Chapter 11
[Last we ventured we didn’t really venture. What I mean to say is that we didn’t get very far and by that I mean that by reading a magical book we were transported to an alternate dimensions, a reality even, where we battled three separate waves of monsters to become the Heroes in the very book we read along with gaining a magical artifact – The Heroes Shield +3. We gave the shield to the new dwarf, Thorin, to not only help his survivability but truly make him the tank of the party. We needed to press on though, and Nulb was our next step, so after waking up Thorin, we gathered our party and ventured forth…]
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The road to Nulb was long and arduous. There were countless ambush spots and the longer we travelled together as a party, the more our skills increased, and Karish and Raimol, our trusty man-at-arms, had increased those survival skills tenfold. We avoided an encounter with some ogres that likely didn’t have much treasure but the few coins they carried and were dead-set on arriving in Nulb. After a day’s travel we finally arrived, and while we could smell the town before actually seeing it, we dreaded what adventures this place would bring. We all had a sore spot still of the infamous battle against the giant Gar and losing Raimol in the swamps, but scrounging enough money to bring him back to life. Hopefully this time would be better, and we came better prepared for it.
‘Good old Nulb,’ Eldiritch almost hissed. He said what everyone felt and once they arrived crossed the series of rickety bridges to explore the whole place, something they never did their last trip here. Their first stop was what appeared to be the town smith, a fellow by the name of Otis, which sounded oddly familiar.
Even more interesting was his desire to join us for adventure. He claimed he was a mercenary who grew bored of the smithing life and sought the very same things we did.
We told him our group was full, but seeing how proficient he likely was, decided to fall back on him should one of us fall. ‘Always good to have a back-up,’ Stallen would say, and the way things had been, we all secretly hoped to never see Otis again unless for bartering.
We continued on and found another shop; an herbalist. The place was a mess and the old woman who ran it looked as disheveled as the store. She did have some very high-priced items though for sale and even a couple raise dead scrolls, again a mental note, and even though we didn’t want to purchase them now, knew where to find a couple should the need arise. ‘Yup, yup….back-up,’ muttered Stallen under his breath.
We searched the rest of the place and discovered the ancient shopkeeper had daughters that looked to be our great-grandmothers age, and after being shouted and belittled, we needed a break and explored some more of the town. It didn’t take long for Stallen to come across the brothels of ill-repute, this one known lovingly as ‘The Snake Pit’. One could go so many places with that name. Everyone was game to check it out, even Kumari, except for Pishella who chose to wait outside. Upon entering, we spoke to the madam…
‘When in Greyhawk,’ Stallen said to the group and after paying went upstairs and was missing for a good…
…five minutes until coming back down ready to continue. ‘I, ah, pumped the staff for information. Apparently business is slow and some guy named Mickey needs to pay the Madam. I also squared things away with one of the Madam’s prosti-…er…ladies, and everything is…sorted out. All in a night’s work,’ Stallen said followed by a wink to Eldiritch.
We all left and began exploring more of the town, this time the residential section, and came to the town elders house. It had looked like doing the favor for Grud actually paid off. Our name was well-known, and we were sure that helped us with the locals.
‘Sold for 500 gold!’ Preston finally said after a long haggle session with Stallen. We would have our own home now, a safe place to rest and store our equipment, and even grow old and die. Well, ok, maybe not the last part, but it was a start and a lot better than paying for rooms in the local tavern. We even saw Grud here…
We decided to see our new house and were actually surprised at how much of a good deal we got. Two chests, a kitchen, a large bed, and plenty of floor space for the dwarf to sleep. This would work out great, Stallen thought to himself, as he rolled up the deed and tucked it away. ‘OK, let’s explore the rest of this foul town and then wrap up at the tavern. Sounds good?’ Stallen asked to a healthy chorus of ‘ayes’.
