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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 209
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6/18/2010
Several weeks have passed since we helped rescue the nobles from the undead outbreak, weeks that we’ve passed in relative obscurity in the nice manor Mayor Blackwell has lent us.
While passing yet another one of our eventless days our group was approached by one Galstaff; a bald, skinny, creepy looking human. He had the curious behavior of continually wringing his hands together as he spoke, an interesting crook in his mouth as he smiled.
His request was simple, his methods open to our interpretation. We were to recover a book named “Theoretical Theology” from a man transporting it to a city outside of Cauldron’s control. The book was being transported by a man from the Blue Temple – something that caused my comrades a little pause to think about. They wondered why he would be travelling the path he chose and one can only surmise that it has something to do with the trouble on the roads by the bugbear we read about in the local paper. Galstaff guessed that we could intercept this man – Fertin – at an inn along the way by name of “The Lucky Monkey”.
The pay offered was to come out of a sack of 100 gold Galstaff handed to us. He stated that we could acquire the book by any means possible and then whatever gold is left is our payment.
We took to the roads early the next day and arrived at the Lucky Monkey by dusk. The inn was of curious make; somehow flora not native to this area sprung up all around it, encompassing the inn was a large canopy of trees and vegetation. Oddly enough, I noted, the temperature also seemed several degrees hotter, the air more humid as well within this area.
Entering the grounds a young boy, perhaps 10, approached us to take my horse and get us situated. We proceeded into the inn and were greeted by the proprietor. The common area had several groups of people around the tables – a boisterous crowd of merchants who kept throwing glances my way and muttering things about men who look like women and giving our new female comrade the look over. A group of Blue Temple warriors were seated at one table as well, whilst a lone man dressed in Blue Temple garb was seated quietly in a corner.
Splitting up, several of my comrades sat at the table near the group of Blue Temple warriors while the rest sat at the next table down (including myself). Griff and Crush struck up a conversation with the Blue Temple men and I quietly watched. As quietly as I could, that is, with the boisterous merchants cat-calling and joking towards my direction. After one puckered his lips and winked at me I finally flipped them off – a gesture my human comrades have taught me – only drawing more laughter. If we were anywhere else, I’d slit that man’s throat during his sleep but I need to keep within the boundaries of law here.
Griff and Rain formulated a plan that evening on how to acquire the book. Rain would teleport Griff into Fertin’s room that evening and offer to purchase it. If Fertin would not sell – which Galstaff told us he wouldn’t – we would ambush him and his escort on the road and take it by force. Everything went well, however, because when Griff returned he had the book. From the look on his face and my comrades once he spoke up, he paid too much. He offered 80gp for the book which Fertin happily accepted. Griff decided he needed to return to Fertin’s room later this evening and recover some of the gold, which he did. We returned to Galstaff without having to spill blood, first stopping in and making several copies of the book, and received another offer of employ.
Galstaff belives that Razmir is a false religion and is, instead, a front for a large guild of thieves. He would like us to infiltrate Razmir and procure proof that they are thieves so he can take them down. Again, we were offered 100gp as payment for the job. We were instructed to report to “The Happy Dwarf”, an inn acting as their recruitment base, and spend at least one week in their ranks to gather enough proof.
Indoctrination into the order was painful at best. We sat through an hour long discourse about Razmir and how to elevate ourselves. At one point Griff heckled the speaker and one of the “priests” came to smack him over the head only to find himself giving Griff “5”, as they called it later. They gave food and drink to us all and those that ate fell asleep; not partaking of the food, I simply acted that I fell asleep as well so they wouldn’t be suspicious of me. Once we were all “asleep”, we were dragged through the hallways into a passage under the inn and cast into some cells. Once again, human nature caused my blood to boil as the “priests” laughed and posed my cellmate and I in an erotic position and left us. The moment they left I moved, vowing to slit their throats the first chance I get.
Our second day (and first full day) in the order we were told to fast and meditate to purge ourselves and prepare for the first step of enlightenment. Rain volunteered to get us food and did just that. The day otherwise passed uneventfully.
Our third day we received a mask and white robe and were instructed to follow to a reception in the chapel. More pomp and show there, then we were shown to our rooms. Introductions were made to a beast of a man by name of Krant who would serve as our mentor while we rose through the steps of enlightenment. He forced us to do heavy physical labor all day until at one point Griff punched him in the nuts. He simply laughed at him but at least stopped our labor for the day. Griff was elevated to the next step of enlightment.
Our fourth day we spent practicing preaching and transcribing books. Crush was elevated a step of enlightment due to his behavior while preaching – he mugged somebody he was supposed to practice preaching to.
Our fifth day we spent with physical labor once again though at the end Krant decided to have us spar to finish out the day. We formed a circle and Krant threw a mace in the middle, stating that the last man standing wouldn’t have to scribe books. Crush ran forward and dropped the other man in our group instantly. A priest ran forward to help and Crush turned on him and dropped him, apparently killing him instantly. The melee ended after that and we were sent back to our rooms. Things are starting to get interesting.
