Thursday, September 14, 2006

July 25th Session 30

July 25th Session 30
Sodden Hold and The Free City
Septimius Flavius Perfectus (Mike) Human Fighter-6
Rollo Mojo (Josh) Human Warlock-6
Appius Umbrius Laurentius (Michael) Human Cleric of Ixion-6
Crag Skullbugger (Greg) Dwarf Barbarian-6

Miles O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-5 Master of Many Forms-1 (Missing)
Sandreus III (Ben) Human Bard-5 Fighter-1 (Deceased)
Slyver (Mark) Human Rogue-4/Monk-1 (Retired)
Tiberius (Jeff) Human Scout-2 Fighter-1 (Deceased)
Shamus O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-3 (Deceased)
Kioska (Lewis) Human Druid-2 (Retired)
Primus Ironius Perfectus (Steve) Human Cleric-2 (Deceased)
Drake (Jeff) Human Rogue-2 (Not Dead, Indentured)
Agustus (Michael) Human Cleric-1 (Deceased)

After an exhausting and near fatal encounter with the invisible stalkers the four survivors decided that maybe Miles was still alive, but held prisoner somewhere. The group went out and purchased some potion of See Invisible and with better spells the group headed back in Sodden Hold. Just before entering the last room they all drank their potion and headed in. This time they saw some floating semi-humanoid forms floating in the room. Rollo immediately began firing eldritch blasts at the invisible stalkers. Appius cast some help spell to help everyone to hit the invisible stalkers and by the time they got close enough to Crag and Septimius the battle was well in hand. Crag and Septimius, now that they could see their targets, swung hard and hit often. Within three rounds after the battle started it was over. Searching the room both the bodies of Sandreus and the fake Miles were gone. The door at the far end of the room was unlocked. On the other side of the door was a huge empty chamber with two holes in the floor. One was a jagged hole the was a square opening with a shaft leading down about 35 feet to water with a wooden barrel floating in the water. A crude rope ladder descended down to the level of the water. The group thoroughly searched the room and found no secret doors and hidden alcoves of any kind. Rollo spider climbed his way down to the barrel and inspected the area of any thing he could find. Appius was the next one down he jumped into the hole and floated down into the barrel. The barrel was waterproof and supported him without a problem. Next Rollo spider climbed down into the water and look to see if he could find any opening. At the bottom of the shaft was an opening that led into a tunnel. Rollo returned and informed the party to hat he had found. Appius turned to barrel over and let some water into the barrel. He then climbed under the barrel and let his weight pull him to the bottom of the shaft. He inspected the area and didn’t find any traps or secret areas. He then climbed his way back up to the surface of the water. The group decided that going under water was the only way for them to go. So the group of them jumped in and floated down to the bottom of the shaft and walked down the corridor. The corridor was about 20 feet long and open into a large underground chamber with a central pillar. Before they could get close enough to inspect the pillar a giant octopus attacked them. Unfortunately they were not using piercing weapon and their swing were slowed because of the water. Even with the disadvantage the group sliced the octopus into little pieces with just a few attacks. A quick check of the pillar revealed a ladder going up to the surface of the water. The climbed out of the water and found a platform with a lever in the middle. There was also a bridge of sorts that about 12 feet long the lead to a door. Appius decided to push the level and see what would happen, immediately the level of the water began to drop. Before it got to far Appius decided to move the level back to where is was before he pushed it. They headed down the bridge and inspected the door. The door was locked and with no one with the experience to open doors they proceeded to bash the door down. After a lot of attacks the lock finally gave way. Beyond the door was a ten foot passage that end in a “T”. As Septimius, Appius, Crag and Rollo headed down the hall they ran into a large group of doppelgangers waiting for them. Septimius immediately ran into the center of the doppelganger on the left side, Appius and Appius engaged the doppelganger on the right side and Rollo fired eldritch blast where it would help most. Septimius was dropping one and cleaving right into the next doppelganger. Crag and Appius were disposing of their doppelganger almost as quickly. With only one doppelganger left the decided to capture and intimidate him for as much information as they could get. With Crag breathing down his neck the doppelganger explained that his boss was named Telakin and that their friend was head hostage in the room behind the secret door in the room at the end of the hall on the left. So they tied up their new friend and set of to free their comrade.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