It didn’t take long before we stumbled onto some gypsies. They almost belonged here, it was fitting, and after a brief discussion we discovered this Mickey character had stolen an orb from this gypsy. There was also a woman behind her, Selena I believe her name was, that was more of an indentured servant or slave, but looked quite capable in a fight. Her pay-off was only 500 gold, and since we were semi-loaded and feeling particularly generous, decided to free her, to which she asked to join. ‘Heh, I knew it. I’m sorry but we’re full for now, but should we need you later, we know where to find you.’ Stallen told her. Then after leaving, he would tell us for the third time how good a back-up plan was.
This Micky guy got around. That’s twice now he’s ripped someone off and people asked for our help. The big clue was that he worked at a brewery and since the nearest one was in Hommlet, we would eventually go back and search the place for the thief. But for now, we could actually smell ale and mead, and it was drinking time.
Only a stone’s throw away was ‘The Boatsman’s’ tavern and we could hear the boisterous shouting and carousing from outside. We could hardly hold back Thorin before walking in and looking around.
‘Arg! This be a pirates nest if I eva’ seen one’,’ Thorin muttered under his breath. I guess they were used to seeing dead people because they made no mention or show of shock when Kumari’s army of the dead shambled in the place. Stallen approached the barkeep.
After a long and hushed conversation with the proprietor of this fine establishment, Stallen came back to the group that was sitting down at a table. ‘And?’ Karish demanded through a foam-covered mouth as he sat down his pitcher of ale. ‘Well, it’s kind of like this. Eldiritch, you’re killing the tavern owner.’ was all Stallen said with a straight face. ‘OK,’ was the only reply the thief gave.
That would have been funny, except it back-fired. ‘I was kidding,’ Stallen replied, almost shocked.
‘I wasn’t.’ was the only thing Eldiritch said.
‘OK…well, here’s the deal. The barkeep wants us to kill the tavern owner, Lodriss, who we haven’t even met yet. He gave us a gem and a magical shield as payment and gave us three days. We’re not assassins-‘
‘-speak for yourself,’ Eldiritch interrupted.
‘-uhhh…ya. So, we’re not assassins except for Eldiritch, so instead let’s find this tavern keeper and play our cards right before taking the next step.’
Just then, a beautiful and well-proportioned waitress came to the table with pitchers in each hand, ‘You gents ok? Name’s Lodriss if you need anything,’ and she was off to another table. We all looked at each other dumbfounded for a good ten seconds before Stallen got up. ‘Well… it looks like I have to pump some more information…’
She had quite the store of goods too…
Stallen returned to the table and began to tell everyone of his findings when he noticed Karish was missing. ‘Uh, where’s the bull?’ Stallen asked. Eldiritch nodded towards the end of the large tavern where a circle was beginning to form and Karish, now naked except for a giant loin-cloth, was pounding his fists together, slowly walking around a tight circle with another large man dressed completely like a pirate. ‘Great, here we go.’ Stallen said as he got up and joined the circle along with everyone else at the table.
‘This pirate, Tolub, this is the guy Lodriss is seeing,’ whispered Stallen to the group as they gathered around. Tolub was a large man, not as big as Karish, but he definitely seemed more the pugilist, and just as Karish nodded in agreement to a fight, the pirates right arm shot out and connected with Karish’s face, stunning the barbarian for a second to a huge chorus of cheers. It was on. Right hooks, left hooks, jabs, upper-cuts, blocks, you name it, as the two fighters circles each other and shot out punches that often connected with their opponent. After a minute or more of this the two were covered in blood and you couldn’t hear the punches land anymore it was so loud.
It was getting close by the third minute. You could see Karish wavering and one eye was completely shut. The pirate though was also heavily wounded, and you could sense fear on the man. He wasn’t used to losing and this one was close. Karish was missing too often now. Tolub was close to finishing him when something snapped in the barbarian and a rage took over. Conjuring up some wicked anger, Karish came in with a left hook that was short, almost too short, but Tolub went to dodge anyways, right into the heavy right hand of the barbarian that was his real blow. *BLAMO!* Teeth flew out of the pirates mouth as he crumpled to the ground. The place was a circus with cheer and pirates and patrons alike went in to cheer on Karish. Below, on the ground, Tolub could faintly be heard calling for his cabin boy, the dentist.
The match was close.