- Fooberichu
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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 209
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7/2/2010
The night Crash killed the priest and nearly killed one of our fellow “initiates” Griff and I decided to go exploring some more in an attempt to find hard evidence about this cult’s true nature.
Griff showed me the stairs that led to the snake pit and we began searching the walls around it to find the switch – previously they had triggered a trap and nearly fell in to the snake pit. I put my training as one of the Shadows to use and was able to identify a false brick in the wall. Griff removed it carefully and then unlocked the door hiding there.
Upon opening the door two things assaulted our senses. First was the smell; before us was a pathway that led above the snake pit. Several large openings were spaced along the bridge so the smell was not impeded in any way by the walls. Next was auditory – a low thumping noise – musical in nature – seemed to emanate from the room on the other side of the door at the end of the bridge. The snake pit had a large statue of Razmir in a pious pose. I choked down a laugh (and bile) as we crossed towards the room at the other end.
The large wooden door at the other end was locked as well, naturally, so Griff helped himself to the lock and opened it. The view on the other side was surprising to say the least. We found ourselves entering a room that could be described as nothing less than an orgy-room. The walls were lined with fine, red silken curtains. At the front of the room, raised on a dais, a throne sat with perfect view of the rest of the room. A musty smell mingled with incense filled the air, tingling our noses. Small stains, both blood and otherwise, dotted the furniture and floor. Music emanated seemingly magically from a ball of curious workmanship affixed to the ceiling – the ball was multifaceted, made of mirrored glass, and reflected all colors of the spectrum. Even more curious to me was that the ball hung suspended from a thin pole and rotated slowly, thus causing the reflections to dance along the walls and floor in a strange pattern.
Griff and I searched the room and located a door hidden behind some curtains at the far end. Reaching forward to unlock this one four clouds of smoke encircled Griff and took form immediately as he touched the door handle. As the smoke dispersed we we found four small earthen beings surrounding him, ready to pounce. Rain, who had been accompanying us the whole time, popped out of the room presumably to our comrades whilst Griff and I took the offensive.
Initially I took the defensive, having never fought earthen beings before, but quickly learned that they were brittle and too weak to break through my armor (which Rain had so thoughtfully teleported into our room earlier that day). Griff and I fought hard and quick, easily subduing the elementals (as I later learned they were called) into dusty piles of dirt before our comrades joined the melee. Seeing that we had things under control they turned and went back to the room while Griff and I continued to investigate.
With the magical defenses now disabled, Griff was able to open the door and lead us into a treasury room. We were sorely impressed by the piles of gold pieces stashed in bags throughout the room. A large chest, flanked on both sides by smaller chests, drew our attention. Opening the box we found yet more money as well as a large, well-made container adorned in gems. Carefully looking the container over first, I proceeded to open it revealing a large mace that exuded magic. There were several gems place in the container as well, clearly worth much. Ledgers were located detailing records of money coming in as tithes and money going out in large quantities to an unknown location or entity. We took careful note of everything we found and decided it was prudent to call it for the night.
Training the next day followed a distasteful path after our normal routine. We were ushered into the streets to practice preaching to real people while the higher ups “monitored” us. We all knew it was a ruse to get people’s attention while the pilferers relieved the crowd of their belongings. Wanting to help our mission out and get us more ingrained into their ranks I created a ballad on the fly and used it to sing praises to Razmir. I was able to gather a large enough crowd that the pilferers flocked to my area and made a good haul. I later learned that we got in touch with Galstaff during the preaching so he could watch it. Even that wasn’t enough evidence, unfortunately. Our performance for the day earned us all a promotion and we each advanced one step towards enlightenment.
We decided not to investigate any more that evening and opted instead simply to sleep it out. Our routine proceeded normally the following day until at one point Krantt approached and took Griff, Crash, Kor, and I aside stating that we looked tough. I certainly had to suppress a smile as I can’t imagine that anybody would ever characterize my appearance as tough… at least, not until I cut them down before me. Regardless, I was selected along with some of my seedier companions, and we were led out to the streets once more – this time accompanied by a black robe and two white robes.
Led to a bakery – Welton’s Bakery – we were instructed to collect protection money that is overdue. Yet another feather in our cap yet no way to truly prove this happened, certainly not if the local populace is too afraid to speak up. Whatever the case may be, this is our ruse and we are to act along in order to garner information and proof. We entered the bakery and were instantly recognized by Welton (hard to miss somebody wearing these silly robes and awful masks). Backing away quickly and nearly tripping over his wares, Welton hurried behind the counter and stammered that he knew he was late with his payment. Crash either had experience doing this or was quite the actor as he began slashing bags of flour while we advanced. Griff finally calmed the situation down and instructed Welton to give him what pay he does have and that we’d be back for more. Griff followed him to the back while the rest of us were instructed by Griff to wait up front.
