Picking up from the moment that Grimbol sucker punched Corwin for “Stealing” his kill on the green dragon the party quickly braced themselves for more slavers to come running down from the fort to the beach or perhaps another dragon to come flying out. After a few moments with no immediate threat most of the party set about looting the corpses, with Corwin deciding not to retaliate at this point in time and Aiken creeping up to the ruined walls of the fort.
Aiken’s natural grace allowed him to sneak up almost completely silently to one of the many gaping holes in the walls around. Carefully peaking his head around he spotted a number of cages made from drift wood, one of which appeared to be smashed and most likely done by an angry dwarf battle bard escaping. There didn’t seem to be any slavers left around but he could over hear some of the captured magic users trying to break free while no one was looking.
Back on the river shore the rest of the party stripped a large sack of coins from the lead slaver but failed to find anything other than the slavers weapons that would be worth much in trade or sale, Grimbol and Anvil tired of waiting around started heading up to the fort and reached the gap in time to see Aiken trying to free the slaves by removing the bars blocking them in but since he wasn’t having much luck the two dwarves leant their strength and freed three men who thanked them for rescue. They also found a small Thiefling baby in one of the cages, yet the other slaves seemed slightly afraid of it and were reluctant to hold it even for short time, the slaves spoke of how when they heard the sounds of battle to the west of the keep a number of them watched for a moment and then fled east and two ran into one of the ruined towers.
The fort is heavily decayed and it is three towers set up like points of an equal sided triangle, the tower the slavers ran into still has three stories and ends in a broken top while the other two only have the base single story with the upper parts completely collapsed. The driftwood cages were set up within the courtyard, the freed slaves were eager to leave and as they ran away the other members of the group handed them some of the slavers weapons while the remaining members of the party went up towards the dwarves and Aiken.
Deciding to go right for the tallest tower the party broke down the door that had a bunch of broken bits of furniture piled up as a quick barricade and quickly checking they moved forward up the very narrow small Torvad leading the way but was keenly alert and parried the spear thrust and dispatched one of the two slavers awaiting them at the top of the stairs and though Grimbol ran up and wounded the other but yet again another party member finished of his kill. Each floor of this tower is a single room in great disrepair, the ground floor seemed to be used for gambling, this second floor had a number of bed rolls scattered about and as they ascended to the third floor they saw a large broken table and scattered ruined parchments and standing on the stairs going up in front of a door stood a stranger.
A tall well dressed man in purple and gold robes, short hair and small goatee, seemingly unarmed but also appearing to be unafraid as a group of well armed and bloody warriors come into the room weapons drawn. He spoke quickly to the party warning them to stay away for he had no wish to slay them and then he stepped through the door closing it behind him. The party the discussed barricading the door up and the doorway they broke in down on the ground floor, Feanaro tired of talking went down and tried to move some rubble but being a bookish sort failed to move anything and the rotted wood gave him a nasty splinter (and the first damage this campaign), overall the party decided that resting would be unwise since they could hear talking from behind the door though couldn’t make out the words.
Bursting through the door Torvad found himself outside as the final larger floor no longer had walls or a roof and where they were expecting two or more Draconic Lords he instead found himself face to face with a Golden Dragon who sighs saying “I really wish you had listened, you might have lived” and battle was started. Now this relatively inexperienced but promising new party of adventures who refer to themselves as Team Awesome had already won a large battle and slain a small green dragon no more than twenty minutes before and were depleted on spells, abilities and importantly health. But despite this disadvantage the party caused grievous wounds upon the Golden Dragon and weathered the dragon’s flame (No one escaping unmarked) as soon as the dragon appeared to be losing a second figure appeared and blasted beams of fire at the group before demanding the Golden Dragon get him to safety.
The Dragon grabbed the stranger and flew away leaving a very battered party, Grimbol bleeding out on the floor and Torvad almost knocked off the tower, but ignoring their wounds and almost forgetting about Grimbol but Garlon saved him at the last moment they shot arrows and spells at the fleeing dragon and managed to shoot it down it’s body (and that of the unknown caster) dropped into the rushing river. Seen only by Corwin and Feanaro the golden dragon actually ripped off a belt bag from his passenger and flung it to the base of the tower while giving the party a sly wink, as it flew off to be shot down a few hundred feet from the tower.
The party went down stairs to find out what was in the bag and to have a rest, eating the slavers still cooking stew and with Grimbol being so very exhausted having at least three helpings, Feanaro, Garlon and Corwin inspected the items within the bag. A hefty coin purse and two scrolls (Full Written Scrolls to be added later when I write them up) the first letter was mundane seemingly from the former lord of this fort offering lordship to another upon his death warning that this fort guarded a great danger below. The second scroll seemed to be a magical deed inscribed with some sort of spell but the part where it lists the name of the new owner was left blank. Deciding to leave it till later the party explored the other two ruined towers.
