König Odegar's page

Hard to believe that Remi is about to join the ranks of the retired.

He and King Konig started out at about the same time.

I just realized that the only time I've ever been in a game where we fought a dragon (outside of that one PbP I was in) was during the FawtlCon Myrtle Beach game. And we all know how that turned out.

Her opening attack took my poor wizard cohort to 5hp! But that's OK, after invising and running like the scared little b%%@~ that he was, he drank a healing potion and dropped a Greater Dispel Magic on her ass! And of course, I intimidated her, which is ALWAYS fun. :D

This song is called Alice's Restaurant, and it's about Alice, and the
restaurant, but Alice's Restaurant is not the name of the restaurant,
that's just the name of the song, and that's why I called the song Alice's
Restaurant.

You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant
You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant

Now it all started two Thanksgivings ago, was on - two years ago on
Thanksgiving, when my friend and I went up to visit Alice at the
restaurant, but Alice doesn't live in the restaurant, she lives in the
church nearby the restaurant, in the bell-tower, with her husband Ray and
Fasha the dog. And livin' in the bell tower like that, they got a lot of
room downstairs where the pews used to be in. Havin' all that room,
seein' as how they took out all the pews, they decided that they didn't
have to take out their garbage for a long time.

We got up there, we found all the garbage in there, and we decided it'd be
a friendly gesture for us to take the garbage down to the city dump. So
we took the half a ton of garbage, put it in the back of a red VW
microbus, took shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed
on toward the city dump.

Well we got there and there was a big sign and a chain across across the
dump saying, "Closed on Thanksgiving." And we had never heard of a dump
closed on Thanksgiving before, and with tears in our eyes we drove off
into the sunset looking for another place to put the garbage.

We didn't find one. Until we came to a side road, and off the side of the
side road there was another fifteen foot cliff and at the bottom of the
cliff there was another pile of garbage. And we decided that one big pile
is better than two little piles, and rather than bring that one up we
decided to throw our's down.

That's what we did, and drove back to the church, had a thanksgiving
dinner that couldn't be beat, went to sleep and didn't get up until the
next morning, when we got a phone call from officer Obie. He said, "Kid,
we found your name on an envelope at the bottom of a half a ton of
garbage, and just wanted to know if you had any information about it." And
I said, "Yes, sir, Officer Obie, I cannot tell a lie, I put that envelope
under that garbage."

After speaking to Obie for about fourty-five minutes on the telephone we
finally arrived at the truth of the matter and said that we had to go down
and pick up the garbage, and also had to go down and speak to him at the
police officer's station. So we got in the red VW microbus with the
shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed on toward the
police officer's station.

Now friends, there was only one or two things that Obie coulda done at
the police station, and the first was he could have given us a medal for
being so brave and honest on the telephone, which wasn't very likely, and
we didn't expect it, and the other thing was he could have bawled us out
and told us never to be see driving garbage around the vicinity again,
which is what we expected, but when we got to the police officer's station
there was a third possibility that we hadn't even counted upon, and we was
both immediately arrested. Handcuffed. And I said "Obie, I don't think I
can pick up the garbage with these handcuffs on." He said, "Shut up, kid.
Get in the back of the patrol car."

And that's what we did, sat in the back of the patrol car and drove to the
quote Scene of the Crime unquote. I want tell you about the town of
Stockbridge, Massachusets, where this happened here, they got three stop
signs, two police officers, and one police car, but when we got to the
Scene of the Crime there was five police officers and three police cars,
being the biggest crime of the last fifty years, and everybody wanted to
get in the newspaper story about it. And they was using up all kinds of
cop equipment that they had hanging around the police officer's station.
They was taking plaster tire tracks, foot prints, dog smelling prints, and
they took twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy photographs with circles
and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each
one was to be used as evidence against us. Took pictures of the approach,
the getaway, the northwest corner the southwest corner and that's not to
mention the aerial photography.

After the ordeal, we went back to the jail. Obie said he was going to put
us in the cell. Said, "Kid, I'm going to put you in the cell, I want your
wallet and your belt." And I said, "Obie, I can understand you wanting my
wallet so I don't have any money to spend in the cell, but what do you
want my belt for?" And he said, "Kid, we don't want any hangings." I
said, "Obie, did you think I was going to hang myself for littering?"
Obie said he was making sure, and friends Obie was, cause he took out the
toilet seat so I couldn't hit myself over the head and drown, and he took
out the toilet paper so I couldn't bend the bars roll out the - roll the
toilet paper out the window, slide down the roll and have an escape. Obie
was making sure, and it was about four or five hours later that Alice
(remember Alice? It's a song about Alice), Alice came by and with a few
nasty words to Obie on the side, bailed us out of jail, and we went back
to the church, had a another thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat,
and didn't get up until the next morning, when we all had to go to court.

