edited to reflect content
Obsidian--Entry 1
My soul is in dire peril.
Returning from a Food Services Trade Fair, I was beset by a group of trolls, who evidently comprised the smallest part of an army bent on destroying Moonstair. If it were any other town, I'd trick some Dragonborn townie into buying the Den and hop on a fast boat heading toward a small island with sandy beaches and an untapped market of professional 30-somethings seeking a place of relaxation and amusement, but the situation is what it is and I can't leave.
The town is in bad shape. Our only ally is 4 days away (must find out if this is within 100 miles--can dispatch imp if close enough) and Moonstair has no military to speak of, as it has solved past problems through mercenaries and adventurers. Well, the most talented adventurers are now dead, we are told, and the most talented mercenaries have quite sanely fled the town.
That leaves us. I'm so fucked.
On the upside, I may be able to convince the town the Lake of Fire Ale is a natural troll repellent, owing to its highly flammable content and unique mix of infernal spices (mmmm, cloves the damned). I may be able to land to generous government contract to produce this *troll repellent* at tremendous cost to the taxpayer and use the infrastructure created by mass production to franchise my restaurant's products. Life may be worth living after all.
OOC: I had a blast, James. I hope we get to complete this adventure before I leave in August.
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Log of Khar'dan, Entry 23:
ReplyDeleteIt seems Moonstair is no longer in a strong position to remain an idyllic trading city, or even one to remain standing. Damn.
The trolls have banded together under a new king, King... oh, I can't remember his name. I know he's mad enough to replace one of his eyes with a magical one. Now he's leading the trolls from the Trollhaunt in numbers enough to burn the city, and desires a resurrection of the troll empire that once inhabited this land. While one of his ambush parties claimed a messenger bound to seek aid for Moonstair, we managed to pay them back for their brutality. And get led shortly astray because of our Lord Obsidian's plan to keep what we thought was a young messenger, but was in fact a demon. Killed him and his vile associates too, so no major loss.
Oh, that reminds me. I need to have a conversation with Mikal about proper battlefield tactical spellcasting, cause, damn.
Still, our team is reasonably effective as a unit, and Lord Obsidian's interests sync up with our own. Even with a swarm of trolls threatening, we've at least a chance.
Trolls are something I fight on a fairly regular basis, usually in small bands, maybe one or two, even three, while traveling from Moonstair. Never in the number I've seen today. No less than four, and another creature identified as a demon. Thankfully my companions brought a considerable amount of fire, considering I apparently left my spare alchemist fire and acid here for the trip.
ReplyDeleteIt was an interesting battle, if a surprise certainly. Not surprising was seeing one of the trolls, at least a bit singed, fleeing the warlock, Lord Obsidian. Lord of what, I'm still not sure. Possibly his "breakfast and brothel", as I've heard it referred to. I still wonder who he gets to fix the place, considering.
Our archer friend was content to rain arrows from a spot not far from where we first spotted the trolls, which certainly works, and his aim from that distance, a bit under three hundred feet, surprised me. Seeing shafts sprout from my opposition is never bad in a fight.
I was heartened to see two of my companions charge right into the fray, or at least half charge in the case of one. The Swordmage, Mikal, was right there next to me after a moment, taking to the troll next to the one I'd charged, and is quite adept at keeping things focused on him. A trait I admire as much as standing up to protect. The warlord, a Shadarkai who's name slips my mind for the moment, seemed less...enthused about engaging them right away, but was nevertheless stalwart in battle, and was able to see weaknesses and relay them to us.
As much as I've seen wizards and sorcerers, I'll never be able to understand the infatuation with large explosions. For once, however, fiery eruptions were more beneficial than detrimental. A large gout of flame blasting trolls, courtesy of the dragonborn magic user, was more than enough to help settle two of them permanently.
I'd noticed the courier when we first saw the trolls, but seeing the body as it had been left was still unpleasant. He had nothing that we found immediately, nor did his horse, so it was a relative mystery what he'd been doing until Lord Obsidian found the boy. "Boy", I should say. I should have known better than to think a courier would have someone else with him while riding full speed.
The boy was in fact the demon that had been fought, knocked off his feet, and disappeared. A trickster and user of illusions, he disguised himself, letter bound south in his possession from the courier, who's head he'd been devouring, and implied a shorter route back to Moonstair. I'm twice foolish for not knowing it was a trap. I've made this trip enough times to know the fastest route. He and his allies were handily dispatched, after a bit of a bump. I'll have to speak with Mikal about both what he did, and the application of such a thing's use in the future.
