Dain's King Maker Chronicles

Game Master dain120475

With no healing potions, being that the parties resident healer decided to take them, the three lads are out of options. Smendor rides back to Olegs, and arrives there on the 3rd of that night. Oleg hurries out to see them and rushes them inside. He takes them back to his own personal home, and sets them up comfortably to give them as much medical attention as possible.

Smendor is worn out and tired, and Alaric is sick and feverish from the poison and at death's door. They are tended as best as can be, but without Oleg's potions, nothing can be done until the merry trio with all the healing goods return. Or can it...

The shy girl Dasha, who has followed Drake around moves to Alaric when he is alone, and wipes a cool rag on his head. She reaches a trembling hand to him and whisperes some words in a strange tongue, though no one is near to hear it.

Alaric feels her touch and mutters somewhat in his sleep. She reaches out and touches him. Alaric takes back

1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 and lays in a strange dreamy state. His body is resting, and the fever is slowly purged of the poison as well, regaining the same number of Str points back.

She leaves him silently before he awakens, and when he does, he is not sure what happens.

The merry trio have arrived home to find that Smendor and Alaric are inside and wounded. They do what they can to help. Brett is no where to be seen on the forth, which is when the trio have returned.

There needs to be a bit of Ret-con here, because Smendor and Alaric arrived there should be a little social RP with them. I had no idea that things would work out that way, which is somewhat my bad, but the luck of the draw.

Meantime, here is the gist of what's going on:

Alaric and Smendor have returned back to Oleg's on or about 10:00 pm on the third.

Ariarh, Gideon and Tess have returned back to Oleg's on or about 7:00 pm on the forth.

Brett does not return until 1:00 PM on the fifth.

Between the arrival of Ariarh, Gideon and Tess, there is a chance to do some good social Role-Play with the people at the compound. This includes Oleg, Drake, Svetlana, and (of course) the very mysterious Dasha...

Okay, that's that for now. I look fowrward to doing some more gaming soon. Smendor, sorry we missed you for the combat, but don't worry, you get full credit for experience.

For now, Gideon and Alaric have been healed to full.

Coming across Smendor near the tables by the fire pit, Ariarh politely broaches the subject of healing,

"Smendor, it is good to see you. I was wondering if you required any healing? I have yet to speak with Alaric but I know, through Oleg, that he has also returned and has been resting in his room." Ariarh gave the dwarf a shy smile, hoping she wasn't being presumptuous at this point.

There needs to be a bit of Ret-con here, because Smendor and Alaric arrived there should be a little social RP with them. I had no idea that things would work out that way, which is somewhat my bad, but the luck of the draw.

Meantime, here is the gist of what's going on:

Alaric and Smendor have returned back to Oleg's on or about 10:00 pm on the third.

Ariarh, Gideon and Tess have returned back to Oleg's on or about 7:00 pm on the forth.

Brett does not return until 1:00 PM on the fifth.

Between the arrival of Ariarh, Gideon and Tess, there is a chance to do some good social Role-Play with the people at the compound. This includes Oleg, Drake, Svetlana, and (of course) the very mysterious Dasha...

Okay, that's that for now. I look fowrward to doing some more gaming soon. Smendor, sorry we missed you for the combat, but don't worry, you get full credit for experience.

For now, Gideon and Alaric have been healed to full.

Was there anything else besides what was on the dead bandit? That was an awfully lot of bodies of nothing lol. Hopefully i didn't almost get killed for nothing lol

As a matter of fact, there WAS! However, this needed a rather good Perception roll... There was no taking twenty with a lad near death and another lad almost at Zero hit points.... As for Brett, he hates that kind of vermin and wanted to get the hell out of there. But it is kind of moot now, but there was something important there, yes. It's just bad luck it wasn't discovered... Sorry, I don't like to "fudge" details that way, as you no doubt are aware (Alaric and Ariarh I am looking up at the sky and whistling)... seriously though, to allay your concern: YES there were more things, and NO you didn't find them.

As a matter of fact, there WAS! However, this needed a rather good Perception roll... There was no taking twenty with a lad near death and another lad almost at Zero hit points.... As for Brett, he hates that kind of vermin and wanted to get the hell out of there. But it is kind of moot now, but there was something important there, yes. It's just bad luck it wasn't discovered... Sorry, I don't like to "fudge" details that way, as you no doubt are aware (Alaric and Ariarh I am looking up at the sky and whistling)... seriously though, to allay your concern: YES there were more things, and NO you didn't find them.

