Session 30, April 30th 2009, The Prince is found!! (only 3 years and 30 sessions later )

 

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Celceor The Wise; Elf Mage (Dave M.)
Nick; Human Rogue (Dave P)
Fafnir; Human Barbarian (Jon C.)
Werkle of Dinnsmere; Dwarf Fighter (Al)

Bent Bullswaggit; Dwarf Mage/Bard (Brook)

Tok; Half-Orc Druid (Jon P)
Ereyn Bane; Half-Elf Rogue (Mike D/NPC.)
Eggo of the Holy Brotherhood; Human Cleric (NPC)

 

Having killed the gravewalkers and restoring order to the mining camp the characters were invited to a feast in their honor by Captain Antonio. With the mines restored the slaves were immediately thrown back to work. Celceor was unsure how he felt about that strange twist of events but there was little he could do about it at the time. Instead he focused his attention on scribing a new spell. He had asked the party to give some input on if he should go with ‘Cats Grace’, a very nice buffing spell for those dexterous types in the party, or to go with ‘Invisibility’, always a good standby spell. Nick, being overjoyed that Celceor was actually seeking his advice, immediately lunched into a long lecture about why invisibility was ‘the bestest spell ever!’  So, not really caring one way or the other Celceor picked up his pen and started scribing ‘Invisibility’ into his book.

 

After getting half way through his endeavor, Celceor was interrupted and informed that the festivities were about to commence. Reluctantly putting his pen down, he headed off to the feast. This was the typical dull shindig. The company was seated at the head table along with Captain Antonio. The other tables contained guards and townsfolk, and one small table was reserved for those slaves lucky enough to win the drawings to attend. There was the typical ‘thanks for saving the world speech”… and lots of drinking and bad jokes.   Celceor was not impressed, he only wanted to get back to the inn so that he could finish his work. At one point, to liven things up, two slaves were dragged out and thrown into a cage before the party and a duel to the death commenced.  The one slave seemed strangely familiar but Celceor couldn’t put his finger on it. The crowd started chanting ‘Two slaves enter!!…one slave’s freed!! Two slaves enter, One slave’s freed!’.  Werkle went around pressing individual for bets, but found no takers.  No sooner had the fight started then it was over and one slave was just a bloody mess laying face down in the center of the cage. The dead slave was dragged off and the winner was brought before the group to accept his new gained freedom from the Captain.

 

As the victor approached, Fafnir immediately recognized him and leapt from the table and embraced his old friend in a ‘Man Love’ kind of way. It turned out it be their old half-orc comrade Tok. It appeared that after being sent off for slapping the children that cold night that brought the goblins down upon the party; he was recaptured by the Altilians and sent back to work in the mines. It was by sheer luck (or the grace of Oghma, who knows all things), that the party just happened to run across him again. Tok was seated at the main table with the party and given something to eat. The party filled him in on their adventuring and strange turn of events since their parting, and pressed that he was not to hit any more children while in their company. (he could do as he wished with the children in the privacy of his own home however). Celceor seeing an opportunity to rid himself of some bad dreams, leaned over the table and asked the half-orc if ‘he liked shiny things’ while holding out the orb. The half-orc excitingly took it, but after trying to gnaw on it with his teeth and shaking it vigorously looking for the answer to his ‘magic 8 ball question’ which never appeared, he handed it back in disappointment saying ‘me want meat’

 

As the night drew on, Fafnir pressed the Captain, saying that ‘he felt that the party having done such a great job in such a short time was owed one additional slave to be freed’. Celceor agreed and also pressed the case adding that ‘He (the Captain) was now relieved of having to explain himself and the situation to the queen because of the party’s good deeds’. Though the Captain simply frowned and countered saying that he had ‘already lost one…no two (pointing to the dead heap in the corner) slaves tonight’, , and he ‘could not afford any more loses.’ He then started ranting on about breakage, quotas, lost downtime, and  SPI and CPI numbers, at which point Celceor realized further discussion with the man was pointless. One day though Celceor was determined to free all the slaves before he left this curse rock. But unfortunately, it was not to be THIS day. With that Celceor headed back to the Inn, with the rest of the party following behind some time later after the ale ran dry.