My time in the city I’ve learned things, heard things. I was a little worried with Griff heading back alone with the man since I’ve heard that he was a criminal in a past life. I couldn’t imagine Griff would do anything to jeopardize our mission, and more importantly, our standing, but I couldn’t help but worry some. I was glad to learn that he only punched Welton in the gut as a warning rather than doing anything drastic; had it been me, I think I would have just paid his protection fee on his behalf but I suppose that would have blown our cover worse. Our actions gained the four of us another promotion.
Completing the day we had a meeting to discuss what we knew and where things were going. We felt as if we really needed to get things taken care of before we really have to cause true damage, possibly even kill somebody. Rain volunteered to search around, see if she could see what was at the top of the stairs of enlightenment. Shortly after she left we heard a loud alarm and the place erupted into chaos. We were split into groups and had to accompany the gray robes as we searched the area for intruders – presumably Rain. After a couple hours passed we were sent back to our rooms on the premise of “false alarm”. Figuring now was as good a time as any, we had Rain teleport Griff and I up to the high priestess’ room so we could make an effort to locate any records that would implicate them. In retrospect I suppose making our move this evening right after the alarm was probably not the appropriate course of action but, as you’ll soon see, it still worked out in our favor.
Griff and I quietly explored the priestess’ room and just as we located some documents that would certainly implicate them in all their wrongdoing, the door burst open to Agarthas (the top command of this temple under the priestess) and four of his priests. He yelled loudly that he knew something was up tonight and, rather than wait for him to attack, I swung out and powered my attack with my training as a Battleweaver. What should have cleaved a long gash in his chest deflected harmlessly, clearly indicating magical enhancement. Melee ensued and Rain popped out to bring our comrades as reinforcements.
Turning my attention to one of the other priests I was able to drop him in a single flurry of attacks, instantly helping our odds. Griff knifed one in the gut just as Kor entered the fight and torched the center of the room, including a hell hound that Agarthas had summoned from an amulet on his neck. The priest Griff knifed apparently didn’t have enough because he came after me and I cut him down like the fodder he is. Light filling the room as it was, I found it difficult to keep tabs on what else was happening but from what I later gathered, Eloc and Crash joined the fray and helped dispatch the remaining two priests. Seeing everybody fall, Agarthas decided he needed to leave and cast a spell on himself to take flight. He flew full-bore towards the window and crashed through it; Kor, having deduced what was about to happen took a full swing and knocked the rest of the windows out with his staff giving Griff and I clear view of Agarthas. I mustered all the strength and training I had received as a Leafwalker and lashed out. Magic enveloped my blades once more and I struck with the fury of a whirlwind and struck true, dropping Agarthas headfirst to the courtyard below.
Kor disappeared with Rain while the rest of us worked to clean up the combatants. I located Darrin and Tom, the “priests” who first dragged us through the corridors into our cells, and showed them the meaning of revenge. I found them running towards the treasury, presumably to loot it during the chaos. Using my arrows I first pinned their legs together in a creative shot, leaving them unable to escape, and followed suit by slowly cutting them up in shallow yet painful gashes. When I had their attention fully I explained that I had been awake the whole time they posed me in that ridiculous position and I had been plotting revenge since. Using sharp baling wire I tied them together tightly in the same pose they had left me in. “The lesson”, I told them, “is never cross an elf.” Just about to finish the job I looked up and noticed Kor standing there observing me. Rather than look the part of a sadistic killer – which I am not – I stood up and stated that the authorities can take care of the rest. I shall have to satisfy my urge for revenge with the knowledge that these men will rot in the prison work gangs.
Galstaff paid us though in relation to our take from cleansing the temple it was nothing. We used our newfound wealth to purchase the temple and the adjoining inn – The Happy Dwarf – with plans to make it our new base of operations.
Stormblades – an adventuring group in some fashion related to Mayor Blackwood – has taken a particular interest in besting us. They go out of their way to try and make us look bad and it seems to be getting on some of my comrades nerves. The Stormblades presented a good point, however, that we don’t have an official name so how can we be taken seriously. I proposed to my comrades that we call ourselves the Stormchasers, thus playing on Stormblades ego and possibly force their hand. Kor surmises that they are likely performing shady operations under the cover of adventurers and our successes are making them nervous that they will have an open confrontation with us at some point. I say let them sweat.
- Fooberichu
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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 209
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7/16/2010
Wanting to get the upper hand on the Stormblades we decided to investigate the goblin problem here in Cauldron. We made hasty preparations, picked up a couple new recruits – likely Blackwood’s spies – and split up in a couple of groups to begin our investigations.
