Session 4 - The One Where They Had A Mighty Battle
28th Sep 2020 19:30 - 22:15
In-game timeline: DR1489 Elesias 5 - Eleasias 6
We rejoin the Heroes Of The Realm in Oakhurst, having spent time and money training up to become even more awesome than they were before, destroying beliefs that this was not possible.
A trip to the shops was in order. Mahtis decided that asking to 'borrow' armour from the local guards would be a fine way to make friends in town. She was unfortunately, and unexplainedly, given short shrift from Felosial and her deputy, Helga, at such a suggestion, but was asked to visit the Mayor before they departed from the town, as word of their heroics had obviously reached the higher echelons of the town and Mayor Vernor Leng was keen to talk to them.
Meanwhile Tommy, Carro and Kandi were visiting the general store and encountered a frog. Not a run-of-the-mill frog such as you may see on any lily-pond, but a giant frog, as large as a man, waiting patiently outside the shop. Kandi had the fantastic idea to cast "speak with animals" as a ritual spell (in order to not waste a valuable spell slot). Unfortunately, by the time the spell was ready, the frog's owner/companion, which turned out to be a druid named Belak (as the team's vast investigative powers managed to ascertain later during a subtle interrogation of the shop owner), had emerged from the shop, collected the frog, and wandered out of town before Kandi was ready. In order not to waste such intense and admirable efforts, Kandi decided to instead chat to a nearby horse, who was a little sociable, and expressed a desire not to be called "Dobbin" but to instead be addressed as "Lord of all the Realms".
The shop owner, Kerowyn, was friendly and helpful, but unfortunately was not well stocked in weapons or armour. Kandi did, however, purchase a crossbow and some bolts, and Carro obtained an invaluable map of the local region, with the Fallen Fortress well marked, though the accuracy of the map could not be fully guaranteed. The group did learn of a possible stone circle somewhere in the surrounding woods, though Kerowyn was unsure whether Belak lived around there, though let slip that Belak had been buying building implements recently, so may some home-improvements were taking place?
Regrouping once again, the party visited the mayor, Vernor Leng. A jovial and approachable chap, he gave the party the deference and recognition they deserved, and, when he heard that they were planning to visit the Fortress, he politely asked that should they discover any items or artefacts relating to the ancient dragon cult of Ashardalon that once resided there, that he be given first refusal on purchasing them, as he has an interest in that sort of thing.
At that point, however, he became more serious and informed the party of a missing halfling girl, Bella Lightfoot, who went missing the evening before, and the guard and many farming families are very worried, and are looking for her in the nearby woods. He asked that the party keep an eye out for her if they venture into the surrounding areas.
Our compassionate group of valiant adventurers decided to visit the Lightfoot farm on their way out of town, to see if they could help, as they are not only a formidable fighting force, but are also equally a caring and considerate group. Unfortunately they could find very little to help at the farm - Bella's parents, Harold and Ethel, were worried sick about their daughter, despite the efforts of the group in consoling them. Even mentioning the many monsters that could be in the nearby woods did not calm their fears - there was just no calming them. And so, after a little investigation (Carro was very keen to progress, and did not want to spend any longer than absolutely necessary in trying to find the missing, innocent, young halfling girl), the party headed out of town.
Stopping briefly to collect Meepo, who was understandably delighted to see them all, they made their way, under guidance from Meepo, who seemed to know where he was going, though I'm sure the elves in the party would no doubt have found their way there anyway. By mid-evening, they arrived at a canyon that contained the Fallen Fortress. They tried their best to curtail Meepo's excitement at arriving back at his old home, and his eagerness to be reunited with Calcryx. They decided to put Meepo at the front of the party to better keep an eye on him. Seeing the narrow and rock-strewn stairs cut into the rock leading down into the chasm, which needed to be traversed in order to reach the entrance down below, our intrepid adventurers arranged themselves with the formidable melee fighting force of TC bringing up the rear, in order to present a wall of whirling longsword attacks to anyone foolish enough to attack them from behind.
