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

Forest of Wyrd #28 - Black Dog & Twilight Path

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Vegarious (Changeling 3)
Ranza (Changeling 3)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)
Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)
Hobbs (Hedgefey 4) 

Thrax [NPC] (Fighter 3)

Though slowed by Gnarl's intervention, Ranza's arm continued to swell, so Vegarious offered up her potion of neutralize poison to clear it up once and for all. That done, the party settled down to rest for the night, but opted for the edges of the clearing instead the tumbled down and (until moments before) haunted cabin. Next morning dawned dull and misty, and Gnarl went looking for another feathered guide, this time to lead them to the standing stone that marked the start of the Twilight Path. Once more using speak with animals, Gnarl had to bribe a lark with a steady stream of juicy worms and grubs before it would  cooperate. But by late in the day, the bird led them to a clearing some distance to the east, almost at the forest edge. Here, standing 50' tall  was the stone. Jet black, slightly tapered at the top and inscribed with the symbol of the new moon. Waiting until nightfall and moonrise, Gnarl entered the clearing and called out. In answer, a black dog emerged from the north west edge of the trees; oddly they had not seen this animal while earlier scouting the perimeter. The dog walked to within 10 yards of the wood gnome, looked at him a moment and then turned to head back to the northwest. Before entering the trees, it stopped and turned to look at Gnarl, as if expecting him the follow. He complied, and with the rest of the party in tow, headed into the dark woods. 

They followed the dog all night as it led them down familiar paths and past familiar sights, until by  the next morning they were once more at the edge of the swamp where they'd slain the Frog King just a few days before. Here the party paused to rest. The dog, first seeming impatient to continuing, eventually settled down for a rest itself some distance from the camp.  After resting most of the day, the party moved out again in late afternoon, slogging behind the dog through the swamp, always heading north west. Just as it was getting dark, they were ambushed by a group of giant frogs. Judicious use of a colour spray neutralized two, which frightened off the rest. Gnarl and Ranza  turned to kill the two stunned amphibians, but Hobbs stopped before they could finish off the last. The hedgefey  grabbed his saddle of domestication of the mule and, when the frog regained consciousness, he plunked it on the creatures back and had himself a compliant, hoppy mount. 

After a cold and damp day at rest in the swamp, they headed out once more following the dog, reaching the River of Sorrows just a few miles south of Wickerwood by about midnight. Gnarl and the black dog swan across, the wood gnome hauling along a rope to build a rope and pulley system to transport all their stuff (and the heavily laden characters) across the deep, flowing river. As Ranza was making her way across, she was surprised to see a small collection of candles in reed floats move past her on the water surface. While a little distracted by this, she also noted that just beyond the lights on the opposite side of the river came a reed fence festooned with thorns, likewise floating downriver. Behind it came tall heron-like creatures. They did not see the changeling, for she was travelling invisible, but they did see Vegarious, Jonesomon and Feedbag on the left bank. The four heron-men turned to attack them, attempted to haul them away into the water with their long clawed hands. But another lucky colour spray and some fancy sword work killed them all. Danger thus past, the party continued their crossing and made their way into Wickerwood itself early in the morning. While Jonesomon headed off to resupply their food and drop cold iron bolts off for Vora, everyone else followed Gnarl and the black dog to the next waypoint, the standing stone at the edge of town. There they watched Gnarl go over to the stone and touch it. At that point, the dog started to writhe and  fade in and out of existence, eventually settling back into existence solid as ever, but now twice as large as before. And once more it headed off to the northwast, and once more the party followed. 

