Journal of a red-headed dwarf (week three)

Well after nearly dying when the floor collapsed in a large trap, sadly my companion Okira did die, I awoke some mornings later, still in the dungeon, to an argument about non-dwarfs lacking shadows and cursed gold coins. I was in the empty room just below the former bottom of the pit below Gnarles Barkley, I didn’t recognize a slim elf. Someone, I don’t remember who went too climb up the rope ladder and I asked her to bring me a sandwich, but she must not have heard me because the only thing that came down were some torches and pitchforks. I made do with trail rations, and picked up four pitchforks. My companions told me that I had been out for a couple of days, and that Charles D. Ward had been looking after me, but that they had brought me down into the dungeon to keep me safe, it was unclear from what exactly. But there was mention of some “men in black robes” topside and a 24 hour ultimatum.

Charles D. Ward pitched down the 300 ft. rope ladder and we tied it to the ring in the “pit of the winds” room. It did not reach the bottom. As we passed through, I was surprised to see the statues back in the “chest room”. Then they told me more about the three cursed coins and sure enough they were back in their original room when we sought them out. Someone discovered a secret passage leading off of the left wall of the “chest room” which lead to a room with writhing chains with hooks hung from the ceiling. My plan is to reach into the room with a pitchfork keeping well back from the end of the nearest chain.

....

(week 3) The black robes.

Private thoughts of the tall dwarf

"Man I can't wait to be out of this retched dungeon. Why can't we adventure in nicer holes? What the?!?! Why aren't several of my companions casting shadows? This can not be good. I suspect it is driven by greed but time will tell. ... What is the damn smelly ork doing? Oh please don't pick that up! ... Well at least we know it is the coins that are the problem."

---
Seeing as how several of the party are not casting shadows, I made the decision to leave the dungeon alone in order to speak with Charles. Once out of the hole, I found Charles was not alone. Seems a load of towns folk were waiting to talk to us about our lack of resolution on the whole children thing. I spoke firmly to them and explained that we were doing our best and told them to back off. About that time the smelly ork stepped out of the hole, only to have several of the towns people notice she cast no shadow. To put it simply, we now have a solid source of torches and pitch forks. Finally I got a chance to talk to Charles, and he said he would think on it but basically destroying the gold coins would likely solve our problem. I left Charles to think and returned down the hole carrying the unconscious short dwarf, so we could stay together for the night.

That night we slept at the base of the hole and setup watches for the whole night. Near the end of my watch, something interesting happened. Several children fell down the hole and landed in the middle of the room, where they promptly faded out of existence. Knowing that there was nothing to be done about it, I finished out my watch. When I woke the elf for his watch, I informed him of the happenings and then tried to get some sleep. The elf would not leave it be. He woke the boyscout and told him of the children but he gave her much the same message I did, "There is nothing we can do about it now, we will have to wait till morning.". The elf then decided it would be a great idea to simulate the circumstances of the children's disappearance. At that point I sat up and urged him to please climb up and jump down the hole, that maybe it would shut him up. I then went to sleep.

The next morning I kicked the short dwarf and she came around but looked very beat up. We then made our way to through the dungeon to see if the coins had returned, they had. Seems that anything horror tainted that gets tossed down the windy hole returns. That can not be good. At least this time no one touched the coins, so that was a plus. We searched the area at the bottom of the trapped floor and found nothing. We then worked our way back out the dungeon looking for anything that might help us solve this puzzle.

When we got to the windy hole room, the decision was made to procure the rope ladder and search the hole. Charles agreed to lend us the rope for 1/2 the take of the dungeon. The stinky ork agreed without polling the party and soon the rope ladder was tied to the ring in the room and let down the hole. The elf and boyscout went down the rope but found nothing. On to the next room.

Searching the chest room uncovered a secret door opposite where the chest used to reside. Opening the door revealed a room full of rustling chains hung from the ceiling. Each was covered in hooks. Laying on the floor across the room was a small bag. The short dwarf decided to investigate and was knocked unconscious by the first chain he approached. Being a battle hardened dwarf, I trudged into the room. Once I reached the bag I noticed a hallway to either side of the bag and so I made for the northern hallway. The only damage I took was a small scratch on my shoulder. Seeing how easy it was to traverse the room, the elf attempted it but do to the wimpy nature of elves, he made it but fell at my feet unconscious. I gave him a swift kick and he woke up. Next came the boyscout and he too made it without any major problems. Lastly the stinky ork decided to leave the short dwarf in the chest room, and join the rest of the party. This didn't work out as well as she hoped, as she took damage from almost every chain she passed.

What is that? A squirrel down here? I felt like I had to follow it and did. I was mesmerized by the little buggers tail, man would that make a nice accept piece to my battle ax!