[Check out above. Only 8 more HP’s of damage (which was like 1 or 2 blows) and Karish was over. Such a good fight!] Tolub though was ever fair and after a few minutes of gathering himself, paid the barbarian his coins and we stumbled back to our table. Stallen filled the group in on what he found out about Lodriss and the group unanimously decided to help her, but later. We still had three days and we needed some rest now, thanks to our wounded barbarian. We stumbled back to our new house and crashed hard.
Thorin Pax woke up in a puddle of his own drool accompanied by a splitting headache, something the dwarf was used to. He looked around and saw the half-naked and barely-clothed bodies of his party and realized he must be in their new home. For a change, it appeared he was the first awake, then he realized why he was awake. The smell of eggs and ham being cooked followed with the slight sizzle of greases is really what got him up and as he turned over, was surprised to see Karish cooking. ‘What?’ came the only answer the battered and bruised barbarian gave as he continued cooking.
The group gathered themselves and decided to explore one or two more places on this floating dump they called a harbor town before heading back to Hommlet to find Mickey. They left the house full from a hearty breakfast and found themselves at an inn named ‘The Waterside Hostel’, which was just as much a pit of thievery and debauchery as the rest of the places they’ve frequented. Inside though, was a bit more villainy than most, and Stallen approached the innkeeper to discuss rumors and events. Wat was the innkeepers name, and after sizing us up, said we should check out the Temple and go to the tower behind it and let them know he sent us. He’d put in a good word, he said. Then we walked over to some thug-looking type named Rentsch and he claimed to do the same for us.
After a bit of smooth-talking, and using their dimwits against them, Stallen was able to pit them against each other. Time would tell if it paid off or not. Time to head off to Hommlet.
It was midday and the sun was out but we couldn’t tell as we travelled through the deep forest. It was early in the trek back to Hommlet to find this thief named Mickey and hope there was a little something in it for us when they attacked. From the giant looming trees above, five, maybe six, flying bird-like naked women came swooping down to attack us. We were unaware, unprepared, and formed a hasty defensive line. ‘Harpies!!’ cried Pishella as she let a quarrel loose from her mastercraft crossbow.
Stallen blew the horn of fog to rally the troops as Eldiritch loosed an arrow at one of the flying hags. Thorin reached for his side and took off the dwarven war axe he’d become so fond of these last couple of weeks – he would have to name her soon, he thought to himself, as he swung into one taking pleasure in the scream the thing shrieked out as his axe bit deep. Raimol was becoming a better archer and now was firing twice as fast, and while one would argue that he was becoming a better shot, at least he had two times to hit. Unfortunately, both missed, but thankfully many of their claws and bites did as well. They must have attacked with both hands, talons, and a vicious bite, because every time one of them attacked, it was like a whirlwind of sharp bone and sinew came down upon us.
Xiamaru was almost cackling with glee he was so excited. It was if he knew something no one else did and couldn’t wait for us to find out. When it got to him, he had just finished the incantation of his spell when the air erupted in a sticky web, pulling all the harpies down to the ground and entwined. ‘It’s killing time!’ shouted Thorin as he started hacking away at the stuck creatures. The rest of the group joined the chorus and what began as an unsure fight quickly turned into a slew of dead harpies stuck in a web.
‘That’s the last of them.’ Karish said as he cleaved a harpies whole wing off, not that it would have done much good since it was so stuck in the webs. ‘Search ‘em and let’s continue. I want to make Hommlet by morning.’ Stallen said to the group as Eldiritch and the rest of the party began finding gold coins tucked in pouches the flying hags had. ‘243 gold coins….not bad,’ cited Xiamaru as he threw the coins in the magical chest with the rest of the loot. With the closing of the chest and cleaning of weapons, the group gathered themselves and set out once more to Hommlet.
The group arrived in Hommlet the next morning without further encounters. They bee-lined it to the brewery where Mickey was rumored to work to put an end to the trouble this character had caused so many people and after entering the place, was quickly found.