Rejoined by Jonesomon (and the long absent Thrax), the party was soon once more traversing the paths and trails around the hive of the Queen of All Bees. Leaving that area behind, they climbed further into the hills that dominates the central Forest of Wyrd, spending two mostly uneventful nights and days being led onward by the black dog. They continued to travel mostly at night, thinking thee was a need to do so given the circumstances of their quest.  By evening of the third day out of Wickerwood, they climbed a trail up the side of a tall and bare hill, thinking the next standing stone must be close by. Passing under a large pine, they were somewhat surprised and disturbed to see red ribbons and severed rooster's heads tied to the branches. Now wary, they luckily were alert when the sound of a cock crowing was heard from the hill above them. Four figures climbed into view at the crest of the hill; three men covered in red ochre and a fourth dressed in the accoutrements of a shaman. The three ochre-men prepared to roll boulders down on the hapless party below them, but Gnarl was quicker and entangled the trio. The shaman attempted to cast a spell, but was foiled by the magic absorbing properties of the wood gnomes ioun stone. Before the party could get to complacent however, they were surprised by another trio of ochre-men. These succeeded in loosing their boulders, one of which hit Jonesomon hard. They then rushed down the hill with nets, turning on Vegarious and attempting to capture her. The shaman also fired a magic missile at the unfortunate Jonesomon. However, Gnarl skewered the spell caster with his spear and it's shocking grasp, while Hobbs followed up by hurling a boulder using Stonethorn. That splattered the shaman across the rocky hillside, and the rest of the party was able to handle the remaining ochre-men. Searching the bodies recovered only a silver circlet from the shaman. 

Hobbs climbed the hill and picked up the ochre-man trail. The party decided to investigate, but Gnarl insisted he would continue on, following the dog. The rest of the party, after lashing Feedbag and the frog to a tree, headed off into the growing darkness behind Hobbs.  The trail led along a low ridge to a large cave opening at the base of the next hill. The party took cover and watched a few ochre-men come and go from the entrance. Watching longer, they later observed a band of armed and organized men emerge and head in their direction. Likely off to search for the missing ambushers. This band, however, was itself ambushed. A pair of colour spray and several sword points later, all ten were dead and the party moved over close to the cave entrance. After killing another pair of ochre-men who had the misfortune to exit the cave as the party arrived, Ranza glanced in, using her infravison to perform a quick survey.  Inside the huge cave she could see quite a few more orchre-men, perhaps 30 or more, as well as other uncertain shapes in the shadows at the back.  Pulling back, the party had a whispered conversation to decide what to do next ...

TOTAL XP

1445

GAINS

Silver circlet with yellow gem [300sp]

KILLS/VICTORIES
1 Giant Frog

4 Heron-men

18 Ochre-men

Ochre-man Shaman 

LOSSES
none

Forest of Wyrd Session #27 - Strange Days in Brakenrae; and The Frog King

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Vegarious (Changeling 3)

Ranza (Changeling 3)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)

Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)

Hobbs (Hedgefey 4) 

The party now felt they'd spent more than enough time in Wickerwood, and started to prepare for their interrupted journey north to Fortress Iacarta. Unfortunately, their sojourn in the town and keep had depleted their supplies and they decided a return to Brackenrae was necessary to resupply, rest and pay their rent and the henchmen guarding the cottage. One last stop to see Thorguld was unsuccessful in obtaining any further healing poultices, the gruff woodman grumbling something about being treated like a mass production line for the party's needs. Gnarl and Jonesomon also mad a trip to see Vora; Gnarl hoped to learn more about his vision of the twilight path standing stones  from the well travelled trapper. Cantankerous as always, she insisted Gnarl turn over the rime wolf pelt he carried (and insulted his pelt dressing skills in the process) in return for info. Gnarl agree, and she told him the first standing stone was located on the other side of the River of Sorrows, beyond the swamps [Hex 13.08]. Now knowing the location of two stones, the wood gnome was confident he could find the others, and he started to plan a journey to follow the path. 

