Gygax & Greyhawk Session #7 - On To New Adventures

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 1)
Solcha (Elf Fighter 1 / Magic User 1)
Skeff Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 1 / Thief 1) 
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 1 / Fighter 1)

Balthus (Human Fighter 1)  

Date/Time

Planting 5 - midday to Planting 11 - morning

Before making any decision between exploring the isle or moving on to other things, Skeff charms a blackbird to gain aerial reconnaissance . The bird reports no human structure on the isle except some stones and a long narrow thing separating one side of the island from the other. A large serpent lay on one side of the long thing, and the only human was on the other side. The shinning light they party observed from the mountain came from a cliff at the end of the island, beyond the serpent area. The party is still uncertain whether they should alight on the island, citing a combination of low spells and multiple wounds, as well as reluctance to interfere with the scaredness of the island to the Kharan tribe if there was no clear reason to do so. Leaving the second question unresolved, the party retreats back to the gnoll cave to rest for the night and address the first. 

Next day, they head back to the lake and make steps to cross the shallows. They get halfway and are challenged by a wild man in robes of strange material, yelling at them and swinging a staff over his head. He forbids them entry. Questioned, he explains the tribe worships Mok' Slyk, the Serpent who consumes souls of the dead. The island is sacred to him, and the valley on Hardway Mountain is the path cut by Mok' Slyk as he descended from space to the primordial Oerth.  Goro notes this being is some sort of ur-deity, ancient and long forgotten by the world. After several more attempts to talk their way past Arn, the party decides to leave and not provoke a confrontation. Instead, now that they know roughly where they are in Tenh, they head west towards the crossroads town of Oxton. After a short but frightening encounter with a troll one night, and a pleasant one the next day with a group of pilgrims of Beory going to worship at some sacred burial mounds to the north, they arrive safe and sound in town after a few days travel. 

They check and reject a few inns (Dancer and the Dark Mage, The Troll's Hand, The Hellgate) before settling in for a few days at the Ox & Lyre. In addition to resting and refitting, the party looks for rumors of further adventure. They learn of three possibilities:

• Hygar the Ox-Driver is heading east to the Troll Fens and the borders with the Theocracy of the Pale. Duck Ehyah II is there again this campaigning season, upgrading defenses against both the trolls and the Faithful Bands of the Pale across the Yol River. He looking for company and protection along the way. 
• Jakael Foss, recently arrived from Nevond Nevend, passes word that the Duke has put out a call for armed bands to clear old bandit holds and orc lairs along Rockegg Pass above Calbut. It seems the Duke wishes to deal with the raiders from the Hold of Stonefist in the next campaigning season, and wants to clear out any minor annoyances along the way first. See Marshal Iaba of the Tenha Host in Nevond Nevend  for more details. 
• While discussing their encounter with the pilgrims with  a local man (Gyar Uldan), they are reminded of the reverence the Flann of Tenh have for their dead. It would be unwise to disturb barrows and graves in the Duchy. On the other hand, non-Flann burials are free for the plundering. Gyar tells them of one such place just a few days away in the Griff Mountains. A local near-do-good by then name of Black Odo headed off to the tomb just as the snow cleared from the uplands. She and her henchman have not been seen since. Another group followed after her just a few days ago.

The party decides to stay local and (hopefully) loot-rich, and get directions from Gyar to the tomb, beginning  their journey back east the next day. 

GAINS

none

KILLS/VICTORIES

1 Troll

LOSSES

none 

Gygax & Greyhawk Session #6 - Off the Mountain

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 1)
Solcha (Elf Fighter 1 / Magic User 1)
Skeff Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 1 / Thief 1) 
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 1 / Fighter 1)

Balthus (Human Fighter 1)  

Date/Time

Planting 4 - midday to Planting 5 - midday 

The party takes the bypassed branch and soon come to another intersection with 5 paths radiating from it. A crude abatis of brush blocks the two furthest paths, and a pair of frog-like humanoids guard it. There is also a crude wooden cage containing a giant lizard.  The party tries parley, but no one speaks bullywug and the dim creatures understand nothing else. Sign language and gesture leads to misunderstanding, and a battle begins. The bullywugs release the lizard from the cage, but it turns on them before running off into the swamp. Soon the pair of foes are dead and their heads placed on poles to scare any others. Footprints in the mud suggest two types of bullywugs are around, one larger or heavier than the others. 

Taking the path leading towards the plains, the party in ambushed by bullywugs who are dispatched as per the previous attack. The trail eventually leads to a thick entangled wood where the river reforms, and beyond which lies the plain.  It appear difficult to pass through, so the party opts to head for the nearby ridgeline where a path can be seen. After climbing nearly to the top, they note a cave and hear shouting in crude orcish. Five orcs emerge into the sunlight and reluctantly attack; three are killed and two surrender. Questioned by the party they reveal that a massive gnoll lives in the cave and had kept them in thrall. Releasing their captives, the party tries a bold approach with the cave, but Goro ends up with three arrows in his chest. They then opt to descend off the ridge for the night, and return fully rested the next morning to deal with the gnoll. Which they do quite easily this time, and recover a bit of treasure in return. 

The party descends onto the gently rolling plain, finally leaving the mountainside behind. They follow the river towards the sparkling lake and island, looking for signs of civilization along the way. The reach the edge of the lake and note riders coming from the east, leading a bound man on foot. They stop at the edge of the lake nearest the island and call out. After some time they receive a reply or sign, and ford across to the island. They return after a while, and release the man on foot, directing him towards the mountains before riding off.  The party waits for the man to get closer and then waylays him. They learn his name is Ritik of the Kharon tribe, and he is a horse-thief. He was brought here by his tribe to be judged by their shaman Arn Flowmane on the sacred Isle of the Serpent. He opted not to fight the Serpent as his punishment and redemption, but rather elected to try his fate on Hardway Mountain to search for the great "Eye of the Serpent" that legend says is found there. If successful, his shame will be erased and his crimes forgiven. The party gives him a few helpful items and advice before sending him on his way ...

GAINS

12gp

Crude Gold Jewelry  [50gp]

Electrum headband [25gp]

Golden earing with malachite gem  [50gp]

Tourmaline Hat Pin [250gp] 

KILLS/VICTORIES

5 Bullywugs

3 Orcs

1 Gnoll

LOSSES

none