Game Notes: August 13, 2021 At Phylund Lodge

 

Continuation of 7th Day of Kythorn, 1491

After a couple of hours of rest, the adventurers began to stretch and gather their packs as they discussed what to do next.  It was decided that the first priority was finding out what lay through the door the last gnolls had come through.  So carefully pulling the blockade away from the door in the southwest corner of the stable room they were in, they entered another largish room. The first thing that they noticed that as bad as the smells had been in the room they were leaving, this room was even worse.  It stank of wet animals and smoke.  Bones, dried skins, and rotting meat were scattered across the floor.  Atalaya shook her head in dismay as she moved carefully into the room, her bow at the ready, looking for signs of anything living.  She didn’t see anything to shoot at.  She did see a long rectangular table placed in front of a large fireplace.  There were also some chairs scattered here and there around the room, some broken, some upturned.  There were two pillars supporting the ceiling in the center of the room.  The walls were cracked and damp.  There were some faded remains of frescos where the plaster was still attached to the underlying brick wall.   Along the southern wall there was a staircase leading up, with the landing situated above where they had entered the room.  Across the room, on the western wall was a set of double doors.  Two windows revealed another building, a little yard and an outbuilding/shed and what might at one time have been a palisade fence.  

Seeing nothing alarming in this room, the party quietly headed up the stairs until they reached a door at the top.  Listening at the door, the sounds of gnolls talking were heard.  Everyone crept back down the stairs.  A quick survey of the room and Atalaya with help from some of the others upturned the table to provide a barrier to shelter them as they attacked the gnolls they hoped to entice to come down the stairway.  They used the pillars to help keep the table in place. 

Mac and Ivar positioned themselves behind the pillars and the rest of the group moved behind the table.  Once everyone was ready, Tifinin created the illusion of the smells of gnoll foods roasting in the fireplace.  

After a few moments the sound of the upper door opening could be heard.  Two gnolls began creeping down the stairs, sniffing as they went.  Tif added the sounds of pots and spoons banging as if they were preparing more food.  Another gnoll starts to creep down the stairs.  

Macterah steps out from behind the pillar and sends a lightning bolt up the stairs trying to hit the gnolls.  The middle gnoll goes up in flames, turning into a stinking burning mass.  The other two jump off the stairs and try to swat out the flames engulfing them.  

Ivar targets and shoots at one of the two remaining gnolls as Mac sends off a round of magic missiles at the other.  It goes up in flames.  She then sends her remaining missiles at the remaining gnoll.  It also goes up in flames. 

The rest of us hear activity coming from the top of the stairs.  There is a lot of commotion and guttural voices.  Atalaya watches as a gnoll peeks out of the door and starts to head down the stairs.  Seeing the dead gnolls he high tails it back up the stairs and through the door uttering urgent cries in his hideous gnollish language.  

Tif makes an illusion of one of the dead gnolls sitting on the edge of the table chomping on a bone.  

There is a huge clap of thunder that pulses through the room.  Atalaya, Sorrow, Vaz, Ivar and Cirilli stagger as the sound physically explodes across their bodies.  Atalaya, Sorrow and Cirilli were so affected by the noise that they needed several moments to shake off the effect of the sound before they could re-engage in the fight continuing around them.  

Following the thunderclap, the doors on the west side of the room open and Atalaya sees about 4 gnolls entering the great hall.  The first of the gnolls sees Joan and tries to shoot her with his bow and arrow, but misses.

Ivar shoots back at that gnoll and hits him so hard that he goes flying back and is pinned to the wall with Ivar’s arrow.  

Tifinin shoots at a different gnoll using one of his Thunder crossbow bolts, but misses his target.

Mac raises her Wand of Missiles and fires at each of the three remaining gnolls and then ducks behind the table.

Atalaya, picking one of the gnolls threatening them, shoots two of her magicked arrows at him, hitting each time.  This gnoll also goes flying back and is pinned to the wall.  The sound of his head hitting against the wall is heard above the other sounds of mayhem in the room.  Atalaya watches as his dangling feet briefly kick out, trying to dislodge him as he dies and then hangs limply against the wall. 

Sorrow points his finger at one of the remaining two gnolls and in a low intense voice says, “Freeze!”.  The gnoll immediately freezes, remaining as still as a statue.

Cirilli takes a shot at the last remaining gnoll, but still slightly affected by the loud thunderclap, misses her shot. 

Joan, using her longbow, shot two arrows at the gnoll Cirilli had aimed at and “takes him down”.  The last gnoll, the one that had been frozen in place by Sorrow, is killed by an arrow shot into him by Vasilya.   

After picking up their arrows, Atalaya, Joan and Sorrow head up the stairs.   Easing the door open, they see a sitting room.  On the walls of this room are many hooks and rotting wooden frames of various sizes and shapes.  A round table sits in the middle of the chamber, and