For now though, they travelled south under a hot summer sun along the riverside trail towards Brackenrae, the three days passing without incident. There they fanned out across town to shop and take care of various business:

• Ranza and Hobbs went to see Jaskin the alchemist, to look for healing potions and have the sniveling man check out the red goo from Lithilith's lair. They obtained three potions of healing, and learned the goo was a jam made of some sort of fairy berry from the twilight realm. He did note it was often used by the fey to make magical potions and such, but this sample obviously no longer held any power. He did give Ranza a few silver pennies as he liked it on his morning toast; 
• Ranza also went to see the sage Timpanious to follow-up on their inquires into the Vernal Manor. She some additional detail about it and the Lady Vernal, and duly tucked that away for possible future need as Hobbs continued to blather on about going back to rescue Granya some day;
• Jonesomon, having taken the rumor of Earl Olfric's fey blood to heart, inquired discretely about town into the matter. He heard the same vague rumors repeated many times, plus one slightly more specific note from a drunken ex-servant of the Earl: 'you can see the answer in his eyes!'. At that, Jonesomon recalled the Earl always ware an eye patch over one eye;
• They all heard troubling stories of Gnarl and Jonesomon's 'time paradox twins'. It seems the old/original adventuring party was still spending time in Brackenrae (though away at the moment) and there had been several examples of mistaken identity between Gnarl/Jonesomon and ur-Gnarl/ur-Jonesomon. The party took steps with a system of signet rings to minimize confusion with  the people that mattered, especially the guards Angor and Beck, and their landlord.  
• Gnarl spent some quality time with his Goblyn Fair kitty, noting that it was growing quite fast and at this rate would likely be the size of a mountain lion rather than a house cat. Those curious knobs on it's shoulders were likewise growing longing and more tentacle like; what curious creature could this be? 

The most shocking and significant event in Brackenrae was Ranza getting hauled before the Earl by a posse of his huscarls. The Earl was in a rage at her, and threatened execution and torture to the bewildered changeling. She eventually figured out he was enraged by the shield she carried, the one recovered from Wickerwood Keep. For it carried the arms of the treasonous Thayn Lorgan. And the Earl suspected Ranza of formatting some sort of rebellion or  trouble in the name of the dead Thayn. She was able to talk her way out of it by discounting any interest in the shield; which unfortunately cost her the shield itself. Hoping now to be let free, she was further shocked when an old hag was lead out from the shadows behind the Earl. She was obviously a witch, tall, thin and emaciated. Foot long  nails grew from her hands and her eyes were sewn shut. As the huscarls held Ranza tight, she stopped to the fire and hauled out a brand, which she applied to the changling's neck. That done, she whispered in Ranza's ear: 'now I see what you see' and was lead away. And at this point, the thoroughly traumatized Ranza was hurled form the room and scurried off the meet the rest of the party, who in the meantime had gathered outside the castle to see is they could do anything to rescue her. 

Now thoroughly wary of the Earl, the party opted to immediately leave town. And started to make longer term plans to return later to get all their stuff and move their centre of operations to a less hostile location such as Wickerwood. Once out of town, Gnarl hauled out his silver flask of true water, and gently washed the brand on Ranza's neck. To everyone's relief, the anti-magic properties of the water washed away and negated the brand. Now at least they would not have to worry about the Earl tracking their every move. They then hired a boat to get them across the river, opting to help Gnarl find the first twilight path standing stone while at the same time taking a less than obvious route north in case the Earl decided to pursue them. 

The party cut across a landscape of  open woods interspersed with farms before approaching the edge of the Forest proper. Following a series of old game trails, they came to a clearing in the forest just as the sun was starting to set. In the centre stood, or rather leaned, the dilapidated and moss covered remains of a log cabin. Ranza cast invisibility, joining Hobbs and Jonesomon to creep up to the cabin and look inside, while Vegarious and Gnarl covered them from the trees. At first they saw nothing, but as the twilight darkened further, they noticed the faint glow of flames forming in the fireplace. And then a quartet of ghostly figures appeared, huddled around the fire as if trying to warm themselves. Jonesomon noted they were dressed as woodsman or hunters, and in an old style. The trio pulled back to confer with the rest of the party, then Hobbs and Gnarl approached the cabin and tried communicating with the ghosts.  They responded, despondent that they were cursed to sit shivering before this fire for all eternity. They offered the wood gnome and hedgefey a silver torc, asking that they kill the Frog King who'd cursed them and release them from their bondage. Once more offered the torc, Gnarl and Hobbs declined and moved away. The party discussed it, and decided to do as the ghosts asked. But only after a good nights sleep somewhere less creepy than the haunted cabin. 

