Gabe3e

Today has been a very long, peculiar, and most tiresome day. I’ve just returned from the town square and have some quiet moments while my companions embroil themselves further in the intrigues of this ridiculous little town. Their laws allow no arms, and so one would think it calm, but it is the most violent, peaceless place I’ve ever been to… I had not even eaten a single bite of pastry this morning before some maniac exploded into the room… ach, that is too precise a word, for there was in truth an explosion… Cries of “Stop! Thief!” came to our ears, and footsteps, and a black-clad figure ran past our table, and soon there were flames all around us. My companions lept to, attempting to contain and detain the thief while I scurried to the safety of the kitchen. Many people stood in my path, but would not be moved to join me, instead watching in transfixed horror… Idiots. Lucky idiots, though, for the conflict passed out of the dining hall quickly, and none were hurt save those hit by the initial blast. Kalcryx and I did what we could for them, which was little, but then other Helmites arrived and offered more speedy healing. Only then I realized the full insult of the flame to myself… I had seen that the skin of my hands was badly off, but not until I was healed, when the stinging heat ebbed away, did I realize the true extent of my own pain.

But I felt very well after being ministered to, and after reflecting a bit on fortune, which, though cruel enough to put me in the path of this disturbance, was also kind enough to ensure I suffered no permanent harm… my thoughts turned to replacing my jacket, which, already road-worn, dusty, punctured and blood-stained, is now singed and generally smelling… in truth, just generally smelling, but having about it specifically an odor of something (someone?) over-cooked. So I went about and found some fabric, and received many odd looks. I felt very shabby and thought even just in my shirt I might be more presentable, and I finally took the sorry thing off, but still people stared at me. Or rather, they failed at trying to avoid staring at me. It wasn’t until I returned to the inn that I happened to pass a mirror and understood all the strange glances. One does look so very queer without any eyebrows.

We met again all together at the inn, even G’kar. They expressed belief that evil hands were conspiring to steal the necklace we are bringing to Fallen Valley, and set about a plan to trap them and learn more about,well, everything possible. We know so very little.

A whisper carried on the wind suggested to Delenn that the owners of the evil hands would gather in the town square at dusk, and so we set a watch about it. The market closed, and within a short time, eight approached the fountain in the square’s center, clearly armed. Any doubts I had of their intentions evaporated, and I returned to the hotel within minutes, leaving further action to my companions.

And so I am here now, in the inn, awaiting news of their campaign. It seems they have been gone for somewhat too long.

19 Flamerule 1357DR
[Game of March 28th, 2003]

Today’s theme: Multiple arrests

Short summary: ate breakfast. burned in flames. caught a thief. let her go. healed some people. watched others die. got roughed up in prison. watched guards bribed. got arrested. got the dwarf released. heard a whisper. caught a message. went to investigate. dropped a necklace in a fountain. bought a necklace from the fountain. waited until dusk. got on rooftops. snooped on criminals. jumped off roof. killed said criminals. guards came. ran away. pretended to be drunk. interrogated prisoner. paid money for information. got drunk on the Elemental Descent. Sang a song. Yelled in fury. Got the dwarf arrested. Ripped open shirt. Pretended wild sex as the guards came to investigate.

heh.

Long Summary

19th Flamerule
*inferno*
every one is very nearly okay. Flanna is “devastated” but still alive

Kalcryx pulls sword from sheath, breaking peacebond
delenn magic missiles “the shithead”- makes him grunt

jaran casts a web, obscuring view of attacker

jarl breaks through - is engulfed in another ball of fire- web catches fire

flanna flees into kitchen, encouraging people in her path to flee with her

kalcryx follows cloaked man down hall, into another room, sees man about to jump
out the window, walks along ceiling above him- notices he’s kinda scrawny looking,
clutching a bundle to his chest. Kalcryx asks where the attacker is going
delenn runs in- magic missiles

kalcryx hears attacker grunt again -a man’s face, but a woman’s voice!

jarl runs in, tries to tackle attacker, grumbles that someone should go heal the
injured. succeeds in tackling… feels… boobs. attacker wriggles out of grasp

flanna ventures into dining room and tries to help burn victims. closest guy is
still breathing

kalcryx joins her, eases suffering

jaran goes to grapple attacker, jarl grapples again- both of them have a grasp on
her “What are you trying to do?” jarl

jaran notices the attacker is… shapely… she wriggles out again

jaran demands the attacker to surrender
“back off or I’ll blow us all to hell”
jaran tries to steal her necklace, and succeeds after jarl pins her down- two beads
on it
“are you a thief?” jarl
“I’m a liberator, now let me go!”
“who are you liberating?”
“I’m liberating myself!” *wiggle*

jarl asks more questions… “this belongs to my grandfather. Let me go and I will
pay you well.”
“You killed innocent people… if you’re going to steal something, you don’t have
to kill people!” jaran

grandfather is a great man, blacksmith, bundle is a long sword, was stolen “now let
me go, before they get here!”

jaran tries to tie her up w/ silk rope
“Look, I have a better reason, but I can’t tell you. Just trust me.”
“Trusting people hasn’t gotten me very far…” jaran

–//–
city guard enters restaurant
“Helmite! What happened here?”
kalcryx explains, guard follows path of destruction into library
“What’s going on in here? You, elf, what’s happening?”
jarl looks back in shock, loosens hold on woman - she loosens belt, sound of
clanking metal- makes a dash for the window
“halt!”
she disappears into shadows. jarl falls on her stuff, hiding it
“Where did she go? Why didn’t you stop her?” -explain that it’s not so easy, the
attacker was a slippery one

“Well, you’re all coming with me, I’m sure the sheriff will want to hear about
this.” Guards grab jarl, jaran, delenn

“Helmite, why is your sword out? You’re going to have to come with us, too.
There’s a fine for drawing your weapon in the city. But finish tending the
wounded.”

