EternalWarriors

The Journey Home: The End of Act I and Prelude to Act II

Brief Recap: Last turn the adventurers completed the Hill Giant Steading, gathered treasure and prepared to depart. This turn ends Act I and kicks off Act II. The adventurers are en route home from the hill giant steading. It is late Autumn. . .

Depart the Steading

The party journeys south toward Thedrickstand Keep, the northernmost outpost of the Northern Kingdom, the place where Bibi and Bronk were captured. En route, Humphrey, Mog, and Bibi study the map and the Codex they found in Nosra's treasure room. [Click on the Codex link to see more details about it and a picture of it.] The translation process is slow. The book is written in another language, and they must use Humphrey's master's ancient history book to do the translating. The history book has large sections written in both common and the new language used in the Codex, so they can decipher the book, though the going is slow.

The Codex appears to have been written by someone of great authority, and it recounts more recent history than Humphrey's master's book. They continue their research, working in the evenings when the party camps.

This is all very confusing to Bibi. She is starting to wonder if the stone the dark one seek is in fact the same as the one Bibi is looking for.

Bibi remembers the dream from her animal totem, the panther, and how her totem told her that the dark one had her stone. The dream said he was taking the stone to aid his queen, who also needed the stone's power. Bibi also thought the dream told her that the dark one's queen was like Bibi, and Bibi thought that meant cursed with lycanthropy. Why else would she need the stone?

Could Bibi have misinterpreted the dream? Her shaman mentor warned her many times about the danger of interpreting her dreams, especially when the symbol of her totem was in them. The fact that her totem was in the dream means it was a powerful dream, and had to mean something.

The obsidian stone has been missing from her tribe since the time of her father, when it was lost or stolen. None in the tribe knew what happened to it, and many accused her father of having eaten the stone, to thereby incur the curse that Bibi now carried. Bibi's shaman mentor [what was his name Anne?] had dispelled that lie for Bibi, though he himself did not know what had become of the stone.

Bibi also feels uneasy about Humphrey, and working with him in translating the Codex does not alleviate her feelings. To the contrary, his singlemindedness tells her that he would likely sacrifice them all to his goals, whatever they are. She is suspicious that he has not told them everything.

Still, this stone has to be her stone. The flash of excitement and recognition when she saw the dark one in the fort where she was captured by giants, and again in the steading, told her that she had the right stone. However, its history may be more than Bibi or her shaman mentor were aware of.

[Anne, check out the first paragraph of Humphrey's background. The time frames have been left vague, but you can assume that the stone was in the hands of the guild mages for the past several years. Until the dark one stole it from them recently. Before that, the stone was a relic of your tribe, and had been for more generations than anyone can remember.]

It takes over a week to reach Thedrickstand Keep. When they arrive, they see repairs are well underway, mostly completed. Many buildings and the north gate had been damaged in the recent giant attacks (see Bibi's background). When the party enters the gates, a gate guard notices the head of Nosra and calls out to them from his post in a second story window of the guard tower.

"Damn good to see somebody's doing somethin' about them damn hill giants. Hope you killed one fer me ol' pappy. They kilt'im in the last raid."

"We killed every giant we found in the Steading," says Ghotu. "This is the very head of Chief Nosra himself. We take it to King Ozrik as a gift to him and the Northern Kingdom."

The gate guard whistles when he hears this, and the adventurers can hear him talking to others in the guard tower behind him.

When word reaches the inhabitants of the Keep, the adventurers are treated as Kings. Damn hell as kings. They are showered with all the food and drink they can handle, and the men of the company are the objects of much affection that they would otherwise have had to pay for.

[If anyone wants to post anything about what they do in the Keep, post it here.]

Blade sets out in search of someone to tell him about his new sword as well as the stone with the Rune on it.

The party notices that Humphrey avoids the throng of people, and is keeping his cloak pulled around him. At first opportunity, he rents a room, and they do not see him again until it is time to leave.