Next morning, Gnarl used his speak with animals to strike up a conversion with a passing crow, offering shiny objects to the bird if it could lead them to the Frog King. It agreed, and the corvid led them on a convoluted path west towards the marshes that bordered the river. By mid afternoon, they'd arrived at the point where forest started to give way wholly to bog. There, in the middle of a watery pool, stood seven standing stones, leaning drunkenly at extreme angles. Sitting on top of one was an enormous frog, on who's head sat a bejeweled golden crown. After a few moments of discussion, it was determined preemptive attack rather than attempted parley would be the best option.  Assuming the ghosts were telling the truth, this Frog King could be dangerous. 

Jonesomon and Ranza (invisible again) slipped around the bog to get as close as possible to the regal amphibian. Jonesomon slipped quietly into the water to stab the scaly king in the back. That, unsurprisingly, removed the element of surprise for the party, so Ranza splashed over the help and the rest of the party prepared a rain of arrows. The Frog King, shocked by the attack started to yell for his guards. As almost immediately, a half dozen frog-men emerged from the bog to protect their liege. Gnarl cast entangle to hold his majesty in place, but the Frog King burst into song and dispelled the growth. However, sword and arrow soon cut eliminated many of frog-man guards, as well as seriously impacted the health and well being of the King. He called for the last guard to protect him, and jumped off the stone and into the water to escape, singing another song and dropping a fog cloud behind him to interrupt the party's line of sight. Alas, it was too little to late, for with a final volley of arrows, the party finished off the King as well as the last of the frog-men. They immediately grabbed the crown, and after a quick search around the base of the stone circle for any other treasure, climbed out of the bog and headed back to the cabin. 

Reaching there again just before sunset, they first watched to see if the ghosts and the fire would reappear. They did not; all that could be seen was the silver torc sitting on the hearthstone in from of the fireplace. Carefully entering , they picked up to torc and started to poke around. Ranza discovered the hearthstone was loose, and lifted it aside to uncover a hollow space. In it was a box with a sliding lid, and an onyx and jade earth mother statuette of great antiquity. The changeling picked up the box to slide it open (inside which was a pile of silver pennies and a potion of extra healing), and noticed stinging in her right hand and arm, which immediately began to swell to grotesque proportions. Thankfully Gnarl was handy with a slow poison spell, which kept the swelling under control. 

TOTAL XP

5850

GAINS

Golden bejeweled crown of the Frog King [1500sp]

Silver torc [35sp]

Onyx & jade earth mother statuette [800sp]

235sp

KILLS/VICTORIES
The Frog King

6 Frogling Guards

LOSSES
none

Forest of Wyrd Session #26 - The Gloaming Lord Released

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Vegarious (Changeling 3)

Ranza (Changeling 3)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)

Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)

Hobbs (Hedgefey 4) 

A whispered conversation (out of earshot of Lithilith) resulted in a plan of action to deal with all their potential foes.  First step would be take care of Lithilith and the wolf. Remembering the anti-magic properties of the true water , the party decided to lure the strange creature to the moon pool and push her in, hoping that she was some sort of magical construct and could perhaps be deactivated that way. Getting her there was easy; she simply followed along after the party as they made there way to the chamber.  Once there, Ranza distracted the creature by asking questions about the inscription, the moonlight, and so on. Once Lithilith  was distracted, Hobbs dropped down behind her and Vegarious pushed her over the hedgefey and into the pool. The water unfortunately had no obvious effect, but it at least got her out of the way for a bit as she swam to shore. The wolf, however, now turned on Vegarious and breathed a chilling cone of frost at the changeling. In return., everyone else turned on the beast and in short order the animal was dead and floating in the pool. By now Lithilith, having endured a rain of missile fire, reached the edge of the pool and hauled herself out, lashing out at Hobbs who stood closest. It turned out her touch also spread a chill, but the tough hedgefey shook it off. And in short order Lithilith was likewise slain, her bone and porcelain body shattered by multiple blows.

