Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for November 29, 2007; present characters included Ashkor (half-bronze dragon lizardfolk barbarian/battle sorcerer/dragon disciple/fighter), Chuck Ahammer (shield dwarf master thrower/rogue/thunderthrower), Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Iapetus Hasur (hu-charad giant rogue/scout/vigilante), Lady Aridarye Phylund Brokengulf (human aristocrat/harbinger/ranger cohort), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer), and Taravin Truesilver (human gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

The courageous Mercenaries plunged into the Doomshroud Forest and soon found themselves in an alien landscape. The trees were dark black and oozing a viscous sap. The bark was leathery and bizarre. The team plodded through the underbrush into the evening before deciding to make camp. As night fell, a depressing keening reverberated from deep in the woods, filling the longing shadows with additional gloom and despair. Figuring this must be the mournful song of the Doomshroud, the team used magic to refresh themselves and pressed on.

Soon, the team came across a clearing with a single massive tree in the middle. Chuck was overcome with sorrow and attempted to go into the clearing, but Morak broke the compulsion, and Iapetus shrouded the team in silence. The tree swayed as it sang a dreadful song from its gaping black maw. As the team approached, it ripped its roots up from the ground and turned to face them. It spoke, but no one could hear what it said. Wasting no time, Syvarius unleashed a volley of arrows, which all but bounced off the plant’s bark.

The tree retaliated with a weird effect, but it failed to slay anyone thanks to the standfast ability of Taravin. The worst damage was to Ashkor, stunning and weakening him for a short time. Lyrin, Morak, and Eolas began a series of fiery attacks, which badly burned the tree. Aridarye used one of her most potent attacks, a resonating bolt, to batter the plant as well. Chuck and Syvarius had trouble harming the monster with their ranged attacks. The tree was now in flames and in dire shape; however, it revealed a horrific surprise. Using the dark connection it held with its grove, it melted into the earth and exploded upward in the midst of the group. It pounded Syvarius with its branches, shattering bones and beating him to the threshold of death’s door.

With one companion down, the team prepared to deal with the threat now in their midst. It was then that Eolas, Scourge of Tilagos, unleashed a mighty sword swing powered by true strike and laden with channeled pyroburst. His blade struck home and cut deep into the tree. As the tip plunged into the trunk, the flame spell within erupted. The explosion was astounding, with fire shooting forth from the back of the tree and fragmented wood spraying into the forest beyond. With a final despairing cry, the ancient monster fell dead at Eolas’ feet.

In the aftermath, Syvarius was healed of his injuries by the cleric of Moradin. Then, the grove was searched, and a small fortune in gold and items was recovered. Within the treasure trove was a gleaming, ornate adamantine rapier known as Pride of Princes. The heavily enchanted blade was snatched up and some debate has begun on who should wield the prize.

With two trials complete, Morak communed with Moradin to find more information about Darl Quethos and his team. The group quickly departed after learning he was earnestly seeking the completion of the remaining trial. For days the team marched, moving from the thick forest out into the plains. On the way toward the mountains, and the Thorn Vale, Syvarius discovered the tracks of Darl and his team. Some time had passed, and the group surmised this was the path taken when Darl and company sought out the Roc King. The group continued on, and when within a day’s travel of the mountains, they finally sat down to rest and recover their mana and strength. Morak again communed to learn more of their enemies.

Will the Mercenaries reach the Thorn Vale in time to claim the victory for themselves, or will Darl succeed in slaying the nightmare, forcing the teams to work together to present the trials completed? Perhaps the Mercenaries will stage a full assault on Darl’s forces to buy time before having to engage the nightmare. Maybe Darl will attempt that first. Only time will tell as a confrontation with the murderous priest draws nigh.

Game summary for November 20, 2007; present characters included Ashkor (half-bronze dragon lizardfolk barbarian/battle sorcerer/dragon disciple/fighter), Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Iapetus Hasur (hu-charad giant rogue/scout/vigilante), Lady Aridarye Phylund Brokengulf (human aristocrat/harbinger/ranger cohort), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer), and Taravin Truesilver (human gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

The Mercenaries started debating how to proceed with the Trials of Tilagos. In an effort to gather information, Morak used a commune spell, and Iapetus used speak with dead to talk to a minotaur slain by Krathanos. They determined that Darl Quethos’ team had already acquired the living feather of the roc king and thus completed one trial as well. The Mercenaries were unable to discern what Darl’s group was up to now. They used find the path to locate the Doomshroud Forest and set out toward it.