He also asks around in the local hedge shops (like head shops only for magic spell components and such) about cures for lycanthropy as well as vulnerabilities for lycanthropes. Silver weapons are mentioned more than once. Not being a fool, Blade buys a set of silver daggers along with replacements for the throwing daggers he lost in the giant's dwelling. He stashes them in the top of his boots so as not to alarm Bibi with their presence.

He also asks around in the local hedge shops (like head shops only for magic spell components and such) about cures for lycanthropy as well as vulnerabilities for lycanthropes. Silver weapons are mentioned more than once. Not being a fool, Blade buys a set of silver daggers along with replacements for the throwing daggers he lost in the giant's dwelling. He stashes them in the top of his boots so as not to alarm Bibi with their presence.

He then finds Bronk and the two of them do an all night pub crawl. Many bar tables joined the growing ranks of those marked with the words "Blade was here". The night is uneventful, other than getting obnoxiously drunk and at last findng two nice Vulvanian girls. Blade even pays for Bronk's girl due to feeling bad about throwing up on Bronk's boots earlier in the night.

The resident scribe identifies the party's magic items for free. The magic items found all together in the adventure are as follows: 103 silver pieces (sp), 6 pieces of 300 gp jewelry, 4 pieces of 1100 gp jewelry, 15x1900 gp gems, 1000 gp, 10x1000 gp gems, +3 great axe, Giant Slayer sword, 35,000 gp in assorted gems and jewelry, 4x8,000 gp excellent jewels, +1 spear, +2 longsword, dragonslayer, scroll 7 cleric spells, 4x7th, 3x6th lvl, potion of flying leather armor +3, Ring of Animal Friendship (24 HD worth of mundane animals), +5 javelins x10, Girdle of Stone Giant Strength (20 STR, +6/+6), Keoghtom's Ointment (3x5 applications, cure poison, disease, or d4+18 hp), Luck Stone, Sovereign Glue (adheres any surfaces, one application), Quiver of 20 +3 Arrows, Heward's Handy Haversack, +3 scale mail, 23,000 gold pieces, 4,000 platinum pieces, 41x100 gp gems, 13x500 gp gems, 8x1000 gp gems, 17x500 gp jewelry.

Blade had taken the Luck Stone (the stone with the Tymora Rune on it), and has been using the giantslayer sword. Bronk takes the Girdle of Giant Strength and the +3 scale mail (base ac 4 w/o magic bonus). Bibi takes the Ring of Animal Control and the +3 leather armor and the 20 +3 arrows. Bruce takes the Dragonslayer sword, a rare specimen he claims, and worth all the rest of the treasure combined to the right collectors, whom he just happens to know. Ghotu takes the 10 +5 javelins, fine black shafts with feathered ends and razor sharp broadheads. He buys himself a new atlatl as well, carved from ebony and engraved with running stags. Mog takes the scroll and Haversack, and the Ointment as well as the glue and potion of flying, the latter three items to be used when needed most by the party.

The rest of the treasure, including the coinage and gems, goes into the company bank account at Gringot's Vault and Trust, Heklamar branch, for safekeeping and to earn interest.

[NOTE FROM DM: I have taken the liberty of distributing magic items according to whom I thought could best use what, with equal distribution among the main party in mind. Humphrey got nothing because he just joined. I only did this to speed the game, and if anyone would like to suggest a different distribution, I am open to suggestions. If anyone thinks they didn't get what they should have gotten, let me know.]

The engineer decides to stay at the Keep, and he thanks the adventurers for saving his life. Fonkin Hoddypeak decides to part company as well, though he says, "I predict we will see each other again in this life. Fare thee well, friends."

The party departs from the Keep after three days rest there, waiting for a caravan that is departing south for the port city of _____. From there, the party plans to take ship to Heklamar. See the map of the world, and our trip so far shown in red.

They arrive in Heklamar after their journey, which takes weeks from the keep at Thedrickstand. Word of their arrival has preceeded them by carrier pigeon, and a great parade is held in their honor.

