Entry XII

[This entry is a recap of the twelfth gaming session, which took place on January 30th, 2011. The characters were just about to enter the third room of Into the Shadowhaunt, a 4th Edition Game Day module from 2008 that I adapted so that I could make it part of the town of Fallcrest.]

We were taking a short rest, talking about the fight and watching the oil-fires burn down, when we felt (rather than saw) something appear in front of us. It was, once more, the spirit we had seen above. It gestured with its inky claw towards the spilled bones scattered on the floor, and it in its cold voice it said: "Honor them."

We looked at each other, and it dawned on us that it wanted us to gather the bones and put them back in the sarcophagi. One had burned almost completely, and another one was half cinders, but still, we did the best we could and put all the bones we could find where they belonged, more or less. No sooner were we done than the spirit floated to the stairs we had come from, and pointed down to the first step. Upon inspection, we noticed that a stone slab was covering a small indentation in the rock, in which a little vial was hidden. We picked it up, and Trax put it away for later inspection. By then, though, the spirit had vanished.

This being done, we got ready to move on down the hallway. Soon, the hallway became more of a tunnel, the stone turning rough and twisting, finally leading into a large natural cavern.

Water dripped like a light rain down the stalactites. Glowing fungi illuminated the warm and humid chamber. The eerie light reflected off many small pools of water dotting the slick and irregular floor.

Across from us, we saw a large alcove cut into the side of the living cavern. Ancient, crumbling masonry adorned the alcove, bearing vile pictographs and strange, spidery writing. (Clearly, the architectural style and the script dating it to the later days of the empire of Bael Turath) A sinister iron-bound portal stood at the back of the alcove. An immense devil's head was carved upon the door, and its eyes were glowing with a faint green light. The effect was startling, but it soon became obvious that the light was coming from the other side of the door, from which also came the faint sound of crying.

We got closer to the door, and saw that the devil's eye-sockets served as windows into the room beyond. Trax peered in, and told us he could see two young boys in chains.

Immediately, he proceeded to try to break the door down, to no avail. No sooner had his body struck the door, though, we heard the boys crying out to us. "Who's there? Please, can you help us?"

Gilthos told them not to worry, that we would get them out of here.

Joining Trax in his efforts, they both ran and bashed the door hard enough to break it open.

The chamber beyond appeared to be a long-abandoned tomb or temple. On each side, a line of stone statues stood watch.

In the middle of the chamber, a circle of glowing magic adorned with geometric runes was glowing with an emerald radiance. The magic of the circle was palpable, drifting upwards like an eldritch vapour, slowly dissipating into the stale air of the ancient room. And cowering in the center of the circle were the two boys. As soon as he saw us, the oldest one told us to stop: "The elf who captured us told us this place was trapped. I we leave the circle the ceiling will come crashing down on us!"

I made my way past Trax and Gilthos, and kneeled next to the circle, seeing as magic is (supposedly) my area of expertise. I closed my eyes, my right hand hovering just over the edge of the circle. I could feel the magic, old and destructive. Then, in my mind's eye, I saw that it had been tuned so that anyone leaving or entering the circle would trigger its effects. I then tried to settle my psyche so as to be able to disable the magic, but it seems I was not powerful enough, as I felt it come to life. Opening my eyes, I told my companions of my failure, and at this moment we started to feel the cave shaking and grumbling. It was collapsing, and fast! Already we could see rocks falling down in front of the door to the alcove. Quickly, we grabbed the kids (the smaller one on Tigrallin's back, the other one riding piggyback on Trax's back) and ran out of there. All of us made it through relatively unscathed. Halfway between the alcove and the exit to the sarcophagi room, we noticed two things.

First, the Shadow Spirit was back, pointing towards the exit and urging us to run, quickly, and make our way out. Secondly, while looking back to wait for Trax, we noticed that two of the statues we had seen in the alcove had come alive, and were marching towards us. It was then that I used my Expeditious Retreat, rapidly making my way to the head of the group so as to be able to better help anyone in trouble.