One tower Garlon and Feanaro went into and found a small shrine to Vim, Garlon found himself drawn to part of the wall which contained a small hidden compartment with a glass case with a small letter and a single fake eye. The letter was from the last priest of Vim saying how he was off to war but not in the service of Vim so as not to risk the Right Eye Of Vim part of a legendary set of holy relics, which much to the dismay of Feanaro the eye was quickly placed in Garlon’s face and even as Feanaro was walking off he heard the scream as the priest collapsed. Grimbol came running from the other tower to check on him but seeing that he had just passed out he left him be.
In the other tower (both of these only have a single floor still intact) the rest of the group quickly noticed that the floor had been caved in as if someone had dug down knowing that there was a sub level, most of the party climbed down via rope through the hole with Grimbol staying above and holding the rope for safety and in no way was avoiding going down underground again. In this basement there was little other than a secret stairwell going up to the ground floor and a large stone door with glowing celestial runes saying “Only the Rightful Guardian of Moya may unseal this gateway.” Around this time Grimbol hears Garlon cry out in pain and run off to check to see if there was battle to be had. When Feanaro arrived to check the door he quickly realised how to open this gateway and pulling out the magical deed he filled in his name before the rest of the party had time to even ask what he was doing. The scroll went up in a puff of smoke and Feanaro felt a burning in his hand as an amulet formed within his open palm which he quickly put on and then sat down to identify.
Soon after Feanaro opened the door to reveal a long staircase going down over a hundred feet, Grimbol still on the ground floor poking his head through the hole told them in no uncertain terms that going down that tunnel can wait for another time and they should head over to Longbridge trading post and get some ale (hopefully free for saving those people). Feanaro, Aiken and Anvil did go through the door and down the stairs but were hesitant to explore further due to the many bones of Orcs some of which had been damaged by acid. Anvil walking down another tunnel but a few feet before triggering a trap and being burnt by acid and so deciding that this place would be best explored by the full party after a good night rest.
The party head back under the river towards Longbridge trading post, Grimbol moving at a fast pace despite being extremely exhausted, and were dismayed to see that Denny lay bleeding on the floor it seems like he had been left for dead. Nearby lay a humanoid body which appeared to have been slain by magic as the flesh was desiccated and all the grass and river reeds nearby are withered.
And that is where we ended the session.
Aiken’s natural grace allowed him to sneak up almost completely silently to one of the many gaping holes in the walls around. Carefully peaking his head around he spotted a number of cages made from drift wood, one of which appeared to be smashed and most likely done by an angry dwarf battle bard escaping. There didn’t seem to be any slavers left around but he could over hear some of the captured magic users trying to break free while no one was looking.
Back on the river shore the rest of the party stripped a large sack of coins from the lead slaver but failed to find anything other than the slavers weapons that would be worth much in trade or sale, Grimbol and Anvil tired of waiting around started heading up to the fort and reached the gap in time to see Aiken trying to free the slaves by removing the bars blocking them in but since he wasn’t having much luck the two dwarves leant their strength and freed three men who thanked them for rescue. They also found a small Thiefling baby in one of the cages, yet the other slaves seemed slightly afraid of it and were reluctant to hold it even for short time, the slaves spoke of how when they heard the sounds of battle to the west of the keep a number of them watched for a moment and then fled east and two ran into one of the ruined towers.
The fort is heavily decayed and it is three towers set up like points of an equal sided triangle, the tower the slavers ran into still has three stories and ends in a broken top while the other two only have the base single story with the upper parts completely collapsed. The driftwood cages were set up within the courtyard, the freed slaves were eager to leave and as they ran away the other members of the group handed them some of the slavers weapons while the remaining members of the party went up towards the dwarves and Aiken.
Deciding to go right for the tallest tower the party broke down the door that had a bunch of broken bits of furniture piled up as a quick barricade and quickly checking they moved forward up the very narrow small Torvad leading the way but was keenly alert and parried the spear thrust and dispatched one of the two slavers awaiting them at the top of the stairs and though Grimbol ran up and wounded the other but yet again another party member finished of his kill. Each floor of this tower is a single room in great disrepair, the ground floor seemed to be used for gambling, this second floor had a number of bed rolls scattered about and as they ascended to the third floor they saw a large broken table and scattered ruined parchments and standing on the stairs going up in front of a door stood a stranger.
A tall well dressed man in purple and gold robes, short hair and small goatee, seemingly unarmed but also appearing to be unafraid as a group of well armed and bloody warriors come into the room weapons drawn. He spoke quickly to the party warning them to stay away for he had no wish to slay them and then he stepped through the door closing it behind him. The party the discussed barricading the door up and the doorway they broke in down on the ground floor, Feanaro tired of talking went down and tried to move some rubble but being a bookish sort failed to move anything and the rotted wood gave him a nasty splinter (and the first damage this campaign), overall the party decided that resting would be unwise since they could hear talking from behind the door though couldn’t make out the words.