 

The next day as Celceor worked on finishing up his spell, and most of the party was recovering from the previous nights activities,  Fafnir and Tok hit the downtown area for a bit of shopping. Having secured the party’s credit card Fafnir ran from store to store equipping Tok with the latest in adventure gear, as Tok had only a dirty loin cloth to his name. Tok trudged along behind the excited barbarian muttering…’but woods will provide all me need!’ Fafnir, explaining that Tok needed to look presentable, draped a newly purchased adventures outfit over the Half-orc’s bare body. Tok tugged at it, ‘Me Uncomfortable.’  Fafnir went on to explain that since Eggo was looking mighty fine now in his new belt, there were certain dress code standards that needed to be met .He then handed  his half-orc friend some crude weapons including a old sling, a wooden club and a handful of bullets having maxed out the parties credit card on clothing. Strangely the Half-orc accepted the crude items with glee, exclaiming he would be able to put those to good use.

 

Having finished his spell, and seeing that their new/old comrade was now reequip, as well as  the  rest of the members finally staggering out of bed, Celceor suggested that it was best if the group get moving. After some discussion of what to do next, the party decided to head back to the Citadel to talk to the Queen in hopes of getting a reward or least some recognition for the previous tasks they had completed for her. Celceor was also hopeful that she may be able to add some more insight into the location of the Magus Archives or even Mordan. At any rate he figured he could check the Archives and/or Mage Guild again and see if there was something he might have missed there. The party was running out of options.

 

Though on arriving at the Citadel and informing the Gatekeeper that they wished to see the Queen, the party were rebuked and told that the Queen summoned those she wished to see and not vise versa. Celceor thought that was rather rude considering all that they had just done for the women.  The Gatekeeper went on to say that the Queen was very busy as Dockhouse had just fallen (not a good sign) but that he would pass along the information and if the Queen wished to speak to the group, she would summon them.

 

Seeing that the Queen was once again absolutely no help, Celceor decided to head back to the Archives in town and Bent, being a likewise astute student of the fine arcane arts, accompanied him. Though on requesting access to enter the building, the admission officer on seeing the scruffy dwarf started into a rant that the archives were only available to the cream of the cream of the learned men, and immediately demanded to see mages guild certificates.  Fortunately, Celceor did in fact have one, and not only that, it actually had his name on. But Bent was not so lucky, and when he failed to supply said document,. he was quickly escorted to the door. ‘We must keep out the riff raff you know’ the admission officer explained, slamming the door on Bent and pleasantly motioning Celceor to the main viewing room.

 

After hours of looking, even with the help of some of the assistants who snickered and laughed behind Celceors back for seriously hunting for information on fairies tales, Celceor found nothing. Not even under the folklore section. It would appear that the Queen was indeed thorough and did in fact clear out all information on the Mountain, the Magus Archives and Mordan. Though as Celceor was getting ready to leave, the assistants mentioned that an old scholar by the name of Norvus was also looking into such fairy tales years earlier and he was eventually banished for it. Celceor knowing this already pressed the matter in hopes of finding out additional information. The Assistants went on to say that at one point Norvus lived in the north, or at least they thought he did. When asked where he was now, they simply laughed, saying Norvus was just a crazy old loon, and they did not know or cared where he was today.  

 

With that, Celceor returned to the party and informed them of the new information. Nick immediately took to the streets and shook down his contacts he had made days earlier. After some time Nick returned, holding up a piece of paper in hand, exclaiming that he had the current address of one Chronicle Norvus. Celceor was both impressed and overjoyed by the news, but knew he was not going to like the answer to his next question. ‘So, just where do he have to hike off to now?’ he asked, anticipating another grueling march somewhere back up north behind enemy lines. With a smile Nick simply pointed to the ground, and informed the party that ‘Norvus was right here, in town, only minutes away’; well at least according to his info.

 

With that good news, the party headed out and soon arrived in the more questionable part of town. Celceor looking around at his surroundings began to wonder if Nick had gotten reliable information, or had just marched the party into a huge trap where a horde of thugs were awaiting in ambush. Looking at the paper,  Nick approached a small broken down shack and knocked at the door. Within a few minutes, an old women opened, and looked quit surprised by the large group loitering on her front porch.  Though as the group began asking ‘if a Norvus happened to live here’ and if ‘Norvus was at home’, she became increasingly nervous and backed up into the house exclaiming ‘No Norvus here, you have the wrong house’. Though as the party pressed closer to the door and continuing their questions, the old women simply slammed the door shut behind her shouting ‘Go away!, ..no Norvus here!’. Celceor thought this was very odd and rude, and was not about to let some old hag ruin the only chance that the party had of getting off the island. Though as he was contemplating kicking the door down and integrating the old women who obviously knew something, a small little boy appeared out of nowhere. He was covered in dirt, held a brown sack in hand and looked to be about the age of 10. (Making him slightly older than Nick by Celceor’s calculations.) The child looked up at the party and asked ‘Are you bad men?’ The party immediately responded in the negative with Celceor adding the caveat that ‘most us are not’ eyeing Tok expecting him to back hand the child at any moment. The boy then went on to say ‘oh, because I’m not suppose to tell bad men where to find Norvus’. The child then looked up and asked again, ’Are you sure your not bad men?’ The party again reassured the youth that they were not and that they were in fact ‘the Company of the Summoned Monkey here fighting evil!’  Gleefully the child responded with an ‘ okay, follow me’ as he scurried off like a small jack rabbit through a small hole in a nearby fence. 