(Week 2) Scouting out some trouble

I, Laerzag, scout of Cara Fahd and enemy of all evil, arrived at Gnarles Barkley after a long walk.  I sensed evil.  I saw fire consume Horror-field and kill brave T'skrang swordswoman.  May her death song be ever sung.

I joined other adepts in fighting evil that still lurked.  They needed rest to heal.  I led children away from deadly hole and taught them important tracking skills.  I made it like game for them.  Very fun.  Still, promise of candy lure them to hole.  It was too deep and steep to climb.  Homy dug down but not far enough.  Adepts knew friendly local wizard who let us borrow his rope ladder. 

Strange things at bottom of hole.  Bleeding statues and empty chest.  Sunlight did not break the curse on statue.  We found no children but more were missing every day.  We killed three statues that came alive but were caught in trap.  Okira, elven warrior, was slain when I landed on top of her.  I am very sorry that she is dead.  Vaughn came then.  He is a male elf.  Seems kind of shifty, like most elves.  Now we are ready to leave dungeon.  Will be nice to relax and spend restful evening in town.  Maybe I can take children for nighttime tracking experience in woods far from hole.  Will be fun and I teach them important skills for life when village is overrun by Horrors or slavers.  Which bugs are good to eat, how to look dead when Therans walk past, how to reuse water.  Things every child should know.

Obituary for Azarael

Azarael, the renowned T'Skrang swordswoman died this afternoon of intense Horror-induced burns.  The damaged area covered approximately 97.657% of her body and was  especially intense in her sword arm.  Her brave sacrifice to save the citizens of Gnarles Barkley from the deady Children of the Strange-Foreign-Grain-the-Must-Not-Be-Named will not be forgotten. 

Services were not held because he companions apparently had better things to do than dispose of her body in a respectful manner.  In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Beefcake Brigade exotic dancing troop at the Red Spot Inn in Bartertown.

She is survived by her mother Sitherael, a riverboat captain of the Iontos River and a string of disappointed lovers from Travar to Throal.  

(Week 2) Return to Gnarles Barkley

As I led my companions toward Ardanyan, we encountered a charming waif and her brother.  They said that they were fleeing from the very village that we had just left!  A horror had destroyed their parents and attacks an orphanage.  I entertained the children as we headed back to face the monster. 

The horror had taken the shape of a field of strange foreign corn, not the ordinary wheat of Barsaive and turned the bodies of the village's orphans to its own use.  Fire seemed like the best option, so I sent Homy, the red haired dwarf, to fetch some jars of oil while moving to a better location to cast the fire away from the house.  As we passed the field we were attacked by the Horror tainted orphans.  I was able to dispatch them with my swordswomanship but Dob fell and we withdrew. 

When Homy returned she cast several jars at the field before managing to hit it.  It reared up breaking itself free of the earth when it caught fire.  I moved in though the flames were piercing hot.  After a moment the conflagration expanded and the world disappeared in flame.

Finis

Journal of a red-headed dwarf (week 2)

Before we started out for Adenyan and the river, Throg the orc wandered off with nary a word. So we heighed off to Adenyan without her. Three days out, just before we would have reached Adenyan we chanced upon two children with bindles obviously worn out with travel. They asked for water, which we provided, and as they drank, their story came out. Their names were Jenna and Jason, seven and eight years old respectively, from Gnarles Barkley. It seems that the horror there is not at an end. Apparently, just after we left., a horror ate their parents and all of the kids at the orphanage where their mother worked. They were very frightened, and fled carrying what they could, and without much foresight, hence no water bags.

After discussion among the party we decided to go back to Gnarles Barkley. Jenna and Jason, after some coaxing, agreed to come with us back to Gnarles Barkley and to show us where the horror lurked. They went on to describe a grain field that was sown with seeds that originally came from their great-great grandfather (or somesuch). It seemed that their ancestor who had been a slave on a Theran cargo ship before “the troubles” had stolen some seeds from a shipment and since settling in Gnarles Barkley their family had planted successive generations, but that something had gone wrong with this latest planting.

When we arrived in Gnarles Barkley the children showed us their house and the nearby field in which the horror lurked. There did appear to be something eldritch about the filed of corn, with cobs too long and kernels too large. Azreal , the T’Slang, said that in her experience the only recourse would be to burn the field. I asked how we could get accelerant (oil or alcohol) on the field without getting within range of the horror’s powers. There was much discussion of bottles and jars with lighted rags being thrown at the field. I expressed my opinion that holding a lighted container of oil sounded quite dangerous, but my companions assured me that we were adventurer heroes and that we had to expect danger as part of the job.

