Sidste gang

Vi sluttede sidste gang midt i en combat, så her er et billede til at hjælpe hukommelsen på gled.

1. Kæmpe soverum med mindst 8-10 unge hill giants

2. Soveplads for dire bear (død), med adgang til Main Hall

3. Mødelokale uden udgange - på nær pejsen. Den blå dør i rummet er pt spærret af en kæmpe stol

4. Main Hall. Der var mindst 4-5 hill giants og en stone giant derinde (død)

5. dør til der hvor I kom fra, bl.a med giant werewolf.

Bring your A-game!

Session 27: The Hill Giant Steading

88th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

Arriving in Presidio, the Guardians quickly got a hold of High Priest Nugga, and turned over the 3 artifacts of the Moradin-church. After finishing the "deal", they told Nugga of the invasion, and asked him if he could get them in to see the Lord General, leader of the city. The High Priest wrote them a letter of introduction (something like: Let the bearers talk to Raul, or face the wrath of Moradin) and the Guardians immediately headed towards the palace where Lord General Raul Sarazin lives. 

About an hour later, the Guardians found themselves in Raul's war room. They told of the army, he asked some questions, and then thanked them for riding hard to warn Presidio. He told them they would be contacted, if the city needed to call upon their services once again. 

89th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

The next day, the Guardians asked Christobal about a sage to tell them about the rod they had found, and were introduced to Garix, a gnome friend of Christobal, who apparently also knew Balaros. They struck a deal with Garix to find out more about the rod. He told them it would cost about 500 gp per library he would need access to, and there was no way of knowing how many libraries he would have to bribe his way into. They gave him 1000 gold to start with.

While Garix the gnome started his investigation, the Guardians decided to find out about who attacked them. Via Nugga, they found the smith who had made the weapons that a lot of the riders had had, and it turned out he had sold large shipments of weapons to the church of Moradin, to the palace and to a noble named Zuckran within the last year.

Jelastra also hired a guy to make a sketch of Mr. Garotte, based on what Jelastra could remember. He then spent the rest of the day trying to find anyone who knew anything. At some point, he was referred to the Rotten Rat, where he should look for the Shadow. Contact was made, and the Guardians were told to show up at a certain place in the severs at midnight. There a cloaked figure met up with them, and took the picture. He told them they would be contacted.

90th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

The next morning, Garix had news. He had connected the rod with an ancient giant temple about 4-5 days up in the mountains. The Guardians quickly decided to investigate, and Garix suggested that they bring him, so that he could decipher things if needed.

Before leaving, Christobal told them that someone associated with the House of Zuckran had been there the night before, looking for them. Not a noble.

4th day of Winter, Year 185 of Vecna

Arriving at the site of the temple, the Guardians were in for a surprise. There was a huge giant fort built right were the temple was supposed to be.

After some scouting, the horses were left a bit away, and the Guardians snuck over the walls under the cover of Heian's magical mist. Inside they avoided 5 direwolves, and entered the main building. Heading through a dining room, they ended up in a kitchen with some hill giant cooks. They doubled back to avoid making too much noise, but when they got back into the courtyard, a giant exited another building and saw them. The giant and the wolves attacked. All were quickly killed, although the Guardians had a bit of a scare, when the giant changed into a big ass werewolf. 

The Guardians moved into the building, going through a room or two, avoiding a lot of young giants playing and wrestling in what seemed like a huge bedroom area, only to find a small meeting room, with chairs covered in human skin. There Jelastra almost "stumbled" over a huge dire bear. He tried to kill it before it woke, but no luck, and while they did manage to kill it fairly quickly, the noise had attracted a lot of giants from an adjacent room. First a stone giant, who was dispatched as well, before they tried to barricade themselves in the meeting room......

Sharn Loot

Mighty Dwarven ThrowerLevel 15+ Rare

Thunder peals as you hurl this hammer through the air on a collision course with your enemy’s skull.