We started by looking at the graffiti the goblins left and found that one of my comrades was able to decipher the text. It was a poem or song about how they – the goblins – belonged here and would smash, kill, and maim pretty much anybody they wanted. We found another recruit along the way – a man whose home had been broken into and goblin poop spread all over the place. He wanted nothing more than to give payback.
The guard captain in the area gave us a writ of authority to kill and otherwise dispose of any goblin in the entire city. Armed with this document we would be free to act in any way we found necessary. Having dealt with goblins before in my homeland, I was more than happy to accept the writ and the implications therein.
It would seem that both groups were equally as successful in obtaining information for we both arrived at the bathhouse district at Orik’s door at precisely the same moment. One group had obtained information from the priestess as she divined answers to their questions. They learned that the dwarf with the red eye would lie to us. The other group received information in another manner that escapes me but regardless, they arrived at the same conclusion.
In spite of what it was hiding, the bathhouse was remarkable and very well kept. Stone pillars were spaced evenly holding the ceiling and carved exquisitely to add taste. The baths were varying sizes whilst the main bath had a waterfall pouring elegantly into the base and flowing majestically towards the foot and out another waterfall into the caverns below.
Orik – a hardy dwarf sporting an eye-patch complete with a red jewel beset in the center – welcomed us to his pools, clearly glad to see a large number of potential customers. Rather than beat around the bush we cut to the chase and he plainly denied any involvement, true to the priestess’ divination.
Vonail – one of our new recruits, a disgustingly dirty warrior – decided to help cause a distraction and waded into the pools leaving behind a nasty trail of grime, dirt, and whatever else was attached to his body and armor. Orik turned his attention to him long enough for Griff to “check” some doors. Orik somehow took instant notice, however, and turned immediately back towards Griff, yelled out a war cry, drew an axe and hurtled himself towards Griff swinging wildly.
Clearly out of his mind but not on our writ we knew we couldn’t outright kill him. We ganged up on him and beat him into a bloody submissive pulp and then bound him tightly. Secreting him in one of the side rooms and locking the front door, we decided to descend the stairs behind the door Orik really wanted us not to go through.
What we found down below was exactly what we expected. A cesspool of filth, rubbish, and everything in between filled the caverns below in what was clearly the goblin breeding ground and quarters. Attempting to move slowly and quietly we made our way through the hallway, peering cautiously into each room we came to. Caution wasn’t our ally this night, however, as one of my comrades tripped a wire and caused a hair-raising alarm followed by the sound of a multitude of goblins stirring to action. The hallway proved to be a successful chokepoint, however, as we held our ground and slaughtered the little buggers.
Once again Kor proved his use in a fight as he laid down a huge swath of fire, burning the first wave to the ground. Scattering and running around the corner, I suspected the caverns reconnected in the hallway behind us where we had not yet investigated and called out as much. Griff and a couple others formed a line with me while Kor impulsively (and stupidly) ran after the cowardly buggers to put them down. He called out in surprise at which point Vonail was quick to help him. They both came back shortly and mentioned they had fought with a vampire bugbear. I assume that is part of their graffiti where they talked about “long live Drakthar!” and portions about him being dead.
The fight came back around through one of the side rooms and we proceeded to lay down a barrage of fire. I was pleased with myself, personally dropping more than 20 of the beasties as the fight ensued. Mopping the rest of them up was easy and now we are taking a small rest before continuing to find and put down this Drakthar fellow.
- Fooberichu
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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 209
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7/30/2010
We continued after our brief rest. Kor, Eloc, and Vonail decided they would stay back to cover our backs and collect goblin ears while we investigated further. Making our way back to the other side of the stairs we found what appeared to be a dwarven place of worship. A massive statue of a dwarf stood vigil behind a stone altar while stone braziers lined the walls in an orderly succession. Obvious to us – based on the fact that goblin poo was literally everywhere including sitting in place of where the dwarf’s head should be, on the altar, and filling the braziers – was that this room was not currently being used as a center of worship.
Trailing back we entered the room where all the goblins had originally poured out after the initial alarm. Clearly their quarters, this room was absolutely vile. Their beds were composed of poo, garbage, and whatever else they thought might pass as appropriate bedding; the smell alone was enough to overpower a couple of my comrades whom were reduced to vomiting. Interestingly enough, the vomit smell helped improve the overall atmosphere of this befouled area.
Continuing our exploration we found ourselves in a room with a large basin of clear, apparently clean water. The state of the room itself left as much to be desired as the rest of the caverns but it was clear that they at least held some regard for the water they drank. Exiting through a door in this room led us to three goblins who were clearly lying in wait for us. Sad for them, we came in behind where they anticipated us. S’ven – the man whose apartments had been recently trashed by the goblins – charged in yelling. I quickly calculated a path and banked a shot off the ceiling, striking the goblin whom S’ven was staring down and dropping it with a gurgling scream to the ground. Taren moved quickly and subdued one of the remaining goblins while Griff hacked the other.
