Post by hubertbartels on Dec 20, 2020 14:19:50 GMT -5
The Rift Canyon - a large and deep scar across the Bandit Kingdoms - was used by rebels and others trying to escape the tyranny of Iuz’s forces. It is the rumored hiding place of Scardos who has the mirror of Lozery. So, we had to go there.
Dunkin and Sir Thabo used their connection with the Nyrond Intelligence Service to learn about routes into the Bandit Kingdoms that would allow us to bypass Iuz’s border patrols. Linnex, the wizard the Nyrond Intelligence Service sent, had a way to teleport the party to a safe house in the Tangles, a wood just to the north of the Rifts Canyon.
After having the teleport spell cast on us, we appeared in a small animal shed next to a pig sty. From a nearby house, a swineherd and his wife greeted us and prepared for us, a meal of acorn-fed pork and greens.
The next morning, we left the safe house and headed south. This was the most settled part of the Tangles, a patchwork of more pig ranches, charcoal burners and hardscrabble farms. The swineherd warned us about traveling at night. The woods and the canyon approaches are patrolled by wandering undead patrols. Getting closer to the north canyon wall, we would find large forts and organized troops of ogres and orcs while the skies overhead had spiny devils.
The local people are just trying to survive. Many have disappeared into Iuz’s army while others have joined the rebels hiding in the canyon. From time to time, our travel took us past occupied farmlands but we could only see very old or young people working the fields. More often, the farmsteads would be abandoned, their homes showing signs of burning and looting. Once, we spotted a patrol of orcs accompanied by a hill giant but in our motley garb and without horses, they judged us as unworthy of further attention.
Mid-afternoon, Dunkin came up with an idea – since the undead stay in lairs during the bright daytime, why don’t we clear out a ghoul lair and use that as our campsite for the night? We agreed and started to keep an eye out for undead.
Then we found the bodies. They were armed and wearing cheap leather armor but had been dead several days. All showed signs of being gnawed on. Gideon approached a nearby raven and cast Speak with Animals. The druid learned that the raven knew where the “Killers in the Night’ were. A bribe of Gideon’s shiny jacket button persuaded the raven to act as a guide.
The raven flew to a nearby farmhouse. As we got closer, we could see the bones of the livestock scattered in the barn and outbuildings, Wolfram spotted a root cellar – I (Aerwyn) put an arcane lock on the door to keep the undead from ambushing us. Gideon pointed out the many footprints on the abandoned porch.
Our first attempt to enter us was blocked by barred kitchen door. Gideon shifted form into a bear and smashed it open. He charged into the kitchen where he found six hungry ghouls. As we joined the battle, more and more ghouls came in, some from the hallway, some from upstairs. Directing them were two ghasts. One of the ghasts attacked me (Aerwyn) while a ghoul kept me dodging.
In the end, we had defeated 18 ghouls and 2 ghasts. We took the bodies outside and Gideon used Move Earth to create a pit to bury them. Inside, I (Aerwyn) used to Prestidigitation to clear the stench of the undead.
We settled down to spend the night. But on the last watch, Gideon and Dunkin smell something burning. The roof and porch of the farmhouse was burning. We were under attack from adventurers trying to take out a house of ghouls. Attempts to douse the flames were met by a hail of crossbow bolts from the woods. Sathy cast Sleep on the adventurers while Gideon put out the fires with a spell. A second party of adventurers coming around the corner of the farmhouse finally realized that they were not facing ghouls. We invited them all into the house.
The next morning, we continued traveling to the canyon. The six young partisans have joined us. They heard the Scardos was assembling a large group in the canyon somewhere and they want to join up.
Around mid-morning, we spotted a creature, about a 1,000 feet up, flying overhead. It must have spotted us because it flew off, returning with seven more. Descending, they were spine devils, flying closer and closer, taunting us with shrill cries. One flew past Fergus, one of the young partisans, poking him with a talon. They were trying to provoke us in to a fight. We kept out cool and after an hour, they flew off, looking for other victims.
The narrow goat trail began to descend into the canyon proper, twisting over ridges and past standing rocks. Wolfram and Gideon were in the lead, guiding us past crevices and through ravines. Some of the crevices led to deep caves.
From one of the crevices hiding a cave, trolls were lying in wait. Gideon put up a Wall of Flame, blocking the cave exit while we hurried past. We had gotten a short distance when the trolls ran up behind us.
Turning around, we met the trolls’ rush with a storm of crossbow bolts, spells and a fireball. With the trolls dead, we returned to the troll cave. The floor of the cave was littered with bones and ripped up armor – the trolls had been waylaying people for a long time,
To arrive at the canyon floor with enough time to search for Scardos and his forces, we decided to spend the night here in the troll cave. I (Aerwyn) sighed and began casting Prestidigitation to clear the air.