We walked in, sat down, Obie came in with the twenty seven eight-by-ten
colour glossy pictures with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back
of each one, sat down. Man came in said, "All rise." We all stood up,
and Obie stood up with the twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy
pictures, and the judge walked in sat down with a seeing eye dog, and he
sat down, we sat down. Obie looked at the seeing eye dog, and then at the
twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy pictures with circles and arrows
and a paragraph on the back of each one, and looked at the seeing eye dog.
And then at twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy pictures with circles
and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one and began to cry,
'cause Obie came to the realization that it was a typical case of American
blind justice, and there wasn't nothing he could do about it, and the
judge wasn't going to look at the twenty seven eight-by-ten colour glossy
pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each
one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us. And
we was fined $50 and had to pick up the garbage in the snow, but thats not
what I came to tell you about.

Came to talk about the draft.

They got a building down New York City, it's called Whitehall Street,
where you walk in, you get injected, inspected, detected, infected,
neglected and selected. I went down to get my physical examination one
day, and I walked in, I sat down, got good and drunk the night before, so
I looked and felt my best when I went in that morning. `Cause I wanted to
look like the all-American kid from New York City, man I wanted, I wanted
to feel like the all-, I wanted to be the all American kid from New York,
and I walked in, sat down, I was hung down, brung down, hung up, and all
kinds o' mean nasty ugly things. And I waked in and sat down and they gave
me a piece of paper, said, "Kid, see the phsychiatrist, room 604."

And I went up there, I said, "Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, I wanna, I
wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and
guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill,
KILL, KILL." And I started jumpin up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL," and
he started jumpin up and down with me and we was both jumping up and down
yelling, "KILL, KILL." And the sargent came over, pinned a medal on me,
sent me down the hall, said, "You're our boy."

Didn't feel too good about it.

Proceeded on down the hall gettin more injections, inspections,
detections, neglections and all kinds of stuff that they was doin' to me
at the thing there, and I was there for two hours, three hours, four
hours, I was there for a long time going through all kinds of mean nasty
ugly things and I was just having a tough time there, and they was
inspecting, injecting every single part of me, and they was leaving no
part untouched. Proceeded through, and when I finally came to the see the
last man, I walked in, walked in sat down after a whole big thing there,
and I walked up and said, "What do you want?" He said, "Kid, we only got
one question. Have you ever been arrested?"

And I proceeded to tell him the story of the Alice's Restaurant Massacre,
with full orchestration and five part harmony and stuff like that and all
the phenome... - and he stopped me right there and said, "Kid, did you ever
go to court?"

And I proceeded to tell him the story of the twenty seven eight-by-ten
colour glossy pictures with the circles and arrows and the paragraph on
the back of each one, and he stopped me right there and said, "Kid, I want
you to go and sit down on that bench that says Group W .... NOW kid!!"

And I, I walked over to the, to the bench there, and there is, Group W's
where they put you if you may not be moral enough to join the army after
committing your special crime, and there was all kinds of mean nasty ugly
looking people on the bench there. Mother rapers. Father stabbers. Father
rapers! Father rapers sitting right there on the bench next to me! And
they was mean and nasty and ugly and horrible crime-type guys sitting on the
bench next to me. And the meanest, ugliest, nastiest one, the meanest
father raper of them all, was coming over to me and he was mean 'n' ugly
'n' nasty 'n' horrible and all kind of things and he sat down next to me
and said, "Kid, whad'ya get?" I said, "I didn't get nothing, I had to pay
$50 and pick up the garbage." He said, "What were you arrested for, kid?"
And I said, "Littering." And they all moved away from me on the bench
there, and the hairy eyeball and all kinds of mean nasty things, till I
said, "And creating a nuisance." And they all came back, shook my hand,
and we had a great time on the bench, talkin about crime, mother stabbing,
father raping, all kinds of groovy things that we was talking about on the
bench. And everything was fine, we was smoking cigarettes and all kinds of
things, until the Sargeant came over, had some paper in his hand, held it
up and said.

