Play Day 14 - 15/01/2013

Date: T oilday 7th Desnus.

In the lands of T aggriell

The party begin this session, at midday, at the base of a large mound of loose grey rocks, having just killed one Gnome saboteur and captured another, of a pair that tried to catch the party unaware in a rock avalanche.

The captured Gnome, securely tied, begins to move again as Isabella's Hold spell wears off.
The small Gnome looks across at his dead companion, "You bastards! You've killed Rhis! We only wanted to slow you down. We weren't trying to kill you. He never said to kill anyone."

"Who said that?" asked Isabella, "And I warn you now, speak fully and truthfully or else you will end this conversation with less fingers than you began."

Krondor looks very uneasy, "I don't think there's any need for torture."
Isabella flashes a severe glance at the Dwarf, "If you can't stomach a bit of rough treatment I suggest you find other things to do!"

Krondor moves toward the grey rock mound, "I'll keep watch up the mound." As he passes Seng, the Monk whispers to Krondor, "This is not right." Krondor slows and whispers back, "Follow your own path lad."
The Dwarf strides away and Isabella turns to the Gnome, "Speak. T us everything and ell you might yet live."

The Gnome visibly upset looks at Isabella, "My name is Dwale and him over there, was Rhis. The Red Raven hired us to slow you down. We aren't part of his normal gang. He didn't want anyone killed, just persuaded not to continue chasing him, that's all."

"Why did he steal the vernal key?" demands Isabella.

The Gnome begins, "He didn't steal it, exactly. He's only burrowed it, see. He needs it to rescue his love, Geppa. She has been trapped in some strange cave, or room, or
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something .... I don't understand it myself. He was only going to burrow the key, rescue his love and then return it. Apparently the key is the only way to get out of the place."

"Listen very carefully, how you answer this next question, will determine if you live or die," Gnome.

Isabella says with a cold, emotionless tone, as she slowly waves a dagger near the secured

Seng takes two steps towards the pair, looking intently at Isabella.
The Cleric of Cayden Cailean continues, "Where is the Red Raven's camp and how do we get there?"

"I don't know," the Gnome replies with a trembling voice, despair visible in his eyes. Isabella draws the dagger closer to the helpless Gnome, "I don't believe you." Seng steps forward, "But I do. He's telling the truth."
Isabella looks at the Monk of Irori with blazing fury in her eyes. She looks at the relaxed stance of the Monk and knows that he is anything but relaxed. She is fully aware that he could snap out his hand and remove the dagger before she could even get near the Gnome.

Seng speaks, "You should learn from the humble bee. Sometimes it's better to tempt with honey than to threaten with the sting."

She lowers her head and breaths deeply. Finally looking up, apparently calm once again, she turns to the dead Gnome, "Fine, then. Honey."

She stands up and moves over to the dead Gnome, placing both hands on his unmoving minute before the Gnome sits up suddenly, coughing.

chest. She begins to chant silently, her eyes closed in prayer. She continues this for a full

"By the gods! You can bring back the dead!" exclaims the secured Gnome.
"No. Not quite. Your friend was very near death. A little bit longer and he would have been too far gone to save. Now, I can give life," Isabella pauses and looks at Seng momentarily before continuing, "or I can take it back again. Speak Gnome."

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Dwale, and his saved companion, Rhis, tell the party about the Red Raven's gang. How it includes two bugbears, four highway men and an Elf sorcerer. It appears the Red Raven has been using the services of some of the local street urchins to pass information. The north.

location of the Red Raven's hideout is not known but they confirm it is somewhere to the

When the party, Isabella included, allow both Gnomes to leave, alive and with all their gear, ambush on a bridge over a river that must be crossed.

Dwale and Rhis are so relived that they warn the party that the Red Raven may have set an

As the two relived Gnomes are just about to leave, Isabella points at them, "Listen well lives. I'm sure with your special talents you can think of something."

Gnomes. I will come calling for you. And when I do I expect to be rewarded for sparing your

Dwale replies, "Fair enough, you have spared our lives my lady. We don't hold any love for

the Red Raven. I mean, he's usually alright, bit of a laugh really, but lately he's been acting weird. Maybe it's true love that's affecting him? Anyway, when you're next in Winewold, go to the Sahtisauna, it's a bathhouse and brewery."

Rhis interrupts with a loud laugh, "Brothel more like it!"

Dwale ignores him and continues, "Go speak to Marja, she runs the joint. T her you want ell to see Dwale and Rhis. She knows how to get hold of us. We'll repay our debt to ya."

The Gnomes walk back towards Winewold and the party continue on. *********
as far as the eye can see to the west and east horizons.

The party continue walking along the winding path through the grey mounds of the Dwarf Quarry for another hour, before they come to the edge of a dense forrest that stretches

The Changrove Forrest.