The day's battles aside, we need to prepare, both the defenses of Moonstair, as best we can, then for a trip ourselves. I've gone into the areas the trolls frequent, but never as deep as we will, to find this new troll king bent on reunifying the tribes, and retaking the lands they once held, or more.
A note scrawled out at the top of the next blank page: Take the advice of "Lord" Obsidian to the town to heart, and buy alchemist's fire. Lots of it.
Archers log, Frostmyr to Moonstair
ReplyDeleteInteresting trip to Moonstair...
Shortly after leaving Frostmyr headed for Moonstair, I hooked up with this band of adventurers. Since we were headed in the same direction, it only made sense to stick together. During the journey, my favorite purveyor of Ale and Tail-Lord Obsidian-joined up, apparently he was returning from some trade show or something. Lord Obsidian and I had met before, although, I am not sure he has fully forgiven the time I shot at an obnoxious dwarf in one of his taverns and missed, knocking a lit oil lantern into the fryer...
(Reminder to self, never play with weapons when drunk on "Lake of Fire" Ale.)
Anyway, our merry band of pranksters came upon a scene of the usual horror and devastation, in the form of some trolls tearing apart some poor soul and his horse. Ugh. Trolls. I hate their smell. I can smell them from 200 yards away and they sure don't smell like my home woodlands! Since the conditions were perfect, good light and little breeze, I was able to do my work from a little farther away than normal. It is really nice when you have a clear field of fire to work with!
After dispatching the trolls, and causing an Oni to Disapparate, we were able to revive one of the victims and recover a message. Summary: Moonstair is reaping the pain of failing to maintain their defenses and the Troll King wants a trophy. From the sound of it we are going to have to get up close and personal with some of them. Hopefully there will at least be some profit in this.
On a brighter note, after (finally) arriving at Moonstair (yes, we had some trouble with the "victim"), we found that commerce was still thriving. I should be able to buy some supplies to help with the job that the town wants us to do. And, I ran across someone in Lord Obsidian's eatery and beatery who could be useful in a fight. A Barbarian named "Squeaks". Although, after his last battle, he drinks a little more than he used to. We'll see what the rest of the crew thinks.
I am going to chat up some local talent, get re-supplied, and have another Ale or six. It might be a while before I get another chance.
Vanèäron
Lord Obsidian's Dark Den of Delight and Disaster proudly offers a 5% discount to people (not dragonborn). Who have an umlaut in their name.
ReplyDeletehttp://newbius.blogspot.com/2009/05/moonstair-quest-log-entry-2-shopping.html
ReplyDelete[OOC] Have we nailed down the next meeting?
Official Military Report~
ReplyDeleteMy Journey has taken me now to a small town known as Moonstair,though in a rather round about way as me and my current comrades were derailed by some Trolls on the Road Feasting upon a Courier. The Trolls were Quickly and Efficiently Dispatched I was pretty impressed by these others Prowess in Battle. Afterwards we were rather relieved to find a Single survivor a small boy, Which now that I look back at it should of seemed suspicious in the first place as why would a Courier bearing such an important Missive bring a child with him? However I digress, We came upon a Destroyed City and the Boy revealed that he was nothing but the Oni in disguise! Curses upon myself for not realizing it sooner, Masters of Trickery and illusion I fell right into his Vile Trap. We were surounded and being crushed on both sides when one of my current Allies...oh bother what was his name..Micail I believe it was use some kind of Arcane power and Blew everyone to the far sides of the battlefield! At first I was thinking Betrayal but then I realized that he must of been using a Divide and conquer strategem where before we were surrounded now we had small groups we could pick off singularly. I have been Rambling a little much though I wished to make this report as Detailed account of my Experiences as possible, In Short we now find ourselves in Moonstair on the brink of a Massive Troll invasion where this town finds itself the FrontLine, I have been tasked with Training the Militia a task I gladly accepted a few things of note that I believe may be Key to surviving this Battle, We Know the Enemies Weakspot So Must Train Militia in the use of Fire and Acid, Our Enemy is Large and slow So Archery may be one of our top chances. And Lastly Our Enemy is unintelligent and Brutish. However I think that a Preemptive Strike of our own may be the best choice, Travel into the Warrens of these Trolls and Steal their leaders afforementioned "eye" since it gave him the Leadership capabilities to Organize his rabble of Trolls perhaps they would fall into dssaray and Chaos without it....I shall send a Followup report once I know More
~Commander Shathyn Alistair of Twilight Company~
Sorry I haven't posted a response sooner, there was an issue with my ability to post comments. It's fixed now. I think you all have done an amazing job with your follow ups and hope they continue.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I spell my name Deë Emm