Episode 4:
-Immersion-Memory about a Sidekick-(Which one-Calbrock, when? 9 years ago, With family? Yes)
As we refresh ourselves, I suddenly get the feeling that I have seen Calbrock before. A long time ago, when I was a child. “I’ve seen you before,” I suddenly tell the Craglander. He raises an eyebrow. “About ten years ago. You were in our city, trading furs in the market square. Two children were with you, well, both a good deal older than me. A son not quite twice my age, and a girl, only a few years older. And I thought it was strange. I’d never seen Craglander kids before.”
Q: Does he admit it? Very Unlikely EXCEPTIONAL YES
His initial look of guarded skepticism is replaced with a faint smile as he slips into some pleasant reverie, “Yes, Alborn and Yana were so excited to see what the city was like. They had heard stories and begged me to let them come. I am glad they saw it that once.”
Q: does he elaborate? NO
“They only came the once?” I press.
-Insight 17-
“Only once,” he says, as the smile vanishes and he casts his eyes down. I do not press for more. His sorrow is plain enough.
I sigh, then get up, “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s press on. I don’t want to get hit tonight while we are sleeping.”
“You plan to sleep here?” Bareln asks, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t plan on sleeping outside, nor crossing the Lone Fields until we’ve finished searching this place,” I reply.
Q: Are they with me? NO
“No,” Calbrock replies. “We should withdraw.”
-Intimidation 22-
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, “I hired you because you told my father and my brother that you wanted his patronage to seek treasure and handle trouble on his behalf. This is your test. Are you up for the challenge or not?”
Reluctantly, the two warriors get back to their feet, Anlyn as well. I open the door to the well room and spot kobolds lurking in the shadows.
Q: Are kobolds waiting? YES (My perception 19 vs their stealth 16) (Our stealth 12 vs their Perception 8)
I quickly cast a spell over the flame ward so that it disappears from view, “Ward’s down!” I say, holding my arm so that none may pass me to enter the room. Two stones fly at me, one lightly hitting my cloak. Bareln tries to rush past me, but I pull him back away from the door with me, out of kobold line of sight, prompting several to rush forward at once. Calbrock is just about to charge forth to meet them when the ward I had concealed erupts into flame, incinerating the first wave!
Calbroth’s face goes ashen as the flame subsides. Kobolds bark in fury as rocks fly towards through the open doorway.
Q: Does this ward instantly reset? EXCEPTIONAL NO
Then there is a second rush, for they realize the ward’s power is spent, for now. The first two through the door die horribly, the third slides between my guards and jabs at me with his spear, and it grazes my side, but doesn’t even tear my woolen tunic. The third is blocked by Calbrock and stabs him for the trouble. Bareln steps up to block the door, killing the one that just stabbed Calbrock. With one of the foe on top of me, I draw my dagger and cut him lightly across the leg, but fail to stop him. Instead, Calbrock’s axe splits him head to toe, spraying blood and viscera all over me in the process! No sooner does he fall, than two more take his place, and this time, the spear rips through my sleeve. Those that cannot get through begin slinging stones through the doorway, where Bareln is holding them back from entirely pouring through. I slip away from my foe, hoping to get behind my allies in the confusion of the melee as Bareln slowly starts hacking his way through the door and into the kobold swarm. As he pushes forward, I hurl a bolt of flame past him, incinerating another foe while stones plink of his armor. He occasionally winces in pain but his focus is on bringing down the spearmen in front who might actually kill one of us. Suddenly, he breaks through, and the remaining kobolds attempt to flee! But it’s too late, Calbrock and I were right behind him and I incinerate one and Calbrock decapitates the other.
“Quickly, get inside!” I tell my companions, getting us clear of the ward lest it regain its power before we are all through. “Anlyn, check the corpses for valuables. Calbrock, here!” I command and start to bandage his injuries. Then I force Balern to submit to my ministrations as well.
“How many more are here?” scowls the Craglander.
“Only those not wise enough to flee!” I retort. “This way!” I command, as Bareln pulls his arm away after being bandaged and Anlyn bemoans that all he has found is copper pennies.
