9 March, 596
After several more hours of travelling, the Lords of Chaos happen upon a large cavern featuring a large lake protecting a fishlike structure. As the party descends down upon the beach, a canoe appears out of the mist, driven by a froglike creature armed with a shortspear and a paddle. Not sure whether to attack him or jump in his boat, the party stands stunned. After some unsuccessful attempts at conversation in common, Symon suggests that he try in the Undercommon tongue. Many eyebrows are raised that the young apprentice would know such an obscure language.
After a short conversation, Symon explains that the creature is a kuo-toa and is offering to ferry them across the lake. The kuo-toa speaks cryptically, though, with numerous references to the "darkness." The creature seems to know about Zenith, but not much coherent information can be gathered from it.
The party departs the boat and approaches the shrine, a long staircase ascending into the maw of the fish. About halfway up, the heroes are met by crossbow fire originating from inside the eyes of the fish above. Before they can reach the portal, several kuo-toa leap from the eyes and land on Baxtor and Alfir. The creatures take a lot of damage in the fall, and are not much trouble after that. Moving into the entry chamber, the group hears movement from beyond a tapestry to the left. As they approach, several more kuo-toa guards rush forth with weapons ready. Alfir is quickly taken out of the fight (seemingly a recurring theme) but the guards are overpowered. In the room beyond the party discovers a mound of dung and what appears to be the resting quarters of the guard. A stairway leads to the now empty outposts that served as the eyes of the fish.
On the other side of the entry way is a series of cells, but that way is closed off by a portcullis. A lever is located on the inside of the gate, which presumably opens the portcullis. Some attempts are made at pulling the lever, but it is just out of reach. The other doors in the room are a set of granite double doors engraved with a zig-zag pattern. Alastriel tries to open these but she triggers a trap which emanates a blast of sound. She goes down hard but Baxtor is quick to administer aid and revive the spell-caster.
Symon bravely attempts to open the door again and eventually the group finds themselves in a large chamber dominated by a 70-foot high statue of a lobster-shaped woman. 4 larger kuo-toa are positioned about the room, engaged in some chanting ritual. They party charges into the room, and almost immediately a blue winged female wielding a flaming longbow appears in front of the statue and flies toward them. Not long after that, a lightning bolt is channeled from the kuo-toa and the statue, and zaps through half of the group. Alfir goes down again. Kyladrian sneaks down the stairs and attempts a sneak attack on one of the kuo-toa priests, while the rest of the group flings spells and ranged weapons at the she-devil, who has flown to the ceiling, firing her bow. Baxtor succeeds in casting a hold spell at the female outsider, and she drops a great height to the ground, killing herself on the stairs. The combat ensues, and more kuo-toa guards arrive to shoot crossbow bolts from the upper balcony. Various members of the party suspects that there is some sort of magical protection that is preventing some of their attacks from hurting the creatures in the room. Danielle and Alastriel utilize their flaming sphere spells to harm the priests as they continue to hurl lightning bolts and cast spells. As each priest is killed, the lightning bolt seems less effective. Finally, the battle is won, but not after taking a toll on the party, and burning through valuable spells.
Alfir is revived again, and he claims the flaming longbow left by the summoned devil. The other bodies are looted and there is talk about resting here. The general consensus is that the statue makes everyone very uneasy and it would not be very restful here.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Creepy crawlies
8 March, 596
Part II
Pressing onward, the party ventures into the fissure at the bottom of the pit. Traveling for several hours down a dark, sloping tunnel, they encounter a party of drow, who await in ambush. Alastriel's sleep spell downs a few, while the party's melee fighters finish the job. One tries to crawl away, mortally wounded. Serro speaks to her in elvish, but is met with a nasty response in an unintelligible language. He then ends her life with a stab of his magical wooden sword. Alastriel executes the sleepers, and has no qualms with this, as these creatures are bitter enemies of the elves.
After traveling for many hours, the group sets down to get some rest and recover spells. The going has been slow and not much progress has been made, as the terrain is rough. A lantern is left on for the watch. During Symon's watch, Alastriel, Baxtor, and Kyladrian awake to find themselves being attacked by a long tentacled creature. During the combat, Alastriel is dragged away, but is rescued by the fighters.
Part II
Pressing onward, the party ventures into the fissure at the bottom of the pit. Traveling for several hours down a dark, sloping tunnel, they encounter a party of drow, who await in ambush. Alastriel's sleep spell downs a few, while the party's melee fighters finish the job. One tries to crawl away, mortally wounded. Serro speaks to her in elvish, but is met with a nasty response in an unintelligible language. He then ends her life with a stab of his magical wooden sword. Alastriel executes the sleepers, and has no qualms with this, as these creatures are bitter enemies of the elves.
