Into The Woods

May 16, 2015

PCs present:
Osirian Silvertongue
Zaya
Fluffy
Aelar
'Boy'

Out of the Sewers

This sessions finds the group hunkered down in the crypt where they first encountered the vampires which they are now using as a refuge from the dragon who is searching for them.  With them are dozens of townsfolk as well as a few soldiers of The Order Of The Thundershields.  The people are scared, hungry and desperate for escape.

The group, using Aelar's rat companion, discovers that Amael, the steel dragon, is now perched atop the walls and towers of the Keep, scanning the city for movement which may be the adventurers it wants to kill.  Debate continues for much of the day as to the best way to evacuate the sewers and escape the city to the forest.  Lacking a clear direction from the group, fights break out among the townsfolk and soldiers, as one of the soldiers has come up with his own plan.  He intends to move through the city and using his boat, escape up the river to leave the city.  People fight, and kill, for the privilege to be on the boat.  A group of 8 soldiers ends up to be the chosen group and they leave.  Aelar follows discretely behind to witness them having to battle off the carrion crawler which the group had encountered days ago.  Aelar assists the four remaining soldiers back to the safety of the crypt.

During this a small girl of about 6 years, approaches Zaya and tells her that the girls parents are dead and that she wishes to stay with Zaya, as she feels Zaya will be able to protect her.  Zaya tries gently to convince her that it's not a good idea. When that fails, she tries scaring the child.  When that fails, she ends up casually tying a rope to the girls wrists and anchors the girl then  fades into the shadows. A narrow escape.

DM Note: All great attempts but tying the girl and ducking into the shadows was awesome.  Action Point rewarded. 

To The Gate and Then To The Forest
1,750 XP

Finally, it is decided that at early dawn, using the shadows as concealment the townsfolk will escape to the northwestern gate while the group, along with the one remaining soldier, who has decided to accompany the group, are going to break for the northern most gate, the gate closest to the forest.

The group of townsfolk and 3 soldiers make for the Northwestern gate, while Aelar's rat watches from the rooftops.  The escapees seem to make it.  The dragon has not moved from it's perch.  Now the adventurers moves stealthily from shadow to shadow down the street.  With several trips and falls along the way they make it to the gate.  All the while Aelar's rat has been trying to keep watch on the dragon.

Now at the gate the group decides to run for the tree line of the forest.  A full mile away the group must test their endurance to make it quickly.  Unfortunately, Osirian's love of the pipe and lack of cardio make him falter to his hands and knees halfway to the trees.  'Boy' then falters beside Osirian, making the excuses that he cannot abandon his mentor.  Fluffy then pauses beside them breathing hard and then  belching a horrible ale burp which had made him falter.  Aelar decides to stop and try to pick Osirian up.  Osirian climbs atop the elf's back but Aelar has underestimated how heavy the halfling is and falls.

Zaya and the soldier watch this monstrosity of athletic prowess from the tree line.  They also witness, Amael, the dragon, take flight....directly for the group.

Fluffy, seeing this, remembers his 'Belt of Endurance' and after yelling a warning to the others, runs at full speed to the trees.

Ultimately, everyone but Aelar is in the trees.  Osirian and 'Boy' are setting up the ritual of 'Wizard's Curtain' in order to conceal the group, but this takes time. Meanwhile, Amael, is swooping down on Aelar and is readying a fire breath to burn the offending elf.  At the last moment Aelar casts 'Uncertain Loyalties' and the dragon is temporarily confused and instead banks around to hover above the elf. When the dragon finally recovers his senses enough he tries again, only to have Osirian teleport Aelar out of harms way and into the trees with the others.

Amael, unable to find the group hidden within their concealment. paces back and forth and declares to the group that the people of the city will suffer for the group's insolence.  With that said, he takes off and flies back towards the city, perching atop the gates.

When all is clear, the group decides to move on into the forest, to find the giants and the obsidian dagger.

The Widow's Web
2,400 XP

Osirian convinces 'soldier dude' to use his amazing stealth and tracking skills to find where the giants are.  Soldier dude is excited to be granted such a privilege and quickly takes charge.  Moving very unstealthily from tiny tree to tiny tree soldier dude moves through the forest, with the group far far behind.  The forest is thick with no trails until the come to an area that seems to have larger paths cut through.  The group is barely able to see soldier dude turning a corner in the path and out of sight when they hear his screams quickly cut short.

Fluffy notices thin translucent strands hanging from trees and across the path which get thicker as path progresses towards where the soldier was.  It is barely visible but once Fluffy alerts the others they too can now see it.  Zaya picks up a good size rock and throws it with amazing accuracy towards where the soldier turned on the path.  The rock lands with a muffled thud.  It does not bounce.  It does not roll.  Just sticks.

The group decides to avoid that area.

Trap averted.


MetaGame Spoiler Inside

(DM Note: This trap was supposed to enter into the combat encounter and make things more difficult and interesting. But it turns out the encounter was difficult enough on it's own so perhaps it was good that Fluffy was able to notice it easily enough.

