Saturday, September 12, 2020

Forest of Wyrd Session #23 - The Dead Thayn and Other Stories

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranza (Changeling 3)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)
Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)


Thrax, Hobbs and Vegarious were swept away by the jubilant town crowd, leaving  Ranza and the just returned Gnarl standing over the comatose Jonesomon. Having lost their companions for the moment,  the pair dragged Jonesomon off to the "Nine Cups and a Cask" Inn so a day of good rest and a few healing potions would get him back on his feet. For the trio planned to search the Keep now that the giant was taken out, looking hopefully for some monetary reward for their troubles. 

Headed back to the Keep the next day, they opted to climb once more up the garderobe rope, the front gate being still barred and inaccessible. At the top floor, they first searched the fallen bodies of the hobs and the giant for loot, but with no success. Searching the room where the children had been held likewise uncovered nothing except a shield hanging over what was once the bed; a round wooden shield edged with cold iron and painted with a two headed red boar on a green field. Ranza took this, and then the three respectfully gathered the bodies of the fallen children for later retrieval before moving on. They next checked the remnants of the thayn's office. The skylight had long since fallen in, so the room was exposed to the rain and elements. All the books, maps and scrolls were ruined. and the floor itself was rotten. As Ranza discovered when she when through a soft spot and crashed into the cold ash of the hall firepit below. Meanwhile, while tapping the walls, Gnarl noted a painting or mural under the loose plaster of one wall. Scrapping it off carefully, he uncovered a map of the northern Forest of Wyrd, between the River of Sorrows and the Mountains of Twilight. Most interesting is the map showed the exact location of Fortress Iacarta and the other old Imperium border forts along the mountain range. No need for Vora to guide them north now!

As they prepared to moved out, the sound of a sheep bleating,  coupled with that of dogs barking, drew them to the arrow slit overlooking the courtyard. There they saw the two dogs still chained on and a small lamb wandering around just out of their reach. Gnarl decided this was a good opportunity to speak with animals and so the trio headed that way. The wood gnome opted to talk to the dogs, who were not particularly interested in talking at first until satiated with a good meal freshly butchered giant. He unfortunately learned little of interest, only that the dogs belonged to a farmer named Josiah and had been taken by the hobs early on to use a guard dogs. 

From the courtyard, the three climbed onto the north wall, thinking to access the gate tower and find a way to get the remaining livestock (which they had discovered in the old barracks in the courtyard) out and back to the townsfolk. As the stood sizing up the middle level of the tower, a small pebble suddenly moved all on its own and rolled down the stairs. Suspecting invisible fey, Gnarl lobbed a flour bomb which coated everything (including the ash covered and damp Ranza) in a layer of flour dust. But there was no sign of anyone there with them. Weirded out, Ranza asked if anyone was there, and was answered by the sound of scratching on the walls. After a little more back and forth, they established yes/no communication via tapping with what turned out to be the ghost of the executed Thayn Lorgan. They established his spirit was trapped here as his body was never properly buried (they found it later hanging tar-covered and grotesquely dismembered in a gibbet in the upper tower). They agree to put his remains and spirit to rest, and in return the dead thayn directed them to the treasures he knew to be in the Keep. Something in his main bedchamber (the children's room) as well as in the centre of tbe lower floor of the keep. 

Heading back to the main keep, they searched the children's chamber again. And behind where the shield was found they uncovered a secret hiding space. And in there was another shield, identical to the first. But this was was quite obviously magical. Ranza likewise grabbed this one for herself. Before heading down to search the ground floor for treasure, the trio headed into the keep tower to check it out. The only thing unusual there was found tucked in a corner at the top of the tower; a fire-blackened wooden statue of leering elk-headed mother goddess figure set above a small stained (with blood?) firepit. Jonesomon identified this as some ancient forest goddess from times before even the D'war dwelt in the wood. Very much a dark and dangerous thing, one the thayn's spirits was reluctant to answer questions about when confronted later. In the end they took the statue for future study.