Our search continued from room to room until we reached a closed door. S’ven, who had decided to act as point-man, opened the door only to find a goblin hurling a small flask at him. He moved quickly and blocked the flask with his shield, muttering thanks to some god as the flask exploded into scalding oily liquid. Taren ran into the room and quickly dispatched the bugger. Another locked door behind this goblin led us to a room of curious workmanship. A large stone cauldron adorned the center of the room straddling an ornate carving of a face. Smoke billowed lightly from the face – apparently the source of heat – and disappeared through some ornate carvings in the ceiling. Not knowing what they were brewing and certainly not wanting to find out I decided (decidedly against my better judgment) to scoop up some goblin droppings and deposit them in the cauldron. Clearly afraid of what I was doing most of my comrades quickly exited the room just in time to escape a colorful blast from the cauldron. The side effect? We all felt strangely better.
Exiting the alchemist’s workshop I heard the soft pitter-patter of goblin feet running down the halls away from us. Rather than strike pursuit we decided to move cautiously and struck off a different direction through a side hall. S’ven, again in the lead, was the one to draw attention of a worg and his rider. Taren once again teleported to gain an edge and S’ven managed to connect strongly with the goblin, sending him reeling but not down. Griff attacked at the worg but missed wildly, perhaps put off by the beast’s size. Crash stepped in and educated the worg in cooking as he sliced and diced it to little chunky bits. Firing a multishot from my bow, I removed the goblin from this existence.
Looking around we found a few things. 1st: this goblin was one of the stronger ones; I remember them from my homeland – these were the smarter ones, stronger ones, and they tended to dominate in the tribes. 2nd: the bedding in this area wasn’t filled with excrement. 3rd: the door at the back of this room was locked and, upon unlocking, led to a natural cavern. Deciding not to entire the natural caverns yet we closed the door and locked it back up, then circled back around to where we had heard the goblins running away.
Approaching them we heard them talking excitedly – “are they coming this way?” Griff devised a plan to leave one of our light sources here and have us all circle around to catch them the other direction. It should have occurred to me at the time but we were too busy formulating and acting out our plan but as we passed back through our comrades Eloc, Kor, and Vonail were not to be found. That being said, we entered to surprise the goblins but they were ready for us. Crash, Griff, and S’ven ducked quickly behind some bags the goblins had stacked up while I did the same a little farther back. Shooting with incredible accuracy I placed an arrow squarely through one of the goblins eyes, somehow carrying the eye through his skull and left dangling from the arrowhead as it protruded out the back. Taren once again teleported and dispatched a goblin in one fell swoop and then Griff hurled a stone and dropped the last one.
Investigating this area led us to some conclusions. Somebody was smuggling weapons and supplies in but for what reason? This was clearly not something the goblins could or would do on their own. The crates and bags were all marked with the crest of a caged bird. Following the path we were led into the natural cavern and this time decided to enter.
Immediately into the caverns we were once again ambushed. This group consisted of a worg w/rider and another goblin. The non-rider threw a flask at S’ven – once again the first target – and struck him, covering him in the hot burning liquid. I banked a shot off the ceiling and struck the worg with three shots dropping it dead. My comrades easily finished off the two goblins.
The caverns were unusually dark, even our stones found difficulty reaching some corners. We quickly found out why. S’ven and Crash both had darkness descend over and consume them while Rain was missed by the darkness just to my side. I had to jump back in order to take stock the situation. I gathered from later accounts that a tentacle beast had fallen on their heads and began to constrict them in an attempt to suffocate them. Crash managed to cut the one off of himself while Griff helped remove the one from S’ven by touching cold iron to it.
Our explorations continued cautiously as we watched the ceiling for dark spots and managed to avoid any other encounters with the face-huggers. Rain pointed out a crossbow-wielding goblin waiting on an outcropping and then killed it. Taking stock of the area, Rain described what she saw: a bridge and more worked caverns. Deciding to climb up we turned and helped Taren climb up only to hear a commotion behind us. Spinning on our heels we saw another worg and 7 goblins closing in on us.
Aiming at a goblin that seemed to be holding back a little and wielding a knobby staff of some sort, I let loose with an arrow imbued with the power to slice through any armor and guided on the winds of truth striking it in the throat. The worg was quick to arrive and clamped heavily on Crash’s manhood, thrashing wildly. The rider jumped free and struck at Griff. An audible groan was heard from every male comrade in my group as we watched, horrified, as the worg tore at Crash’s sac.
Turning, I drew an arrow and let loose, removing another goblin from the fight. S’ven disarmed a goblin – quite literally – and Griff managed to take out two in a flurry of blows. Rain, flying to Crash’s rescue offered to heal him but surprisingly he told her to hold it and then started muttering “just a second, just a second, just a second!” before finally managing to kill the worg. Rain healed him up and he wrapped some cloth in the area to conceal his “man-huge” as he called it.