 

The party followed quickly behind the kid, who jumped fences, scurried under broken crates, around old trash dumpsters and squeezed through pipes. Growing up in the jungle Celceor was accustomed to such activities but even then he was still falling behind. Strangely the two large barbarians Fafnir and Tok seemed to be able to keep pace with the kid despite their large girth, and Nick was trailing not far behind. Though the rest of the party however was no where to be seen. Not wanting to be outdone by the barbarians and fearing they would make terrible spokesmen for the party if they did find Nervous, Celceor quickly cast ‘longstrider’, one of his domain spells for travel, and was granted a burst of speed by Oghma. After a few minutes he, along with Tok and Fafnir arrived at a small run down house on the other side town. Seemed Nicks information was not quit right after all. As Celceor stopped to catch his breath, Nick arrived and the child, seemly unfazed by the decathlon that was just run, cheerfully walked up to the door of the house and knocked gently.  

 

An old man with long wild white hair opened the door, smiled at the boy and flipped him a few coins as the boy pulled a loaf of bread from his sack and handed it to the old man. The small group slowly approached and introduced themselves, asking the old man if ‘he happened to be Norvus’ or if ‘he knew where they could find him’. The old man gave the boy an icy stare, who only smiled back exclaiming gleefully ‘they said they was not bad men!!’ The old man ignoring the questions, slowly walked back in the house and closed the door exclaiming, ‘you have the wrong house’. Though the party continued, shouting at the house saying ‘We need some help finding the Archives!’, and ‘We are not with ‘that which shall not be named – fight Club’!’ Celceor then added, “I was able to transcribe your book!’’. Suddenly silence fell inside the house and with a loud ‘Great Scott!’ the door was flung wind open with a wide eye old man standing in the door way . ‘You must be from the mainland…come in…come in!’ he exclaimed prodding the group to quickly enter his house. The party entered and explained that they were looking for the Magus Archives, that they believed the curse of the Mountain existed and wanted to find a way to end it, and finally that they had un-wittedly unleashed the wrath of Mordan.  Norvus, a little take aback by the last statement, explained that he too was looking for the Archives but was not able to find them. He went on to say that he found some books in the library of Fort Bolland, but unfortunately the books have since been burnt along with the library. He also mentioned that the Archives must likely be in the south because the north seemed weaker in the war. How this effected the war was uncertain in Celceor’s mind as the Queen seemed quit unaware of its presence. Norvus went on to say that only the King knew where the Archives were but alas he had recently expired. He then added that maybe some of kin may have been imparted with the information before the king had passed, but unfortunately his only son had vanished from the island a long time ago.  The party, looking at each, then confided in the old man that ‘They may know were to find the prince’. With wild ‘Great Scott!’ the old man leapt from his chair in excitement and headed to back room. After some time he reemerged, travel gear in tow, exclaiming…’When do we leave?’

Celceor , overjoyed at having such a scholar gracing their presence, immediately pulled the Tome ‘’Sacrifices for Dummies’ by  Conjuror Vormorth’ from his pack and  excitingly started deliberating the finer points of the mystical text with the old man. Fafnir, a little apprehensive, approached Norvus and asked if he would be kind enough to teach him how to read. Norvus agreed, citing that everyone should be able to read all the wondrous works which have been published. Celceor went on to point out that while he was at it, Fafnir should also consider learning to write as well. Fafnir just looked at Celceor in bewilderment saying ‘you can do that?’

 

Returning to the Inn to gather their stuff and horses the party was then met by one of the Queen’s guards. The guard informed the group that while the Queen would not see the party, she was grateful for their services and then turned over an extra horse for their new companion saying it was a gift from the Queen. The guard went on to say, in a very sober tone, that ‘the Queen wishes you to enjoy your stay in the capital…. while you still can’. Celceor was a little take aback by that sentence. That does not sound good, that does not sound good at all he thought. The battle must be going worse then expected.