Stallen accused the kid of stealing the gypsies orb along with not paying the Madam of the snake pit and a startling transformation took over. The young and innocent-looking boy had a sinister look come over him and threatened us to be quiet and told us to meet him in Nulb that night – what a double life this kid lived, and we would put an end to it. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t talk more about it, and while Eldiritch was about to stick his short sword in the gut of the kid right then and there, we decided to meet him back in Nulb.
The trip back was uneventful and we went straight to the Waterside Inn where Mickey said he’d be.
This kid was in deep and while it took everything in Stallen to prevent Eldiritch and Karish from just killing the kid right then and there, wiser heads prevailed, and Stallen decided to pay for the orb – a sum of 500 gold. We didn’t need the town coming down on them for killing this kid in cold blood right here inside a public tavern, Stallen would later explain to the group. If we ever found him alone maybe during one of his trips to Nulb or Hommlet, then that would be a different story.
We were just about to leave when Stallen noticed Rentsch was missing, prompting him to ask Wat about him.
‘Good, then he won’t mind us going through his things,’ whispered Eldiritch, and before he could be stopped slinked off into Rentsch’s room. Within, the place was sparsely decorated except for a heavy wooden, iron-bound chest that just begged to be opened. Eldiritch knew the type though, and as he approached, his hands went to that familiar spot on his side where he kept his masterwork thieves tools. Taking out the small utensils for the job, he began inspecting and as his hands almost caressed the chest, he was feeling for any irregularities, and he found some. ‘Trapped,’ he thought to himself as he slowly began feeling for the razor thin wire that would activate it. *Snip* came the sound as he disarmed the chest and then began with the lock. After less than a minute he was awarded with that wonderful sound he grew to love so much as the lock popped open.
‘This should help recover the losses from paying Mickey for that orb,’ the thief thought to himself as he slinked out of the room when the door guard wasn’t looking. Eldiritch rejoined the group, much to the apparent look of disdain from Stallen, who was tense the entire time the thief was missing in fear of starting a huge battle in the bar. ‘You’re lucky. Don’t do that again,’ chided Stallen to the thief, who only threw the large pouch of coins to the bard and simply said, ‘Not luck. Skill, my friend.’
With the orb in hand they left the inn and found the old gypsy in the same spot as before, telling tales and fortunes to the pirates and travellers of Nulb. When no one was around, Stallen brought out the orb.
Gypsy Mona was quite elated with her returned orb and while we were hoping for a free fortune-telling, we weren’t exactly dismayed when she didn’t offer it. We didn’t need to hear any bad news – we’d had enough rough times over the past few weeks and things were actually going good for a change. It was time now to make another karma deposit though, and only a short walk away was ‘The Boatsman’s Tavern’ where Lodriss would hear of the assassination attempt on her life.
The party knew what was coming and everyone readied their weapons to make them loose in the sheath and have spells at the ready. This could only end one way, and it would either be with Skole, the barkeep and his henchman dying or us, and we weren’t in the mood to die. Stallen walked over to Lodriss and began filling her in while the ratty-looking Skole burned holes in him with his eyes from behind the bar.
Karish watched Stallen and Lodriss talking and took his giant two-handed sword off his back and held it in both hands in front of him, crossing his body horizontally. He kept the blade sharp, and he had a feeling it would be biting deep into flesh soon, barkeep flesh. He watched the conversation end and then Lodriss walk around the bar and whisper to Tolub and a few patrons. One by one, then more, then an exodus of the patrons and within a few minutes time the bar was empty save for us and Skole and his henchman.
Skole knew the jig was up and gave a nervous look to his henchman who now had a bastard sword out and in his hands. Karish walked around the bar, closer to Skole with a knowing smile on his face, and Stallen approached Skole. ‘I’m afraid we’re not assassins Skole. She knows and everyone else knows. You’re over.’
‘Kill them!’ Skole shouted to his henchman as he leapt over the bar top to the complete surprise of Karish and was now within striking range of our casters. He wielded a long spear with amazing reach and would have to be put down quick. Stallen took out his horn and blew it with all the air from his lungs and the sound was almost deafening but rallied the troops. Xiamaru was out of range of combat and finished his spell as three magic missiles flew through the air blasting Skole in the chest, slamming him back against the bar.
