Post by ihavetilfive on Apr 26, 2010 23:15:34 GMT -6
This one had the battle that the group looks back on fondly. This was the time they all thought they were going to have their first Total Party Kill. I think it's important that every battle isn't like this, because then it loses its punch. This session is a continuation of our group's "In Search of the Unknown" campaign.
________________________
Session #12: Dwarven Constitution
Delva awoke in the Temple of Sigmar, after having the vision in which he accepted the charge of Sigmar Heldenhammer. After being told that Beulah and Francine had left the day before, he asked of the healing potions he inquired of the week prior. He received the yard-long vial of Sigmar, the sack containing the Oats of Sigmar, and the large bowl holding the Salve of Sigmar.
Farned and Tig continued their conversation, where Tig convinced Farned to wear a garland of wolfsbane to prove that he is truly no longer a lycanthrope. Tig then spoke to one of the dwarves in the delegation, sent by Silas to discuss the black sapphire and the party's return to Quasqueton. Silas' agent said that the terms of the service were at-will and that he should be paid on what the party uncovered during that time. He further stated that he had no intentions of returning to the caverns but would help the party find a suitable buyer in the City-State, reminding Tig that the village of Providence Ridge would not have enough wealth in it to provide adequate worth for the gem. Tig said he would get back to him when they returned to Quasqueton.
Delva met Farned and Tig at the blacksmith, where Delva attacked Farned with his hammer. He hit Farned, then received a stinging shock from the weapon himself. It was then he remembered the charge he was given in his dream - he was forbidden to attacking party members except in cases of self-defense. The elf remembered this and mended his ways. Not wanting to give up on Bethesda, Delva vowed to return to Quasqueton, and the party agreed.
Serenus and Bones, understanding that Tig could not pay them their full share immediately, asked Tig to upgrade their effectiveness before heading back out. Serenus received the mended banded armor, and Bones was taught Magic Missile by the Sage. While at the Sage's tower, Farned lost a few games of chess to Philemon, the Sage's green monkey, one of his books in a wager, and then was polymorphed into a green monkey himself after attempting to Command the Sage. The Sage said Farned would remain in such a state until he could defeat Philemon in chess. Later that week, the cleric scored a lucky win and was released.
Delva took the Sage aside and asked him to evaluate the book they had found in the shell of a house back in the forest near their meeting of the pilgrims of Apollo. The Sage remarked, "Grey linger the fated, desolation," and grew pale. He told Delva that the book itself held no special value to him, but it only served to confirm a fear he had that there was a very real threat to the land. He said that upon completing their business in Quasqueton and the City-State, the party were to return to him as the favor Delva promised when receiving the vellum. If they were strong enough to pull through those encounters, then the Sage would go on to tell them of the great threat.
Returning to Quasqueton, the party passed the intial corridor of the alcoves, and the magic mouths again went off as they always did. Some of the party thought they heard shifting, and around the right corner, saw a hobgoblin and some orcs. The battle began, arrows flew, and Farned found himself impaled on a spear when he came charging, and the orc had the spear ready to meet the charge. The party found themselves flanked on the rear by another squad of hobgoblin-led orcs. Serenus attempted to flee, but was cut off by orcs who used the secret doors to curtail pursuit. The elven cleric was cut down in short order, as was Bones the gnome, dying ingloriously from behind. Few orcs fled, and all save Tig were grievously wounded. As it seemed the party would rout the humanoids, strange mumbling was heard nearby. A witch-doctor orc immobilized Farned and Delva with his magic, while Tig's dwarven constitution shrugged it off.
Standing alone, the dwarf fought against the remaining hobgoblin, the orc soldier, and the witch-doctor. The medicine man attempted to command the dwarf into sleeping, and yet again, through an incredible force of will, the dwarf repelled the dweomer. Outnumbered, Tig began taking heavy damage. The orc fell and stunned himself, while Tig smote the witch-doctor, shattering his torso with a mighty blow. The hobgoblin and the dwarf danced a weary war, desperate to emerge victorious. The dwarf was little more than a beard and scores of open wounds at this point, fighting on through damage that few have ever lived through. Delva and Farned finally threw off the hold of magic on them, and as Tig collapsed, they slew the orc and hobgoblin. Through Delva's feeding Tig the oats and treating his wounds with the salve, the healed dwarf was mended enough for Farned to bring him from certain death to a measure of vitality. Heaving a collective sigh, the party slumped against the wall to catch its breath.
