DM Alexander Kilcoyne's Slumbering Tsar (Inactive)

Game Master Alexander Kilcoyne

Despite a few tense moments, no further menace appeared from the mists to plague the group. It seemed that the two parties had simply stumbled upon each other in the mists.

Good to see that the sounds of panicked ghouls, flesh being carved and crushed that I heard from coming upstairs when I was in hiding; were well justified. Samuel commented light-heartedly.

Day 6, 6PM, 8 Hours Travelled

After a little under five more hours of marching through the miserable mists and muddy ground, the group reached a familiar landmark; the rift genesis where they fought the two-headed basilisk. The last of the daylight was fading as the group reached the road just south of the rift itself.

From here, they could make good time back to the camp; Barak estimated they could make it in five or six hours and be back late in the night; but only if they made use of rather obvious magical lighting to keep the pace up.

Alternatively, they could go a little slower and rely on the Darkvision present among the group. It would take even longer to reach the camp but would make them less of a target on the road.

However, when considering both of these plans the group could not help to notice that fatigue was beginning to set in; although Kirilarien's ability would likely keep everyone going until they reached the camp.

Pressing on and in what manner? I've outlined 3 basic options above- with light (fast, more risky), without light (slower, less risky, greater chance of fatigue) or make camp somewhere nearby.

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Marcus dismounts to examine the corpses and tries to ascertain what he can of the creatures' parentage.

Not interested in making camp, and not willing to light a beacon to draw attention, Durin vote becomes obvious...

Will post on what I found out later but in the interim another vote for push on without light.

Durin heaves his hammer and sets off into the gloom...

ABP ;)

Also in favor of pushing on without light.

Arachiel was about to protest pushing on without light, given the limited vision of a couple of his companions, but when Marcus agrees to move on without light, he does not.

"Onward it is then."

Note- Durin can not be fatigued by forced marching.

Zanzu fatigued, Kirilarien's music removes it Non-Lethal Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Khun-Duhn fatigued, Arachiel fatigued Non-Lethal Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5. Kirilarien's music removes both of their fatigue.

Khun-Duhn, Zanzu, Arachiel and Samuel fatigued Non-Lethal Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5. Arachiel channels Channel: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 2, 5) = 15 which
heals everyone and removes all fatigue.

One channel used and Khun-Duhn/Arachiel/Zanzu have used Kirilarien's remove fatigue for the day.

Day 6, 9PM, 11 Hours Travelled-

The group had marched along the roads for some time now; although fatigue and exhaustion had set in from time to time, Kirilarien and Arachiel had kept the group in good form thus far. The pace had been very slow at first as they got used to travelling in the dark; but they now felt they were making good time. However, Barak felt ill at ease for some time; and eventually understood the reason why. The way the mists and clouds around the group were subtly changing was difficult to read but Barak had begun to gain something of an affinity with the harsh earth and sky. He was sure- and he warned the group that another bout of acid rain would strike soon... likely within the next half an hour.

Time for one of your rope tricks my good Marcus?

Happy New Year bump.

Slight Retcon:

Before leaving the tower, Khun-duhn offers prayers to Muir to heal Durin and Zanzu's ability damage.

Lesser Restoration - Durin: 1d4 ⇒ 4 points ability damage healed.

Lesser Restoration - Zanzu: 1d4 ⇒ 4 points ability damage healed.

Slight Retcon ..

Zanzu bows to Khun-duhn's prayer, as he feels the warmth of his holy words permeate his bones, removing the cold which hindered his normal easy movement.

All ability damage removed, back to normal now.

That takes care of Durin's Con damage... Dex damage and Str drain remain however. :P

Khun-duhn offers another prayer to restore Durin's agility.

2nd Lesser Restoration - Durin: 1d4 ⇒ 3 points Dex damage healed.

Marcus nods at Durin's suggestion and hastily re-creates the extra-dimensional space.

Lets get inside.

The wizard then gingerly removes his saddlebags while directing his mount a little way away from the entrance.

I'll dispel the summoning when the acid starts to fall. This one..., he gestures at the bag holding the ghost, I'm going to bury rather than bring inside an enclosed space with us...

I updated my spells following the barghest fight but it didn't take it seems. Fixed now, the only time I had rope trick out was when we had planned the fort assault.

Arachiel climbs into the extra-dimensional space, still fuming about the loss of his horse to the last round of acid rain.