(Perception 21 for the secret door and 20 for the pendalum trap)
As we move up the stairs from which half of the first kobold force came, there is a room to my left, but what appears to be the outline of a door to my right where there seems to be a seam among the wall reliefs. As Calbrock is about to walk towards the open room, I grab his arm, “Look up, friend!” I nod and he spots the giant blade, then following my gaze down, sees the tripwire. I pull him away and hurl a bolt of flame at the tripwire, causing it to burn until the blade swings down through empty air. Then I turn to examine what seems to be a hidden door.
(Investigation 21) (Perception 22-spot the trap!) Q: Is this the library? NO (Suppression, Arcana 6 vs DC 10)
I feel the reliefs and find a section that gives slightly. I press in, and hearing a click, push the door inside and immediately notice a rune on the far wall, “Avert your eyes,” I warn as I step in to try to suppress the magic inside. Suddenly, my breathing becomes heavy and a sense of overwhelming dread overtakes me. I cannot be here! I run!
Q: Do they wait? NO
My companions chase after me, “What was it?” Anlyn demands as I finally slow and regain my wits.
“Just a spell. A curse. Nothing more. A simple trick in the mind. Let’s go back,” I urge.
Q: Do they follow? YES
Somewhat reassured, they follow me back up the stairs, and I enter the fear room on the right while Anlyn and Bareln explore the kitchen to the left. Calbrock stands in the hall between.
Q: Do they follow? YES
There is an ancient chest that seems to have been broken into years before. Shelves that store what may have been fine wine at one point, but the contents can no longer even be called vinegar. With regret, I turn to join the others.
Q: Kitchen have loot? EXCEPTIONAL NO
Anlyn and Bareln are disgusted by the rotten meat and gnawed bones they find. “Nothing of value here.”
Suddenly, the door to the north flies open and a small number of desperate kobolds spill out, while the hallway to the west also spills forth a second group.
Q: Do they seem to want to parley? YES
But the leader seems to be holding his spear up over his head in surrender?
-Intimidation 11- Q: Do my men hold off? NO
“Hold!” I tell my men, but Calbrock lunges towards the group in the hallway, swinging his axe harmlessly as one dodges away. The kobolds swarm us! Calrock is quickly surrounded. Balren holds off several on our side, but three slip past, one drives a spear at me and it bites deep into my side. I cry out in pain, and quickly quaff my vial of trollblood. A second spear thrust finds me again and I know I must flee. One pursues me and I burn him into nothingness!
“Get out of there!” I yell, as I see Calbrock fall and the others being surrounded.
Q: Do they listen? EXCEPTIONAL YES
Anlyn follows me, but with kobolds pursuing him as I dash down the stairs, only to see kobolds spilling out of the doorway opposite. I fry the first one!
Then I hear Bareln shout, “Hold here at the hall!” And Anlyn stops to fight as I annihilate another spearman rushing to cut off my escape. I race up the stairs to where we held them off the first time, hoping to buy time. The last interceptor follows me up but I kill him just as his spear starts to draw near.
Then, my men still fighting, and reluctant to abandon them, I rush towards the door to get behind our foes and emerging behind the enemy as an alarm spell screeches. I destroy one before they can turn to face me. Then the leader, who had his spear upraised at first, turns and rushes towards me. I kill him with a gout of flame as Bareln and Anlyn finish the last two in the hallway. I quickly turn, and see empty sleeping nests behind me as I back towards my companions. As I step backwards, I spy Calbrock laying on the ground, no longer bleeding. I kneel down and check his pulse…then close his eyes one last time.
Bareln and Anlyn walk up behind me, “Is it worth it?” Bareln asks sourly.
“Depends on what we find. They are all dead. Every last one of them.” I reply.
“How do you know?” asks Anlyn, breathing heavily and bleeding from several cuts.
“If there were any more, they would be on us now.” Then standing, I turn to face the two men, “And they wouldn’t have been trying to surrender!”
Q: Do they realize I am right? EXCEPTIONAL YES
Then men look from me to their fallen comrade. “Reckless bastard,” Bareln mutters.
