Forgotten Realms - Tethyr, 1356 (2 years before Time of Troubles), Pathfinder System.
= = Part One = =
* Dexter, a Gnome male Sorcerer-Aberrant.
* Hugh, a Half elven male Ranger of Helm, Lord of Guardians.
* Delilah, a Human female Barbarian from the Tethyr steepes.
* Detritus, a Dwarven male Cleric of Tempus, Lord of Battle.
The party arrive at a sacred stone circle via magical summons. They recall guarding a caravan from Zazesspur to Mosstone and having drinks at the tavern courtesy of a grateful merchant caravan-master. Ningauble (9ft tall robed figure) and Sheelba (Dexter's mentor, hooded with seven glowing eyes) summoned them to rescue the Baron of Mosstone, taken by Kobolds the tracks lead to these ruins.
The mystics advised the party that they would be rewarded greatly if they were successful. However if they choose not the rescue the baron then the royal court would be greatly annoyed and probably hire people to hunt them down. They also advised them that 'Our visions of others entering all end in death, however our visions or your group entering have many endings...' With that the mystics disappeared.
After discussing their options the party camped since it was night time and they knew Kobold would be able to see better at night time than they could. Hugh went for a quick scout around the ruins while Delilah gathered firewood for the campfire. Hugh advised the others that the ruins consisted of a tower which had a walled courtyard and a great stench emanated from within.
During Dexter and Hugh's watch the evening passed uneventfully and Delilah slept. However early in the morning during Detritus' watch, a ghastly smell assaulted their noses.
Detritus woke the others up and the zombies shambled towards the party. A zombie cunningly threw one of it's limbs at Dexter the sorcerer, which grazed his arm. Dexter replied with a crossbow shot into the zombies shoulder.
Detritus ran towards the zombies but was overtaken by Delilah's long legs and she sliced Mr Short Sword into the zombie, cutting down one before beheading another. Hugh shot an arrow into the third zombies head and Detritus slid past the zombies legs, smashing it's legs out from beneath it.
The zombies dealt with Dexter, Delilah and Hugh went back to rest while Detritus remained vigilant until morning. Dexter dreamt of swirling stars pulling him into space.
After a delicious breakfast of beef jerky and dried rice for breakfast, the foursome marched off; Detrius and Delilah in front, Dexter in the middle and Hugh on rear guard. The sky was overcast but the breeze was warm and they wandered through hilly scrubland towards the ruins.
Approaching a gate in the walled courtyard the group saw many zombies scattered around the courtyard, three of which wandered towards them as soon as they entered the smashed gateway.
Dexter threw a flask of oil at the zombies, intending to set it alight shortly after, however he missed and the oil spilt all over Detritus' back. Hugh was unable to fire his bow at the zombies without hitting his comrades, so instead he made to jump on the door frame above Detritus and fire down at the zombie, however he slipped and fell onto Detritus.
The Zombies swung at Detritus' head, but fortunately he was on the ground since Hugh fell on him and the zombie missed. The other two zombies raked large wounds into Delilah which made her very cross. So cross she smashed Mr Heavy Mace into them and they were obliterated.
Dexter took the opportunity to conjure a ray of acid to fire at the remaining zombie but he slipped on the oil from earlier and managed to blast a small hole in his foot. Detritus swung his morning star quickly and smashed the last zombies head into the courtyard.
= = Part Two = =
(Introducing - Aornis, a Dwarfling female Monk of Akadi, Lady of Winds)
The party watched the courtyard to see what the zombies inside were doing. Four zombies starting shambling towards them, so Detrius and Delilah stood ready in the gateway while Dexter and Hugh prepared missile fire from behind them.
Dexter threw a flask of oil over his comrades and it smashed all over one of the zombies. At the same time Hugh crouched and shot a zombie in the hip with his trusty bow. Delilah smashed a zombie in two with Mr Heavy Mace and Detritus knocked another zombie to the ground with his sacred morning star.
Dexter conjured a small flame and threw it at the oil covered zombie, igniting the zombie who slowly waddled around on fire and then fell to pieces. The third zombie was beheaded by Delilah as Detritus took out it's knee. Unfortunately a forth zombie smashed Detritus to the ground, who fell unconscious and bleeding. Hugh stabbed at the zombie with his short swords until it fell.
Dexter managed to bandage Detritus and they paused to watch the courtyard again. Our intrepid heroes noticed a zombie in the centre of the courtyard who appeared to be dancing. Although the dancing was jerky and alternated between slow and quick movements. The zombie was easy for Hugh to fire his bow at because it stood out from wearing a red jacket.
Hugh fired and the arrow sped towards its target, who let out a 'sshhhmmooooooonnnn' kind of wailing sound as it's chest was smashed to pieces by the sheer power of elven bowmanship. Once the jacket wearing zombie was slain, the other zombies in the courtyard wandered towards their graves for a long nap.
"Let's get that jacket!" said Delilah as she and Hugh sped into the courtyard to retrieve the red jacket, and returned to the party safely.
Meanwhile at the gateway, Detritus noticed a familiar perfume and noticed his half sister Aornis was walking towards them, from the direction of the woods.
"Greetings sister!" said Detritus.
Aornis scanned the area for danger before peering at the party. She knew her trusty ninja-like skills would be of great use to this group.
"Since you are Detritus sister, would you care to join us in rescuing the Baron of Mosstone from kobolds and removing these zombies from this area?" asked Dexter, brushing off his robe.
"I think I will" replied Aornis.
They slowly moved into the courtyard from the western gate. Within the courtyard were four stone single story buildings, a large tower to the north west and trees and disturbed graves scattered all around. Aornis leapt backwards into the tree (just like she was taught back at the monastary) to have a good look at the area. After seeing that nothing was moving in the courtyard she rejoined her comrades on the ground.
Checking the closest single story building they found the door slightly rotted and easy to kick down by Delilah. A huge bat screeched and launched itself out of the dark (and smelly) building towards Delilah. It racked its claws into her shield and she hacked at it's wing with Mr Short Sword.
Hugh and Dexter kept guard while Aornis kicked the giant bat in the other wing and Detritus smashed it's legs with his morning star. The bat fell to the ground and started to crawl away. Detrius caved it's head in with a morning star with a cry "For Tempus!"
Delilah was sad for the death of the bat and paused to flick some bat goo from her hair. Dexter keep scanning the courtyard while Aornis stood perfectly still just like she was taught at the monastary.
Rushing to the next single story building the party gasped as Detritus advised the door was not trapped, opened the door and was impaled by a flying javelin which pinned him to the ground some 15ft behind where he was standing.
Hugh stood guard while Dexter bandaged Detritus. Half of the roof had fallen in within this room, dust and mold lined the walls. Detritus channelled the power of his god and the wounds of Delilah, Hugh and himself were closed through magic.