 

In hopes of finding Beck and Captain Purof, the party then decided to head south to the port city of Telwin Port. The party anticipated that Beck and Captain Purof had found the Prince by now and were waiting for them to arrive. The prince was last seen heading toward the port city because it had the only docks still operating; allowing ships in and out of the island after Fort Bolland was burnt to the ground. Though with ‘Mordans’ birds torching every ship attempting to leave, nothing was getting off the island, at least for now. But with any luck the Prince was safe. 

 

The hike to the southern city of Telwin Port was an uneventful two day trip with Celceor talking at great lengths with Norvus over ancient text, scribing, the magic arts, libraries, and the latest deciphering techniques.  Once arriving at port, the party, particularly the thieves, err rogues, started hitting the streets and every inn in town looking for Beck and Captain Purof. Though to the party’s dismay there appeared to be no sign of their comrades. Knowing that the two had to have at least arrived at the port having taking the carriage from the Capital which Eggo so charitably paid for, the party headed to the main gate to interrogate the guards. Though while the guards did recall two gentlemen getting out of a pristine carriage acting like royalty, which caused Eggo’s ire to rise a bit having paid good money for that ride, the guards had no idea what happened to the two gentlemen after that. When ask if a boy was with them, the guard assured the party that no child was seen, at least to their knowledge.

 

Frustrated, the party headed off to the docks to ascertain what damage the birds really were causing to the shipping and if it were possible to still make an escape. In addition, their two commands were suppose to see about acquiring some transport off the island after finding the Prince, so it followed that someone at the dock may have more information on the party’s two missing comrades.

 

Though upon entering the docks the party was greeted by a familiar, ‘Ahooyyyyy mates!’ and discovered that voice to be none other than Captain Purof busy, along with Beck and a few dockhands, repairing damage to one of the docked ships. The two disembarked the vessels and Fafnir rushed forward and embraced the missing Captain in a ‘Man Love’ sort of way and the party was once again reunited.

 

 The party informed the two of their success with the Magistrate Noreeno and Captain Purof went on to explain that the former ship captain had met an untimely death and that he and Beck had become the new owners of the ship. Though the ship had taken serious damage trying to escape port and was burnt by strange black birds diving out of the dark sky. He went on to reassure the group that he would have it seaworthy in a matter of weeks.

 

While this was all good information and actually a required asset to get off this cursed island, Celceor came right to the point, ’So where’s the kid?’ The Captain straightened up and resounded in a triumphant voice, ‘We found him! He’s safe!’ The party let out a big cheer  and simultaneous sigh of relief. Celceor could not help but doing the same, it was too good to be true, after months of searching, their quest had finally come to an end. They had finally found the kid! Though as the party was about to break out the Champaign and celebrate the Captain went on, ‘But..’ Celceor’s jaw dropped. Of course there was a ‘but’ he thought. This cursed quest was never going to end there had to be a ‘But’

 

The Captain went on to explain, amongst groans and moans from the party, that the boy was a bit spirited, and got into a bit of a scuffle with a local fisherman. It seemed that the fisherman was talking trash about the King, and feeling he needed to defend his father honor the boy attacked and ended up killing the man. He went on to say that the death was actually an accident as the man was drunk and fell back and hit his head, but that the boy was in jail and being charge with murder. The Magistrate planned to hang him in a few days right after finding him guilty in a quick trial.

 

 The party deliberated over these turns of events and decided they had three options. Break the kid free, defend him at his trial or pay for his freedom. Celceor thought the first two were far too risky. A jail break would draw far too much attention and a defense could easily be lost particularly when dealing with local prejudice. Though while keeping the kid in jail for a bit was not a bad idea, at least he could not get into anymore trouble and the party would know exactly where he was, that plan had a disastrous ending. So Celceor instilled on the party that he thought buying the boys freedom was likely the best option and that they could always bust him out as a last resort. 

 

The party agreed and headed off to the local magistrate office to see what could be done. Though on arriving and asking for an audience with the Magistrate the assistant looking over his list, informed the party that the quickest they could see the Magistrate would be in 30 days. ’30 days?!?’ the party blurted out in total shock.  Pulling the assistant to the side, Nick spoke softly with the man pointing out that surely there had to be ‘Cancellations’ and ‘The party would be surely grateful ’ jiggling the coin pouch on his side. The man paused, ‘Well, something may be arranged’, eyeing the pouch. Nick, slowly slipped the man the pouch of 50 gold pieces and suddenly the man piped up examining to the group, ‘Well look here, I believe I DO have a cancellation you may have. Can you come back in 3 hours?’  The party was relieved and immediately signed the roster. 30 days to 3 hours, not bad for a kid, Celceor thought, nodding a well done over to Nick.