Q: Does Anlyn stare? NO
“Let me take a look at our wounds,” I sigh. I take out the last of my sunberry salve and treat them as best I can. They are both pretty bloodied. Then I pull up my tunic and bandage my side as well. Anlyn looks away, affording me some unexpected privacy.
“Anlyn, police the dead. Search them, then dump the bodies in the cistern. Not Calbrock, we bring him back to Farhold with us,” I clarify. Then I being walking around, inspecting these living areas.
Q: Is there loot in the sleeping area? NO
Nests of straw, or tall grass from the Lonefields, remains of past meals. Scratch marks on the walls, extra weapons, small nets, hunting tools, clay pots from a bygone era mostly cracked or badly soiled. Nothing of value for me. So I head back to the room from which the leader emerged, carefully checking the door, I push it open and find the egg chamber.
Q: Is there loot here? YES
Scores of kobold eggs are carefully cushioned together in large nests of straw. Coins and small trinkets are arranged around them as though this were a legendary dragon’s hoard, and shelves laden with ancient books line the walls. I pull out my spellbook and begin reciting a spell, “Ostend!” I repeat at the end, and I notice small vial glow near the edge of one of the nests, but my eyes are on the bookshelves.
But nothing on the shelves glows.
I collect the glowing vial, then go back to the fire ward, standing behind it, I begin unweaving it for good. It takes several tries and the flames rise and fall, safely away from me, but when I am done, I go and collect the empty packs from Dunn’s kit, then return to the library. As I pass my men, “Are the corpses all in the hole?” I snap, angrily.
Q: Have they finished their task? EXCEPTIONAL NO
“We’ll get to it,” Bareln scowls.
“We just lost a friend!” Anlyn protests.
(Wisdom save passes) Q: Have they finished their task? EXCEPTIONAL NO
I scowl, but go on about my business. Returning to the library, I carefully pack six books that look interesting, including one that makes my eyes swim when I open it and view the text inside. “Krenal will want to see this one,” I tell myself. Then I pack up the small cups, an interesting elven ceremonial mask, a platinum ring, a silver pendant, a copper bracelet, and some fine looking armor that seems like it might fit Anlyn. Then I begin collecting coins, carefully adding the gold and silver, and the one platinum piece that I find to the bags. I struggle to carry them back to where Dunn is. “We sleep here tonight, and return to Farhold tomorrow,” I announce. “The two of you split watch duty.” I go over and carefully bind up Calbrock’s body, wrapping it in my cloak, then I set alarm wards around the entrances to where I wish to sleep, eat dinner, tend Dunn’s needs, and retire to my bedroll.
-4th Heyday-
-Pleasant, Cloudy no rain, strong wind-
-feel something furry-
Scene #8:
I wake on the gold dungeon floor to Dunn nuzzling my face, “Let me sleep a little more,” I plead before reaching up to scratch beneath his chin. “We have a long road today. Don’t let me down.” I remind him as I get up and dress for the trek home.
Q: Do my companions talk to me? NO
There is no music or conversation as we get ready. I load Dunn in silence.
“What’s in the bags?” Balern asks.
“What I hired you to help me find. Help me load Calbrock as well. I can’t easily lift him by myself,” I admit. Balern and Anlyn help me bind their companion to Dunn’s back. The mule isn’t happy, but he is a steady animal. “Let’s go.” I say as I lead the remains of my company outside.
Q: Anything outside? NO
We exit the ruin of Guldall, and I pull the key free and add it to my pack. Anlyn asks, “Weren’t you going to give it to the orcs to they don’t raid anymore?”
“No guarantee they’d find it already here, or recognize it as a peace offering. I’ll hold onto it in case I need it. Besides, there are more books there than I can carry in one trip. I may yet return,” I admit, sourly.
-Morning Encounter-small game-
-Afternoon encounter-Bandits- Q: Do they approach us? YES
The morning is fairly uneventful, we scatter some hare but they wisely run from our approach. After lunch is a bit different, a group of rough looking men spot us in the distance and are soon heading our way with weapons drawn. I decide to head straight towards them, “Follow my instructions,” I warn my men.