Just as we were getting back to the man-made hallway, we heard a scream: "Don't let them get away, after them!"

We didn't stick around to find out who that was. We ran, from the collapse and from the statues, making our way through the sarcophagi room once more…

And back to the first room through the secret door.

But we were not alone. Four skeletons had come out of a sarcophagus (evidently another secret door). Being in such close quarters, the fight was unavoidable. We told the two boys to go hide in the corner, and the fight started.

The skeletons were tougher than expected, and did not fall (or even seem phased) by a couple of my magic missiles. Things still looked hopeful until finally we saw an elf come out and immediately start to use his dark magic (most probably necromantic) against us. Both sides were taking a beating, and then the two statues came out, still after us. Or after me, should I say, because I was the one to trigger the trap, and so their only focus was me. One of them got to me and punched me bad, and I tried to use my magic against it but it didn't seem to do much. Gilthos came to my aid but he was also wounded.

A few of the skeletons went down and Trax and Gilthos made their way to the necromancer. Eventually, the Shadow Spirit materialized once more, and after having said the word "Revenge!" he swopped down on the necromancer.

With his helped, we defeated him, after which the remaining skeletons collapsed and the animated statues stopped moving.

We had won!

Entry XI

[This entry is a recap of the eleventh gaming session, which took place on November 7th, 2010, almost a year after the previous one. The characters were just about to enter the second room of Into the Shadowhaunt, a 4th Edition Game Day module from 2008 that I adapted so that I could make it part of the town of Fallcrest.]

After the spirit disappeared, we opened the door and saw stairs going down. Trax went in first, followed by Gilthos, his bear, and me in the back. A minute later, we reached the bottom of the stairs.

The walls in this large stone chamber were adorned with carvings of various scenes of people worshipping Pelor and Bahamut. Along the walls were chunks of rubble that looked like they once formed more sarcophagi. Bones littered the floor. Two intact sarcophagi had been moved to form a barricade in front of the two corridors that led out from the room. A sputtering lantern sat atop each of these barricades, casting an eerie orange light over the crypt. The rancid lantern oil smells smelled strongly of dead fish.

We looked around a bit, then Trax sniffed and said: "The smell of oil is too strong here; can't be just two lanterns."

Just then, one shape stood up from behind each of the sarcophagi, and we instantly recognized them as hobgoblins.

Instantly we tensed up and prepared for a fight. Already they were cocking up an arrow on their bow. They let loose, one arrow glancing off Trax's chestplate, the other giving Gilthos a flesh wound on the leg.

Gilthos aimed an arrow of his own at the closest one, but missed. His bear also ran forward, headed for the one on our right. Trax ran towards the first one, and blew his acid breath on them, wounding one of them. As for me, I concentrated briefly and felt power garnering up at the tips of my fingers. Then, as if it had a will of its own, the magic missile flew from my hand and hit the closest hobgoblin.

Meanwhile the hobs shot arrows at us once more, but maybe were getting nervous as they both missed. Gilthos shot again, the arrow hit, and the hobgoblin let out a pain-filled cry. Trax then reached the sarcophagus and he jumped on it easily. As he landed on top of it, the lid broke. He regained his balance, lightning fast, and jumped on the other side, landing right next to the hobgoblin, while behind him the sarcophagus erupted into flames (seems it was filled with oil, and when the lantern fell it triggered the combustion). Trax swung his bastard sword at the hobgoblin, and the blow connected. As for me, I once more shot a magic missile which flew right through the fire and connected with the side of the hobgoblin's head.

The first one was now engaged in a close fight with Trax. As for the second one, he screamed in his guttural tongue and tipped the sarcophagus forward. It fell and broke, spilling a good quantity of oil which the lantern ignited, just in front of Tigrallin the bear.

Gilthos had by now put two arrows in his bow, and using a twin strike technique he managed to hit one of the two hobs. Trax was still fighting with his sword, and I maintained my magic missile attack.