After the company reaches the palace, riding through town on a guilded wagon with Nosra's grotesque head prominently displayed, they are taken inside to be greeted by King Ozrik in the main throne hall. Count Vingrot (he was mentioned in Turn 1 in the 8th paragraph) is there, chewing his pencil thin mustache in anger at their success.

Once the company members are arrayed before the King's Throne, King Ozrik speaks in his deep voice:

"Hardy adventurers, loyal patriots and children of the Northern Kingdom, our people owe you a debt of gratitude. You have fulfilled your quest admirably." King Ozrik does not mention the fact that two new people--Bibi and Humphrey--have joined the company, though his shrewd eyes clearly notice them. "May Heklamar rejoice at your safe return!" The court cheers.

"A feast is to be held in your honor tonight, and you will dine with me here at the palace. The South Lawn will be open to the public, and the larder of the palace shall feed our fair city's populace in celebration." Again, cheers from the croud gathered in the throne hall.

[If anyone wishes to speak to King Ozrik or the crowd at this point, insert your post here.]

The feast is an all night party, and the company members are the guests of honor.

They stay in the palace that night in luxurious quarters.

Later that night Bibi sneaks from her room to the door of Ghotu's quarters. She listens carefully at the door trying to hear if anyone is in the room with him. She expects that he may have company. Early that evening many women had been trying to attract his attention.

She wonders if a woman had been there or if he went to bed alone. She slowly cracks the door open and whispers "Ghotu, are you awake." She knows that he is asleep but she is hoping to wake him. Bibi slips into the room and stands over him watching him breath for just a moment. She wonders if she is doing the right thing. Should she trust these people? Looking at him, her instincts tell her that this man will always be loyal if she can strengthen the tie between them.

Suddenly Ghotu's hand shoots out and grabs Bibi by the throat. In a second, Ghotu is on his feet with a dagger in his hand. Her wind cut off, Bibi can't talk, and she fears her throat will be cut before Ghotu recognizes her.

To her relief, Ghotu relaxes his grip and says, "Bibi? Yelm's balls girl, you just about got yourself killed." The warrior relaxes and sits on his bed. Bibi notices that Ghotu sleeps in the nude. Eyes still scanning the room for signs of danger, Ghotu dons a loincloth.

"What are you doing in here?" he asks cautiously. In the darkness, Bibi can't read his face.

"I am so sorry" Bibi strains to whispers. Bibi reaches for the candle at the bedside and lights it. "I couldn't sleep" she says as she takes a seat on the bed next to him. She is really quite shook-up about what just happened but she tries not to let on. She takes a deep breath and notices Ghotu's scent. Often after the change Bibi's senses seem heightened. She smells the perspiration that must have come from the attack. She realizes that she is also wet and that her heart is still racing. Bibi holds the candle up between them to get a look at him to see if he seems angry. He has a single bead of sweat on his brow and otherwise seem calm. "I have been troubled by bad dreams." Bibi waits for his reaction to see if now is a good time for her to share her secrets with him.

"I have had a similar feeling. Like someone was watching you." The warrior sits in thought. "It means we are being scryed upon. I had a similar feeling, awakening suddenly, disturbed. It happened after we left the steading. I have told no one. Mayhap we picked up something that is allowing them to home in on us. Or they may just be able to search you out with their own power. I do not know how such magic works."

"I am glad to know that someone else has this feeling. I feared that I was just be overly suspicious."

Ghotu also asks Bibi, "Have you thought about who will get this stone when we find it? You, or this Humphrey?" You have not told most of us why you seek it, though I have seen you talking with Blade and Mog.

"Will you and Humphrey both be able to use the stone? Or are we headed to some kind of conflict with the mage? Both of you have been closed about what you are after." He stares at her.

"Well, that's sort of what I wanted to talk to you about. I think that Humphrey maybe behind my bad dreams and I am sure that he has no intentions of sharing the stone with me. For that matter, I don't know how he knows that I am seeking the stone. I don't think that any of your company would have told him. Yet, he seems to know. "

Bibi stops for a moment and tries to see how Ghotu is taking all of this. He is hard for her to read. His body language says that he is very relaxed but his face seems to show concern.