Khun-duhn growls at the threatening sky and then follows his companions into the extra-dimensional space.

Durin thanks Khun-duhn and helps Marcus dig a hole before joining the others in the space...

Zanzu clucks happily as he enters the magical space.

The group took shelter as the intense acid rain arrived some fifteen minutes later. The intense downpour would no doubt have dispelled Marcus' mount at any rate, if he had not already dismissed it. Climbing back out and now entirely horseless, the group continued to trudge along the roads...

Only a short time later, they reached the true Crossroads of Tsar- the central point at which the north-south road met the east-west.

Two sunken roads meet here in a depression in the centre of the desolate plain. West lie the Black Gates of Tsar, east unknown hills rumored to occupied by goblinoids, orcs, and worse. South leads back to the Camp and Bard’s Gate, and to the north are the fabled lands of spice and riches which have drawn so many to brave these deadly lands in search of their fortune. Surely any who make it this far find their enthusiasm curbed by the sobering scene. Great scaffolds of heavy wooden beams rise at each corner of this intersection. Suspended from their many yardarms are heavy iron cages like malignant fruit on an infernal tree. These cages hold the picked clean bones and dangling tatters of the unfortunates who have been imprisoned in them and left for the crows. Several of the bones have fallen to the ground beneath the cages and a couple of the cages have fallen to the ground themselves, their heavy chains rusted through and no longer able to support their great weight.

All failed but Samuel.

The next hour was hard going, as Marcus joined the already weary walkers and the group continued in the dark. Showing a surprising amount of resilience, "Samuel" the doppelganger kept the firm pace going while the rest of the group bar Durin began to succumb to fatigue once more. Arachiel decided to soothe the group's wounds once more as so many were struggling; but warned them that this was the last time he could muster so much healing.

6 LOH used including remove diseases.

Channel: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 5, 2) = 12

Fairly confident that they were close to The Camp now as they trudged along the road, Zanzu and Khun-Duhn toughed it out rather than using additional resources; Non-Lethal Damage to Them: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Everyone now fatigued except Barak and Durin. Zanzu and Khun-Duhn have 2 points of non-lethal damage, and Kirilarien removes Marcus and Samuel's fatigue. Marcus, Arachiel and Samuel take 1d6 ⇒ 1 points of non-lethal damage and Zanzu and Khun-Duhn have 3 in total.

March Summary- 4 lay on hands used, Kirilarien's remove fatigue used on all eligible, 2 non-lethal damage on Arachiel, Marcus and Samuel, 3 on Zanzu and Khun-Duhn. Arachiel, Zanzu and Khun-Duhn fatigued.

Day 6, Midnight, 14 Hours Travelled-

In a sorry state; but having successfully marched along the eerie roads of Tsar in pitch darkness, the group had returned to the edge of The Camp. It was only a few hundred feet away, the shoddy dwellings starting to become visible, when in the still of the darkest watches of the night, the group detected a faint squeaking. As they strained to listen the squeaking became louder and it was clearly the creaking of some wooden conveyance.

Whatever it is, it is steadily approaching...

Durin strained to spot whatever was making the noise...

Which direction is the sound coming from? From the camp (to our front) or from the Desolation (our rear or side)?

From the camp. Not yet in vision of darkvision.

Despite the tiredness from the march and Zanzu's relief at being back in a place which provides some safety, however minimal, the little tengu slinks into the darkness. Moving slightly away from the group, he peers into the darkness, trying to make out the wooden creaking sounds, feeling vibrations through the ground and listening hard.

Perception (only got low light) 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Stealth 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

Now might be a good time for some light, Durin suggest to Marcus under his breath as Zanzu peels off from the main group.

When it seems Zanzu has had enough time to build some distance Marcus incants a cantrip of light on to his loaded crossbow bolt.

40' total vision so the demihumans will still see first.

The visage slowly rolled into view...

Emerging into the darkness you can make out little in the pitch blackness. Then as the squeaking grows louder, you see through the thin night mists the silhouette of a dark figure pushing a handcart. The wheels of the cart produce the squeaking sound. As it approaches directly toward you, you can see that the figure is swathed in a long, hooded robe of coarse, grey cloth. His face is not visible, though you can just make out the shape of a protruding lower jaw. The cart appears to full of all sorts of mundane items and junk, certainly nothing that appears to be threatening. If you were in any other place at any other time, you would think this a rather ordinary travelling peddler. The cart stops before you, and the dark figure begins rummaging through it saying only one word in a low, gravelly voice, as the figure produced an old, dried codfish from his cart...