July 18th Session 29

July 18th Session 29
Sodden Hold and The Free City
Septimius Flavius Perfectus (Mike) Human Fighter-6
Rollo Mojo (Josh) Human Warlock-6
Sandreus III (Ben) Human Bard-5 Fighter-1
Appius Umbrius Laurentius (Michael) Human Cleric of Ixion-6
Miles O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-5 Master of Many Forms-1
Crag Skullbugger (Greg) Dwarf Barbarian-6

Slyver (Mark) Human Rogue-4/Monk-1 (Re-Retired)
Tiberius (Jeff) Human Scout-2 Fighter-1 (Deceased)
Shamus O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-3 (Deceased)
Kioska (Lewis) Human Druid-2 (Retired)
Primus Ironius Perfectus (Steve) Human Cleric-2 (Deceased)
Drake (Jeff) Human Rogue-2 (Not Dead, Indentured)
Agustus (Michael) Human Cleric-1 (Deceased)

The door on the catwalk was unlocked so the group opened the door and found what looked like an empty room above the catwalk so decided to go and investigate if anything was under the catwalk. No soon had the group got ready to climb down the ladder than the platform above the ladder collapsed and fell to the ground 10 feet below. Other than Appius who floated down the rest of the group all took a little bit of damage from the fall. After the fall they inspected the room and found nothing of interest. The group climbed back up on the remaining catwalk and left the room out the catwalk. The group’s next choice was the last door on the right side of the warehouse. Crag and Septimius pounded on the door until they broke the lock and inspected the room. The room was packed to overflowing capacity with desks bookcases and boxes mostly of ledgers of the former Sodden Trading Company. Not finding any door the group began and exhaustive search all of the walls in the room, they even had Rollo spider climb down into the pit and look for a secret door in the pit. Finally someone came up with the idea to search the other end of the catwalk. Miles being the search expert immediately found the secret door.
Beyond the secret door the catwalk lead to a set of stairs that descend into an oblong chamber with an exit on the far side of the room. Besides the staircase was a chest containing some clothing and some gold. After a quick check of the room they found that it had five holding cells. The cells held an elven female, a body of a human male and a cell that contained two human males. The female was very leery of the adventurers not trusting them. Sandreus spoke to her and convinced her they were here to save her. Appius in the mean time decided that the body was not dead, but in need of medical attention. So Crag and Septimius first broke the elf’s door down. Sandreus discovered her name was Ilya Starshine and she abducted while returning home one night by a group of bandits. The second metal lock Crag and Septimius broke down was the one with the body in it. Appius was the first into the room and gave the man a cure light wounds spell to help revive the prisoner. Unfortunately they quickly discovered that the man was deeply disturbed he would have moment of childish laughter followed by intense weeping. The last cell held two men named Martel and Regim who were returning to town when they were attacked by a group of bandits captured and knocked unconscious when they woke the were in the cell. They guessed they had been they for a couple of days. Unlike Ilya who wanted to go home and the old man who had no idea who he was these two wanted to extract a little revenge on the bandits that captured them. The group supplied them with a couple of weapons and sets of leather armor. The decision to help Ilya to escape and the old man they were going to talk back to the church of Ixion. They took the former prisoners to the city gates