———-//————-

G’kar’s cell door opens, armoured men walk in
G’kar is pushed against a wall by big, burly guy
“Who sent you? Don’t play stupid” something about a gigolo mercenary pretty boy.
“He paid you didn’t he, where is it? Give me the necklace you bastard!”
“What necklace?” g’kar
*punch*
*punch back*
“Bring the necklace and drop it in the fountain. If it’s not in the fountain by 2
o’clock, you die.”
chucks a bag of coins at guard, leaves
“Come back anytime!” guard
G’kar cures himself - guard notices his chanting, calls for reinforemcents
long exchange about spell casting…

——–//—————

kalcryx relieved by local priests, Flanna cured by helmites (still no eyebrows,
toasty clothes)

party arrives at jail

“What have you done?” g’kar
“We were looking for a good night’s sleep on a nice stone floor…” jaran
“well, this’s a good place.”
“we were trying to stop a thief” jarl
“doesn’t seem like you did a good job…” gkar
“She was a slippery thing” jaran “and she had a sword.”
“This is a good rule. Only the criminals are armed!” gkar

party separated from their arms - someone vouches for jaran’s dagger- jarl explains
the happenings to sheriff, believes them, let’s them go
“stay out of trouble.”
“we didn’t come to your town for trouble.” delenn

leave, g’kar released too. glad to be out. Delenn tells him she thought he’d want
to stay because of the bed
“A cage is still a cage, even with a comfortable bed.”
return to rooms

round a corner, delenn hears a voice, as if from the wind
“Alejandra, I have what you asked for. Meet me in the pond square at dusk.”
delenn doesn’t hear it very well, just sort of a whisper.
“Did you hear that?” no… delenn tells them
g’kar relates prison brutality story
party assumes it’s the necklace for the lady of tymora -decide to go to mage shop

Kalcryx arrives at jail, his sword is rebound. handed a scroll and told “please
take this to the wizard. he needs to do something for you.”

all meet up at mage shop. mage wizard-locks kalcryx’s sword
“Ah, you’ve joined the elite, now.” jaran
return to hotel
jaran announces she will be doing identify, flanna pipes up and asks her to take a
look at her locket
“Where’d you get that?” delenn
“It was my mother’s”

flanna goes shopping, b/f she leaves, jaran gives her a very nice book, 75 pages of
parchment “Oooooh… thank you!”

g’kar and jarl talk abuot dropping a 60gp decoy necklace in fountain
“Think of this not as sacrificing a 60gp necklace. think of it as a tactical
maneuver… drop it and wait for them to come, then decide if you want to kick
their asses now, or followm them and kick their asses later…”

jaran et al ask innkeeper about fallen valley: 3 temples in town. Istha= duchess
steelheart= high lady of tymora
flanna asks “why is it called Fallen Valley?”
innkeeper shrugs. “Why are they called the Forbidden Caves? They’re not
Forbidden, it’s just a name.”
conversation about forbidden caves- not very interesting, though he’s never been
there. “They’re forbidden!”

Scribe shop keeper is a gnome. =)

ask about firedrake bay- no news

——-//——-

2pm, chuck necklace in fountain. children swarm it -one of them pulls it out,
dashes off
g’kar stops kid, thanks him for finding necklace

eventually buys it back from him for 5gp, 50cp

continue waiting, no one appears

dusk comes, market closes

people hide in shadows, flanna sits near fountain, sketching the whale

a party gathers near fountain ~8 humans (cloaked?) wearing studded leather armour
can hear the sound of clanking metal- seem to have swords
1 woman, 7 men

“What are you doing, kid?”
“I’m drawing the whale.”
“Beat it.”
“I have the right to be here.”
“Beat it, or else.”
Flanna growls, stretches, wanders off toward hotel

someone climbs in fountain, look for ~20 minutes, find necklace
jaran overhears conversation (barely, barely):
“found it boss”
“put it on.”
“ok.” puts it on. “ok”
“alright, take it off. dammit.”
“this’s wrong. this isn’t the necklace. what do we do, boss?”
“I don’t know. We’ll have to find them.”
“How the hell are we supposed to do that?”
“I dunno, but they lied to us… Alright, split up. Meet back here in 20 minutes”
wander off.

jaran sneaks around, talks to kalcryx, encourages him to move to S roof and detect
evil when they return

people return. All faintly evil

“couldn’t find ‘em. Roughed up some of the boys. We’ll just have to go poison him
in the night or something.”
“we gotta get to him first… so, you all go around the buildings and we’ll wait
for him to get to his room.”
“There’s something wrong. Why’d they put the decoy in there?”