Dunkin and Sir Thabo used their connection with the Nyrond Intelligence Service to learn about routes into the Bandit Kingdoms that would allow us to bypass Iuz’s border patrols. Linnex, the wizard the Nyrond Intelligence Service sent, had a way to teleport the party to a safe house in the Tangles, a wood just to the north of the Rifts Canyon.
After having the teleport spell cast on us, we appeared in a small animal shed next to a pig sty. From a nearby house, a swineherd and his wife greeted us and prepared for us, a meal of acorn-fed pork and greens.
The next morning, we left the safe house and headed south. This was the most settled part of the Tangles, a patchwork of more pig ranches, charcoal burners and hardscrabble farms. The swineherd warned us about traveling at night. The woods and the canyon approaches are patrolled by wandering undead patrols. Getting closer to the north canyon wall, we would find large forts and organized troops of ogres and orcs while the skies overhead had spiny devils.
The local people are just trying to survive. Many have disappeared into Iuz’s army while others have joined the rebels hiding in the canyon. From time to time, our travel took us past occupied farmlands but we could only see very old or young people working the fields. More often, the farmsteads would be abandoned, their homes showing signs of burning and looting. Once, we spotted a patrol of orcs accompanied by a hill giant but in our motley garb and without horses, they judged us as unworthy of further attention.
Mid-afternoon, Dunkin came up with an idea – since the undead stay in lairs during the bright daytime, why don’t we clear out a ghoul lair and use that as our campsite for the night? We agreed and started to keep an eye out for undead.
Then we found the bodies. They were armed and wearing cheap leather armor but had been dead several days. All showed signs of being gnawed on. Gideon approached a nearby raven and cast Speak with Animals. The druid learned that the raven knew where the “Killers in the Night’ were. A bribe of Gideon’s shiny jacket button persuaded the raven to act as a guide.
The raven flew to a nearby farmhouse. As we got closer, we could see the bones of the livestock scattered in the barn and outbuildings, Wolfram spotted a root cellar – I (Aerwyn) put an arcane lock on the door to keep the undead from ambushing us. Gideon pointed out the many footprints on the abandoned porch.
Our first attempt to enter us was blocked by barred kitchen door. Gideon shifted form into a bear and smashed it open. He charged into the kitchen where he found six hungry ghouls. As we joined the battle, more and more ghouls came in, some from the hallway, some from upstairs. Directing them were two ghasts. One of the ghasts attacked me (Aerwyn) while a ghoul kept me dodging.
In the end, we had defeated 18 ghouls and 2 ghasts. We took the bodies outside and Gideon used Move Earth to create a pit to bury them. Inside, I (Aerwyn) used to Prestidigitation to clear the stench of the undead.
We settled down to spend the night. But on the last watch, Gideon and Dunkin smell something burning. The roof and porch of the farmhouse was burning. We were under attack from adventurers trying to take out a house of ghouls. Attempts to douse the flames were met by a hail of crossbow bolts from the woods. Sathy cast Sleep on the adventurers while Gideon put out the fires with a spell. A second party of adventurers coming around the corner of the farmhouse finally realized that they were not facing ghouls. We invited them all into the house.
The next morning, we continued traveling to the canyon. The six young partisans have joined us. They heard the Scardos was assembling a large group in the canyon somewhere and they want to join up.
Around mid-morning, we spotted a creature, about a 1,000 feet up, flying overhead. It must have spotted us because it flew off, returning with seven more. Descending, they were spine devils, flying closer and closer, taunting us with shrill cries. One flew past Fergus, one of the young partisans, poking him with a talon. They were trying to provoke us in to a fight. We kept out cool and after an hour, they flew off, looking for other victims.
The narrow goat trail began to descend into the canyon proper, twisting over ridges and past standing rocks. Wolfram and Gideon were in the lead, guiding us past crevices and through ravines. Some of the crevices led to deep caves.
From one of the crevices hiding a cave, trolls were lying in wait. Gideon put up a Wall of Flame, blocking the cave exit while we hurried past. We had gotten a short distance when the trolls ran up behind us.
Turning around, we met the trolls’ rush with a storm of crossbow bolts, spells and a fireball. With the trolls dead, we returned to the troll cave. The floor of the cave was littered with bones and ripped up armor – the trolls had been waylaying people for a long time,
To arrive at the canyon floor with enough time to search for Scardos and his forces, we decided to spend the night here in the troll cave. I (Aerwyn) sighed and began casting Prestidigitation to clear the air.