Gygax & Greyhawk Session #18 - You're Now Part of the Team

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 3)
Solcha (Elf Fighter 3 / Magic User 2)
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 3/ Thief 2)
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 3 / Fighter 2)

 

Date/Time

Wealsun 15 evening to Wealsun 16 mid-day 

Instead of turning in for the night, the party plans a little more skullduggery. Skeef settles in to watch for the elves, hoping to figure out what they do on their nightly rounds. He does see them leave and head east through the trees and bushes; but even with Ranzel's help, the party is unable to track them past the edge of the mill stream.  They then decide to check out the now deserted general store, but after sneaking in, find nothing suspicious apart from a pair of loaded and ready crossbows hidden behind the counter and curtain. Another pass of detect evil around town also reveals the jewelers establishment, once 'hot', now shows no sign of evil intensions inside. 

Now heading back top their lodgings, they make a quick decision to check out the other 'evil' establishment, the Golden  Grain Inn. It seems deserted of custom, but a faint light glows in the window. So they barge in, surprising a cluster of four men standing at the bar, conferring by candlelight. One is obviously the barkeep, another a local farmer, while the other two are hard looking men in leather armor, and armed with swords. One of them, with a long scar running down the right side of his face, looks particularly vicious. Once over the surprise, the barkeep greets them and goes to get them drinks, into which Solcha notes he drops something. Suspecting poison, none of the party drinks except Skeef, who has a small sip and immediately feels a bit woozy and unsteady. Meanwhile, Ranzel slowly dumps his ale on the floor in provocation, then hurls the empty mug at one of the men at the bar. Then all hell breaks loose until Skeef is able to charm the barkeep and Goro holds the two men in armor, the farmer simply fleeing behind the bar. 

Skeef now convinces his newfound friend Bertrem the Barkeep that they are all members of the same cult. The party learns an evil cult is kidnapping townsfolk and bringing them to a dungeon in the Troll Fens where the person/creature they worship named Explictica Defilus dwells. There the folk are brought  before Explictica to be judged whether they've worthy of joining the cult, or become food for the dungeon dwellers. Those judged worthy are returned to the town, somewhat changed. The party convinces Bertrem to let them join the kidnapping the next night, that of the stableman and his family. This will be lead by the clerics of the Temple of not-Berei, who will talk their way into the home, followed by a sudden onrush from Derek (the scarred man) and his fellow heavies. The family will then be brought to the dungeon the next night after being held at the temple for the day. 

The party decides to relocate to the Golden Grain Inn, and are escorted to the Slumbering Serpent by Derek and Wylie (the other armed man) to get their things then back to a room at their new inn. The party, being suspicious, keeps watch all night. Solcha note sounds behind the back wall during her watch, and finds a secret door there, openable only from the other side. But nothing comes of it, and morning arrives without incident. 

After breakfasting, the party heads back into the streets. They approach the miller, but are rebuffed by the suspicious man. They make their way to the elves, and after establishing their bona fides, start to compare notes. Dorian and Llywillan have identified many of the same cult members as the party, spending their nights watching either the temple or the inn watching who comes and goes. While willing to share information, the elves are not willing to join the party in their activities, preferring to keep to themselves in case the party is caught. At least then there will still be someone looking into the cult. 

GAINS

none

KILLS/VICTORIES

none

LOSSES

none