Megan's Other Legacy of Fire Game 1

Game Master Megan Robertson

Almost as if magically timed, Aurichalcum swoops out of the roof of the ruins, clearly he had made a small 'dragons den' up there somewhere.

"I, Aurichalcum, am ready to accompany this gallant party upon their quest!"

The little Rajah flaps proudly, his thrust out chest mirroring that of Able.

He then flaps gently, hovering in place a few feet above Ables head...

"We will not let you down Lady Almah." Talahel bows deeply. He then rises, turns to his compatriots and says, "Let us be off. We can follow the road while Auri flies above and ahead. If he sees anybody on the road he can let is know so that we can hide. We need to be as discrete as possible. Does that sound good to each of you?"

Aurichalcum chirps an agreeable tune and starts circling in a lazy loop around the party, occasionally snapping into bursts of speed - like a bronze spear cutting through the blue sky; sunlight radiating off his polished scales...

Away a few days, back shortly!

Here's a map of the surrounding area - where would you like to go first?

My suggestion is that we follow along the river towards Kelmarane. Also, I will be traveling all weekend through Monday, so my posting will be quite sparse until Tuesday probably.

Able would probably want to investigate the old shrine, maybe turn it into a camp away from camp? And then begin our scouting from the far side of the river. Assuming they haven't posted guards on the east side of the river, we can see the edges of the town without exposing ourselves too much.

That sounds good to me. We just have to find a way over the river. If it's not too fast of a river, we can swim across if necessary. I'll wait for you to have Able suggest it. Now to go check if I put any ranks into swim.

Edit: Whew, I have a +3 for swim checks.

"I can fly ahead, just not get too close to anything. I would be able to spot a safe crossing of the river maybe, and where guards or roaming bandits and monsters might be moving. Perhaps I can fly past Kelmarane and look from a distance and sight any movement? We are but a few brave souls, we must be cautious, and use every advantage we have..."

You can have a fly around, Auri, and once the other two are back you can report in...

Hopefully you are small enough not to attract too much unwelcome attention! Provided you are careful.

Snapping out his wings, Aurichalcum begins climbing into the sky, furiously gaining height until he becomes a small glinting smudge.

From way up on high he admires the tableu laid out in front of him. The desert stretches for miles, with larger terrain features breaking up the golden yellow and red desert sands.

The wind at this height is cool, and he savours the refreshing change from the baking heat of the desert sands, and speeds through the deep blue of the sky...

Picking the interruption of the desert that is clearly Kelmarane, he dips one wing slightly and banks towards it, dropping significant height until he sits about two hundred yards in the air above the tallest of the places structures.

Lining up a clear path, he swoops past at his fastest speed before banking around and making a second pass of the place... then once clear he regains his height, checking for any following predators.

He then picks out the dark smudge line of the river, and follows it a while at his lower height, looking for a decent fording place, as well as anywhere that might be concealed enough on the ground to set up a basecamp...

Lovely description, you small glinting smudge, you!

Flying over the ruins of Kelmarane, this is what you see. A few gnolls, most under arms, can be seen patrolling around. Some appear to be carrying food to certain locations. If you want to get closer, and ask about any of the building, feel free (but you may be noticed...).

You then head for the river. It looks like the best fording point is beside Kelmarane itself.

Sweeping round, two other structures catch your eye. First is the location marked as 'Old Shrine' on the area map. Here, the ruins of ancient walls sprawl along the eroded bed of a long-dried wash that leads to the river below. Two towering statues rise from the scree, their features sand-blasted into anonymity. Ruined they may be, but the walls are still some 20 feet high. It looks deserted.

The other is marked as 'Ruined Fort' and as you wheel through the sky you see a broken, heavily eroded statue of Sarenrae standing some 30 feet above a small clearing, her eyes cast in the direction of the old monastery. Nearby are the ruins of an old fort. Your keen eyes spot signs of life, a temporary camp it looks like. Maybe travellers, or bandits...

Upon Auri's triumphant return, Able listens carefully, cataloging the information from the scouting mission.

"It sounds as though the best plan of action will be to head to the potentially deserted shrine, the better place to fortify ourselves and prepare for excursions to the other environs in the immediate vicinity. Perhaps next the fort, in order to free another bastion of the Sarenraen faith from the clutches of chaos and disorder?"

Talahel also listens to Auri's description.

