(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...)