While considering what to do next, the party headed to Lithilith's chamber to search for loot and clues. Apart from the two blue and silver tapestries, the only items of real interest was a stone jug and basin. The jug contained a thick and viscous blood red liquid, the purpose and power of which the party could not decipher. While most of the party was engrossed with the gross liquid, Jonesomon headed out into the outer round corridor to look around. And ran head long into one of the column guardians from the central dome. Clubbed nearly to death, he yelled a warning to the party and started to retreat back to the room. Thinking to trap the thing in Lithilith's chamber so they could leave it there out of (their) harms way, Vegarious cast invisibility and slipped out of the other door to get behind the thing. Everyone else prepared to meet it and lure it in the room. The plan went somewhat to plan, with the guardian  in the room, but obviously powerful enough to beat down the door, as it now turned to do. So the party opted to destroy it instead, a task at which they were successful after much beating and hammering on it. Pausing for a moment after that battle to mend wounds and clean weapons, they next decided to take care of the last column guardian, so as to not leave it in the rear. It still stood immobile in the central chamber, so everyone opened up on it with long range missile fire through the portcullis separating Lithilth's room from that chamber. The guardian pushed forward and ripped open the portcullis, but luckily had taken so much of a beating the party was able to turn it into a pile of rubble like the first with little additional harm. 

However, several of the party had taken some harm, so they decided to climb back above ground and spend a few days at rest in the inn to recover and prepare to face the Gloaming Lord. Heading back to the chime room, most of the party assembled around the Gloaming Lord's resting place while the still invisible Vegarious range the chimes to reproduce the tune hummed by Lithilith. This caused the resin in both sarcophagi to soften, but not enough to allow someone to reach in. Jonesomon went to the empty sarcophagus and attempted to drive in his spear. Which did work, but at the same time it seemed to draw in both the spear and Jonesomon; only by luck and quick reaction was the specialist able to release his grip on the spear to time to avoid being drawn in himself. And once he let go, the resin 'rejected' the spear, pushing it back out to fall on the floor with a clatter. As this was going on, the others noted the Gloaming Lord started to stir, settling back into somnolence when Jonesomon and the spear had been expelled from other resin filled sarcophagus. And it then dawned on them what needed to be done to release the Gloaming Lord; another living thing had to be encased in the second sarcophagi to take his place in whatever realm of statis he lay. 

But did in have to be intelligent? Gnarl headed up above ground, and scooped up a wayward squirrel. While everyone else got ready the shank the Gloaming Lord if necessary, Vegarious rang the chimes with Lithilih's tune, and the wood gnome tossed the squirrel into the softening resin. It sank almost immediately to lie down among the crown and other treasures. Meanwhile, on the other side the Gloaming Lord stirred and rose out of the resin. He was obviously blind, his eyes completely white and sightless. Clad in mail made of lacquered metal leaves and clutching a gold and lapis lazuli rod, he stepped out of the resin, essentially ignoring everyone around him. Hobbs and Ranza started to ask questions. But he brushed them off with non-answers, being particularly dismissive of the changeling, who got the distinct feeling she was considered less than dirt to this fey lord.   The only useful tidbit they gleaned was he had been imprisoned here by Lord Iroch, a name they recalled from the Woad Chief's Barrow and the Twilight Archon. 

Ignoring all, Nimon just walked away, heading to the upper level. While Hobbs and Jonesomon worked to recover the treasure in the resin, the invisible Vegarious followed close behind the Gloaming Lord, and Ranza and Gnarl trailed further back out of contact.  Nimon went straight to the secret room. There, he laid his hand on the surface of the levitating cube, and in an instant it split in two. Inside was a golden reliquary, inside which Vegarious could see a beating heart. Thinking nothing good would come of whatever was happening here, Vegarious and the now arriving Gnarl and Ranza drew their weapons and confronted Nimon. He just raised  a hand, cast a spell, and the three found themselves trapped in an extra dimensional maze. Thankfully, it was only temporary, but when they retuned Nimon the Gloaming Lord has disappeared.  