"As for who should have possession of the stone, I had thought that the stone was my legacy. But after reading the Codex I am not so sure anymore. I do know that stone had been in my family for many generation and I am now wondering if someone from the wizards guild is the one who stole the stone from my father." Bibi reaches inside the silk gown that she had found laid out for her in her room. She unwraps the locket to show Ghotu where the stone fits. "In my tradition the stone was never meant to be used alone." Bibi continues and tells Ghotu all that she knows about the stone, about her lycanthropy and how the stone may help her.

"So, I have come to you tonight to ask you for your friendship. I realize that my illness is a burden to all that are around me. My own people wanted me dead for the curse they believed my father had brought to them. I will not think of you as unkind if you distrust me."

Ghotu looks at this girl of probably no more than thirteen summers. She has obviously had a hard life, and is wise well beyond her years. Though she kept her secrets, Ghotu could not begrudge her that. And he senses no evil in her.

"I trust you Bibi, and if it is possible I will help you get the stone. And whether this Humphrey's telling the truth about his books and the stone or not, I trust him as long as I can see him and I've my axe handy.

"One thing is certain. We have to get the stone."

The next morning early, Ghotu finds Mog and asks him about the strange feeling.

Mog says, "Yes, someone watches us. Mog talked to the other warriors, but they have not had the feeling. Ghotu and Mog, fathers of the company, feel the eye that watches." Mog does not know more, for neither of them can tell who is scrying on them.

Later that morning, they are again summoned before King Ozrik, this time for a more sober discussion of what happened.

The party members relate the facts of their adventure to King Ozrik, and they also inform him of the dark one whom they also encountered. King Ozrik asks who Bibi and Humphrey are. They explain the circumstances of Bibi's and Humphrey's joining the party. Bibi does not mention her sickness or the obsidian stone.

[Anne, if you do want to tell him this, insert what you say here. For that matter, any character statements made during this meeting can be inserted here. Feel free to add to or change your character's behavior.]

The King asks: "What of this dark one? Who are his people, and are they behind this giantkind alliance?" At this point, Humphrey divulges what they have all learned from the Codex, which they made great progress in translating on the voyage to Heklamar.

"M'lord, they may indeed be behind the alliance, and even if they are not, they pose a greater threat than pillaging hill giants. From the Codex we found, which was written by one of the dark one's people, we have learned that they are a people from a far away place, perhaps from the Astral Plane." The King and the others, besides Bibi and Mog, have never heard of the Astral Plane. Humphrey continues: "They seek an artifact called the obsidian stone, which will complete the fabled Rod of Seven Parts." Everyone has heard of the Rod of Seven Parts, a legendary ruling instrument said to be an artifact of great power. The Rod has not been seen in hundreds of years at least, perhaps much longer. [Click on the rod link for a pic and history.]

"The Codex mentions also that the Githyanki, so the dark one's people call themselves, wish to return to the ancient place of their origins. I believe that place is here, in our world. To ensure the success and utter domination of their rule, they wish to use the Rod of Seven Parts to open a Gate to the Astral Plane, which will permit their Queen to enter our world. I cannot tell, but their Queen appears to be a being of great power. Indeed, the Githyanki themselves are beings of great power, for they can walk the Astral Plane as well as our own, the Prime Material Plane. But their Queen is something different. A demon or demi-god, perhaps."

The company members also present several scrolls they found in the steading, instructions from Nosra, plus intelligence from Nosra's spies in the Jarl of the Frost Giants and the Hall of the Fire Giants. These spy reports tell clearly of the gathering power and number of the Githyanki in the deepest caves beneath the Northron range, and of the importance of some object being sought by the Githyanki Wrathmen. The Wrathmen are described as demons who wield immense power, though they number only five.

The King is clearly disturbed by this news. "We here in the Northern Kingdom have few wizards to fight such beings. What of the southern guildmages? Are they aware of this threat? For if what you say is true, the entire western shore is threatened."