"Kids, this-piece-of-paper's-got-47-words-37-sentences-58-words-we-wanna-
know-details-of-the-crime-time-of-the-crime-and-any-other-kind-of-thing-
you-gotta-say-pertaining-to-and-about-the-crime-I-want-to-know-arresting-
officer's-name-and-any-other-kind-of-thing-you-gotta-say", and talked for
forty-five minutes and nobody understood a word that he said, but we had
fun filling out the forms and playing with the pencils on the bench there,
and I filled out the massacre with the four part harmony, and wrote it
down there, just like it was, and everything was fine and I put down the
pencil, and I turned over the piece of paper, and there, there on the
other side, in the middle of the other side, away from everything else on
the other side, in parentheses, capital letters, quotated, read the
following words:

("KID, HAVE YOU REHABILITATED YOURSELF?")

I went over to the sargent, said, "Sargeant, you got a lot a damn gall to
ask me if I've rehabilitated myself, I mean, I mean, I mean that just, I'm
sittin' here on the bench, I mean I'm sittin here on the Group W bench
'cause you want to know if I'm moral enough join the army, burn women,
kids, houses and villages after bein' a litterbug." He looked at me and
said, "Kid, we don't like your kind, and we're gonna send you fingerprints
off to Washington."

And friends, somewhere in Washington enshrined in some little folder, is a
study in black and white of my fingerprints. And the only reason I'm
singing you this song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar
situation, or you may be in a similar situation, and if your in a
situation like that there's only one thing you can do and that's walk into
the shrink wherever you are ,just walk in say "Shrink, You can get
anything you want, at Alice's restaurant.". And walk out. You know, if
one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and
they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony,
they may think they're both f%!#$!s and they won't take either of them.
And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an
organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said
fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and
walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement.

And that's what it is , the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and
all you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the
guitar.

With feeling. So we'll wait for it to come around on the guitar, here and
sing it when it does. Here it comes.

You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant

That was horrible. If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud.
I've been singing this song now for twenty five minutes. I could sing it
for another twenty five minutes. I'm not proud... or tired.

So we'll wait till it comes around again, and this time with four part
harmony and feeling.

We're just waitin' for it to come around is what we're doing.

All right now.

You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
Excepting Alice
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant

Da da da da da da da dum
At Alice's Restaurant

Tripping an Iron Golem. Who says whips are weak weapons?

I've Charmed a Winter Wolf and Dominated a Frost Giant. A good day over all.

No Kingmaker game this week. :-/

Some people feel it's more important to move into a new house. I mean, where are your priorities???

You may now call me, Your Majesty.

My one-eyed Half-orc Bard (this alias) is our ruler in KM. I took Leadership specifically for this reason. My Cohort is a Wizard (Diviner) and serves as our Spymaster, my followers are all Bards and Rogues who are 'The Eyes of Odegar'. Our GM has been able to work them into the story and the 'event phase', we have managed to uncover a plot or two already and I've only had them in place for a short time. (We're level 8 currently.)

Half-orc love. I definitely approve.

Elghinn Lightbringer wrote:

OK, I guess I would have been 14, not 12 in 1989. I had to look up when it actually came out since I don't keep track of when the various versions emerged.

Well, since people of your age count the layers in the rock instead of rings in trees, so they don't have to remember numbers that are too big, it's totally understandable that you messed it up by a couple of years. Actually, I was impressed you got the century right! ;-P

Elghinn Lightbringer wrote:

KaeYoss wrote:

How is 36 not really old? ;-P

I'll assume you're in your early 20's-ish?

I'm 29, so yes!

Elghinn Lightbringer wrote:

You'll understand when you're 36, that it really isn't that old. 37, now that's old! :)

That won't happen for a long time. I turn 29 in June!

Sense Motive 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

Remicus wrote:

Crimson Jester wrote:

Wolfthulhu wrote:

Tordek Rumnaheim wrote:

Wolfthulhu wrote:

Blah. Off to work. It's Friday!

And its Rise of the Runelords tonight!

Indeed it is! Can't wait can't wait can't wait...

Who's running?

Tordek is running. Players include myself, Selgard and Aberzombie's brother. Also hosted by said brother.

I have a night off that I wasn't expecting. I will be designing scenarios of doom for Kingmaker!

Muahahahahaha! </evil DM laugh>

I can smell the XP now!

Speaking of feet... getting ready for the Kingmaker game. We're seventh level, which means Duke Odegar, now has the Leadership feat.

I've already put out the call for a Wizard with a talent for Divination and information gathering to fill the post of Spymaster. My hoard of followers working under his lead will be mostly Bards and Rogues, and shall form 'The Eyes of Odegar'.