Ok once Brett comes back and I debrief him to see if they searched I was going to go back anyway. Alaric thinks that with all those bodies there HAS to be more there than what we found.

hey guys I'm just letting you know I'll be out for the rest of the day...sorry I didn't get a post up today, I've been busy. Real game tonight...and I'm hopefully getting my desktop fixed...but we'll see on that last one. See ya'all tomorrow. Oh and while I'm bringing bad news starting on Friday I'll be gone until Tuesday. Going out of town for the 4th and won't have internet access.

Dain GM wrote:

As a matter of fact, there WAS! However, this needed a rather good Perception roll... There was no taking twenty with a lad near death and another lad almost at Zero hit points.... As for Brett, he hates that kind of vermin and wanted to get the hell out of there. But it is kind of moot now, but there was something important there, yes. It's just bad luck it wasn't discovered... Sorry, I don't like to "fudge" details that way, as you no doubt are aware (Alaric and Ariarh I am looking up at the sky and whistling)... seriously though, to allay your concern: YES there were more things, and NO you didn't find them.

Ok once Brett comes back and I debrief him to see if they searched I was going to go back anyway. Alaric thinks that with all those bodies there HAS to be more there than what we found.

Brett won't return to the fifth, at around mid-day. If you'd like to debrief him, you are free to do so in game. If you want you want a short sum-up on what happened, I tossed it up earlier.

If you are planning on making another expidition, that's cool. Will anyone go with you? You may not find anything if you go, though. That depends now largely on luck.

Brett WILL say, if you mentino your plans to him...

"You nearly died, and so did the dwarf, and now you want to go back? EW! No thank you, I hate spider types, and I'm just as happy not to go there. I know it is only a six hour ride or so forth, but you'd be getting back there roughly at night time. Bad time to be searching for lots of reasons... Also, don't we have a mission to keep exploring other things? Whatever there most likely won't be slipping away, if you wait another day, if you take my meaning. But if I had MY choice, I'd rather be out and about examining new things in the world, specifically finding new things rather then re-hashing old tracks; there's a whole lot of land to the west and sounth... and it'd be getting warmer there, too."

Brett makes good sense, yet you also feel he may be over-exagerating things. He does not know what will be found, or what will be there, if you return. He can only guess; as you ALL can, since no one really knows what is there. As for his comment about the weather? That is clearly a last ditch attempt to get people to see things HIS way, one more day will not make a difference to the weather, nor will a few miles in either direction matter.

Still he won't go, unless the whole party is willing to do so. If the party wants to split up again, he will be goin to the place where the spiders aren't? And why? Because he doesn't LIKE spiders; especially ones the size of a horse..

Alaric Winter wrote:

Dain GM wrote:

As a matter of fact, there WAS! However, this needed a rather good Perception roll... There was no taking twenty with a lad near death and another lad almost at Zero hit points.... As for Brett, he hates that kind of vermin and wanted to get the hell out of there. But it is kind of moot now, but there was something important there, yes. It's just bad luck it wasn't discovered... Sorry, I don't like to "fudge" details that way, as you no doubt are aware (Alaric and Ariarh I am looking up at the sky and whistling)... seriously though, to allay your concern: YES there were more things, and NO you didn't find them.

Ok once Brett comes back and I debrief him to see if they searched I was going to go back anyway. Alaric thinks that with all those bodies there HAS to be more there than what we found.

Brett won't return to the fifth, at around mid-day. If you'd like to debrief him, you are free to do so in game. If you want you want a short sum-up on what happened, I tossed it up earlier.

If you are planning on making another expidition, that's cool. Will anyone go with you? You may not find anything if you go, though. That depends now largely on luck.

Brett WILL say, if you mentino your plans to him...

"You nearly died, and so did the dwarf, and now you want to go back? EW! No thank you, I hate spider types, and I'm just as happy not to go there. I know it is only a six hour ride or so forth, but you'd be getting back there roughly at night time. Bad time to be searching for lots of reasons... Also, don't we have a mission to keep exploring other things? Whatever there most likely won't be slipping away, if you wait another day, if you take my meaning. But if I had MY choice, I'd rather be out and about examining new things in the world, specifically finding new things rather then re-hashing old tracks; there's a whole lot of land to the west and sounth... and it'd be getting warmer there, too."