Marching on towards the third single story building the party were much more cautious and listened before examining the door for traps or critters. This room was also empty much to the disappointment of avid searchers Aornis and Dexter. Hugh and Delilah checked their weapons were clean and ready before the group kept going.
As they walked towards the forth single story building a voice cried out - "oh here we go again, just like the other day, this geezer rocks up right and tries to attack me and take my stuff, I mean he's got bottle but what a clown eh? any way I killed him and took his stuff but I suppose you are here to avenge him eh?"
They turned towards the voice and saw an armed and armoured hairy humanoid (bugbear) walking towards them, weapons ready.
Hugh really didn't like Bugbears and charged at it with short sword shining in the sun. Actually it was overcast cloud cover that day but to Hugh the sun was shining and he just knew he looked impressive charging the bugbear. Detritus and Dexter kept watch for further danger and Delilah and Aornis flanked the bugbear.
The creatures spiked mace smashed into Hugh's arm and while crouched on the ground he stabbed it in the leg. Aornis ducked and weaved and managed to launch a karate chop at its throat but missed and slammed into its collar bone instead. Delilah bashed its skull in with an overhead heavy mace strike.
Detritus stopped the creature from bleeding to death while Dexter questioned it. The bugbear told them it had loot in the cave just to the east and that the rest of the main keep stank worse than gnome. It promptly threw some poo at the Gnome and Aornis kicked it in the head.
Just to the east they found a trapdoor which after carefully checking for trip wires or levers and listening for stuff on the other side, they opened. Aornis and Dexter cautiously went down the stairs while the others kept guard at the top of the stairs.
Black slime dripped down the walls from the roof and was collecting on the floor. Aornis quickly grabbed the large sack in the corner while Dexter held his trusty casting hand ready in case the slime should move towards Aornis. It did not and they rejoined the party. Within the sack was some jerky made of human flesh, some brandy and some coins.
Our intrepid heroes wandered towards the last single story building and Detritus lead the way in. Within the chamber was four large canopic jars. Aornis and Detritus searched the jars which were filled with mummified body parts while the rest of the crew ate some rations.
Since there were no exits from this chamber they decided to make camp and rest over night. Hugh, Delilah and Detritus dreamt of large battles against swarms of goblins, ending with them victorious. Dexter dreamt of finding lost scrolls and learning secret lore so he could fly above packs of bullette and slay them with vicious but clever spells. Aornis dreamt of many secret missions and martial arts fights which would lead to having her own ninja clan and then fighting harpies ending with her clan being victorious.
Once morning had arrived they bravely marched towards the main tower in the north east of the courtyard and were faced by two large brass doors. Delilah and Detrius used all their strength to force the door open and were greeted by the worse smell ever. Yes that's right, even worse than my socks.
Dexter and Delilah were vomiting profusely as the zombies inside the chapel room waddled towards the party with menacing stares and unnatural moans.
Hugh waved his shiny short sword threateningly while Aornis readied her best crane kick.
Detritus cried out "Tempus banish these souls to the far realm!" and light seeped out of his every pore and stung the zombies. The zombies who were only here for a holiday were upset as the sacred light of the battle lord blasted them to pieces.
Looking around they could see this was a temple and had been defaced. Fortunately they did not recongise the gods symbols so they looted the temple. The party gathered some more coins, some broken bits of furniture, a bow (which Delilah took) and scroll (which Dexter took). Aornis managed to gather some moth eaten, stained clothes from each room of the temple.
Aornis found some stairs heading down in one of the side room and the fearless group trotted down in search of The Baron of Mosstone, Things to Smash and Loot to Nick (not in that order).
Deliliah the Barbarian and Detritus the war priest skipped down the stairs into an empty cellar. The shelves, crates and barrels were all empty. Aornis took the opportunity to collect some dust from one of the shelves, perhaps from some secret ninja trick.
Dexter and Detritus searched the walls for secret panels, concealed doors etc and Detritus found a large moving section of the wall which concealed a downward sloping corridor. Aornis stealthly checked out the corridor and came back to advise the party it lead to a larger chamber ahead.
The large square chamber before them stank of mold and mildew. There were exits to the south, east and west. East and west led to some barracks with pallets, chests and weapon racks, all of which were rotted or rusty. However four skeletons marched towards the party from the back of the western room.
Dexter blasted two skeletons with his trusty casting hand and ray of acid spell. Despite trying the skeletons failed to strike at the heroes-it seems they must have been distracted from a long days counciling session after one of their members failed his end of year exam to become a wight.
Hugh Kept guard in case more skeletons came from elsewhere while Detritus, Aornis and Delilah smashed the skeletons to pieces with their weapons.
Searching the rooms they found some more stained, moth eaten clothes (which Aornis took) and many rusty weapons. Heading south they found a 23 yard tunnel leading to a large fourty by fifty food room.
The room was a large mess hall with long benches and long tables, all of which were smashed to pieces. A large door to the east was openned by Kobolds who cried out "Gaarrkk garrk garrk!" (which means Dinner is Ready) upon seeing the party.
Delilah, Aornis and Hugh stood ready to strike at the vicious (and hungry) Kobolds. Over twenty Kobolds were in the ajoining room though only four could get at the party due to the doorway blocking the view.
Detritus cried out "Tempus smite these heathens so that I may say cheerio to them!" and the power of his god rolled out like a wave and blasted all the kobolds to chunky salsa. Without the corn chips.
Dissapointed at the quick resolution of the battle, Aornis and Delilah ran into the ajoining room and found the a rough cut cavern with eleven prisoners. Ten of them were dead from starvation and torture. The Baron of Mosstone was shacked against the wall and had obviously been tortured and beaten.
The Baron introduced himself as Baron Davik Olisimar, and informed them his crew were travelling when they were attacked. They managed to slay many Kobolds but there were simply too many and were captured.
Our devious heroes and their noble guest scampered their way back to the surface and prepared for the journey back to Mosstone.
= Part Three = = Frog Soup
After a quick meal and a nap for several hours, our heroes went through the woods on their way home towards Mosstone. For spring the breeze was cold but their spirits were high. Baron Olisimar seemed much better after the meal and a quick clean in the stream. His relaxed nature seemed to put our heroes at ease.
Aornis scouted ahead while the rest of the group talked with the Baron. Dexter, Delilah and Detritus in the middle and Hugh was rear guard.
"So like, why do you like, adventure and stuff?" the Baron asked Dexter.
"I want to be a great alchemist like my father is. But my father has gone missing recently and I hope to find news of his whereabouts in my travels." answered Dexter.
The Baron was nodded thoughtfully.
"And what about you dwarven warrior dude"? The Baron asked Detritus.
"I travel to rid the world of the vile dark elves, to spread the glory of Tempus, and to drink lots of ale!" Detritus replied.
