The Search for Kouraf’s Apprentice
10-12 Ches 1357DR
[game of October 18th, 2002]
The search for Kouraf’s apprentice has so far led Jarl and comrads through the
Forest of Tethyr — quickly slaughtering a band of hobgoblin raiders.
After three hard hours of tracking, the group finally decided to settle down
for the night, making a fire to warm them in the chill spring night.
Despite Delenn’s keen ears, it was the Crusader Kalcryx’s ward, a blessing
from Helm, that alerted the party to the presence of giant spiders. Hammer
in hand, Kalcryx yelled out a warning, and proceded to slay a spider; but
not before the predator’s fangs dug into his shoulder. The mage Jaran,
the first of the sleeping to awake weakened a second one with her arcane
missiles, but it was Jarl who downed the second one; his powerful blow
knocking the spider unconscious. It was not more than a minute before the
last spider was surrounded and butchered.
A short time later, it was the Goldeye Gaelon who noticed Kalcryx’s body
receive the punishment of venon. Without a second though, Gaelon awoke his
comrades, and rushed over to heal the poisoned Crusader, sparing his life
with the power of Waukeen.
As morning came, the holy men performed their rituals while Jaran and Delenn
studied their spellbooks. Jarl, eager to perform his duties, exercised his
mastery of the broadsword.
Not an hour had passed when, while following the rogue aprentice’s trail,
Jaran, Gaelon and Kalcryx heard the sounds of a campfire. While Jaran
investigated, her comrads loudly argued the fate of the campers. It was no
surprise that, as Jaran returned with news of the bugbears, she was struck
from behind with a broadsword. She quickly found herself surrounded, but
Kalcryx charged, taking down a bugbear. With Delenn providing piercing
death from behind the cover of Gaelon’s mace, Jarl’s sword and Kalcryx’s
hammers, the bugbears met their fate.
But as the apprentice’s trail led them towards a cave formation near an
intersection in the road, the loud rumble of the Tethyrian could be heard
in the distance. As Kalcryx’s shouted a greeting, Jaran and Delenn fled into
the woods. Fear filled the air as tens of bowmen faced them, death in hand.
Jarl’s calm wit justified their actions to the unnamed Paladin of Tyr,
apparent commander of the Tethyrian forces. The Tethyrian army continued their
northward march into Amn, as Jaran and Kalcryx led the way into the caves.
Kalcryx immediately noticed Kouraf’s apprentice in shackles, as her ogre
captors guard the entrance to their lair. His hammer was swift, and a
great melee broke out. Delenn attempted to charm the ogres into sleep, but
apparently failed. Her success become apparent a minute later, as
reinforcements poured in through a tunnel.
Blocking off the ogre attack, Jarl and Kalcryx brought them down, one by one,
with aerial support from Jaran’s daggers and Gaelon’s sling. As the group
pushed further into the room, the ogres crowded around Kouraf’s apprentice.
Jaran summoned a jet of flames from her hands, but the ogres did not fall.
Gaelon pushed forward, his mace striking an ogre. Unfortunately, as the ogre
fell, his bowman companion nocked two arrows onto his string and loosed them
towards the Goldeye. Arrow in chest, Gaelon clung to life, but fell as the
second arrow ripped through his golden armor.
Fueled by the death of their comrad, the group avenged their way into the
cave, killing all but one of the ogres. The last one threatened the
apprentices life, firing arrows as Kalcryx rushed to kill him.
The weakened apprentice spoke of a pool and the capture of the blacksmith
Delven, but could not muster the strength to explain, as she lay beaten in
Jarl’s arms.