where they were able to convince some of the guards to take Ilya home and the old man to the church. The group then returned to the warehouse and back to the holding cells. The door to the next room was unlocked. The room was an “L-shaped” room. Thirty feet wide in the front of the room and fifty feet wide in the back of the room, which was sixty feet away. About twelve feet into the room the floor of the room had rotted away leaving just slimy boards behind. Looking below all they could see was murky water with sharp weapons poking out of the water. Carefully choosing a path along the board Sandreus used Prestidigitation to clean the narrow board to make them easier to walk on. The path Sandreus chose had two island of solid wood that was safe to stand on. Behind Sandreus was Appius who stopped at the first island until Sandreus made it to the next island. Miles was next in line followed by Crag then Septimius would bring up the rear with Regim and Martel. Rollo activated his spider climb and scampered along the right side wall around the corner to the final landing that contained the door out the room.
As Sandreus was leaving the second island, Appius was leaving the first island, Miles was on the first island, Crag was heading for the first island and Septimius, Martel and Regim were waiting their turns Sandreus and Crag were each attacked by something invisible. Crag didn’t take much damage but Sandreus took a major hit. Before Sandreus could make a safe get away the invisible attacked Sandreus killing him instantly before he fell the final ten feet into the water impaling himself upon several weapons. Appius quickly backed up to the second island along with Miles. Crag remained on the board and tried fighting the invisible creature somewhere in front of him. As the same time Regim and Martel attacked Septimius. The first invisible creature rushed forward and engage Miles and Appius in combat. Miles fought the creature as a dinosaur and Appius keep healing him to keep him alive. Rollo spider climbed back around the corner and fired some Eldrich Blasts at the invisible creature engaged with Crag. Septimius taking a sever beating was able to drop Martel. It was at this time thing went from bad to worst, Miles was dropped by the invisible creature and his dead body changed into the a doppelganger as Septimius was felled by Regim. Rollo fired a death shot at Regim and dropped him, Appius did his best to fight the other invisible creature alone. Crag got lucky and somehow his invisible creature fell into the water. Crag severely wounded back out off the board back by where Septimius was laying. Rollo spider climbed over to Septimius and was successfully able active the wand of cure light wound and awaken him. Appius drank down a potion of gaseous form and began a slow float out of the room. The invisible creature reengaged Crag and dropped him. The other invisible creature continued to try and attack the floating form of Appius. Rollo evaluating the situation and with an invisible creature trying to attack him chose to make run for it. As Rollo kept the invisible creature busy Septimius pour a potion of cure light wound down Crag throat and prepared to drink his own potion of gaseous form. As Crag lay as though he was dead Appius and Septimius in gaseous form pulled the invisible stalkers away form Crag. Once the invisible stalkers were out of the way Crag ran out room. Appius was the first gaseous cloud out of the room followed by Septimius. Luckily the invisible creatures would not leave the room. The beaten and batter adventures headed back to their inn to recuperate and evaluate what had just happened.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