Lvl 15

+3

25,000 gp

Weapon: Hammer

Enhancement Bonus: Attack rolls and damage rolls

Critical: +1d6 damage per plus, or +1d12 damage per plus against Large or larger humanoids

Property

You gain an item bonus to damage rolls against Large or larger humanoids. The bonus equals 2 + the weapon’s enhancement bonus.

Attack Power  Encounter (Standard Action)

Attack: Ranged 10 (one creature). You throw the weapon but make a melee basic attack against the target. On a hit, the target also falls prone. After the attack, the weapon returns to your hand.

Utility Power  Daily (Free Action)

Trigger: You hit a creature adjacent to you with this weapon.

Effect: The creature is dazed (save ends).

Session 26: The Army

79th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

After recovering from the fight with the ghoul and the shadowy creature, the Guardians moved on. They entered a series of rooms, full of coffins and sarcophagi, all broken up and more or less empty, if but some bones here and there. They were all bearing the names of priests and other holy men. Finally, the Guardians entered a two-story mausoleum, with yet more coffins. In the middle of the mausoleum was a blue portal, and next to it was something that could have leaped straight out of a nightmare. A evershifting black mass with talons an teeth standing on top of a large pile of money and what later turned out to be a hammer. 

The Guardians tried to sneak down from the first floor, but unfortunately, Henry's own hammer scraped against the wall and the creature was alerted. The fight was on. The creatured opened small portals, through which it could see and attack. It was a long and hard fight, and while the Guardians started strongly, the creature persevered and slowly they started to run of steam and hit the deck. Again and again. All but Henry who stood in the face of the creature and made sure it could not go anywhere. In the end, the Guardians proved victorious and the creature was done. 

Drained and tired, the Guardians rested in the mausoleum, where they also found the vase, the spear and the orb. (and 20.000 gold + a magical hammer).

80th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

The next morning, the Guardians decided to return home to Presidio. But as they exited the church, Heian noticed a lot of smoke coming from a thousand fires from east of the city. After a quick discussion, the Guardians hurried westwards, wanting to avoid whatever was to the east. As they stealthed through the ruined city, they saw a cloaked figure heading into a building. The Guardians decided not to investigate, and left the city. 

As they were about to ride off to the south, they changed their mind. Jelastra and Heian left Henry at the horses and went to investigate the source of the smoke. It turned out to be the biggest army they had ever seen. Orcs, barbarians, ogres, giants and even dragons camped out as far as the eye could see. There had to be at least 100.000 creatures, if not more. And they were heading south.

The Guardians decided that they had to get this information to Presidio, as quickly as possible. Going west around the swamp would take too long, and going east around it would probably results in a great deal of run-ins with scouts and such. So, despite that they really didn't want to, the Guardians decided to head through the swamp. They wanted to avoid the cabin again, but did discuss if they could perhaps lead the army to it....

As they left their hideout, they ran into a patrol of 6 ogres and 6 orcs. Heian used his new ring and tried to trick them, but they didn't buy his bluff, so the Guardians had to kill them all. 

Quickly they headed into the swamp.

81th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

After a long day of riding in the swamp, the Guardians were ambushed by a hydra. The hydra was a worthy adversary and almost got the better of the Guardians, but in the end, it died.

82th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

Once out of the swamp, the Guardians decided to push the horses to their limit. With Jelastra having a decent handle on the animals, they figured they could avoid killing them 

88th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

6 days later, the Guardians were now approaching Presidio. The army was far behind them, but Heian was now on foot, since Henry's horse had died 3 days earlier due to exhaustion. Suddenly crossbow bolts rained down on them from the bushes. An ambush! 12 plate-clad, war-horse riding fighters attacked the Guardians. One on one, they were no match for the Guardians, but they were organised and effective, working as a team. In the end, it was of course the Guardians that won the day, but no prisoners were taken. Towards the end of the battle, Jelastra had scared one of the fighters to give up, and he had yielded. Unfortunately, when Jelastra wanted to knock him out, he accidentally cut off the fighter's head.