"Will we see your mansion when we get back to Mosstone?" Delilah asked Baron Olisimar.
"Woah err no, like, I don't have a mansion, I live in a cabin, I like a simple life" he answered.
Delilah and Dexter seemed puzzled by this but kept their thoughts to themselves.
Meanwhile up ahead, Aornis stumbled into a clearing to see a group of five men armed with swords and wearing chain mail. They charged with a cry "Death to the weak!".
Three warriors ran towards Aornis and she leapt into the air and punched one in the larnyx. This warrior did not make it home for dinner. The other two warrior tried to whack Aornis for her vicious attack but failed for they lacked her skilled monastary training.
Hugh and Delilah shot arrows into the two warriors fighting Aornis, but only succeeded giving them minor wounds. Dexter ran up and wiggled his hands and evoked the arcane words of mystery in order to spray vivid lights of many colours across the vision of the warrior. This worked well and they seemed disorientated and confused.
Two archers were crouched in the bushes behind the warrior and started firing arrows at the party. Hugh and Delilah fired arrows over the melee combatants to keep the archers from aiding their villanous brethren.
Baron Olisimar cartwheeled into the fight and performed a spinning kick which smacked down the warriors, thus ending any chance they would ever make the cabre tossing team in autumn. Detritus and Aornis run forward to take on the two archers.
A chill crept through our heroes as chanting could be heard from further in the woods and suddenly Hugh stopped moving. Delilah pushed him in the bushes out of the way of archer arrows and then fired her bow towards the archers again, this time one pierced the evil-doers heart.
Two more warriors dashed out of the bushes and smacked Baron Olisimar to the ground, only to be in laid low by a crunch to the solar plexus by Aornis, and morning star to the noggin by Detritus. At this turn of events the evil-caster hidden-nasty man ran for it.
Delilah and Aornis who were the fastest runners chased the evil caster, but he out distanced them and they returned to the group.
Dexter searched the bodies and found regular clothes and weapons while Detritus and Hugh stood guard.
Hugh looked for tracks to see where they had come from but the rain last night seemed to erase all trace of where the bandit group came from. They group did notice strange runes carved into the ground but did not recognise them though they knew they were not overtly magical in nature.
"Let us keep going" advised Hugh, peering ahead into the forest.
The party picked up their gear and marched for the rest of the day until dusk when they camped to eat and rest. That night they talked with the Baron about his herb garden, and about martial arts kata, such as 'pat the plant' and 'paint the fence'. Over the following day the trip through the forest was quiet, with our heroes only seeing a few normal animals after slaying a deer for breakfast. Delilah put the horns on her helmet and Aornis kept the pelt.
Just as dusk settled into evening and clouds turned into a thunderstorm, the group were approaching town they noticed the sound of battle. Frog-like humanoids were attacking the town. Some at the north gate, some on the parapet and others outside the walls.
Aornis, Detritus and Dexter ran towards the frogmen outside the wall while Delilah and Hugh starting shooting arrows at them. Dexter chanted the arcane words of hurtingness which made weird coloured lights zap the large eyes of the frogmen. Two of the frogmen were stunned at Dexters gnomish magic awesomeness.
The Frogmen let out a 'Warguleargargargarg' noise as they moved towards Aornis and Detritus with their tridents. Detritus mimiced the ''Warguleargargargarg' noice and smashed one across the chest with his morning star. Aornis skipped into battle and two handed chopped one of the frogmen in the torso then in the throat, just like Baron Olisimar taught him with the 'pat the plant' method.
Delilah and Hugh finished off the stunned frogmen while Dexter removed their organs for they could be used as components in his alchemy later in his career. He noted how much the fishy-frog dudes smelt.
They call heard more sounds of battle and Aornis looked up so the moonlight shone across her face and the moon swept her hair behind her, then she ran to the wall and climbed it like a spider after eating too many christmas beetles.
The rest of the group ran to the north gate just as the town guard finished off the fishy-frogmen there. They pointed down the main street to the centre of town where more frogmen could be seen.
Dexter heard cried for help and pointed to some frogmen trying to bash their way into a house. Hugh and Dexter ran towards the house while Detritus and Delilah kept guard behind in case of a rear attack.
Dexter ducked and weaved while the fishy-frogmen tried to skewer him with their wicked tridents but Hugh cried out "For Helm and Mielikki!" before removing each frogmens arms, legs and head with his trusty (but still shiny) short sword.
Down a side street Delilah and Detritus could see a lady was trapped by a wagon that had tipped over. They ran to assist and Delilahs massive strength managed to lift the wagon up while Detritus carefully stopped the mini-keg of ale from touching the ground and potentially spilling, clearly a crime for the dwarven nations.
Meanwhile up on the wall, Aornis was fighting two frogmen who were having trouble weilding their large tridents at such a small and nimble target. Whilst that battle raged on, Hugh ran to assist with arrow fire and managed to make one of the frogmen fall with an 'wargargargarle' noise and arms windmilling towards the ground. The other frogman, seeing that his kinsman would no longer be at next tuesdays waterpolo practice, lashed out with righteous fury at Aornis. Aornis dropped and ran her fist through the frogmans torso, just like she had been taught at the monastary.
Aornis climbed down the wall to rejoin her comrades. Detritus and Aornis would go south to check on Detritus house, while Dexter, Hugh and Delilah would head for the centre of town and the temple of Lathander, where many sounds of battle were coming from. It occured to Detritus and Aornis that they had not seen Baron Olisimar since they fought the frogmen outside the walls, and they would be in trouble if anything happened to him.
Town guards surrounded the temple of Lathander, backs to the wall as the fishy-frogmen attacked from all sides. Hugh started firing his arrows into the frogmen while Delilah layed the smack down on them with Mr Heavy Mace. Dexter shoe-shuffled up to three of the fishy-frogmen with a 'cha cha cha' sound before unleashing arcane wrath in the form of bright swirling light which stung the poor frogmen, who only signed up for this to get out of doing the dishes.
The frogmen with their strange smell, barbed tridents and 'wargleargarg' noises kept attacking the heroic town guards with their chainmail, shields and long swords.
On the other side of town Aornis and Detritus discovered that Detritus house had been burnt to the ground with only the contents of his cellar intact since the cellar trap door was stone. After carefully looking around they decided this was suspicious since no other houses were burnt and the fishy-frogmen were not using fire in their attack. The siblings then headed back towards the centre of town.
Speaking of fire... a ball of fire leapt from the street onto Hugh but he ducked away at the last second thanks to his superior elven reflexes. He rolled away and started firing at the being controlling it, a large fishy-frogman chanting and dribbling black goo from its mouth from up in the window of the book depository.
Hugh and Delilah started firing arrows at this fiendish creature as is blasted a bolt of lightning towards them, scorching Delilah's arm but she would still be able to weild Mr Heavy mace thanks to years of wilderness hardcore lifestyle.