On the way to the forest, the team passed through the hunting grounds of a girallon behemoth. The monstrous four-armed ape quickly charged toward the group to snag a meal. The Mercenaries sprang into action, with the team fanning out as Aridarye used magic to increase their capabilities. Meanwhile, Syvarius used bloodfreeze arrow to paralyze the monster in its tracks. The Mercenaries made good use of the precious moments to close in with the monster and unleash additional spells upon it.

During the commotion, the ground shuddered, rippled, and erupted, as a massive landshark burst forth. It savaged Lyrin and nearly tore him apart. Only a bit of luck helped him survive the mauling and flee the ravenous beast. Ashkor slew the girallon and turned back toward the landshark. The enormous rhino-shark, maw dripping with Lyrin’s blood, spun about and torn into Iapetus. The rogue was wounded but provided a good distraction for Taravin who charged in behind the beast. Aridarye blasted it with a resonating bolt while Ashkor sliced deadly swathes through its hide.

Despite grievous injury, Iapetus held his ground. With Taravin and Ashkor keeping the landshark occupied, Iapetus lined up for a killing blow. At precisely the correct moment, he plunged Stalker into the space above the creature’s eye and drove the blade into its brain. Instantly, the bulette crashed to the ground and died.

With the hunting monsters slain, the team investigated the hole left by the landshark. A small cavern system was exposed, and a quick exploration revealed an interesting find. In the very back, encased in old dried dung, lay the skeleton of a druid eaten long ago. Several items of power survived the digestion and had been deposited here. The items were quickly claimed, including the eagle-motif scimitar named Talon.

After exploring the caves, the Mercenaries turned back toward the Doomshroud. After a short while, they arrived at the edge of the forbidding forest. What horrors lie within, and what in the world is its mournful song the Mercenaries are tasked with silencing?

Game summary for November 15, 2007; present characters included Chuck Ahammer (shield dwarf master thrower/rogue/thunderthrower), Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Iapetus Hasur (hu-charad giant rogue/scout/vigilante), Lady Aridarye Phylund Brokengulf (human aristocrat/harbinger/ranger cohort), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer), and Taravin Truesilver (human gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

After the encounter with the displacer beasts, the Mercenaries pressed on through the night to make up ground. They used lesser restoration to fight off fatigue and moved through the morning as well. Eventually, they spotted a ruined keep in the distance, with half a dozen winged humanoids flapping about. As the team moved closer, the creatures—gargoyles—beckoned them forward. Taravin spoke to the gargoyles, and they stated that Krathanos the Conqueror awaited a group of heroes to rescue him. Within a few moments, a massive titan emerged from the keep, his booming voice announcing himself as Krathanos.

The Mercenaries attempted to bargain with Krathanos for his belt. At first, he demanded they free him from Tilagos Island, but it soon became apparent they lacked the means. He showed them the head of a minotaur he had killed a few hours earlier. Then, he proposed the team trade Eolas and Taravin to him in return for the belt. They party considered the trade until it was made clear Krathanos intended to eat them. During their conversations, Krathanos behaved erratically and somewhat crazed. Aridarye hoped to secretly communicate with the gargoyles and began casting private conversation. The casting provoked a violent response from the gargoyles and the titan, and a fierce battle was joined.

Chuck and Syvarius found their hammers and arrows of little use against the armored and powerful titan, so they soon turned their attacks upon the gargoyles. As thrown hammers and streaking force arrows flew forth, the gargoyles began their own rain of terror, firing volley after volley upon the Mercenaries. Krathanos sprang forward and swung his massive adamantine hammer, shattering the blade of Eolas. Then, the titan blasted the team with a chain lightning. Iapetus began a system of strategic spring attacks against the titan, while Taravin charged and smited the brute. Aridarye and Morak assisted their allies with a series of enhancing spells. Meanwhile, Lyrin started testing the resistances of Krathanos with his combat spells.

The dozens of gargoyle-fired arrows and devastating strength of Krathanos rocked the Mercenaries back on their heels. Taravin went down under a furious pounding of hammer blows, only to be saved through a bit of divine luck and the healing prayers of Beardfist. More lightning ripped through the team, and several party members had to scatter to avoid the onslaught. Unarmed, Eolas turned to his duskblade spells and finally succeeded in enfeebling the titan. Chuck and Syvarius continued to trade injuries with the gargoyles, and Lyrin bought some time with a well-placed incendiary cloud. Taravin scrambled to relative safety while Aridarye began singing a discordant song of discouragement to distract and hamper her foes.