The fighters had no house symbols, but many of the armors and weapons bore the mark of the same smith, just as many of the horses bore the mark of the same stablemaster.

As the Guardians prepared to walk the last hour or two towards Presidio, snow started to fall.

Ghoul: Loot

Silver Sky TabardLevel 16 Uncommon

This rich blue coat carries a silver dragon's head as a crest, and grants you the unstoppable resilience of a dragon.

Waist Slot        45,000 gp

Property

You make saving throws against ongoing damage at the start of your turn as well as the end of your turn.

Session 25: Back to Dragonhome

68th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

Chilling in Presidio, the Guardians of Athas are enjoying their slow rise to fame. More and more people have heard about them, and often people stop them on the street or come to their table at the Red Dragon Inn, asking them about the dragon from Fort Karouk or their trip to Dragonhome. They are even contacted by one of Captain Verners guards, who informs them that the Captain is very happy about them turning over El'Rull. He has been behaving and given them a lot of useful information.

69th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

As the Guardians are eating breakfast, a dwarf in robes of Moradin stops at their table and tells them that his master, High Priest Nugir, wants to speak with them at his church, at sundown.

Curious, the Guardians make their way to the enormous church of Moradin at the appointed time. There they find Nugir, an aging dwarf, talking with a priestly-looking woman(?) wearing the sigil of the Raven Queen as well as a black mask with golden symbols. 

High Priest Nugir hires them to return to Dragonhome, to make their way to an abandoned city 400 miles up north, to retrieve 3 relics of the faith, a spear of mithril, a golden orb and a vase made of pottery.

The Guardians agree to the tune of 10.000 gold pieces and a favor.

70th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

After buying some dependable warhorses and other provisions, the Guardians head north.

78th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

After traveling for about 7 days, encountering only goblins and orcs, the Guardians are attacked by a lonely wyvern. While such a creature is defenseless against the mighty heroes, it attracks the attention of an Ettin shaman, who proves to be somewhat more of a mouthful. His evil magics renders the Guardians vulnerable to his huge club, and while they do kill him fairly quickly, Jelastra takes a pretty big beating and Henry is not unlucky to survive either.

79th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

Traveling in a pretty big swamp, the Guardians are searching for dry place to sleep, when they spot a light in the darkness. Approaching the light, they find a cabin and a stable-like construction on a small hill. They sneak up on the cabin, weary of who might live such a desolate place. As Henry knocks on the door trying to communicate with the old man telling him to go to hell and Heian is trying to see someone through the windows, Jelastra is dragged around the corner and garroted, quickly and silently. 

Mr. Garrote then calls on the remaining Guardians and tell them to lay down their weapons, unless they want Jelastra killed. He asks them a lot of questions about their intentions and plans, and only when satisfied, he lets them leave. The Guardians ride on through the night, only resting in the morning when they exit the swamp.

79th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

Only within a few hours of waking up, the Guardians of Athas finally arrive at their destination. An old deserted and sacked city. They make their way through the semi-destroyed city, finding relatively easily the big Moradin church in the middle of the city. 

The churck seems as ruined as the rest of the city, pillars everywhere, half the roof collapsed in, statues, mosaics ruined. As they are inspecting the black marble altar, they are attacked by a cadaver golem and a couple of weird undeads which causes the Guardians to warp in and out of reality. Both Jelastra and Heian are down and out at different times, but the Guardians manage to handle them eventually. On one of the "warpers", they find a huge blue gem.

After a short rest, they progress further inside the church, where they find stairs heading down to the catacombs. Downstairs, they run into an area with a lot of traps, all sprung. The Guardians carefully search the area, but find nothing. Then as they are trying to leave the area by a huge set of double stone doors, they set of a magical fire trap, which blows up in their faces. Trying to sit down and take a rest, they are suddenly attacked by a fiendish ghoul and a shadowy demon. The fight is long and hard, and both monsters are lethal. At various times everyone is down and dying, at some point everybody is either dying or paralysed helplessly on the floor. But as if by miracle, the trio manages to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, one at the time, and defeat the two monsters. On the ghoul, they find more gems, as well as a magical belt.