________________________
Session #12: Dwarven Constitution
Delva awoke in the Temple of Sigmar, after having the vision in which he accepted the charge of Sigmar Heldenhammer. After being told that Beulah and Francine had left the day before, he asked of the healing potions he inquired of the week prior. He received the yard-long vial of Sigmar, the sack containing the Oats of Sigmar, and the large bowl holding the Salve of Sigmar.
Farned and Tig continued their conversation, where Tig convinced Farned to wear a garland of wolfsbane to prove that he is truly no longer a lycanthrope. Tig then spoke to one of the dwarves in the delegation, sent by Silas to discuss the black sapphire and the party's return to Quasqueton. Silas' agent said that the terms of the service were at-will and that he should be paid on what the party uncovered during that time. He further stated that he had no intentions of returning to the caverns but would help the party find a suitable buyer in the City-State, reminding Tig that the village of Providence Ridge would not have enough wealth in it to provide adequate worth for the gem. Tig said he would get back to him when they returned to Quasqueton.
Delva met Farned and Tig at the blacksmith, where Delva attacked Farned with his hammer. He hit Farned, then received a stinging shock from the weapon himself. It was then he remembered the charge he was given in his dream - he was forbidden to attacking party members except in cases of self-defense. The elf remembered this and mended his ways. Not wanting to give up on Bethesda, Delva vowed to return to Quasqueton, and the party agreed.
Serenus and Bones, understanding that Tig could not pay them their full share immediately, asked Tig to upgrade their effectiveness before heading back out. Serenus received the mended banded armor, and Bones was taught Magic Missile by the Sage. While at the Sage's tower, Farned lost a few games of chess to Philemon, the Sage's green monkey, one of his books in a wager, and then was polymorphed into a green monkey himself after attempting to Command the Sage. The Sage said Farned would remain in such a state until he could defeat Philemon in chess. Later that week, the cleric scored a lucky win and was released.
Delva took the Sage aside and asked him to evaluate the book they had found in the shell of a house back in the forest near their meeting of the pilgrims of Apollo. The Sage remarked, "Grey linger the fated, desolation," and grew pale. He told Delva that the book itself held no special value to him, but it only served to confirm a fear he had that there was a very real threat to the land. He said that upon completing their business in Quasqueton and the City-State, the party were to return to him as the favor Delva promised when receiving the vellum. If they were strong enough to pull through those encounters, then the Sage would go on to tell them of the great threat.
Returning to Quasqueton, the party passed the intial corridor of the alcoves, and the magic mouths again went off as they always did. Some of the party thought they heard shifting, and around the right corner, saw a hobgoblin and some orcs. The battle began, arrows flew, and Farned found himself impaled on a spear when he came charging, and the orc had the spear ready to meet the charge. The party found themselves flanked on the rear by another squad of hobgoblin-led orcs. Serenus attempted to flee, but was cut off by orcs who used the secret doors to curtail pursuit. The elven cleric was cut down in short order, as was Bones the gnome, dying ingloriously from behind. Few orcs fled, and all save Tig were grievously wounded. As it seemed the party would rout the humanoids, strange mumbling was heard nearby. A witch-doctor orc immobilized Farned and Delva with his magic, while Tig's dwarven constitution shrugged it off.
Standing alone, the dwarf fought against the remaining hobgoblin, the orc soldier, and the witch-doctor. The medicine man attempted to command the dwarf into sleeping, and yet again, through an incredible force of will, the dwarf repelled the dweomer. Outnumbered, Tig began taking heavy damage. The orc fell and stunned himself, while Tig smote the witch-doctor, shattering his torso with a mighty blow. The hobgoblin and the dwarf danced a weary war, desperate to emerge victorious. The dwarf was little more than a beard and scores of open wounds at this point, fighting on through damage that few have ever lived through. Delva and Farned finally threw off the hold of magic on them, and as Tig collapsed, they slew the orc and hobgoblin. Through Delva's feeding Tig the oats and treating his wounds with the salve, the healed dwarf was mended enough for Farned to bring him from certain death to a measure of vitality. Heaving a collective sigh, the party slumped against the wall to catch its breath.