"In their folly, m'lord, they do not believe that the obsidian stone is indeed the centerpiece to the Rod of Seven Parts. I and my late master tried to convince them of this truth, but political factions succeeded in defaming us. I myself am a fugitive from the southern guildmages now, though I was once respected among them. The dark one stole the stone from their custody, and I followed his trail north, where I joined the company."

After they complete their report to the King [insert anything else you would like to say to the King], and discuss their options, the King says, "It is clear to me that this threat has not been ended, notwithstanding your valiant efforts. Indeed, it grows daily if what you tell me is true. This dark one and his people must be stopped."

Mog speaks: "Sire, we can follow the dark one. He escaped from us using a Waypoint Maker, magic that creates a portal from one place to another. We have the Waypoint maker, a black chain we found in the steading. It should take us to wherever the dark one went."

"Then you must follow him, if you are willing. If you are not, you must give over this Waypoint Maker so that I may appoint others to take up this quest. However, I would prefer if your company would continue on the trail of the dark one."

"Indeed," says Ghotu. "I at least have a score to settle with him."

"And I," adds Bronk, remembering the fireball that nearly killed them all.

[If anyone objects to going on the quest, now is your chance to get out of it. Post what you say here.]

Bruce says, "I cannot follow, my lord, for I have my own empire to tend to. However, I will willingly share intelligence with your highness, if you wish to send along an empath or some runners for the conveyance of messages. I will also help the party as much as I can. But I must tend to my livelihood."

"Thank you, Bruce Tyrlan, we shall discuss this before you depart. I am sure that we can arrange to send carrier pigeons with you, trained to return here to Heklamar.

"As for the rest of you, it is settled. For undertaking this dangerous task, your rewards shall be great indeed, should you return," says the King. "For now, I give you these." The king motions forward two servants, who bring forth a coffer. They open it to reveal several healing potions in silver flasks, six or more for each company member.

The King also presents the company with additional gifts. To Bibi he gives a pair of Winged Boots. (These boots allow you to fly for up to two hours total per day.)

To Blade he gives a cloak of elvinkind--a rare human sized length version, doubtless made by human mages to mimic the elvin cloaks, and with great success. Human made "elvin cloaks" were every bit as good as the elvin ones, though they were very rare and expensive.

To Bronk he gives a magic poleaxe wielded by the Headsman of Kabraltar himself, a hero of the rebellion against the Magicocracy centuries ago. The haft is enchanted to be "unbreakable," and the blade is vorpal.

To Ghotu he gives a set of twelve broadheads and matching javelin shafts. The steel broadheads are blood red, with fine runes etched along them. "They are giant slayers," says King Ozrik. Potent magic that makes even a scratch deadly to giants.

To Humphrey he gives a scroll of protection from fire (15' radius immunity to fire, 20-50 minutes) and a scroll with mage spells on it (to be determined). He also gives Humphrey a potion of fire giant control (allows total control over one target for 20-50 minutes).

To Mog he gives a Token of Spell Storing.

That night Bibi goes to the stable to say good-bye to new friend (her horse). She sends a few hours grooming him and braiding his long white mane. As she strokes his face she tells him "I'm going to have to leave you for a while." The horse rubs his muzzle against her face and tears begin to stream from her eyes. Sobbing, Bibi lays in the straw to spend the night with her horse.

The next morning Bibi awakes determined not to leave Azrakenez (that is name she has chosen for the horse, he is named after her shaman master). "I am not willing to give you up right now. We have just began our journeys together." Bibi removes her locket from her neck and holds it over the horses head. "Don't be frightened" [plot point] She closes her eyes and images that he is small enough to fit into her pocket. When she opens her eyes Azrakenez is only slightly larger then a mouse. She fills her pocket with straw and hurries to meet the others.