Deciding to investigate where the goblins ambushed us from we moved that direction while Crash continued along the original path. We found ourselves in another room with a couple goblins wielding the knobby staves and quickly cleaned them up. Just as we were nearing the door we heard Crash yelling something about Draakthar so I quickly threw the door open revealing four more goblins wielding crossbows, their attention divided between Crash running into the room and myself and my comrades pouring through the door.
Hurriedly I shot the goblin nearest the large precipice, causing him to loose balance and fall off into the depths below. Taren and Griff quickly killed off the other three just in time for Crash to round the corner with the vampire Draakthar in hot pursuit along with his throne – curiously crafted of bones and stretched human flesh – animated and chasing as well.
Combat was met as Draakthar clashed with S’ven, matching blow for blow. Noting the chair’s proximity to the caverns after Griff performed an impressive maneuver and cast it to its “back” I yelled for Rain to levitate it over the drop and let it loose. Rain was surprised but quickly complied and pulled the chair over, dropping it in a crashing mess to the rocky flooring below, its many faces screaming in unison as it fell.
Ganging up on Draakthar we made quick work of him. Sinking to the ground, his body transformed into a putrid green mist and flowed towards the rear of the caverns. We chased the mist remembering some things we’ve heard about vampires and how they have a safe spot where their bodies can regenerate and were led through a worked room and to a trove. Passing through the worked room we found Kor and Eloc bound and left in the corner unconscious; both had been drained of most of their blood and were barely alive.
Draakthar’s mist settled into a pile of treasure and we searched it for something Griff called a “soul jar” but were unable to identify anything. Careful search of the area revealed a small opening in the ground which, upon removal, allowed us to find his body. Not really knowing how to dispose of a vampire we ended up chopping all his limbs off, setting them on fire, smashing them, and everything else that came to mind. I even peed all over his resting place thinking that, if nothing else, I might defile the area.
His trove was not unimpressive. We found piles of copper and silver, several magical weapons and differing pieces of armor, as well as several valuables. My favorite piece was a quiver that was enchanted to carry a never-ending supply of arrows – useful for one such as I.
Securing his treasures we made a final sweep of the caverns to mop up remaining goblins, recover our injured friends, and return to the surface. The sweep proved important as we found another dwarven-worked area revealing two humans dwelling there. While one might surmise they were there against their will the fact is that they didn’t seem put out at all by the fact that there were goblins and a vampire in residence here. In fact, when we attempted to question them the male threw the table down and he and the female ducked behind it.
No longer in the mood to draw things out I simply banked a shot off the ceiling and struck the man – clearly a conjurer – causing him to pass out from the pain. The female decided not to fight and allowed us to talk to her though in no fashion willing to divulge any information. Luckily for us she wasn’t exactly committed, certainly not after I shot her through the leg because she was uncooperative. The way I see it interrogation can be achieved by any means necessary and, in this case, it was.
She finally told us that anything we could do was nothing compared to what her boss would do to her. Additional pressing got her to slip up and mention that he was “the blue duke”. It must be noted that this room was also stocked with crates and bags all marked with the same caged bird symbol. We got her to divulge that some noble was attempting to bolster his own personal guard and was smuggling people and supplies in to accomplish it. We learned that her boss was once heard speaking with a soft-spoken woman, an apparent member of a secret demon-cultist society here. Satisfied that we would not get anything more out of her we knocked her unconscious and bound her and the conjurer. I had Rain heal up their wounds since Griff was very concerned that we could be charged with assault – their word against ours and they have no wounds to prove it. I also changed the man’s robes to garb without any telling holes in it.
Finishing our sweep we came across a small campfire near an opening to the outside with six humans and a dwarf camped around it. They were talking about how they were happy their journey was finally over, clearly exhausted from a long march. Rain teleported with Griff back to collect the captain who had hired us – Tiersen Skellering. As the captain and his guards arrived they made a fair amount of noise, causing the campers distress. They slowly rose as the dwarf tersely stated that they should probably get out of there. Crash turned to me and said “well, time to crash their party” and then snickered as he jumped up and charged. Seeing the chance to stop at least one group of recruits I joined in and started laying down a barrage of arrows. We made short work of the mercs and managed to subdue them all without killing any of them (no small feat considering Crash’s history in the Razmirian temple). When Tiersen and the rest finally arrived we told them they were trying to escape so we stopped them to allow justice. Tiersen had them healed up and off we went.
Our take was pretty nice this day and we’ll chalk this one up as another against those Stormblade fools. Yes, we are still without name but we’ll come up with a new one soon I’m sure.