Dexter ran towards the arch-nemesis and blasted a ray of acid but just missed and instead performed some minor arcane graffitti on the brickwork. The head-frogman slew a town guard with his bounce ball of firey ouchness while Hugh fired arrows at him and Delilah and Dexter ran towards the book depository.
The town guards with their ale smells, sharp swords and 'i'll get you!' noises kept defending against the daring frogmen with their fish scale, shiny tridents and fierce determination.
Dexter and Delilah raced up the stairs whilst Detritus and Aornis arrived in the town square. Detritus was greeted with a bouncing fall of firey pain which he managed to shield himself from with his shield. Hugh continued the massive assault by arrows against the window area while Aornis ran towards the frogmen fighting the guards.
Some frogmen sought to end Aornis' embroidery career by swinging their tridents at her head. Fortunately for her there was mud and she carefully slipped err slid at their feet. Then on her back she leapt to her feet then leapt up again kicking them both in the face.
Detritus smashed one frogmen down and then another while singing of the glory of ale and dwarven staunchness. It went something like this - "You'll never ever break my shield, no fishies gonna slow me down, oh no, I've got to get some ale!"
Dexter's cunning plan was to summon a magical hand to tip a flask of oil over the head frogmen, then set the him on fire, once they reached the room. However Hugh's keen arrow shots had made their arch nemesis flee for safety, his plan was to run towards the stairs and flee to retire on some tropical island. Unfortunately both plans were spoiled as they ran into eachother.
The head honcho frog-dude pushed Dexter against the wall as he tried to barge past. It took all of Dexters skilled focus to not lose control of his magical hand holding the oil! However the the fishman was so intent of snarling some 'argargarg' noise as Dexter he didn't see Delilah coming up from below and she caved in his skull with Mr Heavy Mace. This made Dexter and Delilah happy, and Mr Heavy Mace was pretty darn please aswell.
With most of the frogmen defeated the remaining few fled town for the safety of shark filled waters.
The town guard sergeant thanked them for their efforts and directed them to Baron Olisimar who was in the temple of Lathander. The Baron pointed to a two story house on the main street.
"Like dudes, like that house is like yours for saving me from the little kobold dudes okay?".
"Thank you very much" said Hugh and Dexter in unison.
"I'm going to rest and meditate in my herb garden, come young Aornis, I will tell you of my plan to start a music group and like, play music." said the Baron.
Aornis went to meditate with the Baron in his herb garden, while Detritus went to get his stuff from his house and take it to the new house. Hugh, Delilah and Dexter put their gear in their new home. Once Detritus rejoined the others much ale was shared.
Part Four - Down by the Sea
===========================
Dexter awoke to find a note on the inside of the front door. It was from Delilah and Hugh. "Gone to help tribe. Don't let the monsters get you!".
Dexter gave a small sigh while looking sad at the camera, before thoughtfully scratching his bottom and going about getting some breakfast.
Aornis left the Baron's herb garden and went to the markets to find some more durable clothes. This adventuring stuff was lethal to her stylish threads. Detritus meanwhile was also shopping for armour and weapons and picked himself up a nifty battleaxe. Dexter also strolled the market and picked up some arcane alchemical components for some nefarious gnomish purposes.
Detritus met another Dwarf who offered him a mission. The mission was for a merchant group who don't like the frog-fishmen who raided the town and their caravans, and want them dealt with. The party would have to go north west to the coast and find the lair and slay as many as possible. Detritus said he will meet the merchant tommorow after discussing the mission with his comrades.
While Dexter and Detritus were sharing an ale and beef jerky for lunch, Aornis reminded her half brother Detritus that it was his birthday. Detritus cheered through the tipsy haze and had another drink.
"My father stayed in this house a year ago, he said he is heading north east to Rappan Athuk the great ruins. While I am eager to find him, it has been over a year so if we go deal with the frogmen for a week or two first that is okay with me." Said Dexter.
"I go with my brother" said Aornis while posing in lethal hamster position.
"The frogmen, then the ruins" said Detritus, winking at his new axe.
Aornis went upstairs to meditate. Dexter wandered outside. Detritus checked over his armour and weapons for the second time today then prayed to Tempus for more glory in battle. While upstairs Aornis discovered a small weasel crawling around inside her tunic. She fished it out of her clothes and patted it several times. The weasel perched itself on her shoulder and seemed content.
There was a knock at the door. Detritus opened it to find a Drow (dark elf) male warrior pointing a crossbow at him). Detritus felt the rage surge in him and weaved to the left while hauling his axe around the right side of his body. As his axe hit the vile Drow the creature exploded in shower of colored lights and streamers.
Shocked, Detritus angerily peared around the area to find Dexter rolling around the ground in front of the house, laughing his little pants off.
"Happy Birthday!" said Dexter.
Detritus closed the door and went back to praying to Tempus.
The group met with the Dwarven merchant the following day and agreed to find the frogmen and make them pay. Or at least hurt them a lot. Heading off immediately they left the town and saluted the town guards on the way out.
Heading north west towards the coast they saw wilderbeast roaming the plains during the morning, and albatross flying over head in the late afternoon. They camped at twilight, ate quietly and then Aornis took the first watch.
During the early morning while Detritus was on watch he heard rustling in the bushes. Peering with his keen vision he saw not a bunny looking for a meal, and not two randy badgers, but a large human shaped figure with long claws and a fat belly.
"Something there!" yelled Detritus.
Dexter rolled over and came up chanting, once he located the figure he fired off a ray of acid which seared the beasts arm. Aornis leapt half asleep to her feet and threw out a couple of punches randomly before spotting the enemy and running towards it.
Detritus guarded the camp while Aornis sped towards the creature with Dexter close behind. The creature took off, loping along on gangly legs over and between bushes in the scrubland. Dexter had to be careful as his night vision did not equal that of Detritus or Aornis.
Aornis heard a snap of a twig to his right and she cartwheeled to the left as a noose trap went off, narrowly missing him. The gangly creature that they now saw had four eyes and spiderlike mouth spewed forth a sticky web at Aornis and Dexter, but our heroes were like mountain goats on acid and dodged out of the webs reach.
The creature started to run and they gave chase for several minutes, ducking and weaving around trees and bushes in the near darkness. Dexter and Aornis narrowly missed falling into a spiked pit trap (that the creature had prepared earlier) and continued the pursuit. Corned in a small gully the caught the beast and proceeded to lay the wrath of gnome and dwarf-kind upon it's heathen hide.
For the next two hours the stumbled around the darkened scrub trying to find a way back to the campsite, and eventually did. During this time Detritus quietly chanted battle hymns in praise to Tempus, Lord of Battle and Father of Sharp axes. The rest of the morning passed with good rest and then they porridge prepared by Detritus. Complete with mouse bits.