The Watchers In The Trees
2,800 XP

Unfortunately for the group, avoiding the trap is a short lived victory.  Out of the darkened woods 4 enchanted daggers fly towards the group stabbing Zaya and Aelar. The daggers seem somewhat sentient and even while buried in the bodies of their victims, try to push and hold the two elves. Meanwhile, three large spiders attack spitting venom and biting. Then while being occupied with those enemies, two trees along the path come to life and attack using lashing vines to ensnare and crush its victims.

Osirian is quickly grabbed and spends most of this encounter trapped in vines and trying not to be pushed into the trees gaping maw.

Alear, at one point, sees an approaching Flying Dagger and turns it into a ring which he grabs and then slides onto his finger.

Fluffy uses his spirit companion, Princess to great effect while healing the others and coming to the aid of Aelar who dropped into unconsciousness after a spider attack.

Zaya is able to repeatedly do huge damage both with arrow and sword.  While 'Boy's recently upgraded Magic Missile whittles down the enemies.

Finally, the enemies are defeated and the area is left with smoking and burning trees and dead spiders littering the path.

On towards the giants.

Dum. Dum. Duuuummmmmm.

Amael's Secret

May 9, 2015

PCs present:
Osirian Silvertongue
Zaya
Fluffy
'Boy'
Aelar Mindlasher

The Keep Of The Oder Of The Thundershields.....in better days

This sessions begins with the group leaving the Scar mines and returning to the Keep of the Thundershields.  Here they find food and lodging for the night, safe from unsavory inns.  They quickly make friends among the other soldiers, with the aid of Fluffy's ale and Osirian's songs.  They learn a few things from the other soldiers:

• The Order of the Thundershield soldiers have been constantly tasked with quests to search the lands for objects of interest.  They have no idea what kind of object they are specifically supposed to be seeking out but each and every time they return the objects never satisfy Amael, the lord of Diafthora.
• Amael is a total jerk.  He is lazy, arrogant and cruel.
• A few ask if the new 'Captains' of the Order will now be able to clean up the city of this cruelty and protect the city from the giants.
• The group befriends a few of the soldiers:

                   -Gage Greenfinger a fat soldier with a tiny voice
                   -Thorton Sharptail a soldier built like a fire hydrant
                   -and Riley Longcry a new recruit fresh off the bus (ok caravan) (he'll come back into the story shortly)

• The group is told that if they want advice they should seek out The Adventurer's Guild.  The men there have done and seen much in their adventures.

Confusion In The Keep

1, 000 XP

The Throne Room......can we not have more lights in here?

The next morning the group moves about the Keep and Osirian seeks out Keyon, the Order's financial and logistics officer.  Osirian lets it be known that he is looking for Amael.  Amael being away Osirian decides to look into the throne room while it is empty.

He finds the throne to be made of formed steel.  Uncomfortable to say the least but perhaps an affectation of someone who likes to have rare things.  An odd black stone feature from behind the curtain directly behind the throne catches Osirian's eye.  Moving the curtain he discovers a large black obsidian door.  

Finding the others they return to the obisidian door.  After checking for magic and traps Aelar opens the door from afar with magic.  The door opens and reveals a small treasure hoard within.  With much hesitation the group finally goes within and quickly inspects and divides the small hoard. Fluffy is pleased to find an old pair of boots which turn out to be Boots Of Eagerness.

Now though, the group is unable to close the doors and are aware of an odd enchantment they seem to have on themselves.  With little time to come up with a plan before they are found standing before a now empty treasure room, Osirian grabs the nearest soldier.  It turns out to be Riley Longcry.  Riley being young, gullible and eager to please follows the group back to the obsidian doors.  'Boy' casts Memory To Mist and Riley is placed in the room.  When he comes to Osirian is beating him ordering him to tell him where the treasure has gone.  Osirian now calls for more soldiers and begins a manhunt for thieves dressed as soldiers of The Order.  The Keep is sealed and soldiers are accusing each other with the majority of the new recruits being held.  With great confusion and suspicion now spreading through the keep they saunter out of the Keep

With that accomplished they go to seek a good breakfast and some good shopping.

A Day In The Wealthy Part Of Town

No XP but a crapload of items

They find an inn frequented by the wealthy of the city, The Ghostly Minstrel.  Here they meet the comely manager, Tellith and her barkeep Zade Kenevavn.  They offer a menu of fancier dishes than the group is used to and Fluffy is able to refill his kegs.  Osirian inquires of their need for a bard but is told that they have an entertainer named Tarin Ursalatao who is a singer, musician, storyteller and a ladykiller to boot.  

This does not sit well with Osirian.

The group now sets off to find the Adventurer's Guild.  They find the guild in a large well made structure of stone within the more wealthy area of town.  They meet Beltumal Goldweave and Anthol Gybsy, two portly men sitting around a large ornate table eating and telling (or retelling) many tales of their past adventures.

It doesn't take the group long to realize that the men know very little about adventuring but the old man serving them does.  Plother, an elderly man, has lived his life as an adventurer but know must make a living serving these other men who pose as great adventurers.