PS: I har kun fået short-restet. Hold lige styr på surges/powers/AP's til næste uge. 

Mr. Garrote: Enigmatic hermit living in a big swamp in Dragonhome. Looks about 60, grey shaven hair, a huge scar on the neck and some sort of red tattoo on his lower right arm. Garroted Jelastra.

High Priest Nugir: High Priest of the Church of Moradin in the Empire. An aging dwarf that according to himself would find it fun to travel to Dragonhome and kill undead. If he didn't have a church to run, that is. Gave a quest to the Guardians, to retrieve a spear, vase and orb from the ruins of a forgotten city in Dragonhome. 10.000 gold and a favor.

Session 24: Fey Mansion

58th day of Autumn, 185th Year of Vecna

The very next morning, the Guardians of Athas continued north-east, towards the Martinez mansion.

60th day of Autumn, 185th Year of Vecna

Arriving at the mansion, the Guardians find a ruined estate. There they meet Rolar Silverstream, an eladrin who is accompanied by an Ogre shaman who seems to have mastered the power of thunder and lightning. Rolar explains they are here to kill the witch, who has stolen a family ring from his family. He further explains that the mansion is built on a fey node, so it exists in both worlds at the same time. But the witch is hiding in the Feywild part, and if they want to join forces, his friend, O'kul can get them across.

The Guardians elect to search the building first, finding mostly rotten planks but also a statue of the Raven Queen, goddess of death, cold and the winter, although its broken after falling through the floors.

The ogre opens a portal and everyone jumps through, only to find the eladrin and the ogre turning on them. They just used the Guardians in order to make the ritual less taxing on them. They fight, but although fierce opponents, the eladrin and the ogre are no match for all the Guardians together.

Pushing on, the Guardians enter the estate, which is now standing in it's full splendor. They soon run into the witch, a beautiful young woman who tries to lure them into the main dinner hall, but the Guardians don't bite and end up fighting her and her wily charms in a narrow corridor. While clearly very powerful, the witch can do little to really threaten all the Guardians, and soon she is dead at their feet. They find the Martinez-locket, which is what they came for, and also the ring of Silverstream. As they remove it from the finger of the witch, she turns into a disgusting old and ugly wiry woman - a hag. The ring most be magical. 

They quickly search the mansion, although not all of it. They are in a hurry, as they were told the portal that O'kul opened would only stay that way for 1 hour. They still manage to uncover some gold and some rare books.

65th day of Autumn, Year 185 of Vecna

Back in Presidio, they turn the locket over to Martinez, who is very grateful. They get the rest of their 10.000 gold pieces, and are introduced to Balaros, a good and old friend of Christobal. Balaros is a demon master, a wizard specializing in all things demonic. Mostly he travels the world, helping authorities dealing with run-amok demons who have broken loose of their bonds. But there is no work at the moment, and it has been quiet for a couple of months. He also mentions that he has had trouble summoning even small demons, which he does to gain information.

Ding 12

    

Lord Esteban Martinez: Paid 10.000 gold pieces (gave 3.0000 up front) for the Guardians to head into Dragonshome and find his family's old estate and bring back a gold locket. The mission is completed and Martinez very happy about regaining the locket.

Christobal: Owner of the Red Dragon Inn. Non-descriptive fellow of around 45 years old. Bald. Knows a lot of people, supposedly. Facilitated contact with Martinez. Introduced them to Balaros.

Balaros: Old friend of Christobal, Demon master. Out of work and has trouble summoning demons.

Rolar Silverstream: Noble? eladrin looking for a family? ring which turns out to be magical. Tried to kill the Guardians with the help of his friend, O'kul the ogre shaman.