During the second day of their journey they noticed the weather go from warm to cool, with clouds gathering and rain falling towards the end of daylight. Aornis made sure to pat and feed her weasel, who seemed to consider this Dwarfling a suitable minion. They reached the coast and camped for the night in a cave that Aornis scouted out.
A moaning noise alerted Aornis (who was on first watch) to the approach of some creature.
"Something wicked this way moans!" said Aornis.
Detritus grabbed his weapons and strode forward to join Aornis at the front of the cave while Dexter prepared his mischievious magicks. A female head with entrails hanging beneath it and batwings on the back of the head floated into the cave with a screach. The noise was worse than half the tunes on the radio!
Aornis clutched her hands to her ears and stamped side to side, just like she was taught back at the monastary for the situations like these. Detritus and Dexter managed to cover their ears in time and kept the fight going. Dexter intoned the words of gnomy conjuration and swirling lights flashed and blinded the head-fang-entrails beast-thing. Detritus sliced into the beast again and again with his axe, feeling sure in the knowledge he was awesome. Soon the beast was smited.
"That was a vargouille" said Dexter. "My father saved me from one when I was younger. If they kiss you then later you become one, and all your plans for being the best looking gnome in the room are gone."
"A foul creature, but not immune to my axe!" Detritus proudly stated.
"Let's hope there are no more around here" added Aornis.
The rest of the night passed without incident. After searching the coast for several hours the next morning they found some small caves in the coastal cliffs and a rough walk way down to the waters edge. The water was dark here and at least 50ft in depth.
Detritus led the way down the walkway with all three of our heroes watchful for potential attack. Spying some caves in the cliff above the water, Aornis climbed over to them but found only remains of town guards and no tunnel exists from these caves.
As Aornis made her way back, two frog-fish men threw tridents at Detritus and Dexter. They missed and then leapt out of the water intended to bash and eat our heroes! oh no!
Detritus sliced deeply into the frogman facing him and it leapt backwards into the water and didn't bother to get out again. Dexter stabbed the frogman in front of him several times but it was made of sterner stuff than it's comrade. Unfortunately it didn't see Aornis coming and she leapt sideways off the cliff and kicked the frogman in the throat.
The trio looked around to see if more were coming but could not see much in the dark water. A blast of lightning burst out of the water and slammed Dexter and Detritus into the wall. Aornis avoided the blast as she was bitten on the ear by her weasel moments before because she had not patted it in 10 minutes.
Aornis grabbed onto a trident and said to Detritus "Throw me!"
Dexter weaved magic around Aornis to protect her while Detritus threw his sister at the frog-fish man and struck it's surpised face. The fishman who would trouble them no longer. Blood spilled into the water...
Dexter would stand guard while Detritus held one end of the rope, the other end was tied around Aornis waist while she swam around the cliff edge under water, looking for more frogmen or a possible cave entrance. She found one 30ft down. After several swims down with the others carefully watching the water and rope for movement, Aornis managed to find a cave openning which had two small tunnels leading off, both met up as some large rock doors.
They discussed options of how to open the doors and get them all down there but then they noticed many fins in the water circling closer and closer.
= Part Five = = Three Bears Full
After watching the fins in the water circle for awhile and then leave, the party decided it was safe to enter the water again. For several minutes the discussed what to do. Finally they went with Dexter's plan.
Dexter swam down and used his gnomish magics to fire a ray of acid on the edge of the rock doors, in the hope of making the hinges fail and the door fall off. This would be complimented by an alchemist fire combined with a wineskin full of air to blow a hole in the door. Dexter fled the area and saw much smoke and swirling water behind him.
After Dexter swam to the surface Aornis jumped in to have a look if any thing was happening. She saw seven fishmen swimming towards them.
"They're coming!" said Aornis as she burst out of the water.
Detritus started chanting praises to Tempus, lord of Battle to send an ally for the fight that would be here soon. A large squid covered in glowing gold energy descended from the sky into the water and it casually swam towards the fishmen. Dexter poured oil on the water surface and prepared to light it.
Four fishmen leapt out of the water towards the heroes and were greated by Aornis kicking one in the throat and Detritus cleaving ones head clean off. Shortly after this Dexter lit the oil and the poor Fishmen became fried after their battering.
One fishman below the water blasted lightning at the party but missed as our heroes were used to this tactic and dodged safely to the side. Mr Squid joyfully grabbed two fishmen and rended them limb from limb while singing some war hymn about the glory of Tempus, that only squid could understand.
The two burnt fishmen joined their remaining comrade in fleeing back towards their cave. Mr Squid followed them and Detritus asked him to open the cave door some more. Detritus recieved a telepathic message from the Mr Squid (whom he had summoned) that he needed a bath and that the door was open. Mr Squid went back to the great Ocean in the sky (or wherever it is holy squids chill out).
Aornis left some food for her pet weasel (who didn't eat much since he was only 6 inches long) before joining the others in swimming down to the cavern. One of the doors was open 2 foot and hanging down slightly of its rocky hinge. So they kept swimming and came up inside the cave to an rocky beach and there was a large pocket of air in the top part of the cave.
Leading off from this rocky beach was 3 entrances, west, east and south. Dexter drew arcane glyphs in the air around himself and Aornis, which made pebbles and small stones from the area swirl about them protectively. They decided to head south just as a large frog-fishman wandered out, followed by five others.
The large fishman gestured to each of the party and repeatedly to Detritus and himself while saying "you fight, you fight with me!" looking directly at Detritus while crouching slightly with his legs in a martial arts pose.
"For Tempus!" cried Detritus as he ran towards the large fishman swinging his battle axe, just like his mum taught him.
Before Detritus and the large frogman met however Dexter decided to play by 'gnome rules' and sprayed swirling lights from his hands, stunning the frogman. Upon seeing this Aornis was inspired and charged at the five fishmen-cheer-squad at the back.
Detritus hacked into the large fishman several times and it tried to defend itself but was slow to react. At the same time the fishmen at the back all stabbed and Aornis and she went down to the floor bleeding.
"You kill too many of us, no stay here. You take mate, we leave, go far out sea" said the large frog-fishman to Detritus.
Dexter and Detritus looked at eachother shortly before Dexter said "Give us your loot!"
The fishmen at the back shoved Aornis towards Dexter while their large leader handed Detritus a large hessian sack.
Dexter bandaged Aornis while Detritus guarded and the fishmen grabbed their stuff and left. Detritus checked the bag and found they had been given large collection of shiny shells, some of these were valuable, most were not. Since the shells were multicolored Dexter was very happy.
They rested there overnight before exploring the rest of the caves. Each tunnel lead to a cave used as sleeping quarters, seaweed for beds and a strange fishy shrine in one room. The party left and swam back to the cliff walkway.