The second one then left his post behind the now-fallen sarcophagus, and went to his partner's aid. Gilthos then fey-stepped from my side, reappearing next to Trax, and joining the fight with his longsword. The bear had meanwhile stopped in front of the fire, and seemed scared to try anything further. I shot another magic missile.

The hobgoblins fought back a little bit more, but it didn't last long.

We went through their possessions, took the gold [10 gold pieces], piled up their weapons (from which Trax took a longbow), and then ― by the glow of the dying oil-fires ― we took a few minutes to catch our breath and discuss what had just happened.

Entry X

[This entry is a recap of the tenth gaming session, which took place on October 6th 2009. We were about to enter the fifth room of Kobold Hall, the adventure included in the Dungeon Master's Guide.]

After a good night's rest I woke up. Coming out of the tower to relieve myself, I came face to face with Gilthos and… a bear! A big brown bear, a few feet away from my friend. Immediately I froze, and told Gilthos to watch out. He then explained that he had met his new friend a few hours before, while getting water from a stream. He was standing there on his back paws, calmly looking at him. They exchanged a few "words" (seemingly able to communicate without any kind of effort), and the bear professed his undying loyalty to Gilthos.

(This, on the day after I finally managed to conjure my own familiar companion!)

The bear then told Gilthos that he would not arm us, and he came over to me, smelled me, then went over to Trax and smelled him too (letting off a mighty sneeze which almost made Trax jump out of his boots).

We then settled down for breakfast. Not being too hungry, I finished off quickly and then spent some time focusing my mind on the magical staff I found yesterday. Eventually, I sensed the specific nature of its powers, namely: increased spell accuracy and efficiency, as well as the capacity to increase a spell's range. [It is in fact a Staff of the War Mage +1.]

Soon after, having eaten and gathered all our things, we went back down into Kobold Hall, go though the first four rooms once more, before reaching the secret door we had learned about upon finding a piece of paper indicating its location.

Trax used the key and the secret door clicked open. We followed a long, winding passage from the kobold chieftain’s throne room down and down into the earth. Eventually, the finely worked stone tunnels give way to natural passages. Finally, we come upon a large cavern. The air was unnaturally cold. In the center of the room was a large pool of frozen dark water. The cavern was quiet.

We had barely had time to look around when a white shape flew at us, surprising us completely. Except for Gilthos, ever watchful, who raised his bow, lightning fast, and let go of his arrow before I even registered what was happening. The arrow's aim was true, and it entered the white dragon's neck like a toothpick in butter [Hunter's Quarry + Hunter's Privilege for having the best initiative + Singular Shot encounter power = 28 HP damage]. The beast howled, and then breathed its freezing cold on us. It reached Trax, Gilthos and his bear, but ― probably weakened by its neck wound ― it was weak and didn't hurt them.

Then Trax ― his magical armor glowing red from the battle ― ran at the beast and attacked it. He gave it his best [Brute Strike daily power] but missed.

Meanwhile, I cast a magic missile at the dragon, and with my new staff's enhancements it struck the beast a mighty blow.

Gilthos was still firing at it, and Trax's second swing struck home [critical hit], bashing the dragon on the side of the head, leaving a bloody gash that incapacitated one eye.

The dragon, bloodied and enraged, threw itself at him and clawed him good, breathed its frost once more (not doing any damage), and then Trax hit him one final time, and the dragon collapsed.

We searched the room, and found a chest in the back. It was locked, but Trax broke it open, and inside found some money, a nice pearl, and a rolled piece of parchment. Unrolling it, we saw it was written in draconic, so Trax read and translated for us:

"Mighty big Dragon, me salute you.

I be Irontooth. I trying to gather kobolds in gang close to Winterhaven. Things going good, but things going better if me and you together against humans of Archendale. I send messenger soon to talk about your Skull Kickers gang getting together with mine.

Me great big warrior,

Irontooth"

Which was interesting, to say the least.

