14 The Staff
(To Find a Hobbit Staff, pt 3)
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Background:
The quest concludes. Having found the bronze key in the Tower of
E'sheh'ra, the Party heads inland.
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| December
29 - January 5 |
walk
from the Tower of E'sheh'ra to Hallata, a low mountain range that
is the home of some hillfolk (Hobbits, Humans, Elves), safe from the
Kimmerians who rule all the lowlands. The Party requires a continual
supply of Endure Cold spells; Darkmoon in particular very vulnerable
to the cold. Arand at this time decides to revert back to his old
name of Dumystor. |
| January
4 |
Party
meets Tim in wilderness; Tim
(R1/C3) joins. Find they have been followed by an Assassin, whom
they capture, interrogate (to little avail, as Party quite unaware
of local Kimmerian politics), and then execute. A second Assassin
had recently been eaten by the local wildlife. Soon notice that a
giant Snowy Owl is following them, as well - unsure what to make of
it, the Party leaves it alone. |
| January
18 |
Arrive
at Bunt. Oðúlfr introduces Hobbits (especially kids) to
skiing. Arlephone and especially Shawn find that there is a big market
for Magic-User spells here - they make a small fortune upgrading all
the low-level mages they meet. This leads to the Party taking on the
guise of merchants. |
| January
19 |
Arrive
at Unglata, visit Hobbit Temple, and learn many details of their quest;
in particular, they are to head into the dangerous Hreibana Valley,
formerly a place of great Hobgoblin power, destroyed by Dwarves many
thousands of years ago. They suddenly realise that for many months
they actually have had a good idea where the Staff may lie; for the
Wand of Phantasms (see Dwarven City)
contained a map showing many points of interest to the Techtotties,
and one of those points is right where they are going. They suspect
that the Techtotties are after Hobgoblin artifacts, if not the Staff
itself. They also find out that the Owl is not a foe, although it's
motives are still unknown. |
| January
22 |
Leave
for the Hobgoblin valleys. |
| January
25 |
Arrive
at the first valley; kill first of many Ogre Magi. Find that the valles
are crawling with patrols of mixed creatures working for the Techtotties. |
| January
26 |
Thorgrim
killed by Frost Giants. It was an honourable death, so given a
good burial (in a good suit of armour - Aithra's spare). |
| January
27 |
Enter
Dwarven tunnel, gateway to an ancient Hobgoblin tunnel complex. Meet
Dwarven Wraiths, who try to drive the Party away. |
| January
28 |
Come
to Hobgoblin ruins, and meet a Techtottie studying a vital map of
the region - Aithra kills him with one swing. Darkmoon, Arand,
and Tim transformed into living gemstones by a Guardian beast
that they Techtottie had installed as a defence mechanism in the Hobgoblin
machinery; Aithra kills it with one swing. Aithra tries many Dispel
Magics, and succeeds in having Tim revived. Party retreats,
er engages in a "strategic withdrawal". |
| February
1 |
Return
to complex. Besides the Trechtottie presence, find that Frost Giants
and Umber hulks are active here. Explore a while, then exit. |
| February
6 |
Return
to Unglata. Get Darkmoon and Arand revived. |
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| Training
break (to March 12): |
Darkmoon,
Shawn, Arand, Aithra, Osric, Vainamoinen, Oðúlfr, Tim (i.e.
all but Arlephone and Taro). |
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| March
10: |
While
Identifying a cursed sword hilt, Arlephone goes berserk and attacks
half of Party with lightning bolts: Tim killed, inn damaged.
Subsequent Speak with Dead reveals that Tim does not wish to
be revived. |
| March
12: |
Party
seeks recruits: BigPig
(F3) and Anson (F2) join. |
| March
13: |
set
out for the Hobgoblin valleys again. |
| March
15: |
Party
defeats a patrol. Orc survivor Kriptop
(F1) joins, as a hireling (20 sp/month). |
| March
19: |
Kriptop
killed against Umber Hulks. |
| March
21: |
With
the help of the Hobgoblin map, the Party is able to avoid most of
the Techtottie-watched regions and safely arrives at the Frozen Keep;
but then have to battle 136 undead that were raised by a Ratling cleric. |
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Party
finally meets and talks with Kisha the Owl, who has been following
them; she tells them that "The Hobbits of Hammer and Hand"
are the local hobbits; the Party is sceptical. |
| March
23: |
Party
descends below the Frozen Keep. Encounter many Ratlings and Owlbears;
negotiation is successful with a few of the Ratlings, allowing the
Party to have a truce with some of the occupants in the complex. |
| March
24: |
Meet
Eshehleris, a friendly Elf spirit who is tied to a sacred hill that
the Party finds aids their healing. |
| March
25: |
Taro,
Darkmoon, Shawn, Arand, and Aithra make dismal attempt to capture
one Ratling. Shawn Sleeps Arand, Darkmoon fumbles twice in one round
(second time into Arand's head). |
| April
1: |
After
an incredible amount of planning that mostly plays out accordingly,
the Party defeats "Luthia," an Elven mage Vampire, and its
lesser Vampire friends. Shawn killed. Eshehleris fades away,
content with the vampire having been vanquished. |
| April
2: |
Open
gate to the ancient Elven level below. Another party is annihilated
just behind party; survivor Taz
(C2/F2) joins Party. Darkmoon and Anson level-drained by wraiths. |
| April
3: |
Party
defeats 7 demons, then meet the real Luthia and the Staff of Life.
Luthia restores levels to Darkmoon and Anson and grants various gifts
and abilities to every Party member (including teleporting Arand/Dumystor
back to Naidra, a bit prematurely - thus Arand retires). Luthia
hands out blessings and gifts to everyone (eg Osric gains Infravision,
Taro's dexterity increases, etc.). Even the dead are blessed: Pippin
is resurrected, but Shawn's resurrection fails. Luthia
also transforms all the local Owlbears and Raltings into Norse humans,
and "encourages" them to deal with the Techtotties in the
surrounding valleys. |
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Luthia
takes Party back to Haryn Forest in Mesopontia (near Thalsos). |
| April
6: |
Party
arrives at Great Sanctuary, and debate what to do with the Staff.
Aithra wants to use it as the Dwarves of old used it: pacify the enemy
and then crush them; others think that would be sacrilege. Meet Aelyina.
Darkmoon and Aithra drink it up in a local pub and cause a bar fight.
Anson retires. |
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| Training
session (to May 7): |
Arlephone
(x2), Taro (x2), Aithra, Vainamoinen, Oðúlfr, BigPig, Anson,
Taz |
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Surviving
members:
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Arlephone
(F5/MU5), Darkmoon (F6),
Taro (T6/F5), Arand
(R4), Osric (NrC5/Mk3),
Aithra (WrC6), Vainamoinen
(R5), Oðúlfr
(WrC4), Pippin (NtC4),
BigPig (F4), Anson
(F3), Taz (NrC3/F2) |
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New
members:
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Tim,
BigPig, Anson, Kriptop,
Taz; also Pippin returns (resurrected by Luthia) |
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Casualties:
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Thorgrim,
Tim, Kriptop, Shawn (resurrection failed);
also: Darkmoon, Arand, and Tim transformed into living gemstones,
later revived |
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Retirees:
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Arand/Dumystor (returned to home world), Anson |
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Continuing
party:
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Arlephone, Darkmoon,
Taro, Osric, Aithra, Vainamoinen, Oðúlfr, Pippin, BigPig,
Taz
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