-Intimidation 8-
As we draw close, I demand from them, “Who is your captain! I want him, now!”
The bandits begin to snicker to themselves, “Well, what have we here? A feisty little…”
-Intimidation, advantage 19-
Eyes widen in shock as I hurl a bolt of flame at the earth in front of them, “Tell him Baron
Faust’s daughter requires your duties as escort back to her father’s hold. If your captain has any sense, he’ll listen!”
One of the bandits stammers out, “Yes, milady,” and the company falls in with the three travelers they had first planned to rob.
-Evening-No Encounter- Q: Are the sentries friendly? NO
We arrive at Lost Shoe well after dark, though our escort slips away as we reach cultivated land, fearing Varnath the White’s reputation as a hard man. The sentries nod as we enter the village gate, but they do not smile. I lead the mule to the village shrine
Q: Do I know the priestess? NO
Approaching the shrine, I bow my head lightly towards the revered sister attending it. She is maybe a decade older than me, but her ears sport a three or four earrings in each. “Sister, we have a man who must be buried in the morning,” I explain and let Bareln and Anlyn help me pull Calbrock’s remains from the animal’s back.
Laying him out, I pull back my cloak from his body.
Q: Is she reluctant? NO
“He’s a Craglander,” the priestess notes. I raise my eyebrow. “I will see to it that his soul is properly committed to our lady.”
I nod, “Thank you,” and I give her five crowns for the ceremony.
Looking around,”May I sleep here in the shrine? I’ve no desire to wake Lord Varnath tonight.”
Q: Will she allow it? EXCEPTIONAL NO
“No, that is not appropriate,” she insists.
I roll my eyes and head over to the manor house, and bang on the door. A servant soon opens. “Quickly prepare a meal for my companions and I, and have a stable hand tend my mule.” I command as I push my way inside.
Q: Is Varnath awakened? EXCEPTIONAL NO
We soon eat, and then I retire to the same guest room I used a few days earlier.
-5th Heyday-
-Warm, Clear Skies, Light wind-
-Immersion, whisper a question to myself-
Scene #9: E: Remote Event: the Attainment of a Representative (someone interesting arrived at court. I’ll determine this when Yseldra gets there)
I wake the next morning with tears in my eyes. My side is still sore from the spear wound that nearly took my life. “Was it worth it? Please let it be worth it,” I mutter to myself realizing that I cost a man his life, and nearly lost mine and two others as well.
Q: Are Bareln and Anlyn there? YES
I wake and use the washbasin before dressing and heading downstairs. Lord Varnath waits at breakfast. My two men are with him.
Q: Is he impressed? EXCEPTIONAL NO”
“An interesting story I’ve been told. You pushed too far, to fast against unknown odds, and it cost you a quarter of your force. And for what? A few ancient tomes?” my father’s vassal sneers.
I fix my eyes on him, “You listen to the stories of two sell swords who did not follow orders. You were right to disregard their value when I first arrived in your village. You saw the truth of them more swiftly than I did. You can keep them, and maybe make them worth keeping.” I stand, pull a pouch of gold coins from my belt and toss it onto the table before them, looking to Bareln and Anlyn, I state “Ten crowns a day I promised you, and paid Calbrock ten in advance for you. This is more than you are owed.” Then looking at Varnath once more, “Watch your tongue with me, friend. For you are my father’s friend, yes?”
-Intimidation 7, so I’ll just go ahead and note that Varnath, Bareln, and Anlyn don’t like me-
I do not wait for the answer, but leave instead, collecting my mule, and heading out of town alone, not waiting for the funeral.
(Psychic Trap: 450 xp, Burning Hands Trap: 200 xp, Fog Trap, 25 xp, Net Trap, 50 xp, Alarm trap, 25 xp. Forty Hatchlings, 400 xp, Ten Adult Kobolds 250 xp, Dungeon cleared 200 xp=1600 xp, 533 xp for each survivor, Yseldra is now a 2nd level Wizard and chooses the Abjuration School)
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