I left the others to get the jars of oil and some rags from the general store. I got a very good price of one silver each with the rags thrown in free. (I guess that the townsfolk were glad that we were back to face this new incarnation of horror.) I returned with six jars of oil topped off with rags, only to find Dob, my fellow dwarf, lying unconscious , wounded and bleeding, no one had even taken care of his wounds, or tried to stop the bleeding.

While I bound his wounds the rather clouded story came out from Okira and Azreal. Azreal had kept getting closer and closer to field of corn (She said she was looking for a good place to throw the oil jars.) until she prompted a response and a child with two sickles ran out from the field and attacked her. Dob and Okira came to Azreal’s defense. And the three of them dispatched the possessed child, taking some hits. But before they could retreat to a safe distance (or so they said) a second similarly armed child spewed forth from the corn. Again, the child, who was easy to hit, was dispatched, but Dob has taken several hits. Pleading with Azreal, the hero, to retreat was in vain, she continued to taunt the field and dance around the attacking children. It wasn’t until Dob lay unconscious and both Okira and Azeal were seriously bleeding that Azeal relented, being reminded that it was her perception that the field could only be dealt with by fire. In all they had killed four of the sickle-wielding, possessed children.

After Dob’s wounds were tended to and he was resting as well as could be expected, I distributed the jars of oil stuffed in the top with rags. I gave two to Areal and two to Okira and kept two for myself. I then proceeded to approach the field from upwind and at what Okira said was a safe distance, so that I could throw my jars and ignite the field. Although I have a good throwing arm, in the excitement I forgot my training and I missed with my two jars with flaming rags when I threw them at the field. Okira was more focused and she hit the field dead on with both of her jars, bursting it into flame. Azreal seemed transfixed by the sight and kept her two jars unthrown.

Flaming children (23 as it turned out) ran from the field and ended up setting fire to a number of buildings. But what captured our attention was that the field reared up rising some forty to fifty feet above our heads in its flaming “glory”. I don’t know what possessed us, in retrospect, we should have retreated to a safe distance and watched it burn or taken off after the fleeing, possessed children to stop their depredations, but instead Azreal attacked the field with her sword and Okira and I followed suit taking flame damage as we did so. Our attacks seemed to have little effect on the field until in one great burst of flame, which threw us back, the field was entirely consumed. I was knocked back, badly wounded, but still conscious. Okira was lying unconscious, and Azreal because of the earlier hits that she had taken from the sickles of the children, lay dead. (The two jars of oil that she still had at that point may have contributed to the damage.)

I pulled Okira and Azreal further from the last of the flames, and fortunately Okira soon recovered consciousness. Okira and I along with a wandering orc, named Laerzag, helped the town’s fire brigade put out the burning buildings which the 23 flaming children had lite. All of the possessed children fell dead when the field exploded and was consumed in that last burst of flame.

For the next three days we tended our wounds, healed and discussed what are next steps might be, hoping at first that this time we had gotten to the root of the horrors in Gnarles Brakley, but that was not the case.

On the day after the fire, Jason came to us and said that his sister, Jenna, was missing, and that she had gone down a hole where the field had been, because “someone” had told her there was candy down there. We examined the hole, it looked deep. Other children began disappearing down the hole mostly at night. We tried putting out candy at a spot away from the hole, Laerzag tried scouting lessons and games for kids far from the hole, but still more children disappeared. We finally discovered that the children were being told by “voices in their heads” that there was a mountain of candy in the hole.

The hole itself was a meter in diameter and about 30 meters deep. I tried for a couple of days to dig an access ramp to the hole, but it was too deep. We couldn’t obtain a rope – we didn’t have enough money. I thought that I might trade my ruby for a rope, but found that I had lost the accursed thing. My companions were disinclined to trade down using their rubies in exchange for a rope. They were about to search Azeal’s husk which has remained unburied at the fire site, when our inquiries about ropes bore fruit. It seemed that Charles D. Ward (who we though was “on vacation” far away) had recently purchased a large quantity of rope and had made a 300 ft. rope ladder. It seemed that he had heard that a well equipt adventurer hero always had a rope, and figured that a rope ladder was even better. (I guess that he never thought about the weight of carrying a 300 ft. rope ladder on an adventure.) He readily agreed to join us to the extent of standing at the top of the hole while we used his ladder.

…..It was five days after the fire when we at last descended into the depths below what had been the field of horror corn. Under the floor at the bottom of the hole, Okira found the secret entrance to a dungeonesque series of rooms, stairways and tunnels. A bare room led to a larger room with a large chest on the righthand side surrounded by a mass of skeleton parts (bones!). In each corner of the room was a statue, all very similar, of a dwarf with his hands raised and his face replaced with by the sculptor with carved worms.