G’kar jumps down, breaking the peacebond on his weapon
“What the hell?”
“What’s this about hiring thugs?!” gkar
jaran casts icy sphere, downs two

one guy yells “spread and scroll!” pulls out a scroll & reads it
delenn casts web and flees. web does not form around the man

jarl advances, unbinds his sword, taking cover in the lip of the fountain

kalcryx shoots unwebbed man

more scrolls read, more web disappears

g’kar kills one, hammer doesn’t come back, retrieves it

jaran attacks woman w/ thief’s short sword, feels a slight headache, realizes she’s
in a null-magic zone, tries to drop dagger, but it doesn’t fall off

delenn restrings her bow…
-stuff-
“retreat!” one guy runs off
gkar sends thrower through the side of a building accidentally
gkar runs over adn tries to heal obss, succeeds. jaran ties her up, sheathes
sword, puts it in bag of holding… doesn’t open! =)

city guard approaches

run off, jarl and jaran march off w/ boss, offer her gold for her cooperation- put
jaran’s cloak on her and pretend she’s a soused jaran and take her up to jarl’s
room
jaran sneaks into her room

-in room-
jaran reclaims 60gp necklace and cloak

“how much were you paid for this task?”
“obviously not enough.”

offers to give them 1 piece of information for free- closes her eyes and the mirror
behind them shatters
“are you sure I can’t hold my own?”
“that’s a very nice trick” jarl
negotiate some more, learn her name is alejandra and that she wants 5k gp for at
least two important things

jaran’s headache goes away
——//——-

g’kar and delenn are in pub. gkar orders something called an elemental descent-
mage must be called in to make it. G’kar takes a sip. It burns! Good buzz,
though =) starts singing, screaming in dwarven. Delenn pretends to translate his
words into her song. G’kar takes another sip (doug fails wisdom check). Flanna,
jarl, and jaran can hear him in the room.
negotiate some more
flanna goes to get kalcryx, kalcryx agrees to come, but is distracted by g’kar and
joins him to drink
“so, what exactly did you give him?”
“he was supposed to pass out after *sniffing* it!”
Kalcryx grabs glass, runs out door to jail, g’kar follows him
“Let me in! Quick! Where’s an empty cell?”
“What’s the problem?” - then hears the screaming.

place tanker in an empty cell and trap g’kar- downs it, then passes out.
kalcryx pays 10gp
—–//——-

agree to pay 2500gp for first question
“Our contact in grimclaw saw you take the necklace off the dead man…” no new
information…
won’t reveal contact in grimclaw for any amount of money
dead man was just a noble peasant caught up in a bigger scheme

the necklace is going to mosstone, to the lady mage of mosstone, high lady
of bane, lady sylvia, great sorceress, blonde hair, blue eyes, freckles
“How were you to enter mosstone?” (jaran?)
“I would open the gates and walk in.”
no writ of entry.. hears sylvia’s voice in her head.

hear voices come up the stairs
flanna hides under bed

free prisoner, window breaks, and she jumps out
jaran pushes jarl against the window and yells “get these clothes off, human!”
door bursts open, jarl kisses jaran, then looks up and yells at city guard
“What the hell are you doing? she’s mine!”

They’re all under arrest, delenn as well.

At last! The mystery of Jaran’s ever-ready dagger is known to me! Today we arrived at Fortenberry, a city with rules against the wearing of armour and the display of weapons. I was standing near her, and I could sense a sort of stiffening in her when they told us we must leave all arms at the gate, and I soon learned that she was not able to leave the dagger behind, for it was attached to her! Jarl negotiated that the armour be taken off and carried, and that the weapons be peacebound, and we thought some way to contrive things such that the dagger was sheathed and bound to her side, more or less making her left arm unusuable, but the keen-eyed guards noticed something unusual about this, and sent for a mage, who came and bound it against use with his magic. Jaran shared many words with him, and had hoped he had the power to remove it, but it seems it was beyond him. Poor Jaran. It is hard enough to be dark and strange.

Kalcryx sought out lodgings for us at a very fine inn, but I declined my own room, hoping to find a snug bed at the temple, and if failing in that, sharing a space with Jaran. I hurried to the temple and spoke with the cleric there, a halfling in ill-fitting robes, and offered him my labour, writing, fitting, cleaning, tending, but was offered only floor space among the sick and wounded, who were few and already very-well cared for.

I offered him news of my Lady Fay and Donnel, but he was uninterested, and at length I decided to make my bed with Jaran. I suppose I should not feel such irritation that the temple here is well-run and has no need of extra help, but I cannot help it. The halfling seemed rather arrogant to me, and I’m sure work could be found if he gave half a thought about it… Very unlike my masters in Grimclaw.

So I soon left, in search of the scribe “what’s his name” who was fortunately easily found. His shop was a pleasant little place, properly over-full of scrolls and books, and having the smell about it of fresh ink and aging paper. The scribe himself was a strange little creature, halfing-like, yet not a halfling, brown-skinned, with a nose more appropriate to a creature thrice his size. He was much engaged in his work and didn’t appear to notice my entrance, despite the bell designed to announce that very happening which rang when I opened the door and again when I closed it.