"I agree with Able, the deserted shrine is a good place to set up a second camp and gain more information about Kelmarane. Let's follow the trade route until we cross the river and then head northwest toward the shrine. Let's get enough provisions for 5 days so that we can scout for a while before returning. After we have gathered provisions let us be off."

Some of Lady Almah's men have established a lookout post in the rafters of the church, although it's a bit precarious due to fire damage...

Provisions can be sorted out for you, no problems.

Once the provisions have been gathered, Able bravely shoulders as large a pack as he can stumble about with, which he carries for a whole of a minute before asking whether they should, perhaps, bring some mules.

A couple of donkeys can be supplied.

So it seems that we're ready to head out... up along the trade route?

Talahel assists Able in packing the donkeys with their supplies.

"It looks like we are good to go. I don't see Auri around but I'm sure he will wing his way to us in short order. Let's find the trade route and head toward that shrine."

Somewhere about lunchtime everything is ready and Ablenaffener, Talahel and two laden donkeys set off from the monastery, heading due east towards the trade route. This turns out to be a well-trodden track, a route from ancient times, that wends its way through the desert. It doesn't actually cross the river, but parallels it for a while once they meet (sorry, that bit is off the map!) with both river and route bearing north... and out of the area of interest. To reach the shrine, you will have to leave the trade route at some point and get across the river.

Auri, whenever you are ready to join them, a quick aerial survey will enable you to catch up.

Able leads his donkey carefully, humming a Brevic ditty as he bounces along the well-trod path. When it comes time to leave the path, he begins to follow behind Talahel, eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of enemies or their pseudodragon companion.

Talahel and Able follow the route along the river. Talahel searches for a suitable crossing point in the river. When he finds one, he waits until any fellow travelers have passed and are beyond eyeshot. "Able, let's cross here. You can climb on top of the donkey and I will lead the two donkeys across the river here." Talahel takes off his armor, loads it up on his donkey and then proceeds to lead the donkeys and Able across the river.

Survival to find a good crossing point: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Swim check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Eventually managing to rise to the mornings light, Auri struts out into the warm desert sun and then decides to laze in the hot sand and soak up the glorious rays. After realising he has procrastinated quite enough, he slips on his banolier of equipment and launches himself skyward.

Snapping his wings out to set him on a steady glide, he follows the trade route along, eventually picking up his friends.

Landing on the far side, Auri finds a good spot to keep an eye out for danger as his friends undertake their crossing.

"A sleepy morning indeed, but you made good progress!"

Avoiding Kelmarane, and the gnoll activity Auri reported there, Talahel pokes around the river banks, finding a likely spot where there's a ridge of rock creating a shallow path across. Loading his armour and Able onto a donkey, he takes its reins and leads it into the water. The donkey is none too sure, and follows reluctantly.

Half way across, everyone's attention is distracted by a glint of gold as a small pseudodragon swoops in, circling around in an aerobatic display before finding himself a perch on a rocky outcrop on the far side.

That's when Tal looses his footing... plunging into deep water, a sink-hole perhaps. He comes up splashing and blowing. The donkeys, still on the shallow ridge of rock they'd been crossing on, view this display with interest.

Just as well for that decent swim check... Tal is able to regain his footing, soaked through but otherwise unharmed, and the party reach the other side safely.

"Nice of you to join us," grumbles Talahel as he pulls the second of the two donkeys to shore. After the donkeys are secure, and trying to maintain some dignity, Talahel spies a some low bushes, goes to them, disrobes, and sets his soaked clothing on some rocks to dry. He calls out to Auri, "Maybe instead of dive bombing your allies, and soaking them to the bone, you can make yourself useful and scout out a trail to the shrine. I'm sure my clothing will be dry by the time you return."

Able waves his hands, casting his gnomish magics (Prestidigitation) to clean the water out of Talahel's robes. "There, comrade!," the little gnome chirps. "Your misfortune has been reversed by the precipitiousness of fate to gift me with that particular magick!"

"Thank you Able. That is a fortuitous gift. Let's continue on then. Maybe we can make it to the shrine before nightfall. Auri keep a sharp lookout for gnoll activity."

Talahel quickly dresses and puts his armor back on. He takes the lead of his donkey and heads north following the river.

Aurichalchum fluttering ahead, you all make your way along rocky paths northwards and upwards towards the ruined shrine. Harsh winds whisper through the badlands, their cruel touch withering all but the hardiest of desert life. Dust and bits of debris dance across the ground, carried by the scorching breezes. Ahead, the ruins of ancient walls sprawl along the eroded bed of a long-dried wash. Two towering statues rise from the scree, their features sand-blasted into anonymity.