The tide of battle began to turn as Lyrin caught a trio of gargoyles in a raging inferno of evoked flames while Eolas did the same to another gargoyle and Krathanos. Morak was sent spiraling into an extradimensional maze, but his quick thinking led him almost immediately to the exit and a swift return. Taravin crawled about and found a bow to use from a gargoyle the archer and hammer-tosser had slain. With fight still in him, Krathanos stepped back and dispelled some of the protective magic from the party members. Morak tried to distract the titan with his magic while Eolas unleashed more fiery explosions. Suddenly, Krathanos toppled as Eolas’ fire burned through his body and boiled his brain. Overcome with the traumatic injury, the titan perished. As his body slammed into the earth, the gargoyles appeared to shake off some kind of compulsion and immediately wheeled about on the wing and flew off to parts unknown.

With the grueling battle finished, the Mercenaries collected the belt of Krathanos as well as his treasures. Morak used make whole to fix Eolas’ sword and then cast transition of arms to pull the magical power from one of the weapons they found into the Eolas’ blade. Although the magic was somewhat different, Eolas was back in business. The Mercenaries rested from the ordeal and prepared to set out the next day for another Trial of Tilagos.

Game summary for November 8, 2007; present characters included Ashkor (half-bronze dragon lizardfolk barbarian/battle sorcerer/dragon disciple/fighter), Carn Fodelfex (whisper gnome cleric), Eolas Windmaster (moon elf duskblade), Iapetus Hasur (hu-charad giant rogue/scout/vigilante), Lady Aridarye Phylund Brokengulf (human aristocrat/harbinger/ranger cohort), Lyrin Sinbal (simian incantatrix/ring sage/warmage), Morak Beardfist (shield dwarf fighter/rage cleric), Syvarius Strongbow (moon elf archer-ranger/peerless archer), and Taravin Truesilver (human gray guard/paladin of honor/pious templar).

The Mercenaries continued searching for the portal’s crystalline keys and found the green crystals guarded by a half dozen ropers. The stalagmite-like creatures began lashing and grabbing party members in an effort to make them into a meal. Some well placed spells and attacks soon made short work of the strange monsters. Five were slain, and the sixth was sent to a random plane by Lyrin’s prismatic spray.

The team found they could not repair the shattered blue crystal using mending, so they made camp and prepared make whole the next day. The spell successfully restored the crystal, which they then used to open the portal. On the other side, a vibrant verdant demi-plane stretched out. No sun appeared in the sky due to the overcast cloud cover, but mountains loomed in the distance, hills all around, and a thick forest spilled out through the south. Within moments, a quartet of strange elemental fey creatures appeared and spoke. They indicated the party had found Last Resort, an island stronghold of the Order of the Storm. The knowledge they seek is held in the fountain of dreams; however, the party must prove themselves mighty heroes to gain access to the fountain. Once the knowledge is gleaned, it will return not only to the party, but to the world; thus, it is vital that the drinkers be heroes able to handle the problems associated with the release of this knowledge back into the Prime Plane.

Although the fey did not answer many questions, they did indicate the Hand of Myrkul was already here and had set out to complete four trials—the same four trials they now posed to the party. The trials consist of one challenge from each of the guardians.

1. From Tylanthros — Claiming of Krathanos’ Golden Belt
2. From Beskawahn — Silence of the Doomshroud’s Mournful Song
3. From Thadimar — Death of the Thorn Vale Nightmare
4. From Sayren-Lei — Harvest of the Living Feather of the Roc King

With their challenges proposed, they watchers stepped into the trees and disappeared. With little to go on, the party began seeking the belt of Krathanos. They succeeded in determining it lie somewhere around the southern forest, so they set off with all haste.

During their travel along the forest edge, they attracted the attention of a hunting pack of displacer beasts. Not just any displacer beasts, these brutes were massive elephantine mutants known as pack lords! Four of the six-pawed cats swept in through the trees to slash the party with their tentacles. A brutal fight ensued, with the displacement effect of the monsters posing a challenge for landing accurate blows. It was soon apparent area of effect attacks were much more effective. Layers of fire storm and flame strike effects from the party casters weakened or killed the creatures, allowing the team to finish off the remaining beasts. An errant flame strike set a tree on fire, but the Mercenaries succeeded in putting out the flame before it spread and became a roaring blaze.

With the hunting party destroyed, the Mercenaries turned their attention, and feet, back to the south.