At first I thought he must surely know I was there, but was engaged in something trying and would look up to me momentarily. But several momentarilies passed by, and still he did not look up. I drew near to his side and cleared my throat, and he did not look up. I said “Excuse me,” and he did not look up. At last I ran out of polite means of getting his attention and did something most rude, and drawing near his side and leaning over him, and eventually placing my hand in the very spot where his next lines should go, I succeeded in winning his attention. He marked my hand accidentally in his surprise, but did not seem irritated with my interruption, and talked to me at some length of things I had questions about. But there were no Denierath in Fortenberry, and he could not read the scroll. He could not even guess what language it was written in, which only makes me more curious about it. I bought five pieces of parchment at a very good price, and now I wish I had not been so stingy, and tomorrow I shall go buy some more. And then I set off to the mage, and when I arrived there, Delenn and Jaran were ahead of me. They were discussing the magical identification of objects, and his prices were quite high, and I despaired of any way that I could convince him to look at my things when he normally received more than a hundred pieces of gold for such tasks.

Ah well. At least I get a bath and a fine bed of my own for tonight. I sleep in G’Kar’s room, for he had become involved in a brawl at the pub, and is incarcerated for we know not how long. It is very much nicer than the temple floor! It is in fact very much nicer than any bed I have ever known… It is covered in plump feather mattresses, and the sheets are snowy white and crisp, but soft as well worn linen, and the blankets are of soft lamb’s wool… knit, not woven, and over all is a coverlet of the most magnificent fabric I have ever yet seen. It is colored a deep crimson, and resembles very fine, very short fur, much like hair that has been been shaved some weeks ago and regrown, but it is not prickly, and is in fact softer than rabbits fur. I am tempted to spend all night stroking it, and am at this moment fighting the urge to seek out my scissors and cut a small square of it off as a token. Alas, it does seems rather a waste that I shall spend most of my time in this wonderful bed insensible to it’s luxury!

Last night I awoke to the sounds of battle, and the feeling of rough hands pawing over me. I was terrified and thought to thrash and scream and bite, but into my murky awareness soon came the sharp sound of chanted dwarven, and I realized that for whatever reason G’Kar was laying some enchantment on me, and I became still. And then I was suffused with a feeling of warmth and contentment, rather the same as the pleasantness one feels after having one’s fill of sweet cakes and liquor.

In this state I watched as spiders climbed over the wall and attacked the horses. The spiders were quickly dispatched, but still the mounts of G’Kar and Kalcryx were beyond all help. Much thought is now being put into the shuffling of goods and people to maintain our best rate of travel.

After some hours of travelling through the Wealdath, slow and somewhat aimless, and beset with angry elves, we are at last come to a place safe to make camp.

The day began in merriment, what with the celebration of Jarl Day, though we were mostly rather too busy with our preparations to appreciate it. We were well-fed and well-thanked (though G’Kar and Jaran grumbled a bit, quietly, seeming slighted by the chosen name, since they had an equal part in the rebuilding, which is not even to mention Kalcryx’s healing them all, nor the battle with the goblins… But then, since this group has no proper title, Jarl Day does seem an understandably preferable choice to “Jarl, Kalcryx, G’Kar, Delenn and Jaran Day”…)

Kalcryx made another of his fortifications, at which I heard someone cluck about the folly of knowing how to summon fire and move the earth, but not have a single spell to coax corn to multiply and mature quickly. An enormous stone was found and shaped and G’Kar carved upon it the message I had been contracted to compose. And then we felt our business was completed and so near midday we left Weatherford with high spirits.

We followed the road for some time, and it was pleasant going, but hot. It is never quite so warm in Grimclaw, and my clothes are already inappropriate to this climate, though they could be adjusted, but Delenn’s armour is not so adaptable, and is heavy and thick and suffocating, trapping the heat and the moisture close around my ribs. By nightfall I was fairly soaked. I am begrimed with the dust of the road, and I stink like a beast. It is most foul. My companions also smell less than sweet, but seem unconcerned about it. It has been many weeks that we are together, and I have not known any of them to take a thorough bathing even once.

Which, it amuses me to think, may be in part what provoked the elves to attack us. We were walking along sort of an avenue with trees on either side, a narrow corridor with little undergrowth that seemed to be a way onward after the main road had given out, when arrows came down on us from the tree tops all about us. Jaran was hit with two before she scuttled off to disappear into the gloom and underbrush amongst the trees. I sought the first and best shelter obvious to me and cowered in the shade of my poor horse, who very shortly took an arrow in my stead, and who afterwards stayed in her place with admirable calm while the conflict unfolded around us.

Jarl called out for our attackers to reveal themselves, and then began urging me to remount and prepare to fly, and Kalcryx too was by my side, but took an arrow soon after for his concern. And then to my right, the wood was suddenly coated with frost, the work of Jaran I suppose, and all about there was the sound of the trees protesting, a horrible, unnatural squealing and snapping, followed by a shower of stiffly frozen bodies.

And to our left a web appeared, which helped somewhat in shielding us from the arrows, while Jarl dismounted and ran to the trunk of a tree, and shaking it vigorously caused another elf to come tumbling down. G’Kar went to the task of healing my poor noble horse, and then Kalcryx performed an impressive feat of agility. He leapt from his horse, landing near the base of another tree and scampered up it as easily as a squirrel, disappearing amongst its leaves and branches. Soon I heard him cry out in anger, and then he reappeared again, tumbling out of the trees in grapple with an elf. They were caught by Delenn’s web which seemed to cushion them somewhat, but did not stop them from crashing through to the ground.