Plother gives both advice and a scroll of Fey Travel to Aelar.  He tells Aelar of his suspicions that a dragon is behind much of what is wrong in Diafthora.  Old tales tell of a dragon attack ages ago which left the mark which was to become The Scar Mines in the city.  The Order of old (during the Order's Golden Age) was able to fend off the dragon using The Obsidian Dagger.  The dagger was lost and the dragon was never found.  But that was when the Golden Age Of The Order and of Diafthora itself came to an end.

It is said that the Obsidian Dagger was recovered and kept by the Giants in the Juren Forest.  The dagger it is said is kept around the neck of one of the giant's pet.

While Aelar is busy getting information from Plother, Osirian is regaling the others with his own tall tales accompanied by 'Boy's prestidigitation specials effects, to a rousing success.  They offer him a place within the guild, as there can be money made in going to the houses of the lords and ladies of the city and telling their tales of daring.

Osirian declines. 

They leave.

The rest of the day is mostly taken up with shopping.  They, being on the affluent side of the river find the shops more well equipped to handle their requests and find themselves being kitted out to their hearts desire....but at a cost which irks Osirian.  Danbury's is a fine store with many fine magical items.  The group is only able to avoid being caught in their thievery attempts due to their talented speaking abilities and Danabury's predilection for superstition.

They find a store which is houses a barely controlled chaos of items at Myraeth's Oddities.  Here the old women is talked into buying art items at a staggering price but at least her pet parakeet is able to stop Osirian from pilfering too much, by calling out 'Thief'. 

Zaya is able to finally retrieve her cloak which was being tailored for her by Jane Longshore at the Golden Thread.  It is a fine piece of work and Zaya is happy to pay and even tip the women of the shop. (much to the pleasure of Martha who now has most of her fingers bandaged from the injuries and efforts of working with dragon scale)

The Return Of Amael

1,500 XP (not Full XP...of course but partial due to escape and rescue of some townsfolk)

Ameal Ogonborn......in his better looking form

The group decides to return to the Keep and they find the Keep's order party restored with many soldiers now stripped of weapons and armor and held in the Keep's prison.

The group has the prisoners moved to the throne room where under the guise of  'Boy's Discern Lies spell (which itself is a lie), Osirian questions each of the accused soldiers.  One by one he declares them innocent until there is only one left.  Riley Longcry, the young new recruit.

Osirian declares him guilty.  Footsteps then can be heard over the cries of confusion and sorrow from Riley.  Keyon, Jamril Songsteel and Amael himself enter the throne room.  (Aelar quickly jumps up and off of the steel throne).

Osirian quickly informs Amael of the occurrences and Amael demands the death of the now sobbing new recruit.  Osirian deals the death quickly and decisively.  With the decapitated body of Riley now at Osirian's feet, Amael demands the death of each and every soldier until the truth is outed.  The group understandably hestitates and Amael's now uncontrolled rage escalates until he demands Jamril slaughter everyone in the room.

Aelar uses magic to force grab both Amael and Jamril while 'Boy' casts Memory To Mist on Amael.

MetaGame Spoiler Inside

(DM Note: This was not supposed to happen this early but I couldn't see a way out of it. So the dragon reveal was a little early. Sorry.

Amael resists the spell and flies into a rage.  He also begins transforming into the Steel Dragon he really is.  With one breath of fire he kills a few soldiers while bloodying Osirian and 'Boy'.  The group also finds that the enchantment they thought they had makes them a lot more susceptible to the dragon's fire attacks.  Realizing that they are vastly outpowered, the group makes a run for the doors. Here they meet up with Fluffy who was outside having a drink with some soldiers.  He joins the quick retreat. They are assisted by the fact that Aelar has created a wall of ice that has separated both Amael and Jamril from the rest of the group.  This does not last long.

The group is running for the sewers.  They try to alert anyone they can as they attempt to escape. Along the way they encounter obstacles which slows both Zaya and 'Boy' but they eventually find a sewer opening relatively still together.  By now they have heard the crumbling of the Keeps stone walls and look back to see Amael now a full sized dragon tearing up through the Keep's castle and taking flight.  They are able to escape into the sewers but now before encountering the dragon's fire breath once more which leaves all bloodied, except for Fluffly.  (how the hell does that keep being a thing).

The group moves towards the vampire's lair that had found a while back, with Fluffy easily leading the way.  Here many soldiers, townsfolk and our group finds refuge, for the time being at least.  The group rests while the townsfolk wail and try their best to comfort each other in the face of this tragedy.

Amael....what a jerk, right?

Upon waking the group moves through the tunnel, which was used by the vampire, Leo Dilysnia had used to escape.  The tunnel leads them to a sewer opening from which Aelar releases his rat companion to investigate.  Through the rats eyes, Aelar sees the city in a state of chaos and destruction under a still dark night sky.   Many houses are either burning or toppled.  Bodies lie in the streets.

What's next? Tune in next time.

DM Note:  This session was way short on battles.  More than a couple of times I heard lets go kill stuff.  Then of course the only time there is a battle it is completely hopeless and ends in retreat.  I really hope it was fun away.