room, or

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something .... I don't understand it myself. He was only going to burrow the key, rescue hislove and then return it. Apparently the key is the only way to get out of the place.""Listen very carefully, how you answer this next question, will determine if you live or die,"

Isabella says with a cold, emotionless tone, as she slowly waves a dagger near the securedGnome.Seng takes two steps towards the pair, looking intently at Isabella.The Cleric of Cayden Cailean continues, "Where is the Red Raven's camp and how do we

get there?""I don't know," the Gnome replies with a trembling voice, despair visible in his eyes.Isabella draws the dagger closer to the helpless Gnome, "I don't believe you."Seng steps forward, "But I do. He's telling the truth."Isabella looks at the Monk of Irori with blazing fury in her eyes. She looks at the relaxedstance of the Monk and knows that he is anything but relaxed. She is fully aware that hecould snap out his hand and remove the dagger before she could even get near the Gnome.Seng speaks, "You should learn from the humble bee. Sometimes it's better to tempt withhoney than to threaten with the sting."She lowers her head and breaths deeply. Finally looking up, apparently calm once again,she turns to the dead Gnome, "Fine, then. Honey."She stands up and moves over to the dead Gnome, placing both hands on his unmovingchest. She begins to chant silently, her eyes closed in prayer. She continues this for a fullminute before the Gnome sits up suddenly, coughing."By the gods! You can bring back the dead!" exclaims the secured Gnome."No. Not quite. Your friend was very near death. A little bit longer and he would have beentoo far gone to save. Now, I can give life," Isabella pauses and looks at Seng momentarilybefore continuing, "or I can take it back again. Speak Gnome."



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Dwale, and his saved companion, Rhis, tell the party about the Red Raven's gang. How itincludes two bugbears, four highway men and an Elf sorcerer. It appears the Red Ravenhas been using the services of some of the local street urchins to pass information. Thelocation of the Red Raven's hideout is not known but they confirm it is somewhere to the

north.When the party, Isabella included, allow both Gnomes to leave, alive and with all their gear,Dwale and Rhis are so relived that they warn the party that the Red Raven may have set anambush on a bridge over a river that must be crossed.

As the two relived Gnomes are just about to leave, Isabella points at them, "Listen wellGnomes. I will come calling for you. And when I do I expect to be rewarded for sparing yourlives. I'm sure with your special talents you can think of something."Dwale replies, "Fair enough, you have spared our lives my lady. We don't hold any love forthe Red Raven. I mean, he's usually alright, bit of a laugh really, but lately he's been actingweird. Maybe it's true love that's affecting him? Anyway, when you're next in Winewold, goto the Sahtisauna, it's a bathhouse and brewery."Rhis interrupts with a loud laugh, "Brothel more like it!"Dwale ignores him and continues, "Go speak to Marja, she runs the joint. Tell her you wantto see Dwale and Rhis. She knows how to get hold of us. We'll repay our debt to ya."The Gnomes walk back towards Winewold and the party continue on.

*********The party continue walking along the winding path through the grey mounds of the DwarfQuarry for another hour, before they come to the edge of a dense forrest that stretchesas far as the eye can see to the west and east horizons.The Changrove Forrest.Isabella speaks up, "I've been thinking about that Vernal Key and what that Gnome saidabout the Red Raven acting weird lately. I think the Key might be affecting him. I remembersomething I read in my training from an old scroll. I think it might have been about artefactslike this one. I think anyone that holds the item, begins to go mad, perhaps permanently.



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The exact time frame is dependent upon the specific item but unless someone is protectedby a holy faith, then they will be affected."Elamros speaks up, "I've never heard of any items like that. What sort of holy faith?"Isabella looks over at the Half-Elf Rogue with clear distain, "That just shows how much youknow! By holy faith I mean someone who spreads the word of a god and receives special

gifts from that god. Someone who is a Cleric. Someone like me."Krondor speaks up, "Fine with me. If it takes a Cleric to carry the cursed thing then you canhave it lady!"The party enter the forest single file. Ost, their half elf tracker leads the way. *********Two hours pass and Ost, stopping constantly to check for tracks and signs of the RedRaven passing, starts to lead the party north west through the forest.Ost speaks up, "This Red Raven isn't trying very hard to cover his tracks."Seng looks suspicious, "Almost too easy?"Ost looks confused, "What do you mean?"Seng looks around intently, before moving off to the right of the track. He moves aboutthirty feet to the east and stops, "Are these tracks?"Ost moves over and looks at the area, "Yes. And someone has tried to cover them up. Wewere following a false trail."The party move back to the hidden track and proceed in a northerly direction, with Osttracking the true path.

