Forest of Wyrd #30 - Of Ogre's and Ends

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranza (Changeling 3)

Jonesomon (Specialist 4)
Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 4) 

Vegarious (Changeling 3)

Thrax [NPC] (Fighter 3)

The party waited for the moon to pass it's zenith before putting their assault plan into place. First, Ranza scouted the camp while still invisible, trying to pinpoint the number and location of the ogres. She slipped across the open hilltop towards the back of the crude huts, and by peaking through gaps in the crude walls and/or listening was able to locate 3 or 4 ogres sleeping/resting in various huts. There were also 3 or 4 sitting around the blazing fires. And another was discovered patrolling the perimeter of the hill top by the rest of the party, who had to pull back deeper into the woods to avoid being spotted. Ranza also noted the ogres seemed well organized, maintaining and changing watch all night. 

Almost noticed several times, the changeling made one more stop before heading back to the party to report. She slipped in to the closest prisoner cage, and whispered a warning to the pair inside. One seemed dazed and barely noticed the disembodied voice coming from the darkness. The second sat up with a jolt, and Ranza had to calm him down so he didn't give her away. She warned the man (Vorg) that help was coming and they should try to escape in the confusion if possible. She slipped him her dagger just in case, and hen headed back down the hill in the darkness to rejoin the party. 

Once Ranza explained the layout and occupancy of the camp, they put their assault plan into action. Vegarious cast invisibility on Hobbs, who then used his stealthy ability to head over to the huts and start dousing them with the party's oil supply. Gnarl and Ranza then gulped their potions of flying to get over top of the camp. Gnarl started to torch the now very flammable huts, while Ranza started to cast spells from above. This of course got the ogre's attention, and a great bellowing and screaming emerged from the burning huts. Ogre's started to pour out of the blazing shelters, joining those around the fire. Several, including the big leader, headed towards Gnarl where he stood torching and entangling. Others rushed down the hill top to the tree line, where the party now revealed themselves with a shower of arrows. Vegarious used her new wand of cold to great effect, freezing multiple ogres and keeping the party from getting overrun. The situation still looked dire, as Gnarl and Ranza struggled against the group still in the circle of firelight. Hobbs took this opportunity to summon help, using the necklace to call for Diamur Without Peer. The fey lord appeared, someone annoyed but ready to fulfil his vow. He and Thrax rushed into the open and up the hill top to take on a pair of as yet unengaged ogres. 

By this point, Vegarious had frozen four of the ogres, then Ganrl and Ranza took out the huge chief. That was enough for the rest of the clan, who turned and fled over the opposite side of the hill. Several more were cut down in the rushed retreat, but several did escape into the forest and the night. But the battle was now over, and the party could pause to catch their breath. The prisoners were released; when questioned, they reveled all had been captured by the ogres and were being fattened up to be eaten. Right now, they just wanted to get away from here an back to Twitten's Hollow or their homes. As for the fellow tied to the standing stone, it proved to be another wood gnome by the name Silanor. He too had been captured but the ogres apparently didn't think he looked very tasty. Instead they kept him around to repair their gear and perform odd jobs. They tied him to the stone as they thought he would keep the magic of the stone, whatever it may be, at bay.

Speaking of the stone, the black dog now emerged from the woods and trotted over to it. Stopping next to the black monolith, it turned to look at Gnarl, as if waiting for the wood gnome. Well, this is what they'd come for so no point waiting any longer. Gnarl stepped over to the stone and touched it. Once more the dog began to writhe and fade in and out of existence, before finally setting back again into corporal form as a huge 8' high mastiff. This time it turns on Gnarl with a snarl, and attacked the wood gnome. He fought back with his spear, and when the rest of the party tried to help they found some kind of invisible barrier prevented them from doing so. So Gnarl was on his own, and though it was a close fought battle, he in the end succeeded in slaying the beast. As it fell dead, the dog once more transformed, this time back to it's original form and size. It walked over the Gnarl and for the first time touched the gnome. This gave Gnarl a surge of power, making his feel more vital [ability point increase] and the dog also bestowed a wish upon him. The rest of the party who'd accompanied Gnarl on his quested likewise received a boost of power[ability point increase]. 