Brett makes good...

The sum up is fine.

Alaric tells the group that he is planning on returning to the spider nest as there were many bodies there and might be more there to explore as we left rather suddenly. He wants to make sure that the place is completely free of spiders as he does not want anyone else to stumble upon the nest unawares. He also wants to explore a bit more so that we can make sure we didn't miss anything. So he is going back and hopes that the group will come with him.

What time are you planning on going back? Do you want to leave right away, or wait till the morning? I should add if you leave right away, you will get there about a half hour or so before sundown... Yes you can cast light at will, but it's your call.

Brett WON'T go with you (though he does apologize for that...) unless the rest of the party goes with you, but he DOES suggest you take a blade of some sort. You may need to cut things, especially if they are bound by spider webs...

In the meantime, as Brett sets in for a hot breakfest (or early lunch, or tea, or elevensies, or whatever meal it happens to be for him), he looks around at the compound.

"Looking better and better each day I see it... well,"he says pausing around a hot slurp of the soup, considering Alaric's plans to go out and re-check the spider lair "he'll want to go check things out, but I'm not keen on THAT mission... I say we keep going to new terrain. Problem is, if we strike out and Al gets back respectable (that is, riding back all night after he finds whatever it is he is looking for), then Al won't be able to find US... even if he looks for us, because he's about as much of a tracker as I am an elf (begging your pardon). But if he goes, then what happens? We split up again? This be downright intolerable on some account, and why? Because it ain't easy to tolerate! But here's what for it; as a suggestion. I don't want to go trapsing out again to there to spider's den, if I may be so bold. So, why don't them that want to watch Alaric go with him; it should be a quick journey, I'd think, and if you go now you'd get back to ol' Oleg's around 2 or 3 in the morning, barring unforeseen nasties. As for the rest of us, we could just wait here and set out again, as a bleedin' UNIT this time (ah-hem!), and then go point to point on the map."

"Course, only drawback on keeping the party whole verses splitting them twixt is that we cover ground slower then faster, and I'd like to get more done then less, what with winter comming on and all. Best thing for it, if we travel out to explore as a unit, is to wait till breakfest tomorrow, and hope that Al and them what travel with him can get about safe and sound and be back here tomorrow morning. Then we all go out together. If Al waits till morning to go out again (as would be a fine plan), then we can go one way, and his group can explore another space on the map... Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself... Al: what's yer plan? You be up to waiting till daybreak, or you want to hop on the saddle sooner then later? Either way, I'll back you with prayers, but your pardon that I ain't be heading out there again, unless everyone be keen on it."

Brett looks around at the group and wait, curious to know what the other members of his new "team" are planning.... He guesses that depending on who comes with Alaric will determine if he travels at night with friends, or alone in daylight... but that all depends on Alaric, and those who would come with him.

What time are you planning on going back? Do you want to leave right away, or wait till the morning? I should add if you leave right away, you will get there about a half hour or so before sundown... Yes you can cast light at will, but it's your call.

Brett WON'T go with you (though he does apologize for that...) unless the rest of the party goes with you, but he DOES suggest you take a blade of some sort. You may need to cut things, especially if they are bound by spider webs...

In the meantime, as Brett sets in for a hot breakfest (or early lunch, or tea, or elevensies, or whatever meal it happens to be for him), he looks around at the compound.

"Looking better and better each day I see it... well,"he says pausing around a hot slurp of the soup, considering Alaric's plans to go out and re-check the spider lair "he'll want to go check things out, but I'm not keen on THAT mission... I say we keep going to new terrain. Problem is, if we strike out and Al gets back respectable (that is, riding back all night after he finds whatever it is he is looking for), then Al won't be able to find US... even if he looks for us, because he's about as much of a tracker as I am an elf (begging your pardon). But if he goes, then what happens? We split up again? This be downright intolerable on some account, and why? Because it ain't easy to tolerate! But here's what for it; as a suggestion. I don't want to go trapsing out again to there to spider's den, if I may be so bold. So, why don't them that want to watch Alaric go with him; it should be a quick journey, I'd think, and if you go now you'd get back to ol' Oleg's around 2 or 3 in the morning, barring unforeseen nasties. As for the rest of us, we could just wait here and set out again, as a bleedin' UNIT this time (ah-hem!), and then go point to point on the map."