The adventurers are set to depart early the next day, re-equiped by the king's quartermaster. They cannot bring horses with them through the waypoint Maker, so they load their packs with all kinds of equipment, from dungeoneering tools to cold weather to tropical to desert survival gear. They take along a month's worth of the best rations each, consisting of much jerked beef, dried fruits and nuts, flatbread, and water. Altogether they each have a large duffelbag of equipment, in addition to their normal equipment (as stated on the character sheets).

As they resupply, Bruce Tyrlan approaches Bibi and Blade. "I know we have our differences theif, but I trust you more than that wizard. I would be wary of him. Even if he is not evil, wizards have their own way of doing things." Talking to Bibi, "Even the kindest of heart would sacrifice you girl, to meet his ends. I cannot accompany you on this quest, but I have prepared a letter to aid you, should you need it. It will provide you with solace with any of my agents, throughout Heklamar or the Free Cities. It bears my mark, and will guarantee your safety. Also, I give you this, ON LOAN, to help in the fight against the dark ones." Bruce gives Blade his helm of comprehending languages and reading magic. It will allow you to understand them, so you may thwart their plans. Bibi, I wish you luck as I have a feeling that wizard is more interested in you than he lets on."

The adventurers have no idea where the Waypoint Maker will take them. They have the map they found together with the Waypoint Maker, for they suspect that the map will be useful wherever the Waypoint Maker takes them.

They take their equipment into an inner courtyard before they use the magic transport device. It is late fall, nearly winter, and the weather has already begun to grow very cold. Their breath can be seen in the air as they gather within the circle of the chain. It is just before dawn. The King stands in a doorway a safe distance away from them, and holds up his hand in farewell.

"May the gods protect you," he says.

Blade smiles to himself, apparently Bruce was still unaware that he had stolen the dragonslyer sword during the night. It was now safely stashed in wih the rest of Blade's equipment. It would surely be of more use to Blade on this dangerous mission, than the fat has-been merchant. Definitely more useful than his note. [Spending a plot point for this]. Blade wished that he could see the look on Bruce's face when the "dragonslayer" was pulled from it's scabbard to realize it had been swapped with a mundane sword, with the words "Blade was here" written in greasepaint along the blade.

Weapons drawn, the party is ready. Mog unrolls the scroll with the instructions for the Waypoint Maker, and utters the written incantation.

After a brief flash of light, the party stands in a cold rocky region, surrounded by tall mountain peaks. Off in the distance, a few miles perhaps, they see a single smouldering volcano, taller than all the surrounding mountains.

Mog looks to the sky, and says, "Mog will consult his skymap tonight to tell where we be." The "skymap" is Mog's astronomy journal, which the others have frequently seen him write in around their campfires.

The party makes camp in a small cave that appears to be unoccupied. The weather is still very cold, and some of the mountaintops have snow on them. They do not make a fire, for fear of being spied by unknown sentries. Mog casts Create Food and Water, so the party saves their rations and feast on melons that magically grow from the sparsest of vegetation, and beans and other pod-like things that seem to be like hard boiled eggs in some husk.

As they settle down to bed, the party notices Humphrey studying the Codex, intensity marks his face.

Bibi sleeps lightly feel as if she must not let anything the wizard does go unnoticed.

In the morning Bibi goes just out of sight of the other and takes Azrakenez from her pocket. The horse is doing fine, and appears to not mind being small. Bibi looks around at the desolate landscape--rocky wasteland, with crevasses issuing foul gases, and little vegetation--and decides that Asrakenez must remain small a little longer than she planned.

Before they depart for the mountain hall off in the distance, Bibi makes sure that Azrakenez has plenty of food and water. She leaves him in the camp. "I'll be back," she says, hoping it is true.

Another non-combat turn, please post wherever in the turn you want to, there are several likely places. Also please post your preferred place in marching order, weapon in hand, spell components ready, whatever. Remember the use of plot points. Everybody got one plot point for the last adventure, Bibi got two and Blade got two because they posted the most, though everybody has been participating nicely.

Check out the newly updated Trophy Room for running totals of all the creatures killed, experience points earned, and treasure gathered so far on the adventures of . . .