Skole’s henchman was a good fighter. He used his bastard sword like an extension of his arm and took a zombie and skeleton out of the fight while Skole was being attacked by Thorin, Stallen, and even Eldiritch. Karish was stuck behind the bar and couldn’t get in any range to swing his mighty sword and was seething about not getting a piece of the action. Skole missed the dwarf a couple of time with his spear, likely because he was too close to use it properly, but also likely because he was no fighter. Just as Eldiritch pierced the barkeeps back, Thorin brought his axe in a high overhead hack and hack is what it did, burying itself in the chest of Skole, as he slumped to the ground, keeping the dwarfs axe with him.
Our team was beginning to earn ‘nick-names’, like Karish’s ‘Death or Miss’ or Xiamaru’s ‘Crazy’ or Kumari’s ‘Death Bringer’. Thorin was beginning to be known as ‘The Finisher’ as he was more often than not known to have the final blow on an opponent and this time was no different as he placed his boot on the dead mans chest and yanked his axe out with both hands.
Skole’s henchman was wounded and with Skole dead, what little fight he had left was drained. ‘I give up! I surren-‘ *Thunk!* *thunk!* *thunk!* he was cut-off as the shafts of Raimol and Stallen had missed the undead he was fighting and sunk deep into his chest, killing him instantly, as he too slumped to the floor. ‘Good job!’ congratulated Stalled to the team as Eldiritch began searching the dead for trinkets and coin.
‘I lost some of my … followers … that battle and what a shame it would be to have a dead body go to waste. I think it only fitting this Skole character join us in his afterlife, don’t you?’ Kumari said, almost to herself, as she walked over and began the eerie chanting to turn the dead into either a skeleton or zombie.
Skole came back to life in a punishment only befitting someone as evil as him. You could sense the anguish on his contorted face as he mouthed the words, ‘ Iiiii…..Obbeeeeeyyy’.
The group helped themselves to some bottles of ale from behind the bar and went back to their house, feeling all the more wiser about themselves, and while it would have been easy to tie one on here at the empty bar, they could use some sleep back at their house.
[Level up time for Thorin and Xiamaru!]
Time to level up and here’s the honest rolls as they came:
Thorin Pax 27hp to 43hp AWESOME! He took the toughness feat which adds another +3 hp and his con gives him another +4 so he rolled a 9 out of 10 max. He needs it too if he’s to stay alive with this group. I know he’s been rolling good, but karma has a funny way of righting itself in this game and we’ll see what’s to come with the teams rolls…
Xiamaru 23hp to 25hp Yup, there’s a little karma there. I rolled a one with his con +1 mod got 2. I woulda traded some of the dwarf’s hp for his if I could
I gave Xiamaru greater spell penetration – it seemed the best fit for now, although the craft magical arms and armor looked sweet – I was afraid of abusing it.
The group remained in their house until morning, drinking around the table, telling tales, sharing stories of before they met, and generally having a good time. Things were going good and they did everything they could to put tomorrow out of their mind, for tomorrow they would set out to the Temple of Elemental Evil, and everything was about to change.
They awoke refreshed, and for once Thorin was clear-headed. Today was important and they needed their wits about them. They set out early morning and travelled only some couple of hours before they saw the great temple in the distance. They were unsure of what to do, how to approach it, and what they would find. They only knew of some tower or ruins behind the temple and to mention that either Wat or the now-likely-dead Rentsch sent them. They pressed on until the great temple loomed before them…
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[Next time... We’re here. The great Temple is the source of our quest and we’re to investigate it by any means possible. The place exudes pure evil and while Kumari and Eldiritch may feel at home, not the entire party feels that way. There’s many ways to approach this den of chaos and going in blind will be a challenge. What battles await us? What treasure? What will we find out to report back to Hommlet and how will we go about doing it?… Stay tuned for Chapter 12!]
We were left looking to the Black Isle games of BG and Icewind Dale but the pause system they have is no turn-based system, at least truly. Yea, I would drop some serious bills on a kickstart effort for something like that, hehe 