"Course, only drawback on keeping the party whole verses splitting them twixt is that we cover ground slower then faster, and I'd like to get more done then less, what with winter...

I would prefer to go immediately and come back here in the night as soon as possible. I understand your reticence to return Brett, I do not wish to either but I believe that there is more to learn there. I will gladly take anyone that would come with me. Please let me know for I intend to ride soon.

Brett nods and pats you on the arm, like a father humoring a child, but you sense he is trying to be considerate, not patronizing, despite how it may look.

"You be a right un' lad; balls as brass, if I may be so bold, pardon to them that don't like the lingo. But I'd not go alone; if I were you. And, for gods's sake, take yourself some propper gear. Spellslinging be alright against men... but ye be dealing with scum, and nasty scum at that,"he adds the last with a shake of his head, and spitting once at his disgust for the things.

Glancing around the yard, his eyebrows lift.

"Well, you all heard him... ain't none of ye be going with him? Naught but a quick ride AND marked well enough on the map, I'd say; but ye'd be traveling in night, and that be hard, especially if it rain again...why, er... I ain't be disuading you, NO sir, just saying that be prepared. Take what ye need to, and be ready for things, especially ANYthing, because then ye won't be un-ready for EVERYthing,"he says this last bit looking up at the sky... but luckily it seems like the chances of another heavy rain are slim... at least at Oleg's. Who knows what chances there will be roughly forty miles away, and as night gets on, too.

Only Alaric will know, and those who travel with him...

Okay, Alaric, how long do you want to wait for others to post up? If your really hurting for adventure, and nobody volunteers in the next hour, you can probably PERSUADE Brett to come along as back up; that is, if you're itching for action and you are tired of waiting. Okay, everyone; try to post your call soon, so we don't keep the good Alaric waiting too long...

Okay, Alaric, how long do you want to wait for others to post up? If your really hurting for adventure, and nobody volunteers in the next hour, you can probably PERSUADE Brett to come along as back up; that is, if you're itching for action and you are tired of waiting. Okay, everyone; try to post your call soon, so we don't keep the good Alaric waiting too long...

Alaric isn't wanting anymore action, he will avoid it if at all possible. But he is definitely curious about the area and what may have been left behind with all those bodies. I'll give it another two hours in real life time and if no one posts by then Alaric will try and recruit Brett and maybe Drake if hes willing.

Only Alaric will know, and those who travel with him...

Gideon looks like hell (he's still sick I believe), but he stands and says,

"This isn't a wise decision, but it's bordering on insanity to go by yourself. Wisdom comes with time, but one must experience life to gain that wisdom. I will go with you. At the very least I can see in the dark. "

"I will come along too, unless you see me as a possible hindrance. You've already been bitten by those damn huge spiders ... and barely made it out alive. A larger group may provide you with better backup and alternatives."

Ry looked at Alaric, Brett and Gideon.

She also makes note to ask Oleg if he has a spare sling hanging around that she can use. She's never made one before but if needs be she could try.

Hmm... seems like a decent crew... so far. Does anyone know if Smendor is around? I am going to try to wait for him for a bit longer, since he missed the action last night. If I don't see him by 9:30, is everyone comfortable with hoping on Skype to expedite this? Toss up a post, or meet me on Skype in about 20 minutes... Hopefully Smendor will have said what his plans are.

Tess, I know you can't play, but if you're around and want to cock an ear as to what's going on, that's cool, too.

I can't skype tonight. Sorry.

I can't skype tonight. Sorry.

But you're still up for the play-by-post element, yes? We'll keep you updated with this format, but I've noticed the Skyp format speeds things up. So long as you're able to be posting and checking posts (no need to post a novel) then you should be okay, provided you are able to do that. Question is; are you?

Hmm... seems like a decent crew... so far. Does anyone know if Smendor is around? I am going to try to wait for him for a bit longer, since he missed the action last night. If I don't see him by 9:30, is everyone comfortable with hoping on Skype to expedite this? Toss up a post, or meet me on Skype in about 20 minutes... Hopefully Smendor will have said what his plans are.