Isabella speaks up, "I've been thinking about that Vernal Key and what that Gnome said

about the Red Raven acting weird lately. I think the Key might be affecting him. I remember like this one. I think anyone that holds the item, begins to go mad, perhaps permanently.
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something I read in my training from an old scroll. I think it might have been about artefacts

The exact time frame is dependent upon the specific item but unless someone is protected by a holy faith, then they will be affected."

Elamros speaks up, "I've never heard of any items like that. What sort of holy faith?"
Isabella looks over at the Half-Elf Rogue with clear distain, "That just shows how much you know! By holy faith I mean someone who spreads the word of a god and receives special gifts from that god. Someone who is a Cleric. Someone like me."

Krondor speaks up, "Fine with me. If it takes a Cleric to carry the cursed thing then you can have it lady!"

The party enter the forest single file. Ost, their half elf tracker leads the way. *********
T hours pass and Ost, stopping constantly to check for tracks and signs of the Red wo Raven passing, starts to lead the party north west through the forest.

Ost speaks up, "This Red Raven isn't trying very hard to cover his tracks." Seng looks suspicious, "Almost too easy?" Ost looks confused, "What do you mean?"
Seng looks around intently, before moving off to the right of the track. He moves about thirty feet to the east and stops, "Are these tracks?"

Ost moves over and looks at the area, "Yes. And someone has tried to cover them up. We were following a false trail."

The party move back to the hidden track and proceed in a northerly direction, with Ost tracking the true path.

*********

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T more hours pass and the angle of the yellow light of the sun that filters through the wo heavy forest canopy indicates that it is roughly four in the afternoon.

This section of forest seems unremarkable. The plants are the same as they have been death is on the wind; borne by the breeze that blows down from the mountains to the north, it taints the idyllic forest with the touch of decay.

throughout the journey, and the sounds of wildlife are as strong as ever. Yet the smell of

Ost stops and speaks, "Can you smell that? Something large and dead is up ahead." Krondor looks around unworried, "This is a forest. There would be dead things all over."
Carefully the party move forward a short distance before Elamros stops and speaks in a low voice, "There! What is that?"

About 100 feet away, seen through the gaps in the trees, a giant sized creature that

roughly resembles a moth, with large fury wings covered in rippling skull like patterns, rests on the ground. Its head is shaped like that of a centipede, with four long tentacles that surround its mouth, and has a single pair of needle like mandibles protruding out. The

mandibles are moving rapidly, with audible clicks, into the body of a dead dear that lays on the forest ground. The hide of the deer is slick with blood. The moth is picking out chunks of deer flesh and quickly devouring the dead creature.

The moth is easily fifteen feet wide in size.

Isabella looks at the creature, "That is a Carrion Moth. I think it can paralysis its prey and when it dies poisonous gas comes out of it. T to keep your distance." ry

One of the hairy antenna on the head of the moth creature snaps up and points toward the party.

"I think it knows we're here, " speaks Krondor as he readies his weapon.
Aforth moves forward to a large boulder and takes cover. The rest of the party also take up positions of cover, using the large trunks of trees or boulders and ready their weapons.

The moth jumps up from the ground and it's large wings begin to flap. Sand is blown up

from the ground and the nearby bushes sway back from the force of the air. T urning, the
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creature begins to move towards the party, carefully picking its way through the larger gaps in the trees.

As the creature approaches an audible sounds from its wings reaches the party. The

sound becomes louder and increases in pitch, becoming more of a sensation than a sound. All the party raise their hands to the ears, their faces wretched in pain. Krondor bellows out loud and falls to the ground, clutching his head in his hands.

Isabella points one hand at the hand and utters a silent prayer to her God. The air between her and the creature shimmers slightly and then the horrendous ear piercing sound from the moth can be heard no more. The creature now flaps its wings silently.

Everyone readies their weapons once more, except Krondor who still crouches down

holding his head. Blood is coming from his nose and ears. The Dwarf is rocking back and to flow from a wound on his head.

forth, babbling to himself and hitting himself on the forehead with his weapon. Blood starts

As the moth continues to approach, the party let loose a valley of arrows and bolts

towards it. Arforth, from his hidden spot ahead, leans out and looks at the creature. The

Elven wizard stares intently and his eyes become two blazing spheres. The moth suddenly erupts into flames, which quickly engulf one whole wing. Madly the creature starts to spin around and flap its wing faster.

"Quickly - finish it off whilst it's distracted!" shouts Isabella.

More arrows and bolts fly out. Seng, who has moved forward, throws out a dagger on a back as the Monk spins around, bringing the attached metal chain back to him. As the wraps around his bicep and then flys back out towards the moth to strike once again. metal chain. The blade flicks into the wings of the creature and then is suddenly springing blade comes back the monk continues to spin round and extends his arm out. The chain

The fire on the moth goes out as the great wings kick up more sand. The moth begins to approach the party again.

Krondor stands up and yells in pain. He looks around, a crazed look on his face. He sprints towards Isabella and swings his weapon at her wildly. The blade of his battle axe hits the tree that Isabella is standing next to.

