--Vanèäron--
Archer's Log
Trollhaunt Warrens, continuing
Still stuck in this hole. These caves make Lord Obsidian's tavern seem like a garden paradise. At least the scenery is better there.
We finished with Gloomfang and lived to tell about it, no thanks to me. Diplomacy is not my strong suit. I like to announce my presence with arrows, not "hellos". Anyway, we managed to not get eaten (a plus), and even got some information (also a plus). We did not get a firm agreement to help us, nor did we get an agreement from her to stay on the sidelines (both minuses). All in all, we came out about even.
Upon departing from Gloomfang's den, our options narrowed considerably when a couple of the tunnels collapsed in front of us. Thankfully, we still had the main pathway open to us and so we pressed onward in to the next cavern. Which wasn't really a cavern at all. Actually, it was the pit of a giant sinkhole, roof missing...probably the Dragon's preferred method of egress now that I think of it. 60 feet straight up, impossible to see unless you are in it or next to it.
We encountered some more trolls in this pit, and some creature which were new to me. (Nothix?) Serious damage dealers, not very robust. It took us a while to figure this out though and most of the party took hits. This was not our best encounter strategy-wise. The good news was that everybody survived. The bad news is that I am starting to run low on supplies. I have plenty of regular arrows (over 60 still), but my Flameburst arrows were almost depleted by the end of the fight. We finally dispatched the last of this group, and discovered some humans and halflings locked in a stone room. They were malnourished but otherwise OK, and gave us a little more information on what Skalmad was planning. Whlie Obsidian fed them some of his apples, we took a brief rest and listened to their tales of torture and abuse at the hands of the Trolls. Even with all of his diplomatic prowess, Lord Obsidian himself couldn't get them to stay and help us fight.
Perhaps it was just as well. We might have had to split some of the treasure with them if they had stayed. Yes, we found some treasure. It was poorly hidden in a cave that was accessible only through a water door. Our Dragonborn doesn't swim...we found out. The treasure is Gloomfang's I am sure. We will probably have to answer for the taking, but my arrows fly straighter when there is weight in my pockets.
With our pockets jangling lightly and our burden a little heavier, we rounded the corner and came face to face with the Troll king himself, Skalmad. His amber cat-eye making him all the more grotesque. Having learned our lesson earlier about the Nothix, Obsidian and I targeted the two we could see from the outset, killing them both with our combined attacks. Having them out of the way allowed us to make fairly quick work of Skalmad and his associates...this time. Oh-and Obsidian owes me an Ale or two... He should probably buy me a few more Flameburst arrows also.
He should really keep moving when faced with that many trolls... :)
Anyway, with Skalmad down, we found out that his eye causes him to reincarnate in the Feywild, so I am sure we will be seeing him again. The bad news, however, was that he has already set his forces out to attack Moonstair. Let's hope that the town can rally.
We set out a rotating watch and rested overnight, while Obsidian did some magical, mystical, poofy thing and high-tailed it back to town to save his immortal soul, or something like that. Appearing in his place the next morning was the darndest looking creature I have seen in a while, speaking some unintelligible language punctuated by grunts and gurgles most of the time.
At least he can fight...
We found the foundry and dispatched the beasts guarding it. but it doesn't look like we will make it back to town in time to be much help. I hope that the militia has been training. They will need the practice if they are to survive. I really want to collect on that ale from Obsidian. It isn't often that he offers to buy.
"V"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
--Lord Obsidian--
ReplyDeletehuf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf
mustgettomoonstair huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf huf mustgettomoonstair
Skalmad is dead (for now). His army is on the march. I should not have wasted so much time. Now, with few spells and no backup, I am running my luxuriously tailed butt back to town as quickly as I can. I can only hope that damnation is less painful than these blisters and cramps should I arrive too late.
I really wish V were here right now. In fact I'd sell my soul for him to be here right now, were it not probably already lost, and who would trust the bargain of Lord Obsidian. besides?
*written under a scrawled note to the effect of "buy fire and acid, underlined a few times*
ReplyDeleteMid-warren, possibly almost end-warren, entry, while the group takes a rest.
I'd never been to the troll haunt. Near it perhaps, but not inside. The trolls tend to gather in larger groups the closer you get, presumably, and killing them wasn't often the point of my excursions into the ruins and the nearby swamps. Once or twice, particularly after losing my arm, even though it was to a formerly mentioned large lizard almost-god.
Gods. Mmm. Just as well that the symbol of Bahamut I carry wasn't outside my armor, or the dragon we ran into may have taken offense and attacked us outright. A rather impressive black dragon, apparently, calls the swamp home. Despite all my time here, I'd never heard of her. At least I believe it was a her. I was left speachless in her presence, though apparently our resident speaker had enough to say to keep any of us from being eaten. I think she may have, had we not followed Obsidian's lead and left. Several gems and a fair amount of gold were surrendered for information, and possibly our lives, which is a fair trade if she's strong enough. I have the feeling that's not the last we'll see of her, and could see about the same feelings on most if not all of the others.