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Two more hours pass and the angle of the yellow light of the sun that filters through theheavy forest canopy indicates that it is roughly four in the afternoon.This section of forest seems unremarkable. The plants are the same as they have been

throughout the journey, and the sounds of wildlife are as strong as ever. Yet the smell ofdeath is on the wind; borne by the breeze that blows down from the mountains to thenorth, it taints the idyllic forest with the touch of decay.Ost stops and speaks, "Can you smell that? Something large and dead is up ahead."Krondor looks around unworried, "This is a forest. There would be dead things all over."Carefully the party move forward a short distance before Elamros stops and speaks in alow voice, "There! What is that?"

About 100 feet away, seen through the gaps in the trees, a giant sized creature thatroughly resembles a moth, with large fury wings covered in rippling skull like patterns, restson the ground. Its head is shaped like that of a centipede, with four long tentacles thatsurround its mouth, and has a single pair of needle like mandibles protruding out. Themandibles are moving rapidly, with audible clicks, into the body of a dead dear that lays onthe forest ground. The hide of the deer is slick with blood. The moth is picking out chunksof deer flesh and quickly devouring the dead creature.The moth is easily fifteen feet wide in size.Isabella looks at the creature, "That is a Carrion Moth. I think it can paralysis its prey andwhen it dies poisonous gas comes out of it. Try to keep your distance."One of the hairy antenna on the head of the moth creature snaps up and points towardthe party."I think it knows we're here, " speaks Krondor as he readies his weapon.

Aforth moves forward to a large boulder and takes cover. The rest of the party also takeup positions of cover, using the large trunks of trees or boulders and ready their weapons.The moth jumps up from the ground and it's large wings begin to flap. Sand is blown upfrom the ground and the nearby bushes sway back from the force of the air. Turning, the



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creature begins to move towards the party, carefully picking its way through the largergaps in the trees.As the creature approaches an audible sounds from its wings reaches the party. The

sound becomes louder and increases in pitch, becoming more of a sensation than a sound.All the party raise their hands to the ears, their faces wretched in pain. Krondor bellowsout loud and falls to the ground, clutching his head in his hands.Isabella points one hand at the hand and utters a silent prayer to her God. The air betweenher and the creature shimmers slightly and then the horrendous ear piercing sound fromthe moth can be heard no more. The creature now flaps its wings silently.Everyone readies their weapons once more, except Krondor who still crouches downholding his head. Blood is coming from his nose and ears. The Dwarf is rocking back andforth, babbling to himself and hitting himself on the forehead with his weapon. Blood startsto flow from a wound on his head.

As the moth continues to approach, the party let loose a valley of arrows and boltstowards it. Arforth, from his hidden spot ahead, leans out and looks at the creature. TheElven wizard stares intently and his eyes become two blazing spheres. The moth suddenlyerupts into flames, which quickly engulf one whole wing. Madly the creature starts to spinaround and flap its wing faster."Quickly - finish it off whilst it's distracted!" shouts Isabella.More arrows and bolts fly out. Seng, who has moved forward, throws out a dagger on ametal chain. The blade flicks into the wings of the creature and then is suddenly springingback as the Monk spins around, bringing the attached metal chain back to him. As theblade comes back the monk continues to spin round and extends his arm out. The chainwraps around his bicep and then flys back out towards the moth to strike once again.The fire on the moth goes out as the great wings kick up more sand. The moth begins toapproach the party again.Krondor stands up and yells in pain. He looks around, a crazed look on his face. He sprintstowards Isabella and swings his weapon at her wildly. The blade of his battle axe hits thetree that Isabella is standing next to.

Isabella moves back quickly, taking up position near another tree, "We must hurry!"darkelfshadow.tumblr.com


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Ost is crouching down, clutching his bow, "My bow string has snapped!"Elamros curses out aloud as the leather buckle holding his quiver of Elvish arrows becomesloose and the quiver drops onto the ground, arrows spilling everywhere. He quickly moves

his hand to his secondary quiver and reaches for his sheaf arrows instead.The moth is near the party now. Large chunks are missing from its wings and body, theresult of arrow, bolt and chain dagger. One of it's wings is black from fire.