Fearing that the skeleton parts were the result of the statues coming to life and defending the chest, we took one of the 1200 lb. statues up to the surface. Dob remarked that all this effort on the statues was wasteful and declined to participate any further. I used a sledge hammer to try to separate the statute head from its torso, and the resultant wound bled! Laerzag, the orc, reduced the statue to rubble, but still it bled. We tried burning the rubble, but to no effect. I tried taking a bleeding piece of rubble in my tongs to the local forge, but the townsfolk ran in fear and locked up the forge. Dob found out that it was because they feared “blood magic”.

Eventually, we returned down to the “dungeon”, moved the other three statues and all the bones into the “pit of the winds” that we discovered just beyond the chest room. I carried all of the rubble from the first statue down and threw it in the “pit of the winds” as well. When we opened the large chest, it took Okira several swings with the sledge hammer to break the lock, the chest was empty. Nonetheless, we hauled the chest to the surface.

The next day we found a further room with three of the worm faced dwarf statues, they didn’t move right away, but radiated evil. Okira managed to kill two of them and Dob finished off the third. They didn’t bleed but shattered when they fell over.

Added later: A secret hallway behind the righthand wall of the three statue room was a trap. When Laerzag opened the door at the end, the entire floor collapsed. Okira was killed instantly and I was knocked unconscious and taken topside to “picnic” with Charles D. Ward.

(week 2) Orphans of the corn

While traveling south away from Bartertown, our party came upon a pair of young children. They begged for water and it was clear to see they had run away from home. Water was given and questions were asked. It was not long before we realized they had come from the Gnarles Barkley, the town that until recently had a city hall with a nasty horror residing in it. The children told us they were orphans and bad things had happened to the orphanage. The more we listened, the more concerned we became. We eventually talked the children into letting us escort them home.

While standing at a distance and surveying the orphanage, we learned from the orphans that this year's corn field was not right. Not sure what to expect, the short dwarf went in search of oil while the rest of the party approached the field. As we approached, a orphan horror came running from the field carrying two small scythes and attacked. We easily dispatched the small, nasty horror only to find a second one approaching. This one too was easily slain and then a third approached. Unfortunately due to a lucky strike, I was knocked unconscious. I did not see consciousness for 2 days but the others filled me into what happened next.

Apparently my falling into unconsciousness did not dissuade the remainder of the party, as once they killed the the 3rd orphan horror, they waited around for a 4th but as it nearly killed the warrior, they withdrew to safety shortly after killing it. Not long after the fight was over, the short dwarf returned with several bottles of oil, and  after a few tries, a lit bottle was tossed into the corn and the fire spread quickly, burning the whole field. That is when things went from bad to worse. Turns out the corn field itself was a horror and once lit on fire, it rose and began to attack the party! The party fought vigilantly and eventually the field fell, but not before one last burst of fire that killed Azerael.

The party rested for several days and during that time learned that children were disappearing each night. By doing a bit of investigating, we found out that the children were being drawn to a hole in the field by the promise of candy. An attempt to lure the children away from the hole by giving them candy was made but failed. Once healed, the party headed to the hole to put a stop to whatever horror lived within.

The hole itself was deep and dark and was impossible to climb, so the party went on a hunt for rope. Unfortunately the party is poor, so no rope was found. Then Charles the wizard got back and it just so turned out he had a 300ft rope ladder that he would lend us. So down the hole we went.

The first thing we found was nothing. The hole just went down and stopped. Then we found that the floor was made of wood, so we broke through. Below that was more hole and down we went. At the bottom we found a passage to a room with 4 statues surrounding a large chest with a pile of skeletons in front of it. Each statue had a pile of worms for a face. I preferred to leave the room be, as it looked very much to be a trap and I doubted it would yield anything but death to one or all of the party but others greatly wanted to know what was in the chest. A plan was hatched and a statue was moved to above ground, outside the hole. There it was broken into many pieces but that turned out to be a very bad plan. The statue began to bleed. We knew that was a very bad thing but were at a loss as to what to do about it. An attempt to put a piece in the furnace at the blacksmith's shop was made but that didn't go over so well, so we left it there to bleed and returned to the hole in order to delve deeper in the hopes of finding an answer.

The next room past the room with the chest in it was rather interesting. It was a hexagonal room with a big hole in the floor that went deep into the unknown. Wind rose out of the hole. There were 3 doors leaving the room. One went to a dead end, one went deeper into the dungeon and one was where we came from. There was also a big ring on one wall. We ventured further into the dungeon to find a room with 3 statues that attacked us, which we killed. Later we found a trapped floor that we all fell though. There was a latter to climb out but we had no way to get past it.

The decision was made to toss the 4 statues, including the broken statue, down the deep hole in the hex room and we did so. We then salvaged the chest. Later on returning we found that the statues had returned but the chest had not.

We will return to the dungeon again tomorrow.