Delenn had fled up the way, and I soon followed her, urging Kalcryx’s mount along with me, lest it too be injured. But it seems I could have just as well waited, for when I had met Delenn, and felt safe to turn my eyes backward, I saw that the confrontation was ended.

The dead were left where they lay, and all things of value were stolen from them. There was but one elf surviving, that whom Kalcryx had fallen from the tree with, and Kalcryx healed him, and began to ask why they had attacked us. But the elf spoke only in a language like the whisper of wind through the trees. It was a lovely, lilting tongue, full of soft sounds and gentle cadences, having about it a most musical quality, but it was wholly alien to us all. I spoke to him in all the tongues at my command, but he responded to none of them, and then Jarl tried too to communicate. He spoke in poor elvish and with much gesturing asked what was to be done with their dead, for we meant them no ill will and wanted to pay them the respects they deserved. But the elf only scowled at him and pronounced “Your accent is terrible,” revealing that he did in fact understand more of what I spoke to him than he previously acknowledged, and then the arrogant mule refused to speak another word we could comprehend, though many questions were asked.

After some time it was decided that the elf’s things would be returned to him, and he would be freed, though his progress toward us with any intentions of further violence would be delayed by the scattering of his weapons about the wood. Jaran stayed behind for a bit to cut the elf free after we had gained some further distance, and then we travelled at as quick a pace as the now pathless ground would allow, carrying on even somewhat after dark.

We made camp on a hill in a clearing near a river canyon, where Kalcryx created another fort and G’Kar was once again employed with the cutting of the riddle stone. I sat nearby, feeling braver today, and dared to make suggestions on his form, and Jaran too sat nearby, watching how the stone was formed. G’Kar was happy while he worked, always singing or humming to himself, but occasionally he slowed and darkness clouded his eyes and a furrow formed in his brow. At length he stopped completely, and heaving a great sigh, he dropped his tools and announced to us all that he did not feel we had done right with the elves, that it was surely a misunderstanding, and that taking their things was more akin to robbing the dead than claiming the prizes of war. I had had this sentiment earlier, and had actually suggested asking the one surviving elf if we had anything about us that was particularly sacred to his people, for some of the swords were very fine, and the jewels also had the look of great treasure about them. But my voice was not heard, and no doubt, even if the question was asked, the elf would not condescend to answer it any way we could understand.

There was much discussion of this, for G’Kar’s honour compelled him to return the items, and no one, not even myself I admit, was in full agreement with him. At last he accepted the will of the party, though begrudgingly.

Tomorrow we plan to leave Weatherford. The people here were hoping we had some magic to restore their crops, and though they were disappointed and somewhat skeptical when it was explained none of us had such power, they satisfied themselves with our aid to rebuild their town, an undertaking that was no less than miraculous in its completion.

Kalcryx and Delenn and three men from town rode off in the morning to the Athunson farm in search of anything that could be salvaged and scavenged to aid the people of Weatherford. There were a number of useful tools and a store of seeds and some vegetables growing that had not suffered overmuch from neglect, and the townspeople of Weatherford seem somewhat more pleased by their prospects now than in the last few days. Sadly, none of the livestock could be saved, for the farm had been plundered already by three bugbears: foul, hirsuit goblin-kin of intimidating proportions. I am told that they had eaten already the chickens and the pigs, and had broken a good number of things of use within the farmhouse, as well as befouling it. But they were slain, and the house is now guarded from further intrusions of evil.

While these five were out, Jarl, G’Kar, and Jaran helped rebuild the town. I write ‘helped’ out of custom, but in truth, these three did most of the work themselves, scarcely needing the men of Weatherford at all, and performing the tasks of splitting timber and cutting stone and driving nails with a speed and an ease that stopped people fast in their places, struck dumb with awe. And the work completed is no mean or rough construction, and shows no sign of the haste of its making. They are, to be sure, merely log houses, and have not yet any plaster or thatching or any other fine finishing, but they have sturdy floors and roofs, and G’Kar has set in them fireplaces of large stone blocks cut so nicely that there is almost no joint between the pieces. They are respectable little dwellings, especially for having been built all in one day.

Because of these great feats, today is declared Jarl Day and the fourteenth of Flamerule shall hence be a day of celebration in Weatherford. Of course, the day is already spent, and it is now too late for any respectable festivities, and so tomorrow there will be what feasting as our combined supplies allow and song and dance and other merriments. And then we shall be off, northward to Fallen Valley and the High Lady of Tymora.

13-19 Flamerule 1357DR
[Game of March 14th, 2003]

Harvested crops, built log cabins, erected fortifications, looted Chez Athunsun, left Weatherford headed North, got attacked by Sylvan elves, found a stream, erected a fortification, got eaten by spiders, entered Fortenberry, got rooms, got things identified, joined the nightwatch, got arrested, ate breakfast, got fireballed.

—————————-

13th Flamerule

What to do with the townspeople?

“Surely those who can summon fire and lightning and raise the dead can
make our crops grow again.” -Smith

14th Flamerule

Send group to other farm: 3 townsmen arm themselves and head out with
kalcryx and delenn; kalcryx on the broom.