TOTAL XP

9650

GAINS

Mirror in silver flower setting with round moonstone and onyx [900sp]

Scepter of golden vines, topped by a large ruby [700sp]

Silver fife inscribed with flowing unreadable script [300sp]

Goblet carved from a single piece of translucent, blood-red stone and set with green gems. [600sp]

A gold crown, carved to resemble a laurel, bedecked in green gems [1500sp]

A brass and silver telescope, inlaid with images of unknown constellations. [200sp]

A miniature, folding astrolabe [200sp]

KILLS/VICTORIES
Lithilith, the Watcher of the Resting Place

Rime Wolf

2x Column Guardians 

LOSSES
none

Forest of Wyrd Session #25 - Nimon the Gloaming Lord

 DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Vegarious (Changeling 3)

Ranza (Changeling 3)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)

Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)

Hobbs (Hedgefey 4) 

Joined by Vergarious as they stood in the corridor, the party opted to explore further, even though Gnarl was in pretty hard shape. Continuing around the circular corridor, they came to a door. It was made of the same translucent material as the rest of the complex, with a doorknob in the centre. Jonesomon scanned for traps and found nothing. But Hobbs received a nasty surprise when he reached out to touch it; a chill of unnatural cold shot up his arm, freezing and numbing. He next tried the doorknob and got the same response; and discovered the door was locked anyway. Opting to ignore this door (and it's twin at the other end of the passage) for now, the party instead headed down a new corridor that split off perpendicular before curving back towards the north. Along the flat section of wall between the two was an unusual, animated picture. Contained within a box frame, it was animated and almost three dimensional. It depicted a fey lord on a charger, leading a fey host in battle against a human army. Jonesomon was able to discern it depicted a scene from way back in time, sometime shortly after the days of the D'war. Poking, prodding and attempted ignition uncovered no useful information, so once more the party moved on. 

At the end of the new corridor was another door, just like those previously encountered. Except this one was not trapped. It opened into a long room, above which floated a strange layer of crystalline dust. Surrounding the centre was a low wall, around an opening in the floor that allowed access and view to the room below. At one end there was also a set of stairs leading down. The party was careful and methodical, searching for traps as they moved into the room. Suddenly a section of floor ahead lit up and shot a column of brilliant blue light towards the ceiling, fading and disappearing after just a few seconds. Shortly after another column of light engulfed Hobbs as he stood looking down the stairs, blinding the hedgefey temporarily. The others carefully led him downstairs and out of the danger zone. From upstairs, the room appeared have have metal pillars holding up the ceiling. In fact, it was a series of large metal chimes hanging around the perimeter of the room. At the far end was another door. The party split at this point, some headed for the door and others staying in the chime room. Beyond the door was a plain room containing two rectangular shapes. Upon closer inspection, they were revealed as sarcophagi. Each was filled with some sort of hard clear resin. One was empty except for a crown, metal tube and astrolabe type mechanism encased in the resin. The other contained the preserved body of a fey lord, surrounded by treasure; scepter, goblet, rod, and mirror. The resin itself was very hard; could barely be scratched with even magical weapons. Out in the chime room, Gnarl playing around with the musical instruments a bit, and was rewarded with a strange high-pitched trilling sound. And a trickle of fine dust from the ceiling, which made everyone yell 'stop!' to the wood gnome, fearful that the ceiling might crash down on them. 

Feeling somewhat underpowered and under prepared, the party decided to head back above ground and rest until the full moon. By then everyone would be be healed up, and they assumed something significant would happen with the moon pool by then. On their way out, Vegarious and Ranza, in turn, explored the central dome once more. Vergarious, entering invisible, noted only one stone guardian in the room, and it did not seem to notice her. Ranza, entering while visible, was seen and she beat a hasty retreat as the guardian started to advance. Both noted a faintly glowing blue patch in the centre of the room. 