Oh, yes. My spy network shall be a vast thing of awesomeness. :-D

::stomps through thread, smashing anything remotely resembling serious business to smithereens::

RAWR!

Now I will continue upgrading a certain encounter in Kingmaker. I have coddled my players long enough!

Edited for: why did I use the word hitting there? weird.

Bring. It. On.

I have a song or two with your encounter's name on them.

And today is Kingmaker! Woo!

We have 5 Boar hides. If no one wants to have something created I think I might see about having a cloak made and get it "magicked". Then again I might go for a big Elk hide.

Do what you like with the boar skins. I'm having a masterwork worg skin cloak made for future enchantment.

13 Pharast, 4700 AR
It has been rather quiet today. We have only seen Tyg here and there as we explore this section of forest. She seems to be keeping a close eye on us. I suspect that she and Perlivash may live nearby.

Yesterday, we made a grim discovery. A good bit west of here, there was the body of an old trapper. We found him underneath a pile of logs. As if he was setting a kind of dead-fall, when the ropes holding back the logs was cut trapping him in his own snare. I suspect our small fairy friends may have had a hand... or claw in this happening. They can certainly have a vicious streak, for all of their playfulness.

Last night our camp was attacked by worgs. There were only two of them, but the fight was brutal, and I took severe injuries. I'll have a nice new worg skin cloak out of the experience, so who has the last laugh now?

~~~
15 Pharast, 4700 AR
The last two days have been... eventful. We moved into the area where the crazy old trapper had been working. We found 25 bear traps set in the area! We took an extra day to locate and remove all of the traps we could locate. I hope we got all of them. There was much discussion about what to do with the taps, I think we will keep them. They aren't worth a great amount of money, and y9ou never know when they may come in handy defending our camp, or even Oleg's if the bandits become aggressive again.

I brought down a large elk this afternoon. I'm no great hunter, but the advantage of magic against unintelligent creatures is huge.

~~~
16 Pharast, 4700 AR
Exploring the edge of the woods to the west of Oleg's we came across a novice trapped named Alan. He was being chased down by half a dozen angry boar. He had wounded one without noticing the others. And they were certainly on the verge of running the man down and ending his career in the wilds. After slaughtering the pigs and talking the man out of the tree, we decided it would be best if we escorted him back to Oleg's where he will, hopefully apprentice himself to someone who actually knows what he's doing so as not to go out and get himself killed. The fool can't even tell east from west...

~~~
18 Pharast, 4700 AR
We Returned to Oleg's late last night and found that a bounty has been issued for the Stag lord. So, we are making plans to deal with him. First, however we are going to end this 'war' between the kobolds and mites. We set out towards the south after stopping to see the old hermit. Still need to find his damned berries. Haven't seen any sign of them so far.

Mid day, we met a trapper I recognized from the fort. George, his name is. We shared a bite and talked for a bit. He told us that there are dead 'critters' to the west. Mites and kobolds from his description. So we should find the mite's tree lair soon. He also told a disturbing tale of an undead creature that wanders the river banks around 'Nettle's Crossing'. It sounds like some kind of zombie like beast. We'll need to take care of that after we see to the mites.

~~~
19 Pharast, 4700 AR
South into the hills today. We came across the bodies George had mentioned, but otherwise the day was uneventful until we found a cave to shelter from the snows we expect to see tonight or tomorrow. The camp site we choose was, of course, occupied by a gigantic insect. A centipede of such size as to give anyone nightmares. We were able to bring the bug down and now are setting up camp for the evening. Some of the others roll their eyes each night as I tend to now light our evening fires with a quick snap of my fingers. But it's the little things that bring enjoyment.

Now, how to compose a heroic song about the death of an insect the size of a horse. No, the size of a wagon. Yes, that's a much better tale.

7 Pharast, 4700 AR
Shaggoz and Senwick spotted a grisly thing today. A field of bones. Strewn about as if many creatures had met their end in the area. Some careful scouting revealed a trio of burrowing spiders, which we quite efficiently slew. We are working very well as a team as we get to know each others abilities. In one of the spider's holes, we discovered the body of a Bandit. He bore a silver stag head amulet, so I assume he was someone of some rank in the Stag Lord's hierarchy. He had among his possessions a crudely drawn map marking a place he either wanted to remember or find. A lone tree, somewhere on these plans? This could be a fruitful discovery.

In another spider hole we found a three small garnets. They were worth a small bit of coin, and Roach decided to take two of them as part of his share, to make a peace offering to the fey which have been plaguing him with pranks. And it worked! After we set up camp a beautiful little faerie dragon came and introduced himself as Perlivash his shy companion, a grig called Tyg, took a bit of coaxing to come out, but she is fond of my singing.