I must say that my time here in the human lands has proven useful. I’ve learned a lot about their ways. They all seem ready to stab one another in the back over the lure of power and gain. Things which seem black and white to me are gray to them. Take Griff, for example. He is clearly a man with a checkered past and one who has done no small amount of deviousness in his day yet he was up in arms about my treatment of the human mercs – people who were clearly in cahoots with the goblins and vampire. The other end of the spectrum you find Crash. Here is a man who, while we were on an incognito mission to infiltrate and learn about the Razmirians, decided it was ok to brutally murder and severely beat another man in order to gain favor. Even I, an outsider, know that what he did was against the law and outside the bounds of our charge. Clearly humans act with more emotion and impulsiveness than my elven counterparts. They are blessed with much ingenuity and design, something these goblins tonight do not possess. This makes them dangerous. I must continue my studies a while yet before I take a report back to my people.
- Fooberichu
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Joined: 6/29/2007
Posts: 209
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8/13/2010
This morning I awoke to the loud crashing of thunder followed by a torrential downpour. The Rain Festival was upon us. According to the Cauldron Bubbler we are in for a week of festivities hard to match.
Before the day started Kor mentioned he was planning on returning the 50 silver taken from the baker several days ago during our guise as Razmirians. My stomach growled as I recalled the delectable taste of the bear claws so I volunteered to go along. Welton was more than happy and quite surprised to find us returning his funds having taken comfort in the fact that the Razmirians were gone. Even so, he felt compelled to reward us and gave us four bear claws since he remembered that is how many of us had shaken him down last time.
Splitting ways with Kor I decided to head to Skie’s Treasury to see what she had to offer during this fine festival. I was quite impressed with her inventory – ranging from standard potions all the way to unique pieces of enchanted weapons and armor. Beside myself, I ended up blowing most of my earnings up to this point on all sorts of equipment to augment my combat ability.
Festivities continued throughout the day rewarding us with good and bad throughout the week. Eloc took place in a drinking contest and did remarkably well on the first and second nights of the festival.
With the parade planned for the 3rd day, Crash quickly commissioned a float planning to stage some gladiatorial duels and offered 10 gold prize to the winner. His intention was to appear to only just barely win all the duels in order to lure the Stormblade’s swordsman – Cora Lathenmire – to a duel and then beat her into submission. His ruse worked perfectly and we received the treat of quite the duel, if not short-lived. Cora held her own at first, managing not to be hit by Crash for the first several seconds. Reaching an opening in her defenses Crash lashed out in a blur, spraying blood this way and that, and knocked her nearly unconscious to the floor. Thankfully he stopped and called for the healers and gracefully accepted the honor of winning. If only speaking for myself I was quite pleased to watch the Stormblades lose some face as a result.
Kor entered a swimming contest and was apparently given some magical aid from one of our comrades – likely Eloc – and easily won. They were to swim the large lake in search of the fabled lake monster (an illusion attached to one of several bells on boats) and would win a trophy.
Piquing my interest on the 3rd day, I joined an archery contest. Should circumstances have been different I would definitely have taken the trophy but just prior to my turn I suddenly felt quite parched and went to the nearest refreshment stand. Drinking deeply, I scarcely noticed who was around me until thinking back later and recounting my steps. Taking my place at the range I fired a shot fully expecting to watch it hit the center of the target. To my dismay I watched it fire wide and completely miss the target, narrowly passing by some spectators of another event on the other side of the field. Taking my second shot I was once again dumbfounded as I watched the arrow strike a tree far to the left of my target. Dejected and embarrassed, I returned to our abode to drown my sorrows in mead.
It was while drowning my sorrows at our tavern – formerly the Happy Dwarf but now named Johnny Griff’s – that I noticed some members of the Stormblades there. One of them in particular was laughing directly at me, a personal affront to my poor performance of the day. Suddenly flashes of the day entered my memory and I recalled having seen him at the archery contest and, more specifically, at the refreshment station just prior to my turn at the range. While I cannot prove he did anything I became suspicious about his involvement and somehow drugging me or magically altering my ability during the contest. I will watch this one.
Later that evening those of us who had not brought home scores of whores sat in the common area discussing the day’s events. Eloc was clearly displeased with himself during the 3rd round of the drinking contest, having completely lost his composure and subsequently the contest. I was still rather displeased with my bout at the archery contest though not sharing it with my comrades since they had not yet heard about it. Kor was reveling in his success at the races. Crash and Griff were both off in respective corners of the keep – Crash in the “harem” area, Griff in the former high priestesses quarters – when Jenya came to see us.
Jenya was clearly in anguish over something, nearly to the point of tears. Breaking down she told us that Sarcem Delasharn – the high priest of Adanos – was waylaid at the Lucky Monkey by bandits and in serious need of help. This was particularly discomforting, apparently, since he was in possession of the flood control rods and without his presence Cauldron would very likely be flooded this season.