 

With the meeting set, Nick suggested that it would be in the party’s interest to talk to widow and see if they could persuade her to drop the charges and to even speak on behave of the boy at the coming meeting. The party saw this as sound plan and immediately headed off to talk to the widow.

 

On approaching the widow’s shack, again in the run down party of town, the crying of young children could be heard coming from the house. Tok on hearing the kids crying started approaching the house, at which point Fafnir thinking quickly, pulled out a large piece of meat jerky and handed to the large half-orc exclaiming, ‘stay Tok, good boy!’. He did not want a repeat of the kid smacking incident.  The Half-orc taking the meat, immediately sat down in the road, intently enjoying his meat strip.

 

Overcome with compassion, and seeking to calm the situation Bent pulled out his instrument and started to perform an uplifting ditty.  “I love you, you love me, were as happy as can be with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you. Won’t you say you love…me..too?’. As if by some sort of magic, the crying stopped and all the children in the area seemly assembled at Bent’s side, swaying in time and joining in with the bard in three apart harmony  singing, ‘I love you, you love me, were a happy family…..’

 

As the widow emerged from the house seeing where the nice music was coming from the party approached saying, ‘we are sorry for you loss’, and  ‘while we can not bring back your husband we feel responsible’ and ‘its not the boys fault, it is ours, and so is there any compensation we could give to ease the pain?’. Nick took the women aside and in smooth voice eventually convinced the her that if she were to drop the charges and give testimony on behave of the boy the party would be grateful and gladly compensate her 750 gold for her loss. She agreed. Celceor sensing that something was amidst, but not able to put his finger on it, pressed that they give her only 50 gold now, (the last of the party treasure) and the rest only after she talked to the magistrate. The widow was reluctant but agreed and the group headed off to see the magistrate, all the children in the area following behind Bent chanting, ‘We love you, you love me…. ‘

 

Arriving at the magistrates office the assistant asked why Delores, the fisherman’s widow, had come but was admitted along with the party anyway. The widow proceeded to give her testimony and offered to drop the charges as agreed, though the magistrate interrupted her exclaiming that it was really a matter of the state now, as a law had been broken, and more importantly, he was in the mode for good hanging. Fafnir on hearing this, tried to persuade the magistrate that if they could bring another person, one actually deserving of being hung, would he allow the boy go free.  Though the magistrate was not swayed, and only went on to describe how he ‘enjoys seeing how the small legs of child really dangle nicely in the air’. Celceor frustrated by the whole turn of events began to think that maybe this was not a bad idea and as he was about to say ‘ah hell just hang the freaking kid!’, remembered that the boy was the only one that knew where to find the archives and reluctantly held his tongue. Nick however pressed on, not willing to give up on the boy or the lost of 750 to the window for nothing. The magistrate finally buckled under Nicks relentless bartering and agreed to release the boy for the sum of 700 gold. The party agreed and after calling in the ‘Bank of Werkle’ for a small loan as well as taking up a collection, the Magistrate was paid off. Nick wanting to keep his word to the widow, which technically he did not have to do, also paid off the widow the money promised her by the party which Celceor also supported.

 

With that, the boy was brought out by two guards and thrown to the party. The Prince, Garret, was safe at last. After a grueling three months (3 years and 30 sessions real time) of pure hell, Celceor had finally found the kid he agreed to the find the first day he set foot in Caludron those many days ago. Only Nick remained of the original group to head out that day in search of the lost children and this one in particular. All the other members either gave up or had fallen along the way.  This was truly a triumphant day in Celceor’s life. Jena would be pleased. Now if he could only get the kid off this cursed rock before Mordan, or the Witch Queen killed him, he would be a happy elf.

 

The Prince and Nick immediately started to exchange greetings, and the Prince inquired about the orphanage, Patch, Grammy Gretchen, and Jena, at which point both boys held their cupped hands to their chest, blushed, and giggled. Nick then leaned over and whispered that he would explain what’s going on later, but first they needed to get back. The Prince overjoyed at being out started into the story of how since the Captain had found him, he was learning to become a dashing swashbuckler, with eye patch and all. He then went on to say that he loved the sea and couldn’t wait to get out there. Celceor could only smirk to himself, figuring that would change as the first rough weather the kid ran into he would be hanging over the side of the boat turning green, but said nothing.  The Prince finishing his rant about his new life as a swashbuckler, exclaimed excitedly, ‘I got to get back to the ship’ and started to bolt. The party afraid of losing this kid yet again, simultaneous dog piled on him with Fafnir ending up on top! After a few minutes the boy was retrieved from the bottom of the heap as the group got off one by one and the prince was eventually revived. Nick then vowed to not let the prince of his sight, even sleeping with him if that what it took. Celceor thought that’s a little odd, but if Nick was now jumping into the Princes sack rather than his, Celceor was all for that. Celceor on the other hand pulled out a rope and was about to secure it about the kid’s waist like a toddler leash but resisted, figuring that may draw a little too much attention.