Upon greeting her weasel, Aornis was happy that the weasel was safe but noticed it had grown to a size of 1 foot. Double what it was previously.
"Your weasel is huge!" exclaimed Detritus.
Dexter looked at the camera while shaking his head and went back to checking his pouch components.
Our heroes gathered various bits of frogmen as proof of their missions success to take back to town and the merchant who hired them. The first days travel back was quiet, and they enjoyed the time to be left to their thoughts.
That night each of them kept guard and then slept, and each of them had the same dream. Strange music that grew louder as they (in the dream) moved towards a forest glade where a bunch of bears where having a picnic, just as if they were humans.
Morning of the second day arrived and they ate their breakfast before heading off towards town again. By lunch time the hills became scrub and light woods and each of our heroes noticed the music they heard in their dreams could be heard now.
They cautiously looked around and noticed a bunch of gnomes having a picnic up ahead, but two large bears and one really large bear were creeping towards the gnomes.
The two large bears reared up and started clawing at the Gnomes just as Dexter yelled out "Run!" in Gnomish, the language of universe domination.
The very large bear turn around to greet Aornis' charge towards it. It roared and took a swipe at her but she ducked after wincing back from it's foul breath. Detritus threw his axe and one of the bears eating a gnome and it whirled around, but not to dance, oh no. It wanted to fight and this Dwarf looked and smelled like another bear.
Dexter zapped the third bear with a ray of acid and it ran off for it was well known that acid causes split ends and this is a real issue for creatures with hair allover. Detritus hacked at his bear repeatedly and the bear ran off as Detritus hacked at it some more for he wanted a nice winter cloak. But Detritus would go cold this winter for the bear escaped.
Aornis and her bear nemeis traded blows several times before Aornis ducked and punched the bear in the privates. The bear wept as it fled and Dexter ran to tell the remaining gnomes it was safe to come out now.
Dexter realised the gnomes were his sister and future brother in law and his younger sister. He introduced them to Aornis and Detritus.
"We shall escort you back to town" said Dexter, the look on his face meant he was not taking no for an answer.
Aornis and Detritus were alert the rest of the journey as the gnomes they were escorting chatting in gnomish about becoming stealing magic from the gods and taking over the world, but not in that order.
It was midday by the time they reached down and they dropped off their stuff at their house and invited Dexter's in-laws to stay there.
Aornis, Detritus and Dexter all wandered down to the markets to restock rations and have a look around. They quickly noticed half the usual shops and stalls were shut.
The first merchant they met was a human male, mid 40s in age and had bruises on his face and avoided eye contact. "I can sell you what you want here but please be quick"
Aornis had the feeling they were being watched and kept an eye on the crowd while Dexter and Detirus kept talking.
"Why have you been beaten? why are you scared?" asked Aornis.
"I fell" replied the merchant.
"On someone's fist!?" asked Detritus.
I can't say... they'll beat me again, and take my daughter"
"Who did this? has anyone else been attacked or taken?" asked Dexter.
"Please go, you'll get us all killed" said the merchant.
Dexter and Aornis left to go chat to the town guards.
Detritus put his axe into the door as the merchant tried to shut it. "I can protect myself and you. What has been going on?"
"Several people are missing and many of us have been beaten. They always come at night, and take some of our money."
Detritus nodded had a good look around to make sure no troublemakers were nearby, then stayed with the merchant until his comrades returned.
"I think we've been had" said Dexter. "We were sent out of town so some scumbags could take over".
Aornis nodded and they approached the guard.
"We were out of town bashing fishmen and we come back and half the merchants are scared or have closed shop, what's going on?" asked Dexter.
Aornis practiced some martials arts poses behind Dexter, just like she was taught back at the monastary.
"The attacks happen at night, we can not find any tracks, we think a thieves guild has set up in town. We've patrol more often but we lost alot of men against the frogmen attack."
Aornis and Dexter wandered back towards the merchants shop and Detritus. Aornis noticed a 'ffffftt' sound shortly before Dexter fell to the ground, not moving.
Two human males from the crowd grabbed Dexter and started to carry him off. Detritus and Aornis quickly followed (as the crowd quickly parted for an angry dwarf with an axe).
Down a street and into an alley they chased them before the two baddies through back their dark cloaks and tried to stab our heroes. Now that they could see them better they noticed a strange tattoo on their heads and chainmail armour over their tunics.
The cultists stabbed and slashed at Aornis and Detritus, but only succeeded at inflicting minor injuries. Aornis leapt and kicked twice, knocking the cultists head this way and that before lightly tapping his chest so he fell backwards. Detritus smashed the cultist he was fighting in the solar pleaxus with the handle of his axe before spinning it around and beheading him.
They removed the small dart from Dexters neck and he came too. By that time Detritus had removed the daggers and swords from the cultists. The three of them dragged the living cultist to the temple of Lathander in the centre of town. Dexter was cautious to keep scanning the crowd during their journey.
The temple guards recognised them from the fight against the frogmen and let them drag their prisoner into the temple. The high priest advised the cultists were Banites, vicious people who fight for fun and money and follow Bane-the lord of Strife. The priest advised they would get answers from the militia as it was the temples policy to burn the cultists and pray their soul would be cleansed and be reborn in a more pleasant form in the next life.
Dexter went to ask his in-laws to move to the local inn since it should be safer for a few days while they dealt with this problem, and gave them some cash for their stay.
Detritus and Aornis took the prisoner towards the militia barracks and Aornis heard the 'ffffftt' noise again. She ducked but Detritus was stuck and fell unconcious to the ground. Aornis dragged her brother and the prisoner to the barracks while crying out 'Help!'
Two guards helped drag them into the barracks before closing the doors. Aornis slapped Detrius awake and they met the captain of the guard. He advised the cultists look like foreign mercenaries and that it was bad news that it was a cult and not simply a thieves guild in town. They discussed the option of holding this cultist prisoner to see if he would be rescued and thus they could capture more prisoners to find out more information, and then decided to use our heroes home as the target, since it looked less guarded than the barracks.
Dexter headed back to the barracks and once there asked Detritus to mind the fort at home. Detritus took the still unconcious prisoner back to the house. Aornis went to see Baron Olisimar. The Baron was hope and was just finishing singing some song about sailing ships.
"Have you noticed anything weird happening around down" asked Aornis, eating some herbal cakes the Baron offered.
"Dude, like some of my good plants were taken!" said the Baron, somewhat distressed. "and some of the shops are totally closed"
"There may be a cult in town, and we intend to deal with them" stated Aornis in between mouthfulls.
"you can come back later and like, do stuff" offered the Baron.
"Sure" said Aornis and crab walked backwards out of the door, just like she was taught at the monastary.
Detritus had tied up the prisoner and questioned him, who revealed they were selling captives to Calimshan slavers just east of town, also said their base is in cellar of this burnt home on south side of town, which Detritus figured out it was his old house.