Sensing urgency in the matter and wanting to distance myself from my shame, I quickly saddled my horse and rode off to scout the area before my friends arrived. Having equipped my horse with the enchanted horse shoes I made quick time and was to the Lucky Monkey well ahead of my comrades. Scouting around I noted two bandit guards posted at the entrance and a horrific pile of commoner bodies behind the establishment. Fearing the worst, I went back to wait my comrades arrival and filled them in.
Griff decided we should enter quietly and snuck up behind the guard on the right. I took careful aim at the one on the left and waited his move. Slitting the first guard’s throat was my cue and I let loose an arrow, splitting it into three on its way and dropped the other guard quickly in a gurgling heap.
Rain, seeing a strategic advantage, cast a spell to make S’Ven, Taren, Crash, and I all invisible before entering. We approached the inn and found the front door locked. Griff, of course, stepped up to unlock it and gain us entry but seemed to have some difficulty with it – I imagine he still had his mind on the whores back home rather than our current task. Offering to try, I slipped my pick in and popped the lock, then stood back and readied my bow as he opened the door.
Surprise was ours. There were two groups of bandits sitting at the tables, one group obviously a rag-tag group of mountain bandits, the others appeared to be thugs from Cauldron. Thinking of the innocent people this filth had murdered I took a bead on the nearest person – a female – and shot her dead instantly, her blood spraying her male companion and leaving him in shock. Combat was quick and merciful to the pigs… we slaughtered them all quickly due to half our forces being invisible. An unfortunate side-effect of the invisibility, however, was Taren receiving a point-blank shot in the back from Griff’s hand-cannon, nearly killing her. By the luck and Rain’s ability we were able to save her.
While they tended to Taren I snuck off to investigate further. I followed some sounds and found two bandits in one of the private tables copulating. Seeing only the carnage they had wrought and allowing no room for mercy I drew my blades and stuck them angrily several times. Satisfied with their deaths, I left the private table and went back to my comrades – the death throes of these fools alerting my comrades to my deeds. Griff was visibly upset, Kor perplexed, and others simply indifferent. I simply discounted it to the fact that none of them had seen the pile of bodies – not just men but also women and children – piled like firewood behind the tavern. Had they seen that perhaps they would have thought different of my actions. Perhaps not… I’m still learning how these humans react to things.
They did find one bandit drunk off her rockers in the common area and bound her tightly, wanting to interrogate her later when she came to and then turn her over to the authorities. I agreed with the need to have at least one survivor and left it at that.
Splitting our team up to search the main floor we branched out. Taren was no longer invisible but she accompanied those of us who were whilst the rest – minus Rain and S’Ven – went the other direction. S’Ven and Rain had volunteered to watch the doors and ensure nobody came in or left while we were clearing the rooms.
We found ourselves entering the kitchen – where a lot of noise was coming from – and saw several baboons in there. Remembering the keeper telling us he had just ordered a shipment of baboons as we arrived last time, we simply thought they had got loose and decided to close the door and continue up the stairs. What we later found out – hearing the screams and war cries of our comrades and rushing to their aid – was that one of the baboons was actually a were-baboon and was leading the rest.
Monkey-man was an interesting sight to behold. He had several piercings all up and down his chest and nipples, quite uncomfortable if you ask me, and sported the head of a baboon whilst the rest of his body was human. He moved with grace and was easily dodging most attacks directed his way. I quickly took a shot at him at the same moment Eloc torched him and Griff knifed him. The monkey-man had no chance of surviving an attack like that and fell – a crispy husk – to the ground. Upon death, his head transformed back into that of a man.
Further investigation of the area yielded a tongue-less head in the kitchen – Eloc mentioning that the monkey-man had said something about eating out his tongue as he attacked him. Gross. We located the dame of the house, Tessa, her son Derek, and her daughter Sarah. The had managed to survive the slaughter by hiding in a secret compartment in the rafters of the home and, hearing Griff’s voice, Derek insisted they were safe. We rounded up a total of twelve surviving bandits, too many for my taste if you ask me, and Griff instructed us to interrogate them away from family so he could learn what happened.
We learned that a butch-cut woman had hired them to find Sarcem and kill him and, after retrieving the wands had returned back towards Cauldron. She was dressed in bladed armor with large spikes all over it so that should help us identify her back in town should we see her. We also located a druid – Shincen – who worked for the Lucky Monkey and ran their shrine. She had managed to survive by hiding herself in the cellar but managed to become trapped in the process. She was a half-elf and I found her to be quite engaging and welcoming to my friendly advances. I was more than happy to let her ride back to town with me and we swapped stories – mine about the true elves and our people, hers about the evils her father and his people had committed in the land. I plan on inviting her to stay with us at our keep and I hope she takes me on my offer.
It was with the discovery of Shincen that I was more willing to not kill the remaining bandits for their atrocities and bring them back to Cauldron to face the authorities. Kor seemed pleased with my restraint, Griff surprised. So it is.
- Fooberichu
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