July 11th Session 28

July 11th Session 28
The Free City and Forest to the Northwest
Septimius Flavius Perfectus (Mike) Human Fighter-6
Rollo Mojo (Josh) Human Warlock-6
Sandreus III (Ben) Human Bard-5 Fighter-1
Appius Umbrius Laurentius (Michael) Human Cleric of Ixion-6
Miles O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-5 Master of Many Forms-1
Crag Skullbugger (Greg) Dwarf Barbarian-6
Slyver (Mark) Human Rogue-4/Monk-1

Tiberius (Jeff) Human Scout-2 Fighter-1 (Deceased)
Shamus O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-3 (Deceased)
Kioska (Lewis) Human Druid-2 (Retired)
Primus Ironius Perfectus (Steve) Human Cleric-2 (Deceased)
Drake (Jeff) Human Rogue-2 (Not Dead, Indentured)
Agustus (Michael) Human Cleric-1 (Deceased)

The question: “How do we take all six griffons back to town since we have no horses, no cages, no wagons and the only thing securing the griffons was hemp rope.” After a major discussion the decision was to cut two trees into 20 or so long pole. They then were going to tie two griffons to each pole. The group would space themselves with one person in front of the first griffon with the front of the pole, one person between the two griffons carried the center of the pole, and one person behind the second griffon with the end of the pole. The group broke themselves down into two teams with Rollo left over. Rollo was given Appius’s magical club and instructed that if any of the griffons start to regain consciousness his job was to “Club them like a baby seal”. The two remaining griffons were summarily executed and the group began their long hike back to town. The hike was long and tiring except for Rollo who thumped any griffon who even looked like it might wake up. In the evening of the first day the group was stopped by a pair of ettins and a weasel. The shorter of the two ettins spoke in broken common “Give me griffons”. Naturally the group ended the conversation and engaged the ettins and weasel in combat. Septimius and Rollo engaged the little ettin and Miles as a dinosaur and Crag raging engaged the tall ettin. Sandreus squared off with the weasel. The ettin swung hard and hit often keeping Appius busy trying to keep everyone healed up. The little ettin proved to be the more difficult of the two as larger ettin was the first opponent to fall. The weasel seemed surprisingly tough, Sandreus landed several hits that should have felled a normal weasel, but this weasel continued to fight back. It was quickly decided by the group that the weasel must be the ettin familiar or animal companion because it could take so much damage. A few well timed hits and overwhelming numbers the group finished the ettin and his familiar. A quick search and a Rollo’s detect magic found a set of bracers (+3) and a potion (cure light wounds). The group gather up the griffons and set off for the Free City once again.
The next two day were uneventful except for the farmers and merchants who quickly scurried past the strange sight. The group arrived at the city gates and was immediately asked to step aside and explain what they were doing. Sandreus stepped forward and explained that these were some beasts they had captured for the Champion Games. The guard asked if they were expected. After explaining that no they weren’t expected. They were told unless someone from the games accepted responsibility for the griffons he was not going to let the group inside the city walls. Sandreus and Septimius were allowed to enter the city gate, minus the griffons, to hopefully find someone who might be interested in some griffons for the games. After a short run around they were introduced to a Captain Okoral. Captain Okoral and some of guards agreed to at least take a look at the griffons. So the group headed back outside the gates to see if an agreement could be met. Captain Okoral took one look at the beaten and battered griffons and offered to take them off the adventures hand for 1000 gold pieces. Happy to be rid of the griffons the group agreed to the offer and decided to head back to the Crooked House Inn and relax after a long, cumbersome trip back to town.
Two days later the group decided to go and look for the warehouse, once owned by a merchant named Sodden, that their key might work on. Down by the banks of the river outside the city walls they found a warehouse marked “Sodden Hold”. The warehouse was obviously abandon and in need of much repair, so they decided to take a look inside. They opened up the door and found a large open warehouse with dozens of crates and some flickering torches. Walking around in the warehouse the group was surprised by a pair of crates that were alive. The crates sprang up and attacked the party. Although the living crates were not tough to kill they “bit” hard and Crag showed the teeth marks to prove it. On the left hand side of the warehouse was a door and on the right hand side of warehouse there were three doors, two on ground level and one up on the catwalk.. Appius volunteer to inspect the door on the left and accidentally set of a pit trap. Luckily for Appius he was still wearing his ring of feather fall and landed somewhat softly on a couple of spikes. The door above the pit happened to just be a fake door. The ground level doors were both locked and nobody had the skill to unlock them. So the group used Miles’s rope of climbing to climbed up onto the catwalk. The door on the catwalk was unlocked so the group open the door and …

Monday, September 11, 2006

June 26th Session 27

June 26th Session 27
The Free City and Forest to the Northwest
Septimius Flavius Perfectus (Mike) Human Fighter-6
Rollo Mojo (Josh) Human Warlock-6
Sandreus III (Ben) Human Bard-5 Fighter-1
Appius Umbrius Laurentius (Michael) Human Cleric of Ixion-6
Miles O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-5 Master of Many Forms-1
Crag Skullbugger (Greg) Dwarf Barbarian-6
Slyver (Mark) Human Rouge-4/Monk-1 (Cameo)

Tiberius (Jeff) Human Scout-2 Fighter-1 (Deceased)
Shamus O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-3 (Deceased)
Kioska (Lewis) Human Druid-2 (Retired)
Primus Ironius Perfectus (Steve) Human Cleric-2 (Deceased)
Drake (Jeff) Human Rogue-2 (Not Dead, Indentured)
Agustus (Michael) Human Cleric-1 (Deceased)