Done there, they next headed for the keep ground floor.  First confronted with and defeated by a huge padlock on one door, then had to deal with a wandering giant spitting beetle which left Jonesomon and Ranza covered in blisters and sores from it's corrosive spit. They then turned to root through an old armory and a storeroom (where Gnarl liberated a hammer and chisel to use later on that big padlock). And in the back of the storeroom found a small, overbuilt room which was obviously the Keep treasure room. Which unfortunately seemed to have long since been looted; the door hung off it's hinges and inside were three smashed chests. They poked around some more though, and discovered a false bottom in one chest. below which was a small hollow and a locked wooden box. Jonesomon tried to pick the lock and was unsuccessful (and barely survived the poison needle trap he set off in the process). So Ganrl used with hammer and chisel to break it open. Inside were three leather flasks and a small purple velvet bag. Inside the bag were 12gp; Imperium dragons from 300 years ago. The flasks were potions. Ranza tasted each, finding they were  potion of diminution,  potion of healing  and one spoiled potion that made her gag and blistered her tongue. 

Moving on, they checked the next door, the one behind which could be heard faint sounds. Inside however they saw nothing. Just a series of old cells. But the faint sounds could still be heard emanating from the cell in the far corner. Thinking they may have another ghost, they started to communicate in the same way as they did with the dead Thayn. It seems there was someone else to release from bondage to the keep; a body buried in the wall of that last cell. So everyone herded in to look for a false wall or something, only to be suddenly surprised when the cell door shut and locked behind them while they were distracted by searching. Just outside the door there then popped into visibility 8 tiny humanoids flying on gossamer wings, ho eyed them with an evil look. They started to laugh and mock the captive group, but were shut down by an entangle from Gnarl, a color spray from Ranza, and lots of spear points and arrows from everyone on the now immobilized and/or stunned creatures. All were quickly slaughtered, and thankfully Gnarl still had the hammer and chisel. He hammered the lock from the door and the three glumly stomped out of their temporary prison. 

Now with a hate on for locks of all kinds, Gnarl stormed over with his chisel and hammer to the big padlock they'd failed to open before. But it was made of sterner stuff, and the chisel was shattered in the attempt. Getting mad now, he pried out the hinge bolts to get access to what turned out to be a closet stuffed full of canvas and poles. Hauling out all this junk (which they eventually figured out was a large pavilion or tent), Gnarl was reaching for another handful of cloth when he realized it was actually a person, or rather a faerie. The little creature, just a foot tall, seemed to be made of a bundle of rags with a wizened fey face. It hauled out a huge darning needle and used it to threaten Gnarl. The wood gnome backed away, and waved the little critter on.  It in turn crept past all three, still brandishing the needle, before turning and running off down the corridor. 

Having had enough of the keep, the party headed over to the gate tower where Jonesomon was able to unlock the portcullis mechanism and open up the gate. They then herded out the few remaining goats and sheep, leaving them to wander back towards town for the folk there to collect.  They then briefly checked the buildings in the courtyard. The two where the sheep and goats were penned turned out to be old barracks and stables. The other buildings were the kitchen (where they collected a suspicious bowl of nice ripe apples) and a smithy. The smithy door was nailed shut with some non-ferrous spikes, and it looked like someone had tried to burn it down. Breaking down the door, they found little inside except for the usual blacksmith odds and bobs, as well as a dozen cold iron arrows and a cold iron dagger. Which they collected as their last reward before heading back to town in search of Thrax, Hobbs and Vegarious ...
 
TOTAL XP
1548

GAINS
12cp, 7sp, 12gp
Potion of Diminution
Potion of Healing 
Shield +1, +2 vs fey. Once per day the boar can roar and cause fear. [Round wooden shield edged with cold iron. painted with a two headed red boar on a green field (Thayn Lorgan of Wickwood's emblem)]
Bowl of ripe apples  

KILLS/VICTORIES
Spitting Beetle
8 Pyskes

LOSSES
none

Saturday, September 5, 2020

Forest of Wyrd Session #22 - The Rescue

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Vergarious (Changeling 3)
Ranza (Changeling 3)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 4)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)
Thrax (Fighter 3)


After debriefing Vergarious and Ranza, the party formulated a plan to rescue the children and take out the giant. But it required help from the villagers. That took more than a little negotiation and even more arm twisting. There being no real leadership left in the village, they leaned on Sister Taritha and a few other stalwarts to recruit an angry mob. This, they hoped, would distract the giant and his minions by causing a ruckus outside the keep, while the party climbed the garderobe to the children's rescue. They received reluctant agreement  to do so, which was nearly derailed when Jonesomon and Ranza showed up with Vora Three Finger, whom they also were able to recruit to help lead the mob. It took little time for Vora's acerbic mocking to almost  kill the plan, but once more differences were papered over for the greater good. Think of the children! 