Our new acquaintances told us a bit about the forest they call home, There seems to be an area filled with traps from some trapper. Perhaps someone trying to catch Tuskgutter, though they have no knowledge of the beast himself. When we asked about the abandoned temple of Erastil, they told us of an old structure to the east. They said a large mean bear makes it's home in the ruins. I think Shaggoz is eager to look into this.

~~~
8 Pharast, 4700 AR
We made it back to Oleg's. He had all of our purchases, including the needed materials to repair our wagon. Much of today was spent in getting the transportation in working order. We won't be taking it on our explorations, but it will be useful should we have need of moving large amounts of recovered goods from the bandits, or if anyone of us gets injured beyond our ability to heal here in the wilds.

Svetlana was quite pleased that we had found her moonradishes so quickly and I must say, the stew she made with them was incredibly delicious.

We have planned our next foray into the forest. We will be heading towards the abandoned building that must be Erastil's temple to the west. Swinging back to the north and returning to Oleg's in a week or so.

~~~
9 Pharast, 4700 AR
Sevral people heard whispering noises as we traveled south towards the bandit camp, where we plan to start our explorations. I didn't hear it myself, but Senwick was able to mimic what I believe must have been the language shared by those creatures who dwell mostly underground. Searching the area tracks were found that led in the direction we were heading. Small humanoid tracks. We proceeded with a bit of caution.

By nightfall we were closing in on our target, but decided to rest rather than confront them when we were tired from the days march. During the last watch, we were attacked by several of the mites that are at 'war' with the kobolds. Being somewhat protected once again by our fey allies and a well placed spell of entanglement we were able to defeat them with the only serious injuries coming to the cat which travels with Shaggoz.

~~~
11 Pharast, 4700 AR
Yesterday was rather uneventful. After healing our few wounds from the mite attack, we continued on to the camp where we had fought the bandits. I had feared more outlaws may have moved in, but we saw only signs that several shod horses had passed through and left. If the Stag Lord didn't know he has foes here, he must surely by now.

Today was considerably more interesting. Moving west along a trail we spied two tall weathered columns, which I recognized as being of Taldoran origin. Perhaps hundreds of years old, we had found the temple of Erastil. Entering the clearing we saw that it was ringed by several similar columns, the far side was dominated by a great rock ridge, which was carved in the shape of a majestic elk. An obvioulsy man-made pool of stagnent water dominated the central area of the clearing, and a cave opening was visible beneath the stone elk.

Before any plans for dealing with the bear could be made, the beast was upon us. He came roaring out of the cave, barreling straight for us... then an odd thing. He barreled right past Senwick, even ignoring two powerful blows dealt by the dwarf's axe so intent he was on reaching his target, Shaggoz. In no small part due to his single-minded rage, we were able to bring him down quickly.

And as he fell, a change could be felt in the very air around us. His body transformed before our eyes, to that of an elderly man before decaying to naught but a pile of bones in less time than it takes to write of it and the pool of water suddenly sparkled fresh and clean with not a trace of the algae which had thickened it's depths just moments before. Whatever happened here, this old man was clearly cursed and the shrine tainted by his presence, his death seems to have satisfied whatever power was angry with him and the place is holy once more.

We were amazed to find that the waters even have healing properties. Though sadly Searos' experiments determined that once the water leaves the pool it is holds no more power than any other source of refreshment.

This should be a fine place to rest before continuing on to the north and east before returning again to Oleg's.

I think I'll leave that part out of the Epic when I compose it...

Yeah, being restricted to light armor has it's advantages. I <3 my hide shirt. :)

(Mental image of Shagozz in his 'jammies'. Hehe.)

Dates are a bit off due to a small clerical error, so there is some overlap from last entry to this one. Shouldn't happen again...

7 Pharast, 4700 AR
We met the old hermit, Boken. He seems to be a bit off his nut. Decent enough fellow, but he was rambling on about his 'crazy evil half-brother', who roams the forest. We'll have to keep an eye out, I suppose but I have my doubts. In any case, the old man brews potions and has offered us a discount if we supply him with some fangberries. I hope the druid knows what these are, because I've never heard of them.

~~~
We've begun exploring the wilds in earnest now. We decided on a three day trip that would take us south through the woods, east into the hills and back north to Oleg's.