On the trip back to the Crooked House Inn the group ran across their old friend and comrade Slyver. Slyver had moved back to the Free City and was up to his usual trouble. They talked a while and though how could they make some quick money. Their first though was to join the Free City Gladiatorial Games. So the group headed back to talk to Eligos and see if he had any contacts that could get them in. Eligos explained that most group sign up months in advance and that the games were already booked. He offered to ask around and see if he could find out any information. Appius decided to approach his church and ask for assistance from the church to get an entry into the games. The church hierarchy told Appius they would look into it as well. The group asked around town to see what jobs were available. They found that there were lots of offers to watch warehouse and security duty for merchants, but nothing that would turn a profit. One of the security jobs was to watch and care for some exotic animals that were to be fought during the games. They found out that exotic animals that could fight could be sold to the games for decent money. So again the group asked around town and at the Church of Ixion about any exotic animals sightings. The church explained that a creature had been attacking farmer’s livestock and fields and that the church would reward any information or disposal of said problem. They also discovered that the woods two days northwest of town was filled with lots of wild animals. The group decided that the best bet was to rest up and leave first thing in the morning for the forest to the northwest.
Sitting in the barroom of the inn, listening to Sandreus singing up on stage, catching up on what had transpired and the death of Slyver’s friend Drake at the hands of some Vecna worshiping cultists. The members of the party began to head back to their room to get some sleep and be ready for the trek to the northwestern forest. Rollo was the first to head off to his room. A few minutes after he left Rollo returned back to the room approached the innkeeper Tarquin and stabbed him in the chest with a dagger. Then he tried to make a run for the door. Surprisingly most of the group noticed Rollo’s strange behavior when he came downstairs and stabbed the innkeeper. So when he made his way for the door the group rushed towards the door and blocked his exit. After asking Rollo what he was doing and not getting a response they deemed acceptable Miles, Slyver, Septimius and Crag figured he was mind-controlled and preceded to subdue Rollo quickly. Sandreus quickly went to crowd control to draw their attention away from the Rollo mugging. Rollo dropped under the attacks and when he hit the floor he changed into a gray space alien looking creature. Checking his body they found a strange octopus looking key. Appius quickly attended the innkeeper and saved his life. Appius then decided to go upstairs and see if the real Rollo was still up there and alive. Knocking on his down a sleepy Rollo answered and was surprised to hear the story of his impersonator. The city watch came and asked a few questions and took the body away. Tarquin so happy to be saved he gave the adventures free stay at his inn for as long as they needed. Sandreus returned to singing and everyone settled back down as though nothing had happened.
The next morning on the way out of town the group asked a couple of question to the right people and found out the key design might have belong to a merchant named Sodden who owned some warehouses down by the docks. With this information stored in their heads they headed for the forest two days to the northwest. The first day out they ran into lots of farmers and merchants bring good and services to the Free City. By the second day they passes less and less people until they decided to leave the westbound trail and start heading north. The evening of the second day they hadn’t found any exotic creatures or even any tracks remotely interesting. During the night all their luck changed when they were beset upon by a group of six griffons. The griffons surrounded the group as the rose up from where they slept. Crag, Septimius, Miles, Slyver, and Sandreus each engaged a griffon in combat while Appius and Rollo fought the sixth one together. Crag and Septimius were able to drop theirs quickly and head over and help out Slyver and Appius. The last few griffons the adventures decided to try and subdue so they could take them back to the city. The group made quick work of the griffon, but not without a few injuries. The three they subdued the warriors tied up with the rope they had in their backpacks. The remaining three Appius went around and was able to save from dying and let the warriors know these griffons needed to be tied up as well. In the end all six griffons were tied up and subdued. But now came the problem, “How do we take all six griffons back to town since we have no horses, no cages, no wagons and the only thing securing the griffons was hemp rope.”