Week two -- Vaugn

Usually I like to stick to the bigger cities, they have more … variety.   After all, you never know when you’ll feel the sudden need to find a different table, you know, maybe shortly after your current dealer finds that ace hidden in your sleeve.

But I digress. 

I was a little short on cash, and I figured I could lighten some bumpkin’s wallet a tad easier than their less naïve urban counterparts.  So I set off, and inside three days found myself in the rather quaint hamlet of Gnarles Barkley.  I scoped out the probable moneymaking spots: taverns, bars, blood-soaked dirt.  I found an especially promising place with a bloody spot right outside the door.  While I find it a little unorthodox to have your boxing ring in the middle of a well-light street, who am I to question these hick town ways?  I made a mental note to come back later and find someone to take my bets.

Further recon alerted me to a delightful man sitting by a rope ladder and a charred field, looking bored but well attired.  Now, I’m nothing if not friendly, right?  And all he needed was someone to keep him company.  I was more than happy to oblige, and I’ll report we indulged in more than one game of cards… just to pass the time.  Now I’ll admit, I may have… understated my skill, a bit.  But it was almost comically easy to get him to open his purse strings. 

Now, I was having a grand old time… I had padded my wallet quite nicely, all while systematically emptying his.  He looked disappointed, but optimistic (I love that!), until he reached in and felt no more coin.  Whoops.  Game over, I guess. 

Now I have seen people get angry.  I’ve certainly found myself on the wrong side of a sword more times than I’m comfortable recounting.  But gracious, he was disintegrating into a madman, and fast.  I tried to be nice, explain it was all in good fun… you know, the normal.  No dice.

But you know, decent guy he is, he gave me a choice.  Stay and fight him, or jump down this hole.  Well, it wasn’t much of a choice, once I saw the fire start flaring from his fingertips.  I jumped down the hole. 

I found the adventurers to which he had eluded, and casually mentioned it was my opinion that their ladder-holder was ready to go home.  No one seemed to care.  Oh well, you do what you can. 

But you know, I was walking along, and happened upon three coins laying unclaimed right on the ground.  I picked one up, visions of royal flushes and rolling dice dancing in my head.  The scout also picked one up.  Now, I ask you, what’s better than one gold coin?  … Two gold coins.  I made a little bet with him, tried to win it fair and square.  But he insisted on splitting it with me.  I’m not quite getting the draw of this, but okay.  He sets it down and oh-so-carefully chisels it into two equal pieces.  He says that he has cut, and I can choose.  Well, gracious, I chose both.  The look on his face was so precious; I wanted so much to laugh.  But of course, I’m nothing if not a polite winner.                  

Obituary -- Okira

Aukera ekarri Argia (Okira, to her friends), the warrior, has died after a valiant fight with worm-faced statues near the village of Gnarles Barkley.

Aukera stood for justice for the oppressed, and was dedicated to bringing the light of freedom to those under the yoke of evil.  She was militant but highly conscientious, taking her training seriously yet seeking a balance between war and righteousness.  Despite her short career, she assisted in the deaths of several horrors and many horror spawn.  Her mighty sword and unwavering commitment to her creed will be greatly missed.   

A short ceremony is planned to celebrate her bravery, and will take place at the Gnarles Barkley plaza one week hence. 

Fight the good fight.   

Week two -- Okira

This day has again brought us to the village of Gnarles Barkley.  Another horror had surfaced and was kidnapping children, no doubt for nefarious purposes.  Upon our arrival, we discovered a nearby cornfield to be the source of the evil.  After soundly defeating several minions, we set fire to the entire horror-crop and although the flames were intense, the fire eventually consumed the corruption. 

Unfortunately, the kidnappings continued.  Our party was led to a hole left in the blackened cornfield to which the missing children were apparently being summoned.  After much fruitless discussion, it was determined that our previous charge, Chuck the Wizard, would lend us his rope ladder to go down the hole after the children.  Once down, we found a room containing four worm face statues surrounding a chest amid a pile of bones.  What these poor souls must have suffered at the hands of these monsters, I dare not think.  We determined, with righteous indignation, that the statues must be destroyed.

However, noting the fates of whom I can only assume were virtuous heroes valiantly fighting these evil statues, we decided an indirect method of execution would be wisest.  Using great effort, we hoisted one of the statues out of the hole, with the intent to smash it.  The redheaded dwarf bravely applied the first crushing blow, shattering a good portion of the statue’s face.

It shakes me, even now, to report what happened next.  An amazing amount of blood poured from the broken stone, pooling beneath the broken statue.  Further destruction of the monster did nothing to stem the torrent.  I admit my bravery left me as I stood, horrified, at the situation.  I could only think of the massive destruction we had unknowingly unleashed on this innocent town.  My heart breaks for what we’ve done. 