While combing the woods, we came across a patch of radishes, the very thing Svetlana had asked us to look for. Kobolds had also found them, however and attacked as we approached, demanding that we leave 'their' radishes alone. We were able to quickly defeat the little buggers. Two who had succumbed to my slumbering charm, woke and under questioning told us many things of interest. They are, indeed of the Sootscale tribe and I was able to fool them into telling us where their lair is, in a cave to the south near the Strike River. They claimed that Sootscale and Tartuk, a shaman with purple skin, have a huge horde of kobolds. Of course they were lying through their teeth. They told us they have enemies nearby, small blue skinned fey, that I believe must be Mites. We think this Tartuk and the strife with these mites may be the reason the kobolds have been more of a nuisance than they normally are.

For some reason, Searos thought it would be advisable to make a deal with these creatures. They take Sootscale the offer that if we eliminate the mites, we will be offered a reward. Though what kind of reward these stupid small dragon wannabes could offer remains to be seen. More likely we can use it as an excuse to get into the lair and take care of the problem in a more permanent fashion.

~~~
Making camp that night, Roach had a bit of an upset. He claimed to have seen a 'pink rabbit' while gathering fire wood. The rabbit picked a flower and offered it to Roach, who let out a yell and ran back to camp. After having a good laugh at his expense, I told him it was probably the same fey creatures we encountered before. We are in the same stretch of woods, after all.

Later that night, while Roach and Shaggoz were on watch, we woke to a loud explosion as the campfire erupted with a flash and went out. Listening, we heard the sounds of wild boar approaching the camp. The sorcerer tossed a light out into the woods and we were able to see two swine approaching. Awake and alert, we were able to put the animals to a quick end. For which, I sincerely thanked the fey, whom I am certain caused the flare in order to alert us to the approaching danger. In the morning I was sure to leave a haunch of roast pork for their efforts.

~~~
Yesterday, we left the woods and began to explore a bit of the hill country that stretches to the south. The day was rather uneventful, with the exception of the chance discovery of a shallow cave that seems to hold a vein of gold! None of us have any practical experience with mining, but having taken some time to carefully study the small sample we dug out, I am certain that it is genuinely gold. We did what we could to assure no one else would stumble upon our discovery and continued on our way, each dreaming of the untold riches we will soon have at our disposal.

~~~
That afternoon, Roach was again visited by an oddly colored beast. We heard a shout from the rear and turning we all saw a blue lion leap upon him, of course the illusion was dispelled as soon as it 'hit' Roach passing through him unhindered. It seems apparent that the fey are following us and have singled out Roach as their prime target. I advised him to make peace before the pranks become much less playful.

Though in general they seem to have our best interests in heart. We were woken again last night... by a greased pig that was charging our camp and making quite a racket. As we dealt with this menace we heard a group of bandits that had positioned themselves to flank us as we slept. With the help of our sneaky friends, we were able to quickly bring the bandits down. Once more capturing one during the fight. Questioning the prisoner about Svetlana's missing ring, which had not been among the spoils at Kressel's camp, revealed that some mites had stolen a bag of loot from the bandits. So, we seem to have a second reason for finding these blue menaces.

The bandit was executed for his crimes in the area, under authority of our lawful charter from Brevoy.

Didn't say he didn't have one, I said I didn't know it. As for lunch, I'm not too concerned about myself, but if Gwynbar doesn't stop eying my crow like that, we're gonna have an issue.

I actually meant to ask about the name last week, but forgot.

4 Pharast, 4700 AR
Well, that went... not as planned. Though over all, I'd have to call it a win.

We decided that lacking in stealth over all as a group, trying to sneak into camp would be a wasted effort. So, we walked right up the path until we were seen and challenged. At which point I demanded to see Kressle, stating that we were 'men of opportunity' as well. Kressle didn't seem to be buying it however, so I dropped my name on the off chance that word had spread about my success with the outlaws far to the south. My gamble paid off, she had heard of me. I was rather proud of my fame in the moment, though in hindsight... well I'll get to that.

We were welcomed into camp, or at least into a clearing very close to it, for the night. With more to be decided in the morning light. As we set up camp, lit a small fire and began to set watches, we could hear Kressle arguing with a gnome by their larger fire. She began to raise her voice, saying that she, 'wanted them back now', so he 'better do it'! I wasn't left wondering what 'it' was for long. The gnome stepped away from the fire and cast a spell to put a signal light into the sky above the forest. Not knowing if the signal was for the overdue Happ or for other nearby bandits it was time to act. I caught one of our guards with a slumbering spell and Shaggoz called forth the nearby underbrush to grow and hinder the movements of the bandits while the rest of our companions moved to engage the enemy as they tried to run in several different directions. The fight was over quickly. Zhairie and Roach brought Kressle down, I quickly caught the fleeing gnome and gave him the end of my bladed whip, while Seros flung several magical darts into the brush, Morvis and Shaggoz worked with their cat and... creature to end the flight of several of the fleeing brigands. As I saw the final bandit surrender to the paladin and fighter, I heard Sevros curse. One of the sentries had slipped away in the confusion. Before we could make hasty plans to track him down, we heard the sound of several horses galloping away to the west. The bastard had circled the camp and was making a run for it, and our horses were an hour away at the edge of the forest.

I'm certain the bastard was close enough to have heard my name when we tricked our way into camp. Now the locals will most certainly know of me, but it is unlikely that any will fall for the same ruse again.