June 19th Session 26

June 19th Session 26
The Free City
Septimius Flavius Perfectus (Mike) Human Fighter-6
Rollo Mojo (Josh) Human Warlock-6
Sandreus III (Ben) Human Bard-5 Fighter-1
Appius Umbrius Laurentius (Michael) Human Cleric of Ixion-5
Miles O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-5
Crag Skullbugger (Greg) Dwarf Barbarian-5

Tiberius (Jeff) Human Scout-2 Fighter-1 (Deceased)
Shamus O’Flannagan (Steve) Human Ranger-3 (Deceased)
Kioska (Lewis) Human Druid-2 (Retired)
Primus Ironius Perfectus (Steve) Human Cleric-2 (Deceased)
Slyver (Mark) Human Rouge-1/Monk-1 (Retired)
Drake (Jeff) Human Rogue-2 (Not Dead, Indentured)
Agustus (Michael) Human Cleric-1 (Deceased)

The next morning the adventures decided to go and visit the man responsible for the group going to the Free City in the first place, Eligos. The asked around and found he lived in the Garden District, one of the nicer areas of town. The group headed out for Eligos’s when they happened upon a parade coming down the middle of the street. They stepped aside and watched as the parade passed by. Unbeknownst to Rollo and Crag two thieves were picking their pockets. Appius and Miles just happened to notice the two would-be thieves and alerted the party to the theft. Running through the crowd Rollo shot eldritch blasts at his thief and Miles and Crag chased after Crag’s pickpocket. Septimius assisted Rollo and they were able to take down their target alive. Unfortunately Miles and Crag were a lot rougher and their target and he didn’t survive the beating. As they were bring the bodies back to were they started a Chimera in the parade broke out of its cage and began attacking the pedestrians. Crag and Septimius stepped up and began beating the creature into submission, sort of. The chimera breathed it lightning breath and rammed it other to heads at Septimius and Crag. Septimius had laid a great deal of pain upon the chimera when Crag gave a mighty hack with his great axe and the creature slumped to the ground. Appius believed the Chimera could be saved, but before he could act Septimius made two more vicious attacks to make sure the creature never harmed another person again. After a couple of minutes the pedestrians had cleared out and local militia showed up. Sandreus stepped forward and with his best smile explained the situation about the chimera and thieves. The militia not only let them go and thanked them for the service they provided the community. So militia took the last criminal into custody and helped disperse the rest of the crowd. Crag approached the circus owner and offered to by the blue dragon head of the chimera. They accepted his offer and Crag was the proud owner of a dragon head. Crag asked around and found that there was a taxidermist who would cure and stuff the dragon head for Crag for only a small fee.
After the excitement the group headed off to Eligos’s house. They found his house, a white stone wall surrounding a manicured yard of trimmed hedges and exotic fauna. A cobbled path, flanked by a pair of pools and rearing dragons statues, lead to a white marble manor house with gilded double doors and flickering golden lanterns. The group knocked on the door and were met by an aged elven servant named Pollard. He asked what business they had and who they were. Satisfied with their answer he invited them in and ushered them into the parlor where he got drinks for the party. A few minutes later a middle-aged man wearing an open red robe with a breastplate underneath entered the room. He said in a calm voice “My name is Eligos. How can I be of service?” The party explained that their adventures that had lead them to his doorstep, upon hearing the name Allustan he raised an eyebrow and said “Hmm, I never thought I would hear that name again. But nonetheless, please continue.” In the end of the stories of their adventures the group left behind several items they wanted more information about. This included Zosiel’s silver diadem, the two demon horns, the inactive talisman of the spheres, the ancient spearhead, the yellow-tined dagger, some shaving of the strange red metal, and the cylinder contain the green worm. Eligos told them also of an inn they could stay at if they mentioned his name they would get a discount, the inn was called The Crooked House. After the stay the previous night in the Religious Quarters of the Free City they decided it might be more exciting to change inns. The group headed back to the old inn gathered their belongings and headed over to the new inn.
The new inn was located in the Midnight Middle a section of the Foreign Quarters that specializes in merchants, traders, and adventurers. The building itself explained where the inn got its name. Its walls were at odd angles and none of the windows or doors were square. Despite all this the inn looked to be in good repair. Upon entering they were greeted by the proprietor, a gnome, Tarquin Shortstone XXIV. He offered them some seat and took their orders upon hearing Eligos’s name the first round of drinks were free and rooms were discounted. The group decided to enjoy the day off and relax for a change. This gave Sandreus a chance to identify some of the magic items they had found in the lizardmen lair.