Buy? 50 gold pieces...

Wiki Entry & Image

Kiri and Marcus share a look and the tired wizard relaxes some.

Thats a lot of money for a piece of dried fish, friend.

The figure did not react to Marcus' words.

"Why exactly would we want the fish?" Arachiel asks warily.

I don't even have 50 pieces of silver to my name... Durin mumbles to himself.

The figure did not react to Arachiel and Durin's words.

Seems pretty single minded huh?

Is it a test? A ruse? A riddle?

Samuel didn't even try to hide his confusion.

Ehrm... Not a friend of yours, then?

"If that came form out there i'm not eating it! Wait didn't you guys say they use some backwards from of gubbins as payment out here? iron nails or something? and this fellow wants gold."

Barak addresses the man "Pah that fish is tiny! but you look down on your luck so I will tell you what I'll give you 10 gold for it no more."

Never seen this fellow before...

Barak addresses the man "Pah that fish is tiny! but you look down on your luck so I will tell you what I'll give you 10 gold for it no more."

To Barak's offer, the figure actually responded, in his gravelly voice-

No haggling. Fifty.

Well Samuel. Why don't you show us the application of your talents in this situation. Is this fish worth the price?

Ehrm... Marcus, its a fish... Samuel said with a grumble. He continued, becoming much quieter as he added- If your asking what I think your asking, I haven't been able to...

Well isn't that interesting.

Zanzu watches out of the shadows, keeping his wits about him, wondering why they are discussing dried fish and 50gp. From his vantage point he sees as much of the content of the pedlar's cart as he can, looking for the most valuable thing.

Durin coughs, Yes Vincent, very interesting.

You should get in the habit now Marcus...

Marcus looks a bit sheepish.

As you say Durin. I must be over tired.

To the man.

Perhaps we can make a bargain? I pay your price and you tell us something we don't know about the Desolation? It looks like you range far and wide with that cart.

I have plenty of spare cash if people are short.

The figure slowly nodded, his crude-looking jaw moving up and down and holding up the fish in one hand with a cloaked hand awaiting payment.

Durin removes his hammer from his locked gauntlet and stands it upon the ground before opening his belt pouch and emptying the contents into his hand. A set of earplugs and his gaming dice are mixed in with a number of gold coins. Durin lets out a low whistle of surprise. Didn't realize I had that much coin, he murmurs as he counts under his breath. ...23, 24, 25... 26. I can chip in a share it seems. We can pay ourselves back from party shares later...

Marcus smiles.

I never realised it was that easy to get solid coin out of a dwarf.

I'll cover the rest, its not like we can actually spend it here without funding the Usurer's retirement.

The wizard pours the collected coins into the man's waiting hands, clearly not overly keen to touch his skin.

All assuming noone else has any issues.

Durin looks up at Marcus and laughs as he hands him the coin. Here, take it before I realize how many ales that would by me and I change my mind!

Durin keeps one coin back while smiling and adding, In case of an emergency.

Durin rolls the coin and his dice over in his hand before dropping them back into his pouch along with his plugs. A seed is all I need to grow some more anyhow! he says with a wink.

The gold was taken and swiftly pocketed into the figure's clothing. He handed over the entirely worthless fish to Marcus and spoke slowly and clearly. It was almost as though the figure was reciting from a book or a mantra, as though he had spoken these words dozens of times.

"Not only old dead guard Black Gates, but something greater as well. From blackest pits of pitch and bile a new guardian arose both foul and vile. Beware his breath of clinging death."

The cart was hoisted up once more and the Peddler moved to start hauling it into the Desolation.

Marcus lets his pride drop a bit as he calls after the retreating peddler, even though he doesn't seem to expect a better answer.

What do you mean Black Gates? The gates to Tsar? What guardian? Another black dragon?

The wizard frowns and looks down at the fish. Its like we're some kind of gold mine to these people.

The squeaking of the cart became slowly more distant as the peddler ignored Marcus' questions.

Marcus and anyone else trained in it can make a Knowledge (History) or a Knowledge (Engineering) check (at a higher DC) on the Black Gates.