Not seeing any other rooms, we thus concluded that we had done what we set out to do, which is to clear this so-called "Kobold Hall". Trax cut off all the kobold ears, for the bounty, we loaded the dragon body on top of the bear, and headed back to Fallcrest.

We covered maybe 10 miles, then had to stop for the night. We all slept soundly, feeling safe in the company on Tigralinn, Gilthos' bear companion, as well as my silent but ever-watchful magical owl, Bubo.

* * *

We reached Fallcrest about mid-morning, and a strange sight it must have been for the townspeople: a human with an owl on his shoulder (me); a tough looking Dragonborn fighter (Trax); and finally a tall and slender being (Gilthos) followed by a bear carrying a young white dragon.

We went directly to Lord Markelhay's manorhouse, where once more we were greeted as honoured guests. He rewarded us for our accomplishment, then invited us for supper later.

Lord Markelhay

We took leave of him, and we went to Teldorthan's to see the dragon hide, as well as the various gems which we recently found.

This being done, we went back to Lord Markelhay's manor. Over supper, he asked us to tell him all about what happened in Kobold Hall. We even stayed the night, sleeping in an (almost too) comfortable bed.

The next morning, what seemed like the whole town gathered on Markelhay's estate. Up on his balcony, the Lord showed them all the dragon's head, and they cheered for him, and cheered for us, and cheered for the general victory of their town over adversity. Which, needless to say, seemed like an overly optimistic conclusion. But let the people have their joys.

As if to prove me right, it was just about then that a soldier ran through the crowd. Taking Lord Markelhay aside, he told him something, looking grave. Farkelhay then took us with him inside the manor.

He then told us about the recent disappearance of two young boys, sons of a local farmer named Quinn Stasi. At first he thought the boys were just out playing, but a few days went by and still there was no sign of them. This farmer then went to the Temple and paid for a ritual. Through the use of the ritual, he learned that his sons are still alive, and are located somewhere deep in the cave complex which is under Fallcrest.

Lord Markhelhay then asked us if we could help and go look for the boys. Trax asked for some of his guards to accompany us. Markelhay said he couldn't spare too many of them, but eventually agreed to give us a small escort, four guards who would stay near the entrance to the caves and make sure nobody went in or out.

Immediately we headed for the caves, and went in.

After walking in the dark for what seemed like a few miles, we came to a massive, iron-bound double door which was partially open. Then Gilthos kneeled in front of the door and showed us that in the soft ground in front of the door were three sets of humanoid footprints heading from the direction of town through the doors. The kidnapper and the two boys, most likely.

We then went through. Beyond the doors was a simple, gray, rectangular room, illuminated by sconces filled with everburning flame. Two sets of stone sarcophagi lined the walls to the left and right, each adorned with the effigy of some long-dead warlord. In a niche above each sarcophagus was a small statue of either Pelor or Bahamut.

In the center of the room stood a ten-foot-tall marble obelisk bearing inscriptions on each side.

We spent a few minutes examining the room, inspecting the inscriptions.

Then Gilthos noticed some slight scraps and a strange draft near the obelisk, which might indicate some kind of hidden passageway. Alas, there seemed to be no way to open it.

After about five minutes of this kind of scrutiny, some kind of spirit materialized in front of us. It looked angry but made no menacing move against any of us.

Then, in a deep and raspy voice, it said: "Interlopers, beware. If you trespass you shall not realize the wisdom of my words. Entering from the heart, the way becomes clear when Sun follows King."

It would say no further. We guessed that this was a riddle of some kind, and furthermore we felt pretty certain that it had something to do with the six statues, these being representations of both Pelor, god of sun and agriculture, and Bahamut, high god of justice and honor.

We moved them around, trying various combinations, but then we figured that, starting on the left side ("entering from the heart"), we first had to place the three Bahamut statues (the "King") and then the three Pelor statues (the "Sun").

The final statue having been put in its place, we heard a click and saw that a secret door had opened in the obelisk. The spirit disappeared.