With it's task completed, the dog took one last look at the party and headed back into the forest, going south east. Dimaur Without Peer likewise took his leave, brusquely informing Hobbs his obligation was now ended, taking the necklace before disappearing.  Meanwhile, the rest of the party searched the camp and uncovered a small pile of treasure buried in one of the huts. And with all the excitement over, the party and prisoners (less Silanor who likewise slipped away into the night) settled in just off the barren hilltop to rest for the night, before proceeding the next day to Twitten's Hollow. 

TOTAL XP

2504

GAINS

677sp 

potion of polymorph

small brass cauldron with beaten sun patterns [250sp]

KILLS/VICTORIES
7 ogres

LOSSES
none

Forest of Wyrd #29 - Small Dragons & Big Problems

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranza (Changeling 3)

Jonesomon (Specialist 4)
Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 4) 

Thrax [NPC] (Fighter 3)

The party decided, given the obvious advantage in numbers the ochre-men possessed and their own current paucity of spells, to pull back and follow on after Gnarl. Getting back on the main trail after  retrieving Feedbag and Hoppy, Hobbs took steps to cover their tracks so the ochre-men could not follow (unsuccessfully as it turned out.)  

Meanwhile, Gnarl had continued to follow the black dog. It led him further along the trail as it climbed up the next hill. At this point the the canine led the wood gnome off trail. They went up over the crest of the hill and then down the other side, where in the faint light of morning twilight Gnarl could see the next standing stone, nestled next to a pool of water in a narrow dell at the base of the hill. He decided to set up camp here, waiting for the rest of the party before proceeding. The party found him easily some time later, having following signs the wood gnome left behind. 

Now proceeding down over he hill, Gnarl made a beeline for the standing stone while the others stood watch (Thrax on the hill above and the others in the dell). The dog by this time had already moved down into the dell and was waiting just on the opposite side of the standing stone, to the north-west as always. As Gnarl descended  into the dell, he noted a humanoid figure sitting with it's back to the stone. Roughly the height of the wood gnome, the creature sported a set of moth-like wings and was smoking a cigar. Gnarl politely greeted the fellow and inquired about the stone. The reply he received was gruff and dismissive, the creature insisting there was no stone.  He made the same comments regarding the dog. Gnarl decided to just ignore him, and move towards the stone to touch it. At which point, the creature (Grinx by name) rose and attempted to block him. Grinx threw a couple of spells at the wood gnome, all of which were absorbed by the power of his ioun stone. As Gnarl pushed past Grinx, he heard a voice screech from the top of the standing stone: 'No Fair! No Fair! He doesn't play right! Push him in!" As Grinx turned to rush at Gnarl so fast he could barely be seen, a small, bright purple dragon appeared on top of the standing stone. While Gnarl sidestepped the bull-rushing Grinx and tried (unsuccessfully) to trip him up, the hair-trigger alert party turned their attention on the dragon.  Hobbs pummeled it with a stone from Stonethorn, and the rest of the party opened up with an accurate fusillade of arrows. The faeire dragon, suddenly grievously wounded, rose into the air and dove towards the nearby pool. But though fast it could not make it in time, and another barrage of arrows plucked it from the sky and brought it down into the pool with a dead splash. Meanwhile, Grinx, seeing his master fall, looped around Gnarl and zoomed off into the nearby woods and out of sight before anyone could respond. 

Once he'd caught his breath, Gnarl walked over the the stone and touched it. This once more caused the dog (who'd simply sat and watched as the action unfolded before it) to writhe and fade in and out of existence once more, before finally setting back into a corporal form, once more larger than before. It then prepared to head off to the north west again, waiting patiently for Gnarl to follow. But the wood gnome had by now joined his companions at the side of the pool as they discussed what to do next. Convinced the dragons lair (and treasure) was somewhere below it's waters,  Hobbs stripped down and hopped in for a look. The pool was deep and narrow, a cleft in the rock filled with clear water. He found, at the end of the pool where the stream entered, a narrow opening in the rock, too small for him to enter. Reporting back to the surface, the party decided that Ranza would drink her potion of diminution and swim down to investigate, dragging along a rope and sack behind. Inside the cleft she found a dry cavern above the surface of the water where the dragon had obviously laired, for there was also a nest of gems and a pile of other wondrous treasure; a sword, several potions, a scroll and a wand. These Ranza carefully loaded into the sack for the rest of the party to haul out, and then swam out behind. 