After traveling for many hours, the group sets down to get some rest and recover spells. The going has been slow and not much progress has been made, as the terrain is rough. A lantern is left on for the watch. During Symon's watch, Alastriel, Baxtor, and Kyladrian awake to find themselves being attacked by a long tentacled creature. During the combat, Alastriel is dragged away, but is rescued by the fighters.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Pit of the Seven Jaws
8 March, 596
Part I
The next day the party sets out for the fissure and takes Sonja's dead body with them. After a 20-mile journey, they come to a large pit with a metal staircase that descends spirally downward for 60 feet.
A cairn is constructed on one of the landings for Sonja, and the party continues downward. At the next landing, Kyladrian is attacked by the frozen breath of a hydra, which was waiting in ambush. The 7-headed creature manages to take out much of the party, with Serro, Kyladrian and Alfir going down at various points. However, it is the constant volley of magic missiles and flaming sphere spells from the spell-casters that save the day. In the end, they are left with a burning corpse of a hydra. A body of a dead drow is found in one of the pit corners, and the party raids it of its valuable equipment.
Part I
The next day the party sets out for the fissure and takes Sonja's dead body with them. After a 20-mile journey, they come to a large pit with a metal staircase that descends spirally downward for 60 feet.
A cairn is constructed on one of the landings for Sonja, and the party continues downward. At the next landing, Kyladrian is attacked by the frozen breath of a hydra, which was waiting in ambush. The 7-headed creature manages to take out much of the party, with Serro, Kyladrian and Alfir going down at various points. However, it is the constant volley of magic missiles and flaming sphere spells from the spell-casters that save the day. In the end, they are left with a burning corpse of a hydra. A body of a dead drow is found in one of the pit corners, and the party raids it of its valuable equipment.
Knights of Anduria
7 March, 596
After breaking camp the next morning the group continues onward. As the landscape gets more mountainous they pass a family of gorillas, which do not give them any trouble. However, a few hours later, they quickly take hiding places before a giant comes jogging down the path. The giant stops on the trail and kills one of the abandoned horses, then looks around for a trap. It discovers Alfir and Gunleif hiding behind a rock and starts to attack. However, Baxtor puts it to sleep, giving the rest of the group precious time to hammer the giant with its full arsenal. The giant is slain before it can even land a blow. The group debates whether or not to look for its lair, but in the end, it is decided to press onward toward the location of the Underdark entrance.
Toward the end of the day, the party spots a bright flash over a hill, and arrive in time to see a red dragon burning down a straw hut with its fiery breath. A wide-eyed old man sees the heroes and runs toward them, encouraging them to defend him, shouting, "Onward, my knights of Anduria!" Then man is clearly demented but Sonja bravely moves in front to protect him. The red dragon turns its attention to the party and rains fiery death down upon Gunleif, who departs this world as a pile of ashes. After sensing a threat from Alastriel, it bears down upon her, scratching its claws in her face. The rest of the group does everything it can to bring down the wyrm, and Alastriel in desperation casts darkness on the creature. This seems to do the trick, and the dragon flies away in retreat. But not before it lets out one final blast of fire, which hits Sonja squarely. When the fight is over Sonja's body is burned; intact, but clearly dead.
The insane man is known as Crazy Jared and babbles on about how he is going to rebuild his "castle." But, he does seem to know how to get to the Underdark entrance, and even draws a map for the group.
After breaking camp the next morning the group continues onward. As the landscape gets more mountainous they pass a family of gorillas, which do not give them any trouble. However, a few hours later, they quickly take hiding places before a giant comes jogging down the path. The giant stops on the trail and kills one of the abandoned horses, then looks around for a trap. It discovers Alfir and Gunleif hiding behind a rock and starts to attack. However, Baxtor puts it to sleep, giving the rest of the group precious time to hammer the giant with its full arsenal. The giant is slain before it can even land a blow. The group debates whether or not to look for its lair, but in the end, it is decided to press onward toward the location of the Underdark entrance.
Toward the end of the day, the party spots a bright flash over a hill, and arrive in time to see a red dragon burning down a straw hut with its fiery breath. A wide-eyed old man sees the heroes and runs toward them, encouraging them to defend him, shouting, "Onward, my knights of Anduria!" Then man is clearly demented but Sonja bravely moves in front to protect him. The red dragon turns its attention to the party and rains fiery death down upon Gunleif, who departs this world as a pile of ashes. After sensing a threat from Alastriel, it bears down upon her, scratching its claws in her face. The rest of the group does everything it can to bring down the wyrm, and Alastriel in desperation casts darkness on the creature. This seems to do the trick, and the dragon flies away in retreat. But not before it lets out one final blast of fire, which hits Sonja squarely. When the fight is over Sonja's body is burned; intact, but clearly dead.