Thankfully, we found a deep pit in another room underground, in which we pushed the remaining statues along with the pieces from the first.   Upon returning to the first room, we discovered that the chest was empty.  Very mysterious, and also a bit disappointing, I am ashamed to admit, since I am a tad short on coin.

Three more statues were quickly dispatched in a further room, and we were confidently moving on to the next room when…  AYIEEEE…

*Here may be found the last words of Okira the Warrior*

Food And Characters

Tonight I made lemonade again, and some Irish Coddle (sausage, bacon, onions, potatoes, barley, pepper, and chicken broth).

Azarael has died, and been replaced with a male orc scout named Laerzag. Okira has died, and been replaces with a male elven thief named Vaughn.

(Week 1) Stranger Dreams

Having returned to Bartertown, we celebrated our victory at the Red Spot.  My exuberant dance was rewarded with defenestration and I decided to curb my terpsichorean tendencies while in dwarven territory.  Soon we met up with Homy, a female dwarf who had missed the first trip to Gnarles Barkley.  I, and my companions, received a letter from one Charles Ward a wizard being held captive by brigands near Gnarles Barkley.  Upon returning to the village, I led the way to the isolated shack where a "mysterious stranger" held the wizard prisoner.  We overcame him with ease, freed Charles, and found provender for the poor soul who had been without food for the better part of a week.

The assassin, apparently a questor of Vestrial, the Mad Passion, claimed to have been hired in a dream to avenge the death.  Unable to make him talk sense, Throg slit his throat.  Nothing in the shack revealed anything useful about the assassin.  We set out for Ardanyan and the Coil River.  Hopefully we'll make it back to female civilization, but seeing some real water again will be nice in any event.

(Week 1) Nox's Journal

Nox’s Journal year 1510

I graduated from my apprenticeship in Bartertown and was hanging out at the Red Spot Inn with some friends in a similar position when two humans came in with a letter inviting adventurer heros to the town of Gnarles Barkley to be eaten. It seemed that Baron Silas Greenback, the local horror, had become tired of villager flesh and wanted something tastier. Well, with one thing and another, we all decided that we might be able to take out this horror and hotfooted it towards Gnales Barkley. Unfortunately, the little (3’6”) redheaded dwarf who usually hung out with us had not yet made her appearance when we left. It was an uneventful two days travel to Gnarles Barkley, but I assiduously conducted my karma ritual each morning, to keep myself fresh, even though I didn’t need the karma points.

This morning we arrived near Gnarles Barkley and I suggested that we reconnoiter. After some discussion, we took stock of the small town which was really just a large village occupied by dwarf settlers. It soon became apparent that the horror was in the townhall, and I left to find some chicken eggs. Finding some for a small price I returned with a dozen, now I go to fight my first horror.

Found in the dirt after Nox’s death.

(Week One) Journal of a redheaded dwarf

Journal of a redheaded dwarf in the year 1510

After our initiation upon completion of our appenticeships we agreed to meet at the Red Spot Inn in Bartertown (You know the one, it has a red spot on the ground in front of it – although if it has not been renewed recently it tends to harden to a brownish-black.) to see what adventure awaited us.

Anyway, I guess that I took overly long in my morning karma ritual, (afterall it was my first one after initiation) and in getting my armor looking just right, because by the time I arrived my erstwhile companions had already departed.

I was a little depressed, especially as I had been looking forward to spending time with the deep-thinking Nox, the Obsidiman. So, I bought a beer, though it wasn’t yet past the second bell, and I spilled out my disappointment to the barkeep. I guess he wasn’t in the mood to listen to the tales of woe of another just graduated apprentice, because he said, rather curtly, “They left for Gnarles Barkley .” Then when I didn’t leave right away, he mentioned that there was a horror, Baron Silas Greenback, there that was eating the town’s people, who were dwarfs, but that strangely the message had been brought by two young, male humans.

Not being able to get any more out of him, I heighed myself over to the town hall, where a kindly dwarf showed me a map of the route to Gnarles Barkley – I couldn’t afford a professional copy of course, so I memorized as much as I could, and took a few notes – (I’m no cartographer although I work with my hands and quite delicate work I can do too!).

Anyway, I figure that I wasn’t more than an hour or two behind them, when I set forth. But being a single dwarf (and I’m not planning on marriage in this decade at least) I took care as I approached others on the road – and especially when nearing crossroads of which there were surprisingly few. The passage of Nox, the big orc Throg, Azarael the T'Skrang, Okira and of course the other dwarf, Dob, was obvious in places and I had no fear of losing their trail. If nothing else, the distinctive pile of rocks from Nox’s karma rituals marked their campsites.

The trip to Gnales Barkley was otherwise uneventful with few locals on the road. Of course, being alone I camped well off the road, which may have slowed me down some, but for those two mornings I rose at first light and completed my nightly camps in the dark, in the attempt to catch up with Nox and companions.

