End of the Week - Flamerule 9th (night)

Ok, you all have your emails detailing what you did this last week. Chime in here with your results. I'll be adding the results of the two NPC adventures along with your replies.

Also, we have some very exciting news...

Althalus ***Level Up***

Umberto ***Level Up***

We have a couple others that are getting close as well, keep up the good work. For those of you who leveled up, you should go to the "Roll Init!" topic and update your stats. Also, you should email me your new skill totals.

I have found our hold a cook, he will be here at the end of the week. I have also obtained supplies for preserving food. I was also apporached by some orcs and asked if our merry band would like a job. The Red Wizards seemed a bit worried though. We should look in to the Red Wizards and possibly the orc job, it pays very well.

Althalus (Catching breath from busy week): Well, I have a bit to report here. I was able to put a little more coin in the coffers and I did quite a bit of scouting. This is what I found:

1. About three miles Southeast of Temel are some ruins, which are home a group of Fey’ri (similar to tiefling, but demon/elf union), numbers unknown.

2. About seven miles East of the Fey'ri is a cave with at least two ogres living there. They were eating a freshly killed ghost rothe when I saw them.

3. The ghost rothe herd is about five miles South of the aforementioned ogres. These are large creatures, similar to bison, 6ft to the shoulder and 8-12 ft long.

4. I met a gentleman named The Hermit and shared a meal with him. He told me that things have been rough for the inhabitants of the mountains ever since the Thousand Fists Orcs and the Ripped Guts Orcs stopped fighting each other. The two fought over control of the Moon Pass; the Thousand Fists on this southern side, and the Ripped Guts to the North. Then after a visit from someone from the Hellgate Keep region, they have ended their hostilities toward each other.

5. He also said that there was an attack on the Lady’s Hand Monastery a few months ago, initiated by the Morueme clan of blue dragons with the aid of their slave hobgoblins. Terrible battle, but the followers of Loviatar held them off with Netherese weapons. The monks of the Lady’s Hand Monastery (15 miles east of here, high up in the mountains) earned a dark name in these lands as travelers along the nearby roads sometimes disappeared in the vicinity. (DM Note - just a point of clarification, the Lady's Hand Monastery is 15 miles east of where Althalus met the Hermit, which would make it about 30 miles southeast of Rockhammer Hold)

6. There is a den of wolves near Everland Pass

7. On the other side of the pass, maybe three miles off the road, is a small cave where an ettin lives.

8. Near the end of the mountains and the beginning of the plains, I headed south. I found a camp of goblins a bit larger than the first one that got wiped out in the attack against the bugbears, but it does have more women and children here.
Cholnudon you head east. You are atop the next mountain when you nearly lost your life.

9. I was attacked and knocked unconscious by a snowcloak (a large, flying predator). Luckily, my body rolled underneath a couple of fallen trees and it was unable to reach me.

10. On the other side of the hills I saw a huge camp or orcs, numbering at least 50. They are camped out in this valley, but they don’t look like they are going anywhere.

11. A dire bear has moved into the cave previously inhabited by the goblin raiders.

12. The herd of branta are still in that area.

13. I checked on the hill giants and there are now four of them, which is not so good.

14. The Dekanter goblins also seem to be growing in number. They seem very organized and since they aren't hassling the locals, we should be prepared for them having some sort of plan in the works.

Whew.

Nice work!

Myself and Umberto encountered the largest patrol we have yet on the pass. The man in charge was Captain Aito, who regularly patrols the Everlund Pass.

We gave them details about where the bugbear camp is, their numbers, and warned them of the effectiveness of the shaman. Captain Aito was grateful, but very impressed when we proposed the joint attack idea.

Myself and Umberto, along with Captain Aito, Enyer (ranger), and Denser (cleric) all gathered around to plan out this attack. Aito confirms that he brought Enyer and Denser along with his patrol just for this attack. After drawing out a diagram of the bugbear’s encampment, you inform them of your commitment.

We introduced Kelser, and warned him of the nature of some of our associates, namely the goblin and orc that would be assisting Kelser with the attack. Captain Aito was less than thrilled, but relented with a warning that our comrades would join the bugbears if there was any trouble out of them.

We returned, and are awaiting the results of the attack.

Otherwise a fine week of crafting, for myself and my fellow smiths. When our current projects are completed, a tidy 200 gp profit will await us.

Late in the evening, Captain Aito, Denser, Enyer, and the rest of your NPCs return to Rockhammer Hold.

“Kregnok, Umberto, I’m happy to report that the bugbear threat is no more. Ah, what a fine keep you have here, build it yourself did you?”

“Um…yes.”

“Splendid, well we must be off, one of the guards was not fortunate enough to survive the attack, despite the best efforts of Denser. Plus we need to get the confiscated items back to their rightful owners. On behalf of the Silver Knights of Silverymoon, I thank you for your assistance in ridding Everlund Pass of the bugbear threat.”

You both shake hands with the three of them before they take off. “I’ll see you next time we pass through these parts,” say Captain Aito, “probably down at the new tavern that Phyllis has been talking about.”

Kelser fills you in on the details of the battle. “We got off to a good start and were able to keep the pressure on them. The shaman, as soon as he emerged from his tent, was quickly downed by Aito himself. Gravaar and myself fought through seemingly waves of bugbears. Marina was true with her bow, dropping bugbears in the crowds. Even K’Gorsz was effective with a couple of backstabs on the bugbear leader. About four or five guards were dropped during the fight but their cleric was able to revive them. Gravaar dropped of exhaustion after the fight, and the cleric would not assist. Fortunately we were able to get the orc back on his feet.”