Isabella moves back quickly, taking up position near another tree, "We must hurry!"
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Ost is crouching down, clutching his bow, "My bow string has snapped!"

Elamros curses out aloud as the leather buckle holding his quiver of Elvish arrows becomes loose and the quiver drops onto the ground, arrows spilling everywhere. He quickly moves his hand to his secondary quiver and reaches for his sheaf arrows instead.

The moth is near the party now. Large chunks are missing from its wings and body, the result of arrow, bolt and chain dagger. One of it's wings is black from fire.

Aforth again looks at the creature, his eyes ablaze, and once again the moth erupts into flame; bigger and brighter than before. The fire quickly spreads and engulfs the entire the grass underneath the creature. A green cloud erupts from the burning creature, turning the flames an emerald colour. creature this time. The moth falls out of the air and hits the ground. The fire ignites some of

"Stay back from that poison cloud!" shouts Isabella. Krondor falls over onto his front. Breathing heavily. The flames on the moth slowly die out to reveal a black pile of flesh. Isabella runs over to the Dwarf to check on him.
Panting the Dwarf speaks, "I .... I am .... alright. I could not control my mind. That dam sound was driving me insane!"

The party gather themselves and examine the dead deer. It appears the creature had it's throat cut by a blade and then was dragged to a spot, just outside the lair of the moth. Krondor speaks, "Someone planted that dead deer there, to draw out the creature.

Someone wanted to leave an unpleasant surprise for anyone following through here." Gathering themselves up they continue north, once again following the trail of the Red Raven.

*********

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The party continue for another hour. The light is darker as the afternoon is fading.

Elamros stops, "Stop! Be quite."

away."

The Half-Elf closes his eyes and listens. "There is a major river up ahead. Maybe an hour

"By god boy! How can you hear that?" asks Krondor. "Come quickly then. Let's try to reach the river before nightfall," Isabella speaks.
The party continue, with Ost continuing to track the Red Raven. They continue for another half an hour before the light is so low that the party have to light a lamp.

Ost speaks, "I'm sorry but in this light I will not be able to track. If we press on, we could lose the track."

Reluctantly the party decide to stop and make camp. A fire is started and watches are set. *********
The night passes uneventfully until half way through Sengs watch a bush about 30 feet heard. away starts to move in the shadows from the camp light. A strange growling noise can be

The monk quietly wakes Elamros, who has far better night vision. The Half-Elf looks, "There is a creature, about the size of a very large dog, black and fury. I can't see it properly through the bushes. Wake the others and I'll cover you."

Elamros raises his bow, pulling the string taught, with an arrow ready to release towards the bush.

Seng quickly wakes the others. Whilst he is doing so, a black shape bursts out of bushes with a low growl.

Without hesitation, Elamros lets loose his arrow, which hits the shape squarely. The black shape stops and falls over, with a loud piercing scream.

Ost looks over, "It's a baby black bear. That screaming will call it's parents here!"
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As Ost finishes these prophetic words a 7 feet high black bear bursts out of the bushes and into the light of the camp fire. The savage beasts leaps straight for Seng but the trained reflexes of the Monk sees him side step and avoid the deadly claws of the beasts.

Krondor, wearing only a long night shirt, grabs his battle axe and shield and rushes to and Seng, who is standing next to the Dwarf.

Seng. He raises his shield and commands it to life. Yellow eldritch light surrounds Krondor

Aforth looks over at the ferocious black beast and his eyes burst into fire. Yellow flames begin to erupt over the bear, spreading down its back. The beast howls in pain.

Seng takes this opportunity and does a high kick, snapping the neck of the bear. The large creature falls backwards and hits the ground with a loud thud. The flames on its back still flickering.

Before the group can celebrate their victory, with a loud roar, a larger black bear bursts

forth from the dark bushes. It lunges straight for Ost, who is unable to get out of the way. Its razor shape claws knock the half elf tracker over and opens a large wound that flows blood freely.

The beasts rears up over Ost, ready to strike again. Isabella desperately raises a hand and shouts forth a prayer, "Doom be upon you!"
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The black beast stops and turns, as if strike by some unseen force. The scared creature then bolts out of the light and back into the darkness. The sound of its frantic escape fading into the night, leaving only the sound of the screaming bear cub.

Ost, still on the ground and bleeding, speaks up, "That bear will return for its cub, once your spell ends."

Krondor moves to the bear cub and removes the protruding arrow, "My lady, please your healing."

Isabella bends her head and prays silently. Golden light flows from her attractive figure and spreads out. The wounds on Ost stop bleeding and heal up. So too does the arrow wound on bear cub. The cub quickly raises to its feet with a low roar and then turns and runs into the bush to follow the larger bear.

Ost stands, "Thankyou. I doubt those two will return. I'll take care of the dead bear."
The party clean up and again return to sleep, with watches set. The remainder of the night passes uneventfully.

*********

And as the sun starts to raise, indicating the coming of the morning of Wealday the 8th of Desnus, that is where the play session ended.

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