Detritus said "You're going to jail for a long time for your crimes against this town!"
The Bane cultist cursed Detritus by spitting on his holy symbol, and Detritus removed his head. Detritus checked his shiny red jacket (that he got from the dancing zombie) was okay and prayed to Tempus.
Two guards in ordinary clothing went to the house and prepared for a nervious night, expecting attack from the cultists. Detritus took the opportunity to go for an ale or three at the local tavern.
Dexter and Aornis meet in the market just as people are closing up for the night. Aornis was still feeling numb but happy from the herbal cake she ate earlier. Dexter will wander around the town to keep an eye on things while Aornis would go back to the Barons and they would meet up in 2 hours time.
Aornis went back to the Baron's place and they chatted about if Driders wear underpants or if Dragons get colds whilst enjoying many a herbal pipe. One hour later Detritus was checking over the house and Aornis burst in and grabbed some food from the kitchen before heading out again.
Dexter found Aornis wandering around looking for him, three hours later. They headed back towards the house and noticed a large group of people in dark cloaks and weidling swords charge towards them. They dove inside the house and everyone started putting furniture against the doors and windows.
The town guard noticed the commotion and the cultists ran around the back of the house as there was more cover there. One cultist was skilled in infernal magics and summoned a ball of fire to burn through the house via the back door.
Detritus and Aornis stood ready in the kitchen while Dexter through an alchemists fire out of the 2nd story window. Thanks to the ball of flame right in front of them half the cultists were soon on fire, including the magic weaver.
Aornis kicks the back door so bits of door on fire fly at the cultists. Through the smoke four Bane cultists charged into the house and cried out "Bane take these souls!"
The town guards up the street took the opportunity to take out the burning cultists outside with arrows.
Dexter cried out "You Banite scum never learn!" as he slid into the kitchen on his knees and let forth a spray of bright light, making the cultists dizzy and confused.
Detritus took the opportunity to cut two cultists in half while Aornis leapt up and broke ones neck with her hands and the others neck with her legs. She had not done this move before, but remembers the Baron mentioning through the haze of their many conversations.
The remaining cultists are gathered up by the town guards and taken to gaol. Aornis patted her weasel and Dexter and Detritus used buckets of water to put the remaining fire out.
= Part Six = = Time for the Future
Some of the town guards escorted the two surviving cultists to the town gaol. The party cleaned up their home while the rest of the town guards patrolled inside the town to make sure no more threats were there.
Detritus suddenly remember the cultist he interrogated earlier had mentioned one of their hide outs was in his old cellar. So our brave trio locked the house and headed to the south side of town. By this stage it was 10pm and most of the other townsfolk were asleep.
Checking the remains of his old house they carefully removed the damaged furniture from the cellar door. Detritus yanked the door open and Dexter blasted light into the darkened cellar. Aornis leapt down there and posed in lucid jackal stance, just like she was taught at the monastery.
No enemies were present however and the party searched the cellar. They found some chainmail armour, a small mirror, and some coinage. Aornis would give her share of the coinage back to the town since that was were the money was from she figured, but Dexter and Detritus knew that the safest place for the coins was in their pockets until they found something shiny to buy.
On the way back to their home they passed the temple of Lathander (lord of morning, renewal and staunch smiter of undead) to advise them of the Bane shrine in the old cellar, and the priests told them it would be purified by them in the morning. Meeting the guards back at their house they dressed as prisoners in rags while the guards dressed as cultists, so they would go out and meet the slavers in disguise.
Aornis checked in with the Baron and asked if he would join them against the slavers, but he said he would stay and help guard the town. They smiled at each other for some time before Aornis left.
Towards midnight they strolled east of town, the cold wind blew clouds across the moon and after waiting for twenty minutes they heard horses approaching. Four men in scale armour with greatswords on their backs trotted out of the darkness (the horses they were riding did the trotting) to face the group.
"What is this lot then? two girls and a fat little boy?" sneered the slaver.
"Good enough for down South. They'll work hard you bet." answered the town guard disguised as a cultist.
"We might take them north" said the slaver, testing to see how much this cultist knew of their operation.
The town guard-cultists nodded.
"Not sure we will get much, especially for the ugly girl!" the slaver said pointing to Aornis.
Aornis rushed forward to grab the horses rein, swing herself sidewards to scissor kick the slaver for being so rude. Unfortunately the ground was slightly damp and she missed and fell on her back. The slaver responded by making his horse slam it's two front legs onto her chest. Which hurt quite a bit.
Just then the two slavers who were hidden in the darkness at the back trotted forward and one of them was a spellcaster, for aside from having several images of himself floating around him to confuse attackers, he was chanting foul magics and thrust his hands forward, blasting a ray towards our heroes. Oh dear!
The ray of sickly green light just missed Detritus and the slaver that had moved forward to fight him, but unfortunately hit Aornis and the slaver fighting her, and they felt immediately weaker and more tired. Detritus and the slaver nearest him traded blows with his axe and the slavers greatsword. Both cried out to their gods but their gods were to busy down the local tavern, quaffing mead or some such tenacious behavior.
Dexter chanted with speed and weaved a ray of acid at the slaver closest to the guards and the smell of melting flesh wafted over them as the acid melted the slavers shoulder and he did cry out rude and crass things about Dexters questionable lineage.
The town guards threw off their disguises and attacked the slavers, injuring the horses and then finishing off the slavers as they fell of the horses. Meanwhile the slaver sorcerer let forth his next menacing magic targeted at Detritus (wearing half country worth of armour) and Aornis (trying to back away from the horse which was trying to do the flamenco on her). They briefly felt that they should leave rapidly and go home to safety. Fortunately they shook of such wimpy thoughts, for our heroes are made of sterner stuff.
Detritus threw his axe at the sorcerer which succeded in removing one of the magical duplicate images. Dexter fired another ray of acid at the sorcerer and took out the remaining magical image. Aornis and the town guards had finished off the four original slavers and advanced on the two at the back. The sorcerer weaved the air around him like a breakdancer on red cordial and became mist before their eyes. The remaining slaver attacked the town guards but was knocked down and caught a small dose of death.
The mist-sorcerer started to drift away into the darkness so Dexter threw some pebbles into the mist and intoned the arcane words to make them light up and float around, thus making it harder for the mist to hide. Dexter jogged towards the retreating mist while Aornis and Detritus ran towards it.
Aornis stopped and performed a secret kata known only to the hidden Monks and a goat from their village, before turning to her half-brother Detritus and saying "throw me!". Detritus was more than happy to throw anyone at anyone, any time.
Aornis wizzed threw the air towards the mist and upon reaching it jabbed her stiff hands into it many times, for the kata she prepared allowed her to effect less than physical things. The sorcerer fell in pieces to the ground out of the mist.