Just before dawn the next day, the plan rolled into action. The party (less Jonesomon), led by the pair of invisible and pass without trace changelings, climbed up the garderobe rope and onto the third floor of the keep. Scouting down stairs, they found the giant Fungin asleep, as well as several of the hobs. Just three were awake, feasting on the remnants of the spit-roasted villager the changelings had seen the previous day. While Thrax and Hobbs kept watch at the top of the stairs, Vergarious and Ranza then checked the children's room door. The children were certainly still in there, but the two couldn't quite tell if there was anyone with them. 

At this point, Jonesomon and Vora started up the riot out front. They crashed a burning hay wagon into the keep gate, and started to chant and shout. This shortly got the attention of the giant, and he stomped out of the main hall and to the battlements with a handful of the hobs. Fugin responded to the chanting and taunts (and the arrows/bolts of Jonesomon and Vora) with a fusillade of stone blocks ripped from the ramparts and hurled into the crowd. The villagers broke up and moved back (as did Vora after she was clipped by a stone), but Jonesomon stood out front and poured it on. In return he was plowed by a pair of hurled blocks, one of which hit him square and hard, and knocked him down and out. 

Meanwhile back in the keep, Ranza and Vergarious now heard other voices rising in the room with the children; hobs! After several failed attempts to get the doors open quietly (they were barred from the inside) the two smashed it down and charged into the room. It was a large room, but crowded with the children. There were also 6 hobbs; who seeing foes, moved into the crowd of children to use them as human shields. The cruel fey also started to cut down the helpless kids with their clubs, exulting as always when they hurt or killed one. Ranza and Vergarious responded with colour sprays which took out a good number of the hobs. But they were forced to wade into the crowd and try to take down the last pair the hard way, while at the same time trying to avoid inadvertently harming the children. This took time and unfortunately a few more innocent casualties, but soon the hobs were all dead. 

Out on the stairs, Hobbs and Thrax intercepted two more hobs that ran up the stairs, presumably to reinforce their comrades in with the children. One was killed, and the other turned and ran, so the  fighting pair rushed down the stairs to engage those in the hall. This resulted in a prolonged fight (think of the furniture!), as the hobs deftly danced away from the flashing blades. Eventually, Hobbs had to leave Thrax alone to deal with the last hob, so the hedgefey could rush up to help Ranza and Vergaious. And just moments later, the giant returned through the main doors with a crash. Thrax retreated upstairs, followed by the giant (who had a hard time squeezing up the narrow stairs) and the half dozen hobs of it's retinue. The party retreated into the children's room, Ranza ushering the young ones well to the back and hopefully away from further harm. She then pulled out the curious green statue she purchased from the goblyns, and summoned the warrior in green. By now, the giant was standing, blocking the door to the room. The green warrior ("Mac") rushed forward at Ranza's command, and lobbed a fragmentation grenade. Which, unfortunately, bounced off the door frame and back on top of him, blowing him to pieces. 

The brave Hobbs then called on this badger ancestry to get into a fighting rage, and rushed forward to block the door and engage the giant. He received a blow to the face from the giants tree-trunk club, and after lashing out in return, he retreated to give the archers behind him a clear shot. After several successful hits from the group, Ranza used one of her arrows of burrowing and drilled Fungin right between the eyes. The giant swayed and tottered, then fell crashing through the door and at the party's feet.  

Seeing their leader fall, the hobs turned and ran. Hobbs and Thrax followed cautiously, first out through the courtyard to the gate, and then down through the basement and out through the opening in the wall through which Vergarious and Ranza entered the day before. No sign of the hobs, so they returned to help with the children.  There they found that Ranza had decapitated the giant, and she and Vergarious had gotten all the children ready to leave. They led them out thought the basement, and around the keep to the waiting mob. There was much rejoicing when Ranza raised the giants head, and much more when the children appeared (though there was some sadness for those of the children who had been lost in the struggle in the keep).

The party, first checking to make sure Jonesomon was going to be OK, now prepared to re-enter  the keep and ensure there were no more of the dark fey ...

TOTAL XP
1225

GAINS
none

KILLS/VICTORIES
9 Hobs
Fugin the Giant 

LOSSES
none