 

Upon arriving back at the ship, amidst cheers from Beck and the Captain, the party went on to explain what has happened and that they needed the prince’s help finding the Archives. The Prince confirmed that while he had never been to the archives he did however know how to find them. So with that the party started to head out. The Captain and Beck regretted to inform the party that they had work to do on their ship yet and can not leave it. Celceor thought it likely best to continue to work the ship, so that on their return they could make a quick escape provided of course the party could somehow find a way to defeat Mordan and/or his fiery death birds.

 

Nick and the Prince shared a horse, being the two lightest (and closest) and the party headed out toward the southeast where the Prince said he thought the Archives were located. Figuring that someone may recognize the Princes name, the party decided that for the remainder of the trip they would refer to him as ‘Terrance’ and the Prince agreed. On reaching the City of Washport, the party stabled their horse there and continued on by foot as the terrain was far too difficult for horses to travel beyond that point.

 

About half a day out as the prince was still going on about swashbuckling and trying to decide which eye to wear his new eye patch over he turned to Nick and asked for Nick’s spy glass. Upon getting the scope he promptly turned it backwards and started surveying the area. Celceor thought this was humorous and let the boy go, figuring it was more swashbuckling nonsense. Though after he did it a second time, some time later the party stepped in and tried to explain to the boy how the device actually worked.  Though the prince continued, explaining, ‘That’s how you find the archives….they hidden!’ So the party allowed him to continue, figuring he knew what he was doing.  Celceor however was become more and more nervous, because the fate of the party now rested in the hands of young kid who was looking backward through a spyglass, not the most reassuring.    

 

Night came quickly and the party decided to break for camp. Celceor and Fafnir took the first watch and Celceor built a nice fire despite the objection of the Half-Orc. As the rest of the party fell of to sleep a shimmering object appeared in the moonlight at some distance and then quickly disappeared. Celceor, not wanting to leave the party, sent Rune his owl out to investigate having better vision at night than he had. Though upon reaching the area where the creature was seen, nothing could be found by the bird. Having nothing further happen during their watch, Celceor decided to head off to bed figuring it was likely a wolf or some such they had seen.

 

Fafnir getting a bad feeling about the whole situation decided to take an additional watch with Tok.  Tok on waking up immediately kicked dirt on the fire Celceor had made muttering ‘stupid elf’ under his breath. Shortly after the second watch started Tok saw the same object out at a distance and rose and started heading into the woods stating, ‘Tok go look!’. Fafnir motioned the Half-orc, ‘No Tok, Stay here’. Tok replied ‘Okay’ and turned around and sat back down. A few minutes later Fafnir also spotted the same object, at which point Tok rose and started heading out, saying ‘Tok go look!’  Fafnir, motioned the half-orc again, ‘No Tok’. Tok replied, ‘Okay’, turned around and again sat back down. Though while they were alert and ready for anything, nothing happened the rest of their shift.  Fafnir headed over and as he began to wake Werkle for his shift and inform him of the strange object, Tok started heading out to the woods saying, ‘Tok go look’. Fafnir again motioned the Half-orc, ‘No Tok’.  The half orc replied ‘Okay’, stopped, turned and headed off to bed.

 

 During Werkle’s watch the same object was seen yet again. Suddenly Celceor sat up all in sweat awaken by more nightmares. When asked by Werkle what the matter was, Celceor brushed it aside and instead inquired if dwarf had seen the strange object he had seen earlier. When the Dwarf assures him he had, Celceor once again sent his owl out to investigate, but once again turned up nothing. This is like chancing specters Celceor thought and headed back to bed.

 

As if on some strange schedule the object appeared yet again on the next watch with Nick and Ego. Nick, using his scope to get a better view, noticed some limbs on the strange object before it disappeared but nothing more. Deciding to check it out, Nick headed out into the woods alone to investigate but the strange creature only appeared further out so Nick returned. The next watch with Bane and Bent the same thing happened, the creature appeared but only for a second and the disappeared again. In morning as the group started to wake up and discus the strange object, Tok got up, and started to head out to the woods saying ‘Tok go look’, and which point the whole party chipped in saying ‘NoTok, and we will all go look’. The party then packed up camp and all headed out.