Approach farm, see chick and pig carcasses… look like they’ve been eatin
see apple trees, potatoes, tomatoes, corn…

Kalcryx circles farm, sees nothing in particular of concern, goes in
farmhouse

push door open, see 3 bugbears in house, which is torn up, a wreck

bugbear charges kalcryx, townsmen see attack, dismount and ready their
weapons
battle ensues, ends quickly.

kalcryx searches room and corpses, finds three morningstars and 21 copper
delenn looks for the kids’ money stash: obvious one’s been looted, the
well-hidden one’s still there. Delenn takes it

Kalcryx casts ward inside house against evil

spend rest of the day gathering anything useful from the farm: pots, pans,
etc.

Meanwhile, Jarl is building houses… can do the work of about six men
jaran helps, can do the work of about thirteen men…
build enough homes for everyone with fireplaces and stone foundations by
G’Kar

14th Flamerule is declared Jarl Day
at some point, Flanna picks up Delenn’s better armour

15th Flamerule

Hunters come w/ deer, squirrels, etc. Preserve meat

Celebrate Jarl Day

Kalcryx seeks out 200 lb stones, G’Kar carves them into pyramids and
engraves them with Flanna’s riddle, and then Kalcryx casts continual light
on them, makes a fort

Leave at midday…

rain of arrows from the trees- one lodges in Jaran’s side
Jarl approaches tree, yells “Where are you?!”
Another arrow sinks into Jaran. She hops of broom and hides in the
shadows of the woods- two arrows hit the ground where she once was

Flanna hides under her horse. =)

Jarl and Kalcryx hit, as is Flanna’s horse

Jarl circles back to Flanna and encourages and encourages her to remount
Kalcryx flanks Flanna as well

Delenn and Kalcryx take more arrows
Jaran icy spheres woods, people fall out of trees- green/brown mottled
cloaks

Delenn casts web
Jarl goes up to a tree suspected of having an attacker in it, shakes it,
knocking an elf out of it.

Elf lands near Jaran, revealing her location, bow hurts her.

Jaran says to Jarl “These are woodelves, probably protecting their
territory. We should flee or try to talk to them.”

Flanna tries to move forward and appeal to (what she assumes are elves) to
stop attacking them

Kalcryx vaults off his horse, lands near tree, runs up trunk, stops next
to a very surprised elf- grabs him, shakes, and cries “STOP SHOOTING!”

G’Kar cures Flanna’s horse
kalcryx is hit in back by elf in neighboring tree, then his same-tree elf
grips his shoulders and wrestles him out of the tree- both get stuck in
Delenn’s web, and hit the ground.

Flanna flees w/ Kalcryx’s horse
Jaran icy spheres… seems to be over

Jaran loots elf body, finds a nice and shiny longsword one remaining
elf-prisoner loot other bodies- find bows, arrows, vials, a jewelled long
sword w/ red jewel in it, jewelled earrings, pouch with powder inside, a
gleaming ring with green gem, and a necklace with a triangular, rose
colored stone (quartz)

powder: dust of disappearance

Kalcryx heals prisoner, revives him, asks why they attcked- gets an image
of jarn in her hood and some pretty gibberish that no one understands

Flanna checks if he speaks any of the languages she knows… No

Jarl asks w/ hand motions and bad elvish if there was something particular
to be done with the dead

“your accent is terrible,” continues on in the original tongue
“If we take nothing from the woods, will you let us pass?”

“#&$^* #&^$& )!#$& ^#%)&) %&&!(#”
Kalcryx sees images of elf guy’s tribe.

Flanna suggests they ask if any of the looted items are particularly
dear to the elves, but apparently no one hears her.

G’Kar walks up to elf and says “I know you can understand common. We’ll
leave you your weapons, but if you attack us again, we will kill you.”

scatter weapons around, Jaran cuts elf free- disappears into woods

-hurry through woods-

Path ends, travel on a bit after dark,but it’s hard to see through thick
trees

camp near river canyon in a cute little clearing, on a hill

Jaran and Flanna have a conversation about Jaran’s over-abundance of
daggers. Flanna says she’d take one, if they’re just being given away,
but of course Jaran would have to teach her to use it.
Jaran: “I can if you want, but I don’t think you’ll ever be particularly
proficient, with your nose in a book and your head under a horse.”

G’Kar feels pangs of guilt for looting the elves- feels it was a
misunderstanding, and that it’s less spoils of war and more robbing
party argues against him

kalcryx makes a fort, engages G’Kar in the cutting of his advertisement
Flanna supervises, Jaran observes

-night-
Jaran sees spiders swarm into area, one in fort, chomping on horse
Jarl stands and draws sword, horse falls over, another spider jumps in
G’Kar wakes up, grabs for Flanna and casts sanctuary on her
Flanna wakes up to G’Kar fondling her and muttering over her- freezes in
terror

Spider jumps in on G’Kar, but doesn’t interfere with completion of his
spell

Jaran and Delenn attack spiders, spider jumps on Delenn, tries to bite but
miss her b/c of cloak

Kill all spiders, check horses- can’t be saved. G’Kar’s and Kalcryx’s are
dead. =( Jaran skins them

Morning comes… nothing else comes to feast upon them during the night

two days pass uneventfully

18th Flamerule Midday

pick up a road that leads to a walled city- log wall, path forks

go to gate (suspect it’s Fortenberry), greeted by guard
“Welcome to Fortenberry. What is your business here?”