“Also we were able to take the bugbears stuff which includes:

(7) suits of leather armor
(11) morning stars
(46) javelins
(4) light wooden shields
(1) wand of cure light wounds (11 charges)

DM Note – Good job on this, now you have a solid ally in Captain Aito.

Excellent work! Let us outfit our guards with the improved armor, after cleaning and refurbishing it, of course, and the rest can go into our vault for the time being. (DM Note - the guards already had studded leather but I did add the wooden shields to them, good thinking Mr. Prez!)

At the end of the week the four you sent out to Wageton stagger back to the stronghold; Syvgar with a gash on his head, and Otihand walking with a slight limp. Panian then gives his account of what happened:

“We got to Wageton and started to ask around about the disappearance of Talf and Elonn. A local drunk told us he saw the two of them leave with the woman with long dark hair, and that they headed north.”

“I followed the tracks for a couple of miles north when they intersected with the tracks of a wagon drawn by two horses. At this intersection there was a lot of movement. From here the wagon tracks continue northeast and a lone set of footprints continued north.”

“Lander suggested that we follow the wagon tracks, as that was most likely where the two loggers were. A few miles later the wagon tracks lead to a well used road that connects Silverymoon to several of the small thorps, such as Wageton. This is where we lost that trail.”

“Having nothing else to go on we doubled back and followed the single tracks north. It led to the Red Wizard’s Enclave.”

“We approached the front gate and spoke to the guard, telling him that we had questions regarding the possible kidnapping of the two loggers from Wageton. Eventually he called one of the wizards over, a bald spellcaster by the name of Kizzaf. She said she knew nothing of any kidnapping.”

“Syvgar,” Panian gives a respectful nod to the half-orc, “knew she was lying or holding back information.”

The four NPCs get quite for a minute, finally Panian continues, “After a series of…accusations, Kizzaf yelled for her minions to attack. From the ground, two zombies unearthed themselves and rose to protect her. Syvgar and myself took care of one of them while Otihand slew the other.”

Lander, with his arms crossed, leaned in, “I am a researcher, by the way, not a fighter or spellcaster.”

With a deadpan look, Panian confirms this, “True, Lander is neither fought nor cast spells. Otihand and Syvgar both sustained injuries, Syvgar’s being most severe. Fortunately for us, one of the other members of the Red Wizard’s enclave apprehended the fleeing Kizzaf. It turns out that person was Hinnar, the woman in charge of the enclave.”

“Through an interrogation process that was quite…thorough, (even Syvgar the half-orc shivers at this) Kizzf confessed to working with a slaver merchant named Tyrus. She was aided by charm person spells, potions of love, and a wig of long, black hair.”

We escorted Hinnar and the bloodied Kizzaf to Wageton to turn her over to the authorities. Hinnar apologized for her underling’s actions and left her to whatever punishment the council seemed fit. She gave the town council a handful of potions as compensation for their troubles as well as offered a reward for the return of the loggers.”

“Cato June, while saddened by the loss of the loggers, was grateful that the mystery had been solved and thanked Hinnar for her cooperation. Councilmen June said that he will look to us at Rockhammer Hold again if needed in the future.”

“Hinnar said she also will look to us at Rockhammer Hold in the future and thanked us for uncovering this threat to their economic and social security by giving us these potions:

(2) Cure light wounds
(2) Mage Armor
(2) Magic Weapon
(1) Protection from (alignment)
(1) Bless Weapon

(DM Note – these potions might be best if saved for when the NPCs go out on what you think will be an adventure)

Excellent job. Myself and Rez'gyrk will attend to your injuries, while we await word from Bastion, Lozigee, and Valen. These items you've received will be placed in the vault until a later date.

Furthermore, Panian, I was aware that Lander would be a non-combatant, my hope was his experience in research would prove useful to you. Please bear no hard feelings towards him, and we're all grateful that the four of you escaped serious injury.

I don't expect to hear replies from Valen and Bastion, but I do Lozigee. Although MF is pretty busy with work on his house this week. It might be best to move on to the next day and let MF chime in when he gets a chance. So look for a new post on the 12th (April).

EEP!< I reply now!

Other than the attack on the bugbears, I made a promising business venutre in Wageton. While placing the flyers about the town, Cato June offered me a store to sell the products of Rockhammer Hold. I will be opening the shop as soon as possible and anything you would like to sell please let me know, this is an excellent opportunity for us. We need a name for the shop...hmmm, let me think on this.

Our gardeners are doing very well for us and soon we shall have vegetables, I cannot wait, all this meat is doing a number on my insides. Also the carpenters have made some corrals for farm animals, so keep that in mind if any good livestock becomes available for trade.

On a disturbing note, our little poison factory K'Gorsz has informed me that he is missing some poison. I fear it is the mysterious group from Cholnuldon. Unless anyone else knows of the missing poison's whereabouts, I think we need to be aware that have a potential enemy in these fiends, I apologize for bringing us into this, I thought I could do business without strings attached, I should have known better. Be on your guard.

This is most troubling. I will end my business with the poison traders as well. I agree that they could be trouble. And to think that we have been supplying them with poisons that they could potentially use against us.