 

Though on getting to the location where everyone thought they saw the creature, no sign of it or its presence could be found. Figuring if the creature wanted a fight it would have attacked last night, the party dismissed the beast and decided to head on, with Celceor casting mage armor on himself. After exactly 5.1 hours, just as the mage armor was going down, and the party was hiking along a treacherous narrow path along the cliffs next to the ocean,  a large club came crashing down upon Tok and the prince who were leading. Tok thinking quickly and noticing something out of the corner of his eye was able to grab the kid and pull him out of the way as the large club crashed into the ground right next to the two.

 

A large two headed creature, an Ettin, pulled back its club and roared as it charged down at the party from the rocks above. Celceor, quick on his feet started casting his typical summon spell, as Fafnir doing what he did best, leapt into the air and landed on the rocks some 15’ above, where the beast was standing. Werkle being slowed in his armor and short leg, started the slow climb up the steep embanked toward the beast as the Prince, Tok and Nick followed suit.  Bent quickly cast Mage Armor to give himself some better protection.

 

The large creature seeing Fafnir now challenging him, let loose with a mighty blow stumbling the barbarian in his tracks. In triumph it let out another mighty roar with both heads, and two larger, two headed beasts appeared along the twisted path. Things just got worse Celceor thought to himself.  Seeing that Fafnir was working the first one, Celceor sent the Celestial Hippogriff that just arrived after the second beast which flew around the two headed creature and ripped into its shoulder with one of its claws. Celceor immediately started casting another summon spell to try to tie up the third creature which was now lumbering up the path behind the party. Fafnir shaking off the blow, charged and cut deep into the first, as Tok now reaching the top of the rise slung a bullet which missed. Bent wanting to slow down the second creature which was quickly approaching the side of the party cast a grease spell at it feet. But unfortunately the beast did not fall. Werkle continued his slow climb up the embankment as Eggo cast a blessing from Pelor upon the party. Nick seeing the Prince charging up the hill to join in the fray, commanded his friend to hold back because he was too important, at which point the prince started back down the steep embankment.  Nick, on reaching the top, snuck behind the first one which was now occupied with Fafnir and found a pierced his blade deep in a vital organ in the back of the Ettin, which recoiled in pain.

 

This beast however, ignoring the rogue behind him, instead concentrated on the large barbarian in front of him and again smashed Fafnir hard with his huge club. The barbarian luckily managed to turn most of the blow with his shield, but the battering was beginning to take a toll. The second beast seeing the mage waving his arms about swung his club and smacked the elf hard across the shoulder, causing him to stumble back a few feet. Though suddenly as if on queue, a horde of Celestial monkeys appeared. It was Mr Chips and some of his furry friends. Seeing the situation they immediately began jumping on the third Ettin clawing and gnawing at the creature as it moved up behind the party. Rubbing his near broken arm, Celceor figuring the best place to be was above the battlefield, and immediately cast fly on himself to get out of way of the incoming monster. Norvus filling his pants to overflowing on seeing the tower beast approaching and attempted to jump on Celceor as he floated passed but missed his change.  Fafnir still reeling from the previous blow, tried to counter attack the creature that had just laid into him, but missed horribly. Nick, seeing the Prince start to run off down the path, got distracted, lost his footing, and began tumbling toward the ocean some distance below. Though luckily, after falling only ten feet or so down the cliff, Nick was able to catch hold of a rock outcropping and keep from going all the way to the ocean at the bottom of the cliffs. The Hippogriff now fully engaged with the second beast laid into it with everything it had. Using a special ‘smite evil’ attack the Hippogriff managed to hit with not only its beak both also with both its claws, ripping large gashes into the flesh of the two headed creature.