~~~
Not knowing how far away reinforcements were, we didn't stop to rest. After stripping the bodies of weapons and armor, we quickly searched the camp and found a small stash of goods. Furs and liquor mostly, along with a few trinkets. We loaded the lot of it onto a battle worn and broken wagon which we were able to get mobile after working on it through the night. Setting off in the gray morning light and increasing snow fall, we headed back to Oleg's. A journey which took all day and well into the night.

~~~
Spoils to be sold/traded include:
2 masterwork hand axes
1 silver 'stag head' amulet
3 crates of furs & hides
1 case of liquor
*1 black hat with silver pin *1/day will cast prestidigitation on the hat

~~~
Dark had already fallen as we passed the woods where we had camped on the journey to the bandit camp and we saw a strange glowing light amongst the trees. It seemed to follow us, but did not approach. Tired as we were, no one was ready to investigate it, so we hurried on to the trading post. The mercenaries from Brevoy had arrived in our absence and now manned the walls. A very welcome sight, after the initial shock. Business is also picking up for Oleg, trappers are coming in and he is well on his way to having a flourishing establishment once more. We plan to spend the next few days recovering and exploring the area close by the trading post. I think all agree that this will be a fine base to operate out of as we move forward.

In fact, many of the growing number of folk here wish to hire our services for some small task or other. And Oleg is making a trip to town in the next day or so to buy and sell goods. He will be taking our spoils with him and acting as intermediary for us as well. We should be quite flush when he returns in a few days.

~~~
6 Pharast, 4700 AR
After questioning the second prisoner, we have learned that the Stag Lord is apparently quite good with a bow and that he can reportedly crush a mans skull with his fist. I have my doubts about that, but we'll see eventually, I'm sure. He is also apparently quite fond of drink. Overly fond as the prisoner put it, a fact that may be turned to our advantage. In fact, I have the beginnings of a plan already.

That will have to wait, however. His fort is in the forest some 70 miles south of us and we need to focus on the more immediate area for now.

We had agreed to release the prisoners if they provided us with useful information. We held to that, though I was not about to arm them to do more harm to travelers. If they were smart they would have gone east to Restov and hoped to find shelter there until the winter lifts. Of course they both immediately ran to the west.

That night we saw the same glowing light we had seen in the woods. As we followed it over the hill we heard a scream just before we came upon a pitiful camp that had to belong to our friends. It was empty and we saw separate footprints going both north and south. Following the southern trail we soon found one of the released prisoners. He had fallen down a steep muddy hill and was being stalked by some large beast. Before anyone could act, and quite honestly before I had decided if it was worth the effort, the beast pounced and the man was at it's mercy. We turned to head back to Oleg's. There was some concern about the other man who was fleeing to the north, but having finally realized that the yellow light that was pursuing him was in fact a will o' wisp, we decided his fate was his own.

A harsh judgment to be sure, but such is the result of marking yourself an outlaw in the wilds.

Journal of König Odegar
Bard, Half-orc, Adventurer

My time with the bandit tribe was not what one would call, 'mutually beneficial'. I was treated well enough. Most of them were afraid of me due to the milky white orb of my left eye, the tusks I inherited from my father, or my massive build, well muscled and towering over most humans. Or perhaps it is the combination of all these things. Either way, it is an attitude I actively encouraged. The rest respected the way I could inspire the men during a fight. The rhyme and rhythm of my warchants urging them on to victories not possible before I joined.

I could not, however, continue to ignore the slave trade they engaged in. Even my influence was not enough to change the minds of those who profited most. And the memory of the childhood years I spent in chains made it to uncomfortable for me to stay, watching the same fate forced on others. So, I gathered what was mine and took leave. Not giving the bandit lord time to consider what he was losing, for if he had time to think, he would surely have tried to stop me.