But I get ahead of myself a bit. Upon finding the haunt, after slogging through the swamp first, thankful for Van...I can't even think of how to spell that name; Van's guidance in getting us to higher ground to find the haunt, then to lead us to it from there. With a little coaxing in the form of shouting and pulling, even Obsidian's pampered self managed to get to the front door. Or at least A door. Maybe the "Lord" is a bit more hardy than he appears.
Once there, Obsidian and Van scouted around the door a bit, the latter doing so as a shady collection of bats, somehow. I'm not sure I'll ever understand warlocks. He did, however, somehow manage to lure the trolls out. I'm not sure what they were thinking, maybe food or something, but they came out alright. And I'm not sure what possessed Van, but he walked right up to the trolls. Maybe he did get possessed, for a few seconds, and think it was a good idea. Wouldn't amaze me if malicious or mischevious spirits haunted the "haunt".
Despite this, he got himself out of danger, and the trolls were rather handily dispatched. Obsidian, still a cluster of bats, flew into a waterway blocked by a precarious rock formation, and apparently distracted the two trogs, who were taking shots while opening and closing the door, at just the right time to prevent me from getting a troll in the door. The goal being to let it fall on him, if possible, both keeping it open at least partially, crushing him, or at least pinning him for a short time. Either that, or the gate would have been left open so as to NOT crush him, giving us access. That plan didn't work, as the door didn't open when I expected to, so I went back to hacking at the troll, and a few moments later Obsidian opened it, dashing out. A bit more fighting later, the troll was slain, the trogs as well, and we had a short chase after a third trog, managing to catch it before it got to anything else inside.
(Have to break up this entry. Holy shmoly. :x )
We took a few more moments to rest, then set off into the haunt, finding another troll and a large bear. Obsidian and Van found them, rather, and reported it back to us. I'd intended to try and avoid confrontation, as the troll was distracted, and the bear, while upset, seemed more defensive than aggressive. Sadly the pause I took was too long, and it decided to see to it personally that we weren't there much longer. The troll was roused from his preoccupied state, and joined in, calling upon a quartet of rather irritating, flaming skulls from the pile he'd been pacing. He ended up in the middle of the room somehow, I think it was more of Mikhal's brand of magic, so I went after the skulls, challenging them directly before slashing at each of them, letting them know I was watching them. It was for naught, however, as the troll was slain before they reacted, chanting something with his last breath that left my mind and body useless to me.
ReplyDeleteI recovered from part of it to realize the skulls had darted away, and only through the earth's own movement did I managed to reach even one of them. That one evaded me, so recovering more from the death chant I pursued another nearby, and exchanged sword slashes with bites before it fell. My fellows had seen to I think all but the bear by then, and I believe even that was down before I reached it. It seems like that was days ago, even if it was only minutes at most. It was after that, that we found the dragon's lair, or at least found it.
Since then, we were part of some sort of event that collapsed what I'd guess was a good portion or almost all of the haunt. I'm not sure what happened, but tunnels caved in ahead of us, and I think behind as well. Even so, we managed to find more trolls, as well as eyeless creatures that were nonetheless able to find and assault us. Those dispatched, we were about to stop to rest when we heard cries for help in a small structure that had all but left my mind. In spite of both Obsidian's protests to rest first, and the Oni we fought days ago, I broke the door down. Five people, apparently inhabitants of farmlands nearby, as well as customers at Obsidian's tavern, were overjoyed to find that HE had saved them. They practically convinced themselves that, when pointed out that he was not alone, and for that matter had not even been inclined to see to their rescue in the first place, that his "friends", predominantly or entirely me, were or was only saying that he didn't deserve their praise because of jealousy.
If it weren't for the fact that far more than one man's tavern rested on the fate of the town, I'd almost want to see the trolls win considering he seems to want the opposite so badly. To the point, in fact, that he was gone the moment our next fight would end. He redeems such times, really, but that seems only to come when it melds precisely with saving the town. I'm beginning to wonder if it's more than the tavern he's worried about.
He did give them some food, however, and I made sure they thought they could get safely away. I didn't like sending them off without someone to aid them, but we have cleared the way out. I just hope that they can navigate safely from the entrance to Moonstair. I'll have to make sure they arrived back when we return.
(Two...)
Our next combat took place outside what the five had told us was the door to a forge of the trolls', guarded alledgedly by none other than Skalmad himself. We were not disappointed in that regard.
ReplyDeleteThree trolls, two more of the sightless creatures, and the troll king himself stood before us. I faltered here, seeing him and that eye, and after this I will never falter again. The rest of the group moved out before me as I stood there, dumbfounded for the second time this day to engage our enemy, though this time with swords, not words. I was almost delayed by the magic of Skalmad's eye, which would indeed prove potent, slowing my own advance and later stopping someone entirely, if only for a moment.
I still managed to reach the trolls not far from me, and by "reach" I mean channeling the power of the earth itself to attack the thing and pull it towards me. That foe fell before I could attack again, and Skalmad saw fit to keep me from getting far again, though I managed to shrug off the magic the second time, reaching Obsidian. He had run out into the room itself, getting the attention and likely ire of one of the trolls, the thing almost on top of him.