“We’ve come to buy and sell items,” kalcryx
“Ok. You’ll have to leave your weapons and armour at the gate…”
Negotiate to bind w/ peacebond and carry armour; 1gp/person entrance fee.

Flanna helps Jaran bind her extremely evil dagger, finally learns what’s
up with it

Guard look at dagger really strangely, says something to his buddy- runs
off, comes back w/ man in robes who asks to see Jaran’s dagger

“If you can remove it, I’d appreciate it.” Has to wizard lock it- may be
able to get dagger off, asks her to find him later.

Jarl inquires into the best places to buy/sell weapons- Leondard, obvious
smithy

Jarl buys a map of the city for 3sp
kalcryx buys lodgings at monarch and butterfly- nice hotel, not a tavern
3 types of rooms, all pricey
Jaran offers to share her room with Flanna. Flanna said she’ll check into
ilmater first.

“No floor sleeping space, not here.”

Flanna goes to temple of ilmater, tries to exchange some work for shelter.
Greeted by halfling in over large robes. Flanna offers to size the robes-
no interest. Offers her floorspace next to the sick and injured. Never
heard of Fay or Jewel, no interest in Ilmater gossip. Not much need for
her there. two women, one older, one younger, are tending the suffering.
Flanna inquires about scribes, wanders off in search of “What’s his name.”

Delenn goes to restaurant w/ her fancy clothes on, secures audition.
“You look charming. We’ll give you 15 minutes…”

Kalcryx goes to temple of helm- two human males dressed similarly are
startled by him, ask who he is, what they can do

nathaniel and apprentice ______

kalcryx is hit up to help w/ temple duties- agrees to help keep watch

“Pardon my asking, in my many years of patrolling, I have never seen an
elf of your color and… claws… and so tall…” Nathaniel
“Ah, yes, we are unusual.”

“Since you will be helping us, we would like to know where you’re from,
what you are.”
Kalcryx promises to tell them all about it later… asks where to buy a
horse or… elephant? =) No elephants here.

Kalcryx goes to look for a horse. helm guy runs up, give kalcryx a note.
explains followers of helm are exempt from no-armour law, note verifies
his right. helps him into armour proudly and reverently.

Look to sell some junk, buy horses, one heavy, one medium warhorse…
Jaran looks to buy a bag of holding, finds none for sale.

Flanna finds scribeshop -shelves and shelves of books. Little brown man,
3 ft tall, big nose eventually greets her (flanna waited patiently, flanna
waited impatiently, flanna cleared her throat, flanna coughed loudly,
flanna said “excuse me…”, flanna smacked her hand down on the page
scribe was writing on, scribe looked up). can’t read scroll, can’t even
guess what language it’s in, hasn’t heard of mommy, denierath are in
zzzzassespur? Go see mage.
buy 5 pieces of parchment, 5sp each.

Jaran and Delenn go see mage- is a punk- suggests cutting off hand,
shoulder, agree to exhange icy sphere spell for fireball

G’Kar goes to pub
“Watch it shorty!” G’Kar’s head feels wet- man pouring ale on his head.
“You’ll be swimming in ale all the way back to the mountains!”
G’Kar trips him- falls on his face- gets up, tackles G’Kar-> bar brawl
ensues

As Flanna walks to the mage’s, she hears a whistle and sees a bunch of
guards running toward a pub

jarl follows them, kalcryx goes to take a nap

guards run in, break up fight “What happened, what’s going on here?”
Jarl enters tavern, sees blood, beer, four guys laying unconscious on
ground, guard taking G’Kar away

G’Kar taken to jail. “Oh! Stone floors?!” happy to be done with oversoft
beds. Charged 20gp for disturbing the peace

Flanna arrives at mage’s. Delenn answers door, jaran is writng a scroll.
mage willing to identify five items for 120gp. Agree to leave him spoon,
bastard sword, two potions and ring from woodelves. Results available
next morning

Jarl goes to furrier, flirts with halfling, finds out jeweler sells
pearls, 150gp each -> decides to wait for appraisal

kalcryx goes to fletcher, looks for shiny magic bow. can make one for him

jarl checks in on g’kar- offers to buy the jail a few kegs of ale.
promises it will keep him calmer. Tell him to wheel it round back.

delenn goes to play- well recieved, owner lets her stay for six hours.
mostly wealthy, noble clientele. People approach her. paid 16pp and 30gp
in tips. Doesn’t get much information- few pleasantly surprised looks at
the mention of lady zaranda in one of her songs

Flanna told by the mage to come back the next day. Ilmater a bust, rooms
with Jaran (although, I suppose now, she could have slept in G’Kar’s
vacant room)

Kalcryx does night watch, tells life story, earns 3sp.