~~~
I passed through Oleg's trading post some weeks ago on my way to Restov. I had been thinking to seek my fortune in Brevoy. Had even started a good client base amongst the better tavern-owners. Then those damn local boys had to prove how tough they were by picking on the 'blind' Half-orc. Ha, they'll mend soon enough. I actually have to hand it to them, not many have the will to assault me. Even with my dead eye. But, a large, intimidating half-orc rarely inspires sympathy when he's still a stranger in town. After paying a considerable fine for damages to the market stalls, I found myself no longer welcome in some of the most lucrative establishments, they seemed to have no stage space for my performances.

So, after taking the best employment opportunity I could find, I now return to Oleg's with a commission from the Swordlords of Restov to explore, map and tame the wilderness known as the Greenbelt on behalf of the Dragonscale Throne. I'll be meeting others there. We'll be a regular 'company of adventurers'. Then we set out for the wilderness. Ah, hells. A soft, civilized existence never would have satisfied me anyway.

~~~
The party arrived at Oleg's in spurts.
König Odegar, Half-orc Bard
Senwick 'Fireaxe' Garess, Dwarf Ranger
Zhairiel Delruk Gildedshadow, Half-orc Paladin
Roach Sanderson, Human Fighter.

followed by:
Morvius Varalius, Human Summoner
Searos Droverdon, Human Sorcerer

and finally:
Shaggoz, Half-orc Druid with his cat companion, whom I assume has a name, though I do not know it.

~~~
As we sat to a fine stew served by Svetlana, the wife of the trader, both she and Oleg seemed nervous. Pressing for details I learned that they have been victimized by bandits, extorting protection fees from the couple. When we offered to meet the brigands with force, Oleg was very grateful and made offer of a generous reward. Although our new paladin friend encouraged us to take care of the problem as a favor. After some discussion, we agreed that it would be the right thing for all concerned.

The next morning, before dawn we prepared an ambush in hopes that they would be arriving soon and were not disappointed. As the thieves began to load some of Oleg's valuable good on pack horses, we struck. Even though most of us have been acquainted a mere day or two, we quickly worked together to dispatch the thieves. Their leader managed to get out of the open gate, along with most of the spooked horses, but the strange creature that the old man had summoned forth was able to chase him down and retrieve the corpse. One was saved, who had fallen to my enchantment of slumber and he gave us much information of the camp from which they came. We have agreed that if his information holds true, he will be set free. If it is false, he will join his fellows whom Oleg has set to decorate the outer walls of the old fort. A harsh judgment, but we face a difficult task if we are to bring civilization to this wild land.

We were able to recover all of the mounts that were brought in by the bandits, once they have been fed and fattened up a bit and cared for properly, they should bring a good price. We have agreed to pay Oleg a small commission to handle the sale of our spoils. Assuming he treats us fairly, as I am sure he will, we may be entering a long term relationship that will be lucrative for all involved.

~~~
The gear to be traded includes:
13 horses, light
7 riding saddles
6 pack saddles
6 leather armor
6 short swords
6 longbows
140 arrows

1 silver 'stag head' amulet 20gp (currently in König's possession, to be sold later)

~~~
Our prisoner told up that his leader had been named Happs, and that he in turn, answered to a woman called Kressle. Kressle's superior seems to be the 'Stag Lord' that is rumored to be a powerful bandit in the area. Though this may be superstition, as he is described as actually having the head of a stag. Unlikely, I think.

We were also told the location and basic layout of the bandits camp, this is where we head now. Fearing heavy snowfall, we at first stayed close to the outpost, exploring the terrain and getting to know it. The weather held so, when we broke camp the next morning we decided to head to the bandits before they sent someone to find out what happened to their fellows.

It is nearing dark now, and we are continuing on foot. The horses have been tied off and fed and if all is well we should return before midwatch and can trek back to Oleg's tomorrow.

Preparing to set off on foot, I chuckle once more at the writing on Zhairiel's armor, I recall the events of last night and think I should write them down. We were beset by odd events as we rested. Searos' boot laces were tied together as we shared a watch, and others swear they heard footsteps outside the camp, though no foot prints but ours were found this morning when we looked. I suspect these woods are 'haunted' by fey creatures. I left an offering of food as we broke camp, and declared our intent was not to harm the wood. I am fairly certain the pranks will remain light hearted and not turn hostile. I smile to myself again as I read the misspelled, 'Kik me' drawn on the paladin's back. I suppose someone should say something...