 

The two headed creature bleeding heavily retaliated and smashed the hippogriff into a bloody pulp with its large club. Though the Celestial bird, not ready to give in so soon, continued the fight on despite its many broken bones.  Tok, on seeing his friend Fafnir in trouble, readied his club and charged headlong into the two head beast. But before he can get close enough to attack he was smacked hard in the side of the head with the beasts flailing club. Having knocked the half-orc aside, it turned back to Fafnir, hoping to bring the blooded Barbarian to his end, but fortunately for Fafnir, it missed.  The third creature, however, just ignored the hordes of monkey now swarming and clinging about its body and charged right into Eggo. The priest wearing only a robe made an easy mark and smacked hard. The party looked on in disbelief wondering what the silly priest had done with his nice armor and shield, and why in Palors name he was running around in only a robe. Nick, quickly regaining his hold on the cliff and seeing the Prince start fleeing, climbed back up to the path and headed off after him. Bent on seeing the priest in trouble charged the third creature but having a bad day missed horribly.  Werkle, having finally arrived on the scene, reeled back and smacked the beast hard with his axe, chopping its leg to the bone. Celceor seeing the beast was faltering loped a few magic missiles into the creature, bringing it down.

 

Bent attacked again, but again failed miserably, as Eggo backed up behind the bard and healed himself. The hippogriff again unleashed a furry of beak and claws attacks into the creature ripping huge chucks out of the two headed beast and finally bringing it to its knees. With that the hippogriff started flying toward the remaining creature attacking the bard, but having many broken bones it immediately spun out of control and ended up flopping onto the ground right next to towering creature which promptly buried the Hippogriffs head into the ground with its massive weapon. Seeing his chance, Fafnir being on the rocks some height above the remaining creature jumped out into the air attempting to impale his blade into the creatures head, or at least, one of the creatures head. Though on seeing the barbarian coming, the creature managed to divert Fafnir’s attack at the last moment, and Fafnir ending up landing on its shoulder doing little damage.

 

Celceor seeing the prince had now fled off down the path with Nick in pursuit was about to give chase figuring he could move faster than the kid, when all of a sudden he hard a loud., ‘AGGHHH!!’. Turning about, he saw the large Barbarian being flung like a rag doll through the air and over the side of the cliff. Figuring that he may not be able to reach the barbarian in time and not wanting to take the chance of actually trying to ‘Catch’ the flying behemoth in mid air, Celceor instead decided to cast a feather fall on Fafnir slowing his decent to that of a feather. The ‘Feather fall’ spell was now a main stay in Celceor arsenal. After seeking the spell for it for some time and eventually getting it from Bent , he doesn’t go anywhere with out it now due to his fear of deep pits and chasms.

 

Werkle having caught up with the last creature, charged into it and impaling his axe deep into the belly of the beast brought it down with a loud thud. Celceor seeing the battle was now over, flew down to where Fafnir had landed and flew him back to the party.

 

The party regrouped and Bane who was strangely absent was found to have been relieving himself behind a rock and missed the whole encounter. The area was then searched and the party found the creatures’ lair but failed to turn up anything of value.

 

The session ended there.

XP:

Combat XP: 175
Story XP: 7,000
RP XP: Case by case
Bonus Awards: Case by case

Celceor The Wise; Elf Mage (Dave M.) XP Start: 19,991xp
Combat: 25xp
Story: 1000xp
RP: 50xp

Bonus: 50xp Quick thinking to safe Fafnir's life
XP for Session: 1,125xp
XP Total: 21,116xp

Nick; Human rogue (Dave P.) XP Start: 15,923xp
Combat: 25xp
Story: 1000xp
RP: 200xp

Bonus: 100xp Negotiation for Prince's release
XP for Session: 1,325xp
Total: 17,248

Fafnir; Human Barbarian (Jon C) XP Start: 13,984xp
Combat: 25xp
Story: 1000xp
RP: 200xp

Bonus: 50xp Tok no!
For Session: 1,275xp
Total: 15,259xp

Werkle of Dinnsmere; Dwarf Fighter (Al) XP Start: 15,445xp
Combat: 25xp
Story: 1000xp

RP: 50xp
For Session: 1,075xp
Total: 16,520xp

Eggo of the Holy Brotherhood; Human Cleric (NPC) XP Start: 13,208xp
Combat: 25xp
Story: 1000xp
For Session: 1,025xp
Total: 14,233xp

Ereyn Bane; Human Rogue (Mike D.) XP Start: 13,892xp
Story: 1000xp
For Session: 1000xp
Total: 14,892xp

Bent, Dwarf Wizard/Bard XP Start: 9,780xp
Combat: 25xp
Story: 1000xp
RP: 50xp

Bonus: 25xp – forgot what this was, but I remembering giving him a chip for something said that helped out
For Session: 1,100xp
Total: 10,880xp

 

Tok: Half-Orc Druid (Jon P) XP Start: 6,515xp

Combat: 25xp
Story: 1000xp
RP: 100xp

Bonus: 50xp Tok yes?  Tok no….

For Session: 1,175xp

Total: 7,690xp