19th Flamerule

Next morning, breakfast in the nice restaurant with garden and open roof.
2gp!! someone offers to pay for flanna.

suddenly a lot of yelling- a man w/ a black cloak, weapons, knocks over
tables, runs by, breaks door, pulls something off his neck and throws it
in

guards behind him yell “stop! thief!”
room explodes, we are all engulfed in flames

the DM rejoices

What?! The werewolves were in fact our Gypsy hosts?! We had to kill what we thought were fiends, but who turned out to be the very same people who we drank with and who listened to my brave and honorable dwarven tales… I must say I am stunned! The others in my party refused to let me take the bodies back to the encampment. It offends my sense of honor.

Fighting the werewolves and the spiders was all in a days work. Typical faire for my group of brave companions (I was ready to take on the entire orc village to boot). I am hoping for more battle along the way; I anticipate our planned visit to Weatherford. Still in awe over the power of my new blessed artifact, the Dwarventhrower, am I amazed at how I can deal deadly blows from afar. I smote werewolves and spiders over Kalkrix’s fortification wall, taller than myself!

On the matter of the *children* I am very ready to give them leave at Grimclaw. It was enough that we almost lost Flanna! Travelling warriors doing Clangeddin’s (and Helm’s, with apologies to gentle Kalkrix) bidding should not be hampered like this!

I live for the the chance to do battle in Clangeddin’s name, but I sorely miss the caves and rock walls of Twin Axes, dwarven ale and song, and my family.

G’Kar Truehammer, Defender of the Twin Storms, Dwarven Champion of Clangeddin Silverbeard

26th Kythorn

I must say that having been contracted into helping a drowning town of orcs has made my stomach turn. Had we not entered into an agreement of honor with the stranger we met in the pub, I would have smote the entire village. Or at least walked away (but I do like the idea of engaging blood enemies of my people). But, an agreement is *still* an agreement–honor one’s word first.

At least the Gypsies know how to celebrate. They do need better instruction in the fine art of ale and mead making, but their wine was not bad. They also seemed to enjoy my stories, and that tells a lot about a people. Again, not bad for humans.

And those human children we must attend to! At least Flanna has proven her worth to the party, but I fear that these children will be killed or worse. The gypsies looked as if they could provide a good home for them, but alas they weren’t interested.

And the *last* thing I would allow is for Flanna to be used as a sexual plaything. I find that thought distasteful. I would have struck down any other man for saying such a thing, but the gypsy leader showed us true hospitality.

PS: I *still* do not understand human mating urges or desires. Human and Elven women hold no interest for me. I hold Jarl in high esteem, for a human, of course, but I still don’t see what he sees in his bedfellows.

-G’Kar Truehammer, Defender of the Twin Storms, Dwarven Champion of Clangeddin Silverbeard

Jarl has cleared much land and produced a goodly amount of lumber, and the tavern is nearly rebuilt. The people of Weatherford now to the last are hale, very merry, and work with great diligence and determination. They are hard put, the know, for their crops are destroyed and their livestock dead, but they are confident and determined to survive.

And, as I expected, Smith approached us today and asked that we seek out the paladin. He led us into the tavern, down into the cellar, shooing people out as he did so, and under the very cask I had sat upon many hours these last few days is hid a locked door, and beneath that a staircase. We went down the stairs some ways, which were in good condition but sticky with spilled and dried ale, until we reached a large hallway constructed of block after block of rough-hewn stone. This opened into a widening where four great statues stood. They were fashioned of iron in the form of mighty warriors, being over twice my height, helmed and armoured and bearing golden swords which were crossed to block further progress into another corridor beyond. I could see but little into that distance, but just made out another widening, and the forms of powerful maidens of realistic size, also armoured and bearing swords. Betwixt them lay Sir Kenrik’s resting place, and behind them, was carved into the wall the faintly glowing image of a man victorious, his sword thrust into the breast of some strange and evil-seeming beast.

Jarl approached the guardians first, and then all at once the four warriors spoke, though they made no movements. The voice was of many speaking as one, their unity more perfect than any chorus of living things. “State your true name and pass,” they commanded of Jarl, and upon receiving his answer, they lifted their swords with a great screeching and creaking of metal, opening. The way opened, but was closed again quickly once he passed.

G’Kar followed next, confronted with the same demand, and listing his many names and titles, was too allowed to pass, and then Kalcryx, and Delenn, and then I. But I was not passed. “Flanna Dragonspared,” said I, for it is the truest name I know, but the warriors were still. There was some several moments of awkwardness, and I dare not imagine what thoughts my companions entertained about me, as I stood before the sword-gate, thinking and thinking of my mother and my father and their names for me: Flanna dear sweet child, Flanna lovely moppet, Flanna charming scamp… I considered Flanna, daughter of Aithne and of Daegan, but decided I could not endure the humiliation of another failure.

Jaran did not approach them, but stayed with me outside the barrier, urging the others to continue on. It was very kind of her, I think, to stay and ease my loneliness.

Soon I heard voices, Delenn’s first and Jarl’s and that of a stranger, but the corridor was too long and full of muddling echoes for me to make out their words. Jaran’s sharper ears however, picked out what I could not, and she related the words to me when she could, quietly and quickly. Through her I learned the sword is held in the bottom of Firedrake Bay, by a great bronze dragon, Haranolokxis, though it would seem it was not she who first stole it. And also I learned that Sir Kenrik wanted but to touch the sword one last time, and then he would relinquish it to whomever could put it to best use. Kalcryx promised he would see the sword returned, and so, as before, when we have completed one task, we are beset with another.