Sunday, February 23, 2025

Gygax and Greyhawk Session #46 - Final Preparations

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 6) 
Solcha (Elf Fighter 5 / Magic User 5) w/ henchman Usborn (Gnome Fighter 2/Illusionist 1)
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 6/ Thief 6) 
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 4 / Fighter 5) 

Date/Time
Sunsebb 2 (afternoon) to Sunsebb 3 (morning)


As the party tired to decide the best way across the open water, Ranzel tossed some dried meat in the water. And was rewarded with a thrashing about in the water as something large gulped the offered food. Uncertain of the rowboat and what lay beneath the surface, they decided to send just Ranzel and Solcha across first, with a rope tied to the stern in case they had to be dragged back. About halfway across the  voyage was interrupted when a scrag, an aquatic troll, bust out of the water at the rowboat. There was a  short fight where Ranzel was nearly dragged into the water by the attacking beast, but the scrag was suitably hacked to bits and the crossing was completed by all the party with no further interruptions. 

A little further along the trail, they observed a human figure in the midst of some trees. It was acting strangely, bouncing about an waving to get their attention. But it seemed to draw back as the party approached too close. When they did enter the thicket, they realized the figure was actually a lure, attached to a huge mawed beast that burst from  a boggy hole. And was summarily dispatched by the two-handed sword wielding duo of Ranzel and Goro. 

Continuing along the LRRSS directions, they party eventually comes to a dead end, where the trail ended at a copse of willows. A cluster of larger dead trees lay at the far end, and close investigation showed one to be split right down the middle and filled with inky blackness. Above the opening was a curious silver sigil. They tired various things to uncover the voids' secret, but it then it it simply required touching the sigil. A bell rang from the depths of the darkness, the void disappeared and a burst of light came forth. Taking their chance, the party passed through and found themselves in a quaint, if over-color saturated meadow. At the far end at the edge of a wood was a small manse with smoke rising from the chimney, while over head they were treated to a view of the depths of the cosmos.   

At the mase, they were met by the sage Emas Mere, who settled them in his gothic study (and made them fresh rolls) and proceeded to answer their inquires about Avernus and what they may expect from their travel to the Hells ...  

GAINS
none

KILLS/VICTORIES
1 scrag (aquatic troll)
1 swamp angler

LOSSES
none


Sunday, February 9, 2025

Gygax and Greyhawk Session #45 - Sage Swampcrawl

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranzel of the Wood (Human Ranger 6) 
Solcha (Elf Fighter 5 / Magic User 5) w/ henchman Usborn (Gnome Fighter 2/Illusionist 1)
Skeef Hawkridge (Half Elf Druid 6/ Thief 6) 
Goro (Half Orc Cleric 4 / Fighter 5) 

Date/Time
Patchwall 23 (morning) to Sunsebb 2 (afternoon)


The party spent the next month in Nevond Nevnend counting their treasure, training, spending gold, and scribing spells. All in preparation for their forthcoming expedition to Avernus, the first layer of Hell. But first they needed a little more information. While the temple of Heironeous could offer advice of a more general nature, the party had some specific questions to ask. Inquiring about to town, they learned the best source of such information was the reclusive sage Emas Mere, a specialist in the inner and outer planes, and especially the lower planes. He was not to be found in the city though, choosing to dwell in a dismal marsh a short distance south of the city and on the right bank of the Zumker River. Though it is unclear exactly where in the marsh he dwells, they being directed to a cave, hut or grove of trees by various sources. 

Hauling themselves out into a cold and blustery day, the party heads south and finds a local riverman to give them passage across the water. There they are dropped at a dilapidated dock and follow a faint trail away from the river. As the trail branches and twists through the fens, they encounter a recently occupied cave formed of huge boulders, a dead body facedown in the muck, and some strange swamp gas bubbles.  There was also a crazed man by the name of Yordolin, holed up in a rickety reed hut on slits. While they first suspected he was the sage, it was soon obvious he was mad, raving about the 'knowledge' written in the plaster of the hut walls; a mass of the same nonsensical letters 'LRRSS'. The party guessed this may be directions, and headed out to the left, right etc. Which lead first to a bush of screaming berries, and then a dilapidated rowboat on the edge of a wide channel ...

GAINS
12 sp
gem [75gp]

KILLS/VICTORIES
none

LOSSES
none