When I finally arrived at Gnales Barkley, I saw a plume of smoke rising from the remains of the townhall and I almost cried when I learned that Nox was dead, killed by the skin-shifting magic of that vile caterpillar that must have been the source of evil behind the giant frog who cared for it.

I’m glad to say that before he died, Nox, even though he was wounded, smashed that frog horror to death. And I did lauigh later as my companions described Nox’s initial attack where he knocked the frog unto his back with a chicken egg. Okira and the others were very supportive and accepted me back into their fellowship even though I had missed the battle with the horror.

We returned to Bartertown uneventfully, leaving the town’s folk to clean up the mess. I admit that in the interests of speed, I had neglected my karm ritual on the way out, but on the way back I followed Nox’s example and performed it each day, although I didn’t need the karma, I probably did need the practice.

When we reached Bartertown, the group wanted to party to celebrate the killing of two horrors, and I guess that we went a little too far when the orc danced on the table, because the bouncers threw the orc out the second storey window onto the “red spot”. She got up none-the-worse-for-wear.

Okira received a letter purporting to be from a Charles D. Ward, a yound wizard who had attempted to go to Gnarles Barkley by himself to defeat the frog horror. Instead, he was waylaid by an assassin who forced him to write a letter to us (or most of us) relating his story – he was tied up and starving – an appealing hostage for a human.

Taking along five live trussed chickens to feed ourselves or Charles D. Ward when we freed him, we trekked back to Gnarles Barkley – I noticed in passing that some of the rocks that had been Nox were still scattered about the old townhall site, but that the town’s folk were siting a new building at the edge of town.

The townfolk soon informed us where the stranger –swarthy foreigner with black cape and hood – was staying and we approached the house which was standing alone at the edge of town (a different edge). Storming into the house, we found Charles D. Ward tied to a chair and looking rather wan. The assassin was lurking behind the door, but my companions quickly knocked him down – and before we could fully interrogate him, the orc slit his throat. We did learn that he received his commission to kill us via a dream state, from someone known only as Vincient’s mother. We didn’t find out how he would have been paid, but as he was the follower of a manipulative and deceitful passion (whose name it would not be politic to mention) maybe payment wasn’t as important a motivation.

Charles D. Ward was so hungry that upon being freed from the chair he attempted to eat a chicken raw; however the feathers defeated him and he reluctantly agreed to have it cooked for him. In searching the house, we found several rubies and we each got one – I wonder if they aren’t tainted and I intend to sell mine as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

Again we left the villagers to clean up, and marched back to Bartertown, mayhap to take the river south …

(Week One) Nox's Obituray

Nox’s Obituary

Nox, the Obsidiman, died in Gnarles Barkley this past week of intensive skin shifting.

Nox and his companions had come to Gnarles Barkley to rid it of the horror known as Baron Silas Greenback. Nox struck the first blow against the horror, which had taken the form of a giant frog, knocking it on its back and doing serious damae with a chicken egg. Despite being wounded, Nox waded in and smashed the evil frog with his mace, killing him. Nox soon discovered that the evil was not done, the frog had a caterpillar companion.

Risking all to eliminate this final evil – Nox again was at the forefront and struck the first blow. Unfortunately, the caterpillar responded with a skin-shifting spell that ended Nox’x life. It took 27 wounds and over 50 hits to end Nox’s life. Nox was 150 years old at his death. He is survived by his parents and his fighting companions. No memorial is planned. Donations to the rebuilding of the Gnarles Barkley townhall.

Last Weeks Food

Last week I served a pork, apricot, and cherry stew seasoned with cinnamon and cumin and stewed in chicken broth. It was served over basmati rice. I also served fresh lemonade made with organic lemons and lemon zest.

Week one

I am Okira, an Elvish warrior.  Although my training is in the ways of weapons and war, my apprenticeship taught me that these skills are best used to bring justice and goodness to our world’s scarred denizens.  The path of a true hero begins with one’s refusal to tolerate cruelty and oppression. 

So I was pleased to find a group of adventurers seeking to dispatch a terrible frog horror laying waste to a small village.  Upon arriving, our group skillfully defeated the horror and burned its remains, along with the village’s town hall.  I felt strongly that we should stay to help rebuild the structure, but was soundly outvoted by the party.  It is shameful when democracy does not uphold fairness and decency. 

I was disappointed on returning to Bartertown, but my ill feelings were soon tempered by the opportunity to help someone else in need.  I received a letter stating that a wizard was being held captive somewhere near the place we had just left.  Being familiar with the area, we found the wizard with little difficulty, but there was some misunderstanding with his captor – he seemed to think our group was responsible for a murder. 