Crumbling after centuries of neglect, the ancient monastery's walls loom 20 feet high. Elaborate friezes once covered the battered limestone, but scouring winds have destroyed many of the ancient carvings. West of the temple, mostly buried ruins sprawl for hundreds of yards, mute testimonies to what once must have been impressive structures.

By the time you are getting near enough to make all this out, night is falling.

Wrapped against the whipping winds, Able holds his wayfinder up, using the tool's dim light to illuminate as much as he can. He looks for an entrance into the sheltering presence of the walls, to get away from the blasting sands.

"Well yes, I was a little late rising, you see it was the most gloroious morning - the coolness of the evening air was just dispiating, and the heat of the morning sun just creeping in and I just got into the most comfortable position it was almost impossible to arise from my slumbers"

Auri looks about at the closing darkness.

"Good idea about finding a cave... think I will refer to it as a 'lair' though"

You soon find a sheltered corner in which to settle down for the night.

"Able, you found us shelter for the night. Good. I can take the first watch. Let's settle in quickly, we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

Res stands at the mouth of the cave as his friends, May he call them friends? Yes, given what they have gone through so far, he thinks they have become friends. sleep. He carefully watches for any intruders, and keeps his ears open for any strange noises.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

"I will watch the middle of the night, my senses are the sharpest, so best I am awake when they are tested their greatest"

"I rise early, so I can keep guard during the hours preceeding the dawn, during which time perhaps I can catalog our journey to this abandoned temple!" Able seems excited at the very idea.

As you settle down and make your preparations for the night, Talahel sees a figure approaching along the same path you followed. It is a tall, thin man clad in tattered and filthy robes, looks a bit of a vagabond, wild-eyed and hair pointing in all directions. He's plodding along, staring at the ground at his feet, looking dejected.

Pending Talahel's warning...

Able slips back into the shadows, trying to hide himself in shock of this stranger. He watches carefully, waiting to see what transpires.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Aurichalcum similarly disappears rapidly into the scenery, slowly circling so as to be able to come in behind the man should he attack Talahel...

Stealth - 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

Talahel whispers to Able and Auri, "I see someone coming up the path. He does not look like a threat but hide yourselves just in case."

Once Able and Auri are in position, Talahel checks his longsword at his side and makes sure it is ready to draw at a moment's notice. He then steps out from the shelter and calls out to the stranger in a non-threatening voice, " Hail stranger. What brings you to this place on this blustery evening?"

It takes a moment for the scruffy fellow to react.

"Oh. Hello. I didn't see you there," he says in a surprisingly cultured voice. "I'm Haidar. A hermit. Don't see many folk up this way."

"Hello Haidar. I am Talahel Zstelian. I hope I didn't startle you. Do you live up here and if so, how long have you been here?"

Auri watches on... cautiously.

"Yeah," says the self-styled hermit. For several years since the... well. Unpleasantness. I care not to dwell. What news of the world, pray?"

He does not appear threatening, indeed he does not seem to be carrying any weapons.

Sensing that Haidar is not a threat, Talahel motions for Auri and Able to come out of their hiding places and then answers, Haidar. "Gnolls and pugwampi lately. My friends and I have been journeying through Katapesh when we ran into a pack of pugwampi not too far from here. And we have heard tales from other travelers of gnoll activity around these parts. We thought it best to stay out of Kelmarane for now. That's how we ended up here. Unpleasantness? I'm not sure of what you speak?"

"It is of no matter, not to anyone else. Just suffice to say I did not become a hermit by my own free will. It is merely... better this way."

"No matter, your business is your own. Do you know what is going on in Kelmarane? We've heard gnolls have taken it over."

Able has come forth from the shadows at this point, flipping through the pages of his tome in his excitement. The prospect of having an enigmatic hermit seems almost too much for him to bear, as he's given to squeaks of excitement every time the man gives a cryptic answer.

Auri stays in the shadows, keeping vigil on the group.

He wouldn't want to find a hungry monster wandering up on the now distracted conference!

"I don't know much about the gnolls. I come from Ipeq, we have no such vermin there! I seek knowledge and peace... but I must be going, it gets late."

"Very well, safe journeys."

"Travel safe, fellow pilgrim!" Able says excitedly, capturing the last few moments of their exchange into his records and putting the book back away. "May your travels be as swift and unimpeded as music upon the air!"