Thinking back, I believe that Obsidian is what one of the trolls was swinging at that I couldn't see slightly earlier in the fight. But Van shot the thing in the eye, I think, throwing off its aim enough that it missed. At least I assume it missed, seeing as the warlock wasn't paste when I next saw him, though he looked like he might have felt better as paste than the mess he was. Again, I'll never understand warlocks.
I tore its attention from him, however, and called forth the very forest itself to aid us, roots bursting from the ground to grab at the trolls and cover my allies. The last troll, the one bent on turning Obsidian into a pile of mush, and Skalbad toppled one after the other, the king the last to fall, but having a good laugh. Even dying and burning he mocked us, as the eye's magic also allowed him to escape and revive, appearing at some altar or cauldron in the Feywild. In a flash of orange light, he was gone. I think the eye itself may have been lost in the process, as it seemed to remain for a few moments before vanishing as well. This could simply be the magic of it, however, retreating with its owner.
Obsidian was gone the moment the troll vanished, or possibly during the escape. Either way, he's gone, likely well on his way out and back to Moonstair. As I write this, I wonder what the town's fate will be, and hope that the militia will hold, and or that the adventurers and mercenaries will aid in the defense. I'd think they planned on it, or would have left already. I also wonder *the writing stops, a line dragged across the page as if in surprise, and something is hastily written under that line*
More later, man appeared.
(And now a question: Will we do back-story for the "new" characters, or no?)
Epic post(s), David (or Bob(?)). Way to earn that 800 EXP.
ReplyDeleteEveryone else (by which I mean James, Mike, and Chris) is aware that up to date meant including last night's session, ya? Hop on it, guys, or Lord Obsidian will be even more better (yup, more better) than anyone else.
Official Military Report 3
ReplyDeleteBy Mother I Tire of these Trolls! I expected there to be a lot but they seem to be in far greater number then I ever imagined. Met Another new beast today as well, I had read about them in my studies before but never could I imagine the creature in the flesh. It was a scaled Beast with long vicious claws and a Single Eye in his forehead..His name escapes me currently however they proved to be no more Dangerous then the trolls we had been dispatching...albeit significantly faster. We also seemed to find the Dragon Gloomfangs hoard or atleast part of it. Most usable item in the lot seemed to be a Sword of considerable length and heft that could deliver acidic strikes, rather useful against trolls. I have little training in such weapons so I passed it on to one of my allies Mikail, I believe he can put it to good use. Finally though we found Skalmad himself! A Troll of considerable bulk and ferocity which was augmented by an artifact he had no buisness obtaining. It seemed to give my allies and myself falter when trying to attack him and had some powers to strike against our minds. Rather Nasty though he proved to be no match for our Prowess in battle, Was a Rather quick Skirmish for what should of been an epic encounter. Oh well perhaps more exciting battles will come later... As he died with his parting words he informed us his Army was Already on the March..Deep in these haunts we would never arrive in time to offer assistance though Lord Obsidian seems to think otherwise. The Rest of us have decided to move deeper in and find a Way to Skalmad to finish the kings Reign once and for all and send him to answer to the Raven Queen No One cheats the cold embrace of Death like he did and he must pay!
~Commander Shathyn Alistair of Twilight Company~
--Vanèäron--
ReplyDeleteArcher's Log
Trollhaunt Warrens, Supplemental
I think I have figured out this purple ornithopter. If I can get it over to the sinkhole area, I might be able to get out and over to town to do some aerial scouting.
I am torn. I know that the town needs someone able to defend from long distances, which I can do very well. I also know that if I leave the party in the Warrens, that they will be more vulnerable. Both teams need my help, and even though I have enough speed to get to town in time-even without the ornithopter-it is a long way to go and there won't be much time for rest upon arrival.
I need to ask the rest of the party what they think. If only I could ask Lord Obsidian for advice...he left in such a hurry before we could discuss the options.
There are some good people in town who could probably help, at least I hope so...
V
so by my understanding Mikal and Khar'dan are still level 12 while the remaining party has moved on to level 13. There is is folks. So long and thanks for all the posts.
ReplyDeleteWhat?? No fish? :)
ReplyDeleteyou cheapskates didn't didn't give me any fish, only posts!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is James Pearson. I changed ID, and am fully aware of how badly I missed the deadline, and pretty much how badly I delayed. Nonetheless, better late than never.
ReplyDeleteLog of Khar'dan, Entry 26:
Skalmad was slain, if not for very long. We hadn't the chance to extract the eye before his death and subsequent rebirth in the Feywild.
Damn.
Worse still, his army already marches. Lord Obsidian bolted upon hearing this, running for town while we rested to regather our might to clear the rest of the Trollhaunt. He sent back a rather odd if powerful wizard, so I can chalk this one up to Obsidian protecting his business interests. And I think he mentioned something about his soul before he ran.
On the note of clearing the Trollhaunt, it seems well in hand. We've sacked their foundry, slain a vile redspawn, and should have cut Skalmad's forces off from additional weapons and repairs. Still, I'm hoping Moonstair will hold. I met this interesting human fellow, a bard, perhaps. Eternally sunny about this business, offering encouragement to the townsfolk. Let's hope his words aren't proven wrong.