Tess, I know you can't play, but if you're around and want to cock an ear as to what's going on, that's cool, too.

I can be on Skype but please be aware I have a nasty headache and I may be a littler quieter than usual.

Gideon Samus Shaw wrote:

I can't skype tonight. Sorry.

But you're still up for the play-by-post element, yes? We'll keep you updated with this format, but I've noticed the Skyp format speeds things up. So long as you're able to be posting and checking posts (no need to post a novel) then you should be okay, provided you are able to do that. Question is; are you?

I can do that for about an hour and a half

Let's hope the party captain (re:Alaric) is comming... or this will be one real strange trip...

Gideon, we're on, by the way, or will be in a minute. Meantime, I forwarded everyone the map to "spiders den" in your basic email. Take a look if you get a chance.

Let's hope the party captain (re:Alaric) is comming... or this will be one real strange trip...

Alaric's on Skype now.

I am here what is up

Survival 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Survival:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Dain GM wrote:

Gideon Samus Shaw wrote:

I can't skype tonight. Sorry.

But you're still up for the play-by-post element, yes? We'll keep you updated with this format, but I've noticed the Skyp format speeds things up. So long as you're able to be posting and checking posts (no need to post a novel) then you should be okay, provided you are able to do that. Question is; are you?

I can do that for about an hour and a half

.

Everyone has been putting up survival rolls to find this place. You could hav done an "Aid another" to Ariarh, if you want to help her with her survival. Though you have a map, you are still trying to find the area about a half hour after sundown.

Ariarh, your roll allows you to realize that rains may be comming. A modest chance, 50 chance, of rains again here... shortly after sundown...

1-5 Rain

6-10 No Rain

1d10 ⇒ 5

We'll see what happens...

Knowledge Nature 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Climb: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Climb: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Climb: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Smendor, you fall down a dark tunnel and land right in a damp pile of water...

You take falling damage of 3d6...

3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 1) = 12

Bad luck!

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Gideon will attempt to join smendor in the hole

climb 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Gideon will attempt to join smendor in the hole

climb 1d20+6

I will need two more climb checks... the climb is thirty feet down.. you have succesfully climbed 10 feet...

Gideon Samus Shaw wrote:

Gideon will attempt to join smendor in the hole

climb 1d20+6

I will need two more climb checks... the climb is thirty feet down.. you have succesfully climbed 10 feet...

climb1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

in case I fall acrobatics 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Dain GM wrote:

Gideon Samus Shaw wrote:

Gideon will attempt to join smendor in the hole

climb 1d20+6

I will need two more climb checks... the climb is thirty feet down.. you have succesfully climbed 10 feet...

climb1d20+6

climb1d20+6

in case I fall acrobatics 1d20+7

You also take falling damage...

2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Alaric...Of perhaps more interest is a scrap of paper tucked in the bandit’s left boot (DC 20 Perception check to discover) that bears a simple drawing of a claw-shaped dead tree atop an otherwise barren hill, with an “X” in blood scrawled by the tree’s roots. This is a crude treasure map that should give a clue to the PCs about the treasure hidden beneath the old tree.

Where this “Old Tree” is, and how to find it you can’t tell. What the map DOES seem to indicate is somewhere in an area with wide open plains and nearly no trees around it whatsoever. This tree is a lone one, of giant size, on a tall hill. The map marks the exact location of some hidden treasure rumored to be buried there; without the map they would not find the treasure, or be clear on their location.

Reflex save from whooshing flame out of tunnel: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Reflex save from whooshing flame out of tunnel: 1d20+2

Excellent... you only take half damage!

Smendor, Gideon, and Alaric are crawling down in the deep tunnel of the spider cave. There seems to be a blockage of thick webbing, which is consumed by fire. The fire rushes back behind the gang, rushing over the walls and up the tunnel, and explodes into the night like a fiery ball... the flames rush out and flash into your face, and you cry out...

3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3) = 14

Good Luck, and remember, you only suffer half damage...

Casts a cure light spell on herself: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

will save

oops sorry forgot roll
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Gideon's Willpower roll...

Save vs. Fear...

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Will save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Perception

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

As an aside when everyone is out of the tunnel, Alaric will clean everyone off with prestidigitation.