The insane man is known as Crazy Jared and babbles on about how he is going to rebuild his "castle." But, he does seem to know how to get to the Underdark entrance, and even draws a map for the group.
An Orc Encounter
5-6 March, 596
The Lords of Chaos gather what they need for the trip and prepare the horses. At first, Alastriel decides that Symon is going to stay behind in Cauldron, but he convinces her to take him along. She spends the remainder of the day finishing teaching him magic missile.
The next morning they are off in the direction of the mountains north of Cauldron. Several hours into the journey Danielle's falcon indicates danger ahead. Sonja ranges ahead and reports a group of 8 orcs preparing to break camp. The party decides to attack the orcs, running into battle with guns blazing. The orcs hear their approach and are ready for them, but it takes less than a minute for the group to overwhelm the goblinoids and decimate the war party. Their bodies are raided and the Lords of Chaos move on, leaving chaos in their wake.
The Lords of Chaos gather what they need for the trip and prepare the horses. At first, Alastriel decides that Symon is going to stay behind in Cauldron, but he convinces her to take him along. She spends the remainder of the day finishing teaching him magic missile.
The next morning they are off in the direction of the mountains north of Cauldron. Several hours into the journey Danielle's falcon indicates danger ahead. Sonja ranges ahead and reports a group of 8 orcs preparing to break camp. The party decides to attack the orcs, running into battle with guns blazing. The orcs hear their approach and are ready for them, but it takes less than a minute for the group to overwhelm the goblinoids and decimate the war party. Their bodies are raided and the Lords of Chaos move on, leaving chaos in their wake.
The Cusp of Sunrise
4 March, 596
The previous night, the party receives a personal invitation from Celeste to attend a dinner party at the Cusp of Sunrise, an exclusive dinner club for nobles. She won't explain what this is in regards to, but she does promise a profitable proposition will be made.
The next day, our heroes do some shopping, buying some fine clothes so they will not stick out at the Cusp. Alastriel spends the day teaching Symon a spell (magic missile). She discovers that the boy has an attention span problem, and it takes him longer than usual to learn what she teaches him. Meanwhile, Kyladrian join the Thorsen cousins in an early start at the bar.
That evening, Serro, Baxtor, Sonja, Alastriel, and Danielle attend the party, and are shown in to the building. Alastriel,. Danielle and Serro lose themselves in the library, where many historical books on Cauldron can be found. Baxtor sits at the bar and has a brief chat with Vhalantru, while Sonja observes the dice game at the gambling tables.
Celeste eventually arrives and takes them into a conference room where they meet an old decrepit dwarf named Davked Splintershield. Davked offers the party a small fortune to venture into the Underdark and find his son Zenith, returning him so that he can make ammends before his death. Davked has found through divinations that his son is being held prisoner in a kuo-toa prison named Bhal-Hamatugn. The party agrees to seek out the captured dwarf and return him to Cauldron.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Hulk Smash
3 March, 596
There have been some changes in the makeup of the group:
There have been some changes in the makeup of the group:
- Salla has left to find his relations in his homeland and has left the group permanently.
- Sonja went on a leave of absence during the break, but has returned. However, something has clearly happened to her, as she will not look Alastriel in the eye.
- Serro has returned from trip to the Lucky Monkey accompanied by a new member of the Lords of Chaos: Danielle the Dandelion - a druid from a nearby grove.
- Alastriel has taken on an assitant, a dropout from the Bluecrater Academy. His name is Symon Deadwood.
- Two hirelings have been added to the ranks of the L.O.C. Alfir and Gunleif, Ivinian cousins come to Cauldron in hope of winning fortune and glory.
Today, after an afternoon performance by Serro at the Slippery Eel Tavern, the party witnesses the emergence of a large creature from one of Maavu's warehouses. The bug-like beast lumbers through the crowds on the street, seemingly bent on causing massive destruction to the buildings in the area. To make matters worse, those who come under the gaze of the creature become confused and forget what they were doing.
The Lords of Chaos attempt to defeat the monster, averting their eyes when possible to avoid being confused. They are aided at various points by the city watch. At one point, Alfir saves a baby which fell from a window in the top floor of the inn. Kyladrian is confused during most of the battle and manages to build a campfire fire from scratch in the middle of the bedlam.
Just before the creature is vanquished, a group of gnomes show up and begin casting spells. However, the job is nearly done at this point and it's just mop up work from here. The gnomes are part of an organization called the Magical Threats Agency. After more of the guard shows up to take care of cordoning off the area, the party does a bit more investigation in the area around where the creature bursted from the ground. There is some evidence of runes on the ground in the wreckage, possibly indicating a summoning circle, but it's impossible to know for sure.
The party is told that they will be contacted later if their assistance is needed.
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