Just as they were pulled out the sack, the party's attention was drawn up the hill by a shout from Thrax. A dozen ochre-men were heading down the slopes towards them. It seems Hobbs didn't do a good enough job of covering their tracks. The ochre-men  threw a couple of volley's of spears, and the party responded with arrows, killing one of their attackers. That was enough for the ochre-men, and they turned and retreated up over the hill and out of sight once more. 

With all the excitement over for the day, the party now had to rest before continuing on their journey. Setting out once more in the late afternoon, they followed the black dog down out of the hills and into the forest. He led then through a strange area, a vast expanse of wood where the undergrowth was cleared away and  low barrows were scatters amongst the ancient trees. Making note of this area on their map, they decided to push on. They did encounter a pair of ghostly figures just as they were exiting the barrow field; two humans of obvious ancient origin who did not respond to any inquires and gestures form the party. Pushing on, the party next passed though a boggy area dotted with pools of ochre and signs of activity; broken baskets, wooden tools and so on. But no signs of a campsite. Once more the party opted to continue on and perhaps come back at a later time.

Their night of travel passed without future event, as did their day of rest. Moving on into the hills one more, they climbed a lightly forested slope and through a double line of huge megaliths. These ranged from 15'-40' high, and unlike the black standing stones were unevenly and crudely shaped. Once more with just a cursory glance they made note of the location and continued on.  Climbing down the slope on the other side they encounter a trio mounted on horseback. They wore brightly burnished golden armor, and upon being hailed by the party introduced themselves as the Knights of Brass. Their leader, a woman by the name of Tantith, was somewhat alarmed when Gnarl first explained he was following a quest involving standing stones. But she relaxed when it was obvious the standing stones in question were not the megaliths they'd just passed. When prompted, she explained the stones where the enscrolled remains of giants from the ancient days, and they would sometimes come to life via a process she did not know. It was the duty of the Knights of Brass to keep watch over the megaliths and if necessary deal with any giant who comes to life. Hobbs piped up to say they were giant killers too, and told her of the giant of Wickerwood. She commended the party, but noted these ancient giants were much more powerful than those still extent in the Forest today. She was also coy when asked about the history of their order, it being unclear whether these particular knights had stood watch over the centuries or were simply the latest in a long line of guardians. 

Parting ways with the Knights of Brass, the party pushed on once more and by daybreak the next day had the last black standing stone in sight. It stood tall and obvious on a bare hill, and after resting again for the day the party approached their destination. Getting closer, they could see  crude structures and figures clustered around the hilltop where the stone stood. Ranza, now invisible, moved ahead to scout. She reported back that the creatures were ogres, possibly up to a dozen of the creatures. There were also a number of crude pens in which she could see people; men, women and children. These it seemed were being fattened by the ogres for future feasting. She also noted a small figure lashed to the base of the standing stone itself. It would seem the last stage of the Twilight Path would be the most challenging to complete ...

TOTAL XP

7195

GAINS

13 Gems (Azurite-25 sp, Hematite-10 sp, Moonstone-75 sp, Amber-500 sp, Rock Crystal-100 sp, Spinel-500 sp, Bloodstone-75 sp, Turquoise-25 sp, Bloodstone-100 sp, Rhodochrosite-50 sp, Lapis Lazuli-50 sp, Star Rose Quartz-75 sp, Chrysoprase-75 sp)

Potion of Flying 

Potion of Wood Gnome Control 

Scroll of Ward Against Fire 

Sword +1, +3 vs dragons 

Wand of Ice 

KILLS/VICTORIES
Lologolog, the Faerie Dragon

1 Ochre-men

LOSSES
none