Murder is never something in which I would participate, so we tied him up for further questioning.   Apparently the victim’s mother sent the captor as an assassin, and he was absolutely sure we were the responsible party.  I wished to continue the interrogation, but the beastmaster thought it more prudent to simply cut his throat.  I fear now that we may never bring the real criminals to justice.       

(Week 1) High Adventures on the Low Plains

Soon after completing my apprenticeship as a adept swordmaster, I joined my friends Nox, an Obsidiman wizard, Throg, a female Orkish beastmaster, Dob, a male Dwarven weaponsmith, and Okira, a female Elvish warrior, for a celebratory trip to Bartertown.  While there we took in the sights including the famous Red Spot and its associated Inn.  At the spot we were approached by two males, humans apparently, who bore a letter from a Horror styling itself Baron Greenback of the village Gnarles Barkley. 

The letter implied that we would be food for the foul construct but we were, to a woman, convinced that we could defeat the evil and save the village.  Having assured ourselves of the safety of the messengers, we set off on the short trip to the village.  Once there Nox went to acquire some eggs while I determined that the Town Hall was the center of the evil.

As we approached, the Horror burst through the doorway, blocking our path.  It was a gargantuan, chimerical construct, combining the body of a frog with the limbs of a Namegiver and warts showing the faces of those it had consumed.  Speaking lightly, I lunged to attack with my sword, followed by Okira and Dob.  Nox hurled an egg into its eye with amazing force knocking it off balance.  With Throg also wading into melee, we quickly dispatched the Horror though it did damage to Nox with its powerful tongue.

I led Throg and Nox into the Hall while Okira and Dob remained outside preparing to burn the Horror's body.  Within the building we found a a nest containing a caterpillar or prodigious size and delectable rather than horrible appearance.  Despite its charms Nox struck at the unnatural beast with his mace and was destroyed before our eyes.  His skin was ripped from his body and the corpse thrown through the door.  The scent of his breaking flesh, rock though it was, and the sight of my friend expiring were seered into my memory.  I shall never forget his bravery or his sacrifice.

Within a rock an Obsidman is born,
A noble heart inside his chest of stone.
This hero walked amisdt the lands forlorn.

But Nox did not this journey make alone,
He walked with friends who helped him on his way.
Yet sorrow grew where glory had been sown.

In Gnarles Barkley on a fateful day
He faced a Horror evil had made fat. 
The foulness the Hero down did lay.

We burned the cursed Hall down around the creeping Horror and also turned the frog-beast to ash.  That night we celebrated with the peasants who were overjoyed at their deliverance.  I had a grand time. 

Okira wished to rebuild the hall that had been destroyed but Throg pointed out that none of us had the skills needed for such a task.  The villagers said that they did not need the aid of heros for the work and so we set off for Bartertown, hoping to find another adventure, or at least better ale.

(To be continued...)

(Week 1) I am known Dob and I am a Dwarven Weaponsmith with a big axe!

The day started out as many other, in search of adventure and glory. While visiting a local bar in Bartertown, I met up with a band of adventurers. Not long after we received a note calling for help in a nearby town. We left at once and traveled 2 days south-east to _______. Upon arrival, we found a grotesque horror living in city hall and through the expert use of my battle axe, we quickly slew it. While setting the horror on fire a noise was heard from inside city hall. Three of our party entered to find what they later referred to as the cutest little caterpillar horror they had ever seen. An attempt to slay the caterpillar was made by the obsidiman but it quickly  ended in his death. At that point the city hall was set on fire and the horror was destroyed. Having saved the day, we hung around for a bit for some food and drink. We then returned to Bartertown.

Not long after returning to Bartertown, we received a suspicious note stating that a wizzard was being held hostage and that should come to rescue him, and bring food. It had the sound of a trap but we are heros! So we marched right into it. Turns out a foreigner was hired to kill us by some unknown enemy. We slayed the foreigner and headed south, all the while scratching our heads as to why such an odd thing should happen.

Replacement Character

Nox is no more.

Homy is a female Dwarven weaponsmith.

The Characters

Nox, an Obsidiman wizard.

Azarael, a female T'Skrang swordmaster.

Throg, a female Orcish beastmaster.

Dob, a male Dwarven weaponsmith.

Okira, a female Elvish warrior.

House Rules

Step 14 is d20 + d4. If you want to use 2d12, it will cost $1 per roll (bills or dollar coins, no change will accepted or made).

A hit which beats the wound threshold twice over will deal two wounds, thrice over for three wounds, etc.

An extraordinary success will be an armor defeating hit.

I'm sure there are more...

Yay I'm first!

Thought I would post up first, just because I can. But also because I would like let those know my choice for a character. Last one I played was an Elven Weaponsmith I believe, so I would like to pick up there. At least that would be my choice if given one ;)