Aforth again looks at the creature, his eyes ablaze, and once again the moth erupts intoflame; bigger and brighter than before. The fire quickly spreads and engulfs the entirecreature this time. The moth falls out of the air and hits the ground. The fire ignites some ofthe grass underneath the creature. A green cloud erupts from the burning creature,turning the flames an emerald colour."Stay back from that poison cloud!" shouts Isabella.Krondor falls over onto his front. Breathing heavily.The flames on the moth slowly die out to reveal a black pile of flesh.Isabella runs over to the Dwarf to check on him.Panting the Dwarf speaks, "I .... I am .... alright. I could not control my mind. That damsound was driving me insane!"The party gather themselves and examine the dead deer. It appears the creature had it'sthroat cut by a blade and then was dragged to a spot, just outside the lair of the moth.Krondor speaks, "Someone planted that dead deer there, to draw out the creature.Someone wanted to leave an unpleasant surprise for anyone following through here."Gathering themselves up they continue north, once again following the trail of the RedRaven.

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The party continue for another hour. The light is darker as the afternoon is fading.Elamros stops, "Stop! Be quite."The Half-Elf closes his eyes and listens. "There is a major river up ahead. Maybe an houraway.""By god boy! How can you hear that?" asks Krondor."Come quickly then. Let's try to reach the river before nightfall," Isabella speaks.The party continue, with Ost continuing to track the Red Raven. They continue foranother half an hour before the light is so low that the party have to light a lamp.Ost speaks, "I'm sorry but in this light I will not be able to track. If we press on, we couldlose the track."Reluctantly the party decide to stop and make camp. A fire is started and watches are set.

*********The night passes uneventfully until half way through Sengs watch a bush about 30 feetaway starts to move in the shadows from the camp light. A strange growling noise can beheard.The monk quietly wakes Elamros, who has far better night vision. The Half-Elf looks,"There is a creature, about the size of a very large dog, black and fury. I can't see itproperly through the bushes. Wake the others and I'll cover you."Elamros raises his bow, pulling the string taught, with an arrow ready to release towardsthe bush.Seng quickly wakes the others. Whilst he is doing so, a black shape bursts out of busheswith a low growl.Without hesitation, Elamros lets loose his arrow, which hits the shape squarely. The blackshape stops and falls over, with a loud piercing scream.

Ost looks over, "It's a baby black bear. That screaming will call it's parents here!"darkelfshadow.tumblr.com


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As Ost finishes these prophetic words a 7 feet high black bear bursts out of the bushesand into the light of the camp fire. The savage beasts leaps straight for Seng but thetrained reflexes of the Monk sees him side step and avoid the deadly claws of the beasts.Krondor, wearing only a long night shirt, grabs his battle axe and shield and rushes toSeng. He raises his shield and commands it to life. Yellow eldritch light surrounds Krondorand Seng, who is standing next to the Dwarf.

Aforth looks over at the ferocious black beast and his eyes burst into fire. Yellow flamesbegin to erupt over the bear, spreading down its back. The beast howls in pain.Seng takes this opportunity and does a high kick, snapping the neck of the bear. The largecreature falls backwards and hits the ground with a loud thud. The flames on its back stillflickering.Before the group can celebrate their victory, with a loud roar, a larger black bear burstsforth from the dark bushes. It lunges straight for Ost, who is unable to get out of the way.Its razor shape claws knock the half elf tracker over and opens a large wound that flowsblood freely.The beasts rears up over Ost, ready to strike again. Isabella desperately raises a hand andshouts forth a prayer, "Doom be upon you!"



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The black beast stops and turns, as if strike by some unseen force. The scared creaturethen bolts out of the light and back into the darkness. The sound of its frantic escapefading into the night, leaving only the sound of the screaming bear cub.Ost, still on the ground and bleeding, speaks up, "That bear will return for its cub, onceyour spell ends."Krondor moves to the bear cub and removes the protruding arrow, "My lady, please yourhealing."Isabella bends her head and prays silently. Golden light flows from her attractive figure andspreads out. The wounds on Ost stop bleeding and heal up. So too does the arrow woundon bear cub. The cub quickly raises to its feet with a low roar and then turns and runs intothe bush to follow the larger bear.Ost stands, "Thankyou. I doubt those two will return. I'll take care of the dead bear."The party clean up and again return to sleep, with watches set. The remainder of the nightpasses uneventfully.

*********And as the sun starts to raise, indicating the coming of the morning of Wealday the 8th ofDesnus, that is where the play session ended.


play session day 14

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