Willpower save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

The night is cold and miserable. Gideon, Alaric, Ariarh, and Smendor have been riding as hard as can be from their travels to the south of Oleg’s when they had returned to the Spider Cave on the suggestion of Alaric who was seeking more then what had been discovered so far, and hoped to find more in the remains of the corpses.

The journey was fraught with peril and darkness. For even as the company reached their destination the sense of dread grew heavy on them like a dark cloud. The skys had opened again, and rain was pouring even as they attempted to crawl down into the dark tunnels beneath the earth.

There, they found the ruined body of the giant spider; stinking in the pile of fetid corpses and decaying flesh, floating in the rising water of the tunnel that was filled by the falling rains. Alaric, Smendor and Gideon entered the tunnel, and there, they found the body of a dead bandit. Examining it revealed that there was more then they thought; stuffed inside a boot was a map, with marks and indications to suggest there was treasure afoot. Though the location was unknown, the directions on where to dig and the general markings were clear.

To move the bulk of the spider Smendor rent it fiercely with his heavy war axe, letting forth a gush of clotted blood and pus, which splattered the three in the pit with its stinking filth even as the internal organs were splattered into the ever rising water.

Still the trio in the pit pressed on, and in the end they saw a thick wall of web… no ordinary spider web to catch a fly, but one of thickness and density that would stop any from penetrating its evil bindings. Why was it crafted? To what purpose did the spider make it? For as a wall it was, and stood as a barrier to what may lay behind it.

Even with these thoughts the water lapped heavy on it, only the smallest amount could ooze through its soggy bottom. How much had spilled through over the many years would soon be discovered. The party contrived a plan and soon a wall of flame engulfed the lair, sundering the web and leaving them free to travel down the slippery stairs.

Yet even as they proceeded down the staircase they were beset with a feeling of dread. It was so sickeningly powerful that the dwarf fell to his face, his weapons clattering to the ground trembling in horror. The half-orc, his mind bent with years of discipline, dominated his fear yet would not move closer. Only the last; the human, that sorcerer bent on greater power then mortals would dare touch… he dared.

He saw before what all saw; a dark cave and across from them was a tall stair. On the height of the stairs a crude altar, and there, on the altar was a thing of darkness. The Black Stone, its very surface like a well of shadow, drawing all light and life into it with a malevolence that chilled any that would see it. Still the sorcerer proceeded, still he pressed his weakened frame onto the stairs, and reaching forth his hand clutched at the air at this thing, moving forward desperately to clutch it, to simply touch it.

His mind was pushed back, his will could not hold him to his purpose. Fear assailed him then, greater than any he had ever known. In his desperation he attempted to strike at the stone, with sorcery. The spell failed, yet did provoke a result, though not the one he had hoped for.

A foul guardian rose from the waters; a dark serpent, the width of a man, and whose length was not measured, for it moved with speed to attack the one who dared bring an assault to the Black Stone. Even then the human, body weary by poison and fear, staggered in a crawl up the stairs. He turned a last glance and saw that the head was a hideous skull, like a giant serpent, and its eyes were empty sockets filled with red light that glowed like hellfire.

The sorcerer staggered as fast as he could move from the creature, until he collapsed on a heap at the base of the tunnel that led them to this place. The fourth companion alone had remained above with the horses, and during this time had felt a heat at her slender waist. She looked down and saw the still sheathed blade of her dagger, and it was warm to the touch, and she drew it. It glowed in white hot radiance and shone for much more then she had known it to. There, on its milk-white blade were red letters etched on it; in the tongue of Dragons and the Arcane was writ Go Forth in Victory.

She sheathed the weapon, and took her own mount to the edge of the tunnel, and using rope and wits, hauled her shaken companions from the pit. Then, the four of them swung themselves into their saddles and rode hard for the place that they could find rest and comfort. Though the night was long, they arrived home to a well kept fire, and friendly greeting. Food was put aside for hot drinks, and a place to sleep; warm, dry, and safe.

Okay, I will need two sets of Fortitude rolls from Alaric, Smendor, and Gideon. I will need only one Fortitude roll from Ariarh. The first roll is for weather, the second for disease. The weather was bad, as too your time in the disease filled pit… Further, there is a dark price from entering the presence of the Black Stone.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16