Back in Wickerwood, they rented rooms at the "Nine Cups and a Cask" for the week to take their rest. They also decided to head back to Wild Gerta and Thorguld Red-Nose, to get more healing help and perhaps some information on the mysteries of the keep; the fey chambers below it and the strange idol from the tower. Ranza and Vergarious headed off to see the witch, who greeted them as creepily as before. Matters went downhill fast when Ranza realized they couldn't really afford to buy healing potions at Wild Gerta's inflated prices, but the witch was insistent that they'd made a deal and it had better be kept. In the end, Ranza traded 500sp for information on the moon pool. Wild Gerta told her the moon was a source of power for the fey lords, and that the pool they described was likely true water. This substance was enchanted by the rays of the moon, and exhibited anti-magical properties. If placed in anything other than a vessel of noble metal though, it lost its power due to contamination and fouling. The pool itself was likewise susceptible to contamination, but the light of the full moon would re-sanctify it. Taking the information in, Ranza turned to leave. But Wild Gerta grabbed her arm, and then bit her hand. As a reminder, the witch said, of their previous and still extant deal for healing.

Meanwhile, Ganrl and Jonesomon headed out of town to Thorguld's shack, finding the burly man at home this time. Unfortunately, he immediately turned on Gnarl, slapping away the strange idol the wood gnome carried and started to hit Gnarl about the head. All the while screaming something about smelling the spore of that witch on him! Gnarl retreated, and Jonesomon calmed the mountain man down. It seems Thorguld was being serious when warned them last time about dealing with Wild Gerta; he had some sort of hate on for the old buzzard and now refused to deal with Gnarl. But he did deal with Jonesomon, selling two healing poultices. Asked about the idol, Thorguld told him it was probably a representation of one of the old Wood Gods, primordial spirits of the Forest of Wyrd once worshiped by many before the coming of the Church of the Three Virtues. While many of the Wood Gods were benign and even helpful, this one he felt was of darker purposes. And noted it reminded him of the weird pagan rituals practiced by the charcoal burners in the hills above Coldhome, a village to the north.  

On the night of the full moon, the party headed back into the dungeon. There they found the moon pool clear and pure once more. Gnarl used his silver flask to carry some to the black cube and then to the sarcophagi, pouring it out to see it it had any effect. But no luck. Ranza also decided to wash her hand where the witch had bitten her; the persistent stinging at least went away. They then headed for the as yet unexplored doors, and were surprised to find them unlocked and no longer trapped.  Heading inside, they were likewise surprised to see it occupied. Sitting on a small bed was a strange doll-like creature; formed of porcelain and the knuckle and finger bones of some giant creature. When asked, she said her name was Lithilith and she was a servant of Nimon the Gloaming Lord. Sitting next to her was a massive, dire wolf like creature with oddly blue-tinged fur. Further questioning did not reveal much, as her answers were cryptic and interspersed with strange trilling humming when she didn't want to answer. They found out the full moon had unlocked the doors; otherwise she couldn't leave the chamber unless someone activated the glowing blue patch in the domed room. They also learned that it was Nimon who lay in the chamber below, and there was no lady or other who did/should occupy the second sarcophagi (Ranza, keeping past experience in mind, used detect invisible to confirm there was no one in the sarcophagi or hiding elsewhere.) Asked about and then brought to the cube chamber, Lithilith became agitated and confused  and would not or could not tell them anything. She was also unclear about Nimon; was he dead, in stasis, or something else? Why was he here and what exactly was she doing here? 

Getting a very bad feeling, the party decided to leave Lithilith and the wolf behind, and head down to the burial chamber.  But they'd forgotten about the second door, and she and the wolf followed them, she humming that trilling song all the way. Was there a connection between her song and the chimes? What would happen if they played the song on the chimes? But they then worried what would happen if they somehow released Nimon; could they deal with him, plus Lithilith and the wolf, plus the still extant stone guardians if things turned hostile? So many questions to ponder ....