A platform halfway down showed evidence of previous travellers, with the remains of a campfire, nestled amongst the overgrown bushes and vines that clung precariously to the rocks at the side of the canyon. The ruined Fortress was at the base of the gorge, seemingly dropped there by some great force in the past - natural or unnatural, it was not clear which. The base of the Fortress was strewn with rubble and rocks, most fallen from the walls and upper floors of the great, stone structure.
Meepo was unimpressed with the grandeur of the scene, and rushed headlong down the steps. His progress cut short at the platform when some of the many vines surrounding the platform seemed to rise up and attempt to grab him. Meepo, being small and nimble, managed to dodge the vines, and even managed to avoid the swipes at his legs from a bush that also seemed to come alive right next to him. Unfortunately Carro, who was following, was less fortunate, and a second bush near to him rose up to its full height of 2'6" and swiped at Carro's legs, scoring a hit and drawing first blood. The battle was on!
The plant monsters had no idea of the power of our heroes. Had they known, they would have stayed motionless, hoping not to be seen. However, it was now too late - they were committed. Meepo slashed at the vines attempting to grapple him, but missed. Mahtis, unable to reach the platform due to being halfway up the stairs and with people in front of her, spouted forth flames from her hands towards the vine monster, but the flames went wide, instead striking the canyon walls beyond. Kandi raised up his newly purchased crossbow and let loose a bolt, similarly missing the writhing vines. Tom, frustrated at being at the back and unable to get past the others on the rocky stairs could only look on in dismay at not being able to demonstrate his new skills with a blade.
Carro however put on a good show. A hit with his first swipe followed by a perfectly timed second hit on the vine creature managed to sever a few vine-ish limbs. His efforts, however, were rewarded only with another swing from the twig creature slashing at his legs, though the second creature once again missed Meepo. The vine monster, now afraid at the sheer pent-up power that was slowly coming towards him down the steps, decided to stop attacking the small kobold and instead caused roots and vines to spring up around Kandi and Carro on the steps. Carro managed to dodge them, but Kandi was bound and unable to move.
Meepo, spotting his opportunity, slashed at the vines with his dagger and scored a hit. Mahtis uncharacteristically missed on her attack and Kandi failed to break free from the grasping roots. Tommy-boy looked on, his rage growing. Carro slashed at the vine, causing more damage, but was unable to help Kandi, who could only watch as another bush of twigs seemed to come alive near to him and attack him whilst he was still grappled by the roots. The vine creature scored a vital hit on Carro, bringing him close to unconsciousness, but Meepo, inspired by the courageousness of our heroes, responded with another hit from his dagger, leaving the vine with few limbs left to attack. Mahtis, now with a twig creature nearby, took a swing and scored a fatal blow on the mass of twigs, saving Kandi from further pain. Kandi responded by inspiring Mr Covenant with a song, and Covey promptly shuffled past both Mahtis and Kandi and launched himself at the vine, killing it with a perfectly aimed blow from his longsword. The final twig creatures, now utterly demoralised at the ferocity and potential accuracy of the blows from all members of our intrepid party, could not withstand the final attacks from the group, and Carro picked them off with his final swings, graciously allowing Meepo the honour of the death-blow on one of the twig monsters.
With the deathly fighting potential of our heroic party duly demonstrated, the group pressed on, though not before Kandi noticed, and collected, a couple of arrow heads from the remains in the old camp fire. A few healing spells were distributed, though most of the group were smiling through their pain, and reluctant to accept aid.
And so our impressive warriors arrived at the base of the gorge, standing before the ruined entrance of the once-grand Fortress, the door standing slightly ajar, but no sign of life beyond a few rats scuttling around the fallen stones in the courtyard and the last of the evening's mosquitoes buzzing overhead, to be snapped up by the odd bat that emerged from the stone above.
And there we must leave them, eager to progress into the Fortress. To avenge the kobolds, to fulfil their promise to attempt to rescue Calcryx from the goblins. To maybe find Karakas and discover more about Mahtis' sister, and what became of the previous adventuring party. To learn more about mysterious fruit - some giving health, some taking it away, with a view to aiding Erdan, the comatose elf back in Oakhurst. To possibly learn a little more about the fabled Dragonsboon, a legendary weapon that Karakas was apparently seeking, and which our heroes have deliberately not mentioned since learning of it in Gwen's journal.
Dragons Claw are on the hunt! Beware!