Looting the body as was tradition for our heroes they found some glowing bracers and a book of spells in his pack, both of which Dexter took and hugged and did a little gnome dance of 'soon the world, then the galaxy'.
Our trio and the guards wandered back to town. The guards wished them well and they headed back to the barracks and the heroes went home to rest.
The next morning the Baron knocked on the door. Aornis was meditating in her room, with her weasel rummaging around in her pack. Dexter was meditating in his room. Unfortunately this left Detritus to answer the door, and after having an ale for breakfast and another for door duty, he was not wearing any pants.
"Dude like, what happened? err and hey like, put some pants on!" said the Baron, trying not to look in Detritus' direction.
"We killed the slavers! one of them was a sorcerer." said Detritus proudly, pulling up his pants with one hand and lifting his axe warrior-like with the other.
"Good work Dwarf-friend. So were are the prisoners? the ones taken from our town?" asked the Baron.
Dexter wandered down the stairs as Detritus looked blankly at the Baron and said "ohh... umm there was no trace of other people, and all the enemies died in the battle".
"Write a report of all that has happened so I can tell the king, and he can send troops to look for our townsfolk-kin-people." Baron Olisimar told them.
Dexter quickly wrote the report while the Baron and Detritus shared some large herbal cookies.
The Baron left with the report and Detritus shut the door, only to have it promptly knocked on heavily. Detritus opened the door to see his father, a dwarven warlord and fierce supporter of under-eighty year old football.
"Father!" said Detritus, before hugging his dear heroic father.
"Listen son, i'm not in town long but i've heard of what you've been up to, good work. Now I am assigning twelve warriors to this town as a gesture of friendship and alliance with the town of Mosstone, to strengthen the region."
Detritus nodded.
"Is your sister here?" asked Warlord Markus.
"She is upstairs meditating, she is well" replied Detritus.
"Good. Take care son. Always remember to axe them twice first, once in the head so they think straight, and once in the behind so they know to leave ye be". said the Warlord before leaving.
Detritus went to close the door then quickly looked around outside to check first. Dexter's mother, Sheelba the sorcerer wandered towards their home. Detritus remembered her from when she and her ally summoned his group in ruins just a few weeks before.
"Dexter... I have to go away to tend to many things that can not wait. I want you to find your father, we will both need his help later on."
"Where are you going mother? perhaps I can help you?"
"I am going... elsewhere, you can help best by finding your father. I am glad you are well. Here are some things that will aid you in your travels." she said while handing him a bag. "The breastplate is for the dwarf, the boots are for your mate and the crossbow is for you".
"Thank you mother. Stay safe." said Dexter, torn between the desire to help his parents and the need to know what is going on.
Sheelba of the Eyeless Face wandered out the door.
Aornis fed her weasel and wandered down the stairs. Detritus and Dexter explained about their visitors.
"So we don't have to find the prisoners now, the king will do that, but we have to go look for your father?" asked Detritus to clarify.
"Fine with me" said Aornis. I am off to see the Baron, we can meet up again for midday meal.
Dexter went to study the spellbook he got from the sorcerer, and the items his mother gave him. Detritus prayed to Tempus for guidance, strength and a fair share of carnage.
Aornis met the Baron at his house, where they spoke in the language of love for some time. (But not like she was taught at the Monastary).
That afternoon after they gathered their rations, Aornis, Detritus and Dexter headed out of town heading north towards the ruins of Rappan Athuk, where Dexter's father was last seen. Detritus whistled a dwarven marching tune as he walked with Dexter, Aornis was further ahead keeping a look out.
The first day passed quickly, pleasant weather combined with the knowledge of saving the town from cultists made our heroes happy. They camped that night and ate a fine meal of porridge and jerky. Dexter dreampt of leaping from cloud to cloud, and flying above everything for in this dream he was a powerful sorcerer, feared by all except gnomes.
During the morning of the second day however, Aornis had the feeling they were being followed, so she hid in the bushes to ambush their stalker, as Detritus and Dexter kept walking as a diversion. Aornis waited for 20 minutes and then noticed there was a scarecrow in the scrubland staring back at her. She waited some more and it was suddenly not there.
Between the time Aornis saw the scarecrow and then waited, she was frozen in time. The scarecrow meanwhile caught up with Detritus and Dexter and attacked!
Detritus weilded his axe to fend off the scarecrows blows before hacking into its side. At the same time Dexter splashed oil on the scarecrows back and threw fire on it to make the strange farmyard beasty burn. Suddenly Dexter was forty feet back, the scarecrow was twenty feet up a tree nearby and Detritus was not moving (but he did not notice).
The scarecrow angrily waved its arms at them threateningly before climbing down the tree. Dexter fired his new crossbow at it and a beam of light blasted into its chest, searing a hole straight through. Detritus blinked and realised his foe was no longer in front of him, before turning around, taking two steps and cleaving the farmyard denizen into four pieces.
"What happened there?" asked Detritus.
"That creature was not from this world. And the magic of our world clashed with the magic of the world it was from... I think" replied Dexter.
Ten minutes later Aornis came springing through the scrub towards them. Dexter and Aornis looked at the scarecrow before they noticed Detritus was dancing. He was also wearing the red jacket they saw the zombie wearing in the zombie filled ruins.
"Brother stop dancing!" demanded Aornis.
Detritus thought about it but found he liked the sideways jerky dance that he did when he wore this comfortable jacket.
Suspecting the jacket may be magical and harmful, Aornis tried to render her dear brother unconscious while he continued to dance. Once he was unconscious they removed the zombie-jacket from Detritus, surprised that he had been wearing it this last few months, and Aornis found it felt nice on her finger tips, and she put it on.
Once Detritus came too he was annoyed to find his sister was wearing his jacket, but Dexter explained that the jacket may be cursed or magical, which Detritus found ludicrous. It was after all just a jacket, and he only found himself dancing in it several times a week since he first put it on.
Heading eastwards into the woods they heard less animal sounds the further they traveled. After several hours they noticed a rotting stench and saw four towers amongst a graveyard, all in a large valley in the woods. This would be the ruins of Rappan Athuk.
As dark clouds gathered overhead in the late afternoon our brave trio headed into the ruins, taking the western most green brick tower first. Dexter and Aornis were alert as they made their way through the overgrown graveyard but nothing lurched towards them. Yet.
The large doors were locked but Dexters trusty trigger finger sprayed acid at the lock and Detritus mighty axe smashed the door to pieces. Inside were broken coffins but no loot or monsters.
They camped overnight and Detritus took the opportunity to get his red zombie jacket back off his sister. It felt snug to wear again. When Aornis awoke she was annoyed but advised her brother that it was his life to mess up should the jacket prove cursed.
After more delicious porridge and jerky for breakfast our heroes packed up their gear, and just then heard something approaching on the path to the tower they were in....