Gygax & Greyhawk Session #29 - Way of the Wolf

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 5)
Solcha (Elf Fighter 4 / Magic User 4)
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 4/ Thief 4) 
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 4 / Fighter 4)

Date/Time

Goodmonth 24 mid-day to Harvester 2 mid-day 

The party returns to the shrine and their recovering druid. They decide it would be best to relocate to the rock-hewn chapel at the entrance of the valley, and settle down there for a few days as Skeef recovers. Apart from the usual lifting and descending of the daily mist, the only unusual event occurs one afternoon late in their vigil. They observe what seems to be the whole population of the village head west into the woods of the as yet unexplored wolf shrine. These folks then return back to the village before the mist falls that afternoon. It being more than a mile across the valley, the party can't tell if everyone returned, but there are suspicions that a sacrifice has been made.  

Skeef recovers, and the party makes tracks to the western wood. And they do indeed find another round stone, this marked with the sign of the wolf. And there is indeed a sacrifice. Hanging from the circle of trees around the boulder are bodies swaying in nooses. Most are long dead and skeletal, but one is fresh. Or at least what little flesh remains is fresh.  Solcha volunteers to confront this spirit and offers a sacrifice in the form of a brace of rabbits provided by Ranzel. The wolf spirit awakes with a howl that shakes the woods, but he is not hungry so the elf must take the challenge. Standing on the boulder, Solcha is assailed by spirit wolves who try to knock her off. When she fights backs, the wolves redouble their efforts and the elf is forced to keep climbing up onto the boulder thanks to a pre-planned spider climb. But in the end she passes the test, and the spirit of the wolf offers advice to the elf; one must stand fast and fearless in the shield wall to gain a warriors reward.  The spirit also offers a clue to the resting place of the Barbarian King: 

When the falling waters show the way, 

will you see the house of my lord. 

Leaving the ghoulish clearing, the party returns to the pit of the worm. Goro is intent of getting a reward or clue from that spirit, but even after returning the treasure to the casket there is no response. It is also noted that the sign of the worm that was inscribed on the half buried boulder is still missing. Skeef uses stone shape to drill a hole through the boulder to locate any enclosed treasure, but finds nothing. 

The party returns to the chapel to rest another night, then head north into the valley after the daily lifting of the mist. They stop first at the eagle shrine where Skeef tries once more to take the test. But the spirit becomes angry when the druid ties himself down with a rope, and the eagle arises in anger and drives the party off. They figure good riddance, and opt to follow the river up a steep valley. They pass a low plateau with standing stones covered in carved writing, unlike that on the burial mound steles. It is an ancient druidic script that Solcha and Goro are able to decipher and they learn to cast call lighting. 

Continuing on, they come to the headwall of the valley. A waterfall drops 60-70' over this cliff, atop which are perched two pillars, one to either side of the stream. A narrow, steep and slippery path climbs up to the right. Ranzel tries to scramble up but slips and falls. A second more careful attempt with rope is successful. The pillars turn out to be statues, faceless and formless having lost their coating of plaster/stucco. A mournful wail is heard that slowly fades away. Connecting this location to the wolf's prophesy, the party looks around and sees a dark cover on the talus slope above them. They climb up and find a small grotto with a tunnel leading deeper into the mountain. They follow this until it splits into a Y-passage. Here they see the flaking remains of barbarian frescos on the wall, and the figure of a huge bear standing at the intersection, it's maw and claws painted as is covered in blood ... 

GAINS

none

KILLS/VICTORIES

none

LOSSES

Skeef's Pride