TOTAL XP

0

GAINS
none

KILLS/VICTORIES
none

LOSSES
none

Forest of Wyrd Session #24 - Below Wickerwood Keep

DRAMATIS PERSONAE:

Ranza (Changeling 3)
Jonesomon (Specialist 4)

Gnarl (Wood Gnome 4)

Hobbs (Hedgefey 4) 

Jonesomon, still suffering from an acute case of 'boulder to the face', opted to spend the next few days recovering in bed. The trio of Ranza, Gnarl amd Hobbs took this time to address some unfinished business. First up, honouring their pledge to the ghost of Thayn Lorgan to give his body a proper burial. They brought this up with Sister Taritha. While sympathetic, she could not allow this as burial of a traitor in her shrine as it would negate the holy barrier that protected it, and would also put her in a most awkward position should  Earl Olfric find out. She did agree to officiate a discrete burial inside the keep yard, a task accomplished under cover of darkness and fog the next night. She was also able to explain a little about the protection provided to settlements in the Forest of Wyrd when a properly anointed lord was in charge; Thayn Lorgan's rebellion broke this trust and protection, and permitted the giant and the hobs to cause such havoc. Questioned as to why Thayn Logan rose in revolt, she indicated the Thayn believed he had a better claim to the Earldom based on both his bloodline and the rumors that fey blood flowed in Earl Olfric's veins. 

Meanwhile, they spent the days searching the perimeter of the keep, looking for secret passages or hidden cellars they may have missed. And were rewarded by finding both. A secret postern gate was discovered at the base of one tower, but it unfortunately led nowhere new and interesting. However, while searching the corner of the keep ruined by Earl Olfric's siege engine, they discovered one location where part of the fallen wall had smashed through the floor,  uncovering a narrow crawlspace into some chambers below. 

Once Jonesomon had recovered sufficiently to face danger, the party returned to the keep and entered the chambers below. They were constructed of a curious translucent white material, and though obviously long hidden, showed little sign of  dust and decay. Starting a thorough investigation of the first room they found, everyone was surprised when chairs and stools 'rose' out of the floor whenever they stopped moving for more than a minute. Their search also uncovered a off-coloured panel against the back wall, and when Gnarl placed his hand on it, the image appeared of a rose etched in the stone. After some experimentation, they discovered the thorns would magically prick one's finger, and the blood dripping on the wall opened it, revealing another chamber beyond.  This chamber contained nothing but a 3' cube of black stone, floating as it by levitation about 2' above the floor. An extensive round of investigation and tinkering uncovered nothing except that fact that the cube was at least partly hollow. The party decided to leave it for now and return later, perhaps after uncovering more information further down the corridor. 

That corridor joined another, circular passage. Which itself intersected with a circular, domed chamber. A pool of crystal clear water filled the room, on the surface of which fell from above a shaft of light. Around the pool were four alcoves, three of which contained statues and the fourth an upright slab of yellowish marble. While Hobbs stripped out of his armor and jumped in the pool, the others examined the alcoves. The statues were of nude elfin figures (the centre one female and the others male), each holding aloft a representation of the moon. The male statues each held one of a waxing and waning gibbous moon, while the female statute held a full moon.  On the yellowish stone slab in the last alcove was a short couplet in archaic fey: 

                                                        “She shines upon the waters

                                                        and the waters remember her”

Surmising this referred the the full moon shining on the pool,  and noting the moon was still some 6 or 7 days from full, the party opted to move on for now. Helping Hobbs out of the water, they also noted that the water (now fouled with badger fur and dander) did not actually touch the side of the pool. It instead was 'levitating' a fraction of an inch away from the sides. 

Back out into the corridor, they entered a short passage leading towards the centre of the circle described by the corridor. This led to another circular room. But before they could look around too much, the light from Hobb's lantern played and flashed brilliantly off the polished walls, dropping Jonesomon unconscious and leaving the rest seeing stars. Quickly shuttering the lantern to stop the kaleidoscope, the conscious trio sensed movement, and the two with night infravision (Ranza and Gnarl) could see two things that looked like large stone trees moving towards them. These proceeded to club at Gnarl and Hobbs, blooding the wood gnome badly and forcing them all to retreat (dragging Jonesomon behind them) back into the hallway. And thankfully the things did not follow ...

TOTAL XP

0

GAINS
none

KILLS/VICTORIES
none

LOSSES
none