Actual Play
Where things where
Bartha asked Gertie about a witches. She had heard of a practicing
witch in the marshes around Riverton, but reports say that the witch is
evil!
The mayor has been directing defenses. We asked about a hermit south
of Masonburg and he guessed that was Old Hermit Goldsmith — he was the
finest gold smith in Riverton, moved to Masonburg, then moved south.
It has been a decade or so since the Mayor has seen him.
Hammer & Block will man bridge bridge defenses while Brock supervises new
defenses for the bridge.
Axe & Bow will ride with Sheriff Artair, they will be south of the bridge
(3 miles, about halfway).
Afternoon: Droston is not surprised by a mountain lion. He & Polonius
kill it.
[From the fellow who escaped the goblin attack?]:
They discovered tracks in and around the new mine, followed them into
an ambush. Rain of missiles, then 2 huge hobgoblins with huge axe &
huge hammer. He observed that they could see in the dark, and they
targeted torch bearers.
The village is mostly stone buildings with slate roofs.
Oh, What do we do?
30th: We checked with Sheriff Artair, and got a briefing on the
defenses. He wanted us to patrol.
On Day 3 there is an attack by 3–5 goblins at the bridge.
It takes Onchu 5 days. [for what?]
Be back in 2 days.
The Tomb of the Dwarven Hero is not far from the bridge, just a mile
or so.
Back in Trouble Again
After 3 hours, not even to new mine, we heard goblins up ahead, making
no effort to hide.
Looks like they have had a little camp here for couple of days, moldy
bread. We attacked them, unfortunately without coordinating our
attack effectively. One of the goblins was dressed in strange black
armor with spikes all over it. During the melee the strange goblin
spit acid at both Bartha and Onchu, wounding Bartha's face and Onchu's
neck.
Eventually we killed the rest of the goblins and the strange goblin
sped off faster than anyone could follow.
Friends in High Places
Whaler Appleby came bringing a message: the Lady of the Valley asked he
speak with Bartha & her friends.
We noticed that Whaler's quiver was stocked more than usual.
Whaler told us that Nigel (the brownie) was recovering. Whaler gave
us (specifically Bartha) a necklace with a gem that glows. He lead us
south and up the valley wall, in places we've never been before,
though we've lived in the valley all our lives. Large stream
cascading down, 1 mile west & much higher, underbrush forms a tunnel
stream flows through. We crawled a long way through the beautiful
stream/tunnel, necklace brightening up in the shade, until it opens up
into a small level glade by grove of beautiful trees (300 yards by 300
yards or so). The glade is surrounded by steep cliffs.
The Lady of the Valley told us that goblins are pouring forth from an
ancient fissure to the south, thousands of them. They will kill and
eat everything in their path, and they are heading to Masonburg.
She told us we might have a chance if we can make allies with the
woodland elves. She said that she knows Bartha has a good heart, but
the others must prove themselves by doing a task for her.
To Droston: you must find a Sprig of the Blue Orchid, which can only be
found on the grave of the most heroic heroes of legend, and bring it
to her. K(Nature): Blue Orchid — cannot grow in sunlight, gets its
energy from heroism.
To Onchu: you must learn to dance with the fairyfolk. F.F. are known to
have dances in glades.
To Polonius: you who have been cruel & callous … must make amends
for your crimes & take all that you have and give back to everyone
you have wronged. [Didn't have to give up clothes, weapons,
or tools, but did have to sell his armor and give away all his money.]
The enchanted necklace with the gem turns on if you touch it, and off
if you touch it again.
We waited for dawn, then Polonius and Droston started down to begin their
tasks.
During the day Whaler made up love poems and brought Bartha honey.
Droston's Task
Droston headed to the Tomb of the Dwaven Hero, and down into the
tunnel. Eventually it came to a flight of stone stairs that lead down
10 feet or so into cold black water. He removed his armor, put his
candles and fire-starter in a waterproof sack, left his lantern
hanging on the wall, and swam through the passage, to find another
flight of stairs that lead up to a tunnel that lead into a room with
Dwarven runes carved on each flagstone of the floor, and an
inscription on the left hand side of the tunnel, just before the room
that read: “Those who know me know that I was. Those who need me know
what to use.”
In the center of the room was a sarcophagus.
The room was circular, with mostly square flagstones. The following
is the layout of the runes on the flagstones, roughly transliterated
from the Drawvish, with the entrance tunnel from the bottom, at the G
& H runes.
N |
U |
I |
D |
N |
T |
S |
G |
A |
T |
I |
O |
I |
I |
. |
. |
S |
R |
D |
L |
I |
N |
A |
E |
B |
B |
Y |
E |
M |
M |
Z |
O |
G |
H |
A |
R |
[–25 XP to Bartha for M.A.H. apparently blurting out the solution;
T.K.B. was too flustered by the puzzle to even notice.]
Droston was flustered by the puzzle (and T.K.B. was over-thinking
things way too much), and as he stood looking at the room he heard a
whoosh, and the air turned bad. Evenually he started out along the
runes H—A—M—M—E—R—S. he worked his way along the flagstones, if he
hesitated there was another whoosh and more poison gas was released.
Once he finally got to the last letter there were no more poison gas
releases.
On top of the sarcophagus were growing the Blue Orchids.
Droston respectfully told the Hero's spirit of his task, and took a
Blue Orchid and carefully put it in a watertight sack with some of the
mossy stuff that it was growing in. Then headed back to the Lady of
the Valley.
Polonius's Humble Pie
Polonius talked to Sheriff Artair about the eggs on chair, manure in
saddle bags, itch powder in bed (which Artair allowed had upset his
wife considerably), … how many nasty tricks did Polonius play on
Sherriff Artair, anyway?
Polonius sold his armor and repaid the dozens, if not hundreds, of
folks he's stolen from or beaten up or wronged.
Onchu, Bartha, & Whaler go to the dance!
Whaler said the wine the centaur gives is Elven blossom wine, which is
very rare, very potent, & brings out your true nature.
Drink & Dance, Drink & Dance, Drink & Dance. Satyr said one last
pull, Drince & Dance, everybody started dancing along with Onchu — most
harmonious dance, Onchu felt at one with everything. Then he
collapsed and slept the rest of the day. Bartha and Whaler partied the
night away and end up very good friends.
Next day Onchu had no hangover, but noticed that his hands are longer &
more slender, and now his skin had a slight greenish brown forest hue
and his scar was almost covered. Bartha was asleep with Whaler tucked
up close. Onchu looked in the pool and found that he looked like an elf
(he's now essentially a half elf-elf: +4 to sneaking in woodlands, low
light vision).
Onchu still looks like Onchu, but a more handsome, elvish Onchu.
Back to the Lady
Droston was given a pair of goggles with darkvision (taken from goblins?)
Onchu was told “glad you are one of us”!
Bartha was told she was “one with the fairies, too” and was told to
keep the necklace.
Polonius was given a stunning shirt of chain, made by elves!