Bursting through the door Torvad found himself outside as the final larger floor no longer had walls or a roof and where they were expecting two or more Draconic Lords he instead found himself face to face with a Golden Dragon who sighs saying “I really wish you had listened, you might have lived” and battle was started. Now this relatively inexperienced but promising new party of adventures who refer to themselves as Team Awesome had already won a large battle and slain a small green dragon no more than twenty minutes before and were depleted on spells, abilities and importantly health. But despite this disadvantage the party caused grievous wounds upon the Golden Dragon and weathered the dragon’s flame (No one escaping unmarked) as soon as the dragon appeared to be losing a second figure appeared and blasted beams of fire at the group before demanding the Golden Dragon get him to safety.
The Dragon grabbed the stranger and flew away leaving a very battered party, Grimbol bleeding out on the floor and Torvad almost knocked off the tower, but ignoring their wounds and almost forgetting about Grimbol but Garlon saved him at the last moment they shot arrows and spells at the fleeing dragon and managed to shoot it down it’s body (and that of the unknown caster) dropped into the rushing river. Seen only by Corwin and Feanaro the golden dragon actually ripped off a belt bag from his passenger and flung it to the base of the tower while giving the party a sly wink, as it flew off to be shot down a few hundred feet from the tower.
The party went down stairs to find out what was in the bag and to have a rest, eating the slavers still cooking stew and with Grimbol being so very exhausted having at least three helpings, Feanaro, Garlon and Corwin inspected the items within the bag. A hefty coin purse and two scrolls (Full Written Scrolls to be added later when I write them up) the first letter was mundane seemingly from the former lord of this fort offering lordship to another upon his death warning that this fort guarded a great danger below. The second scroll seemed to be a magical deed inscribed with some sort of spell but the part where it lists the name of the new owner was left blank. Deciding to leave it till later the party explored the other two ruined towers.
One tower Garlon and Feanaro went into and found a small shrine to Vim, Garlon found himself drawn to part of the wall which contained a small hidden compartment with a glass case with a small letter and a single fake eye. The letter was from the last priest of Vim saying how he was off to war but not in the service of Vim so as not to risk the Right Eye Of Vim part of a legendary set of holy relics, which much to the dismay of Feanaro the eye was quickly placed in Garlon’s face and even as Feanaro was walking off he heard the scream as the priest collapsed. Grimbol came running from the other tower to check on him but seeing that he had just passed out he left him be.
In the other tower (both of these only have a single floor still intact) the rest of the group quickly noticed that the floor had been caved in as if someone had dug down knowing that there was a sub level, most of the party climbed down via rope through the hole with Grimbol staying above and holding the rope for safety and in no way was avoiding going down underground again. In this basement there was little other than a secret stairwell going up to the ground floor and a large stone door with glowing celestial runes saying “Only the Rightful Guardian of Moya may unseal this gateway.” Around this time Grimbol hears Garlon cry out in pain and run off to check to see if there was battle to be had. When Feanaro arrived to check the door he quickly realised how to open this gateway and pulling out the magical deed he filled in his name before the rest of the party had time to even ask what he was doing. The scroll went up in a puff of smoke and Feanaro felt a burning in his hand as an amulet formed within his open palm which he quickly put on and then sat down to identify.
Soon after Feanaro opened the door to reveal a long staircase going down over a hundred feet, Grimbol still on the ground floor poking his head through the hole told them in no uncertain terms that going down that tunnel can wait for another time and they should head over to Longbridge trading post and get some ale (hopefully free for saving those people). Feanaro, Aiken and Anvil did go through the door and down the stairs but were hesitant to explore further due to the many bones of Orcs some of which had been damaged by acid. Anvil walking down another tunnel but a few feet before triggering a trap and being burnt by acid and so deciding that this place would be best explored by the full party after a good night rest.
The party head back under the river towards Longbridge trading post, Grimbol moving at a fast pace despite being extremely exhausted, and were dismayed to see that Denny lay bleeding on the floor it seems like he had been left for dead. Nearby lay a humanoid body which appeared to have been slain by magic as the flesh was desiccated and all the grass and river reeds nearby are withered.
And that is where we ended the session.
It was a lot of fun and we had two guest players, one taking on Grimbol for his first time at D&D and doing a good job of playing him to the characteristics described to him and he may well join us when we have people missing if he’s free.
I’ve been feeling quite rough lately and due to being busy didn’t quite get everything done before this session such as having a written out contract and the letter *Both of which I’ll post later*
Note: Through most of this they had been carrying around a small Tiefling baby, they left him safely downstairs when fighting a dragon, who has some strange power to charm people to care for him when upset. Corwin and Garlon were taking turns to carry and care for the child with Torvad making it clear that while getting a bunch of kittens was a BAD idea carrying around a child is FAR WORSE.
I’ve been feeling quite rough lately and due to being busy didn’t quite get everything done before this session such as having a written out contract and the letter *Both of which I’ll post later*
Note: Through most of this they had been carrying around a small Tiefling baby, they left him safely downstairs when fighting a dragon, who has some strange power to charm people to care for him when upset. Corwin and Garlon were taking turns to carry and care for the child with Torvad making it clear that while getting a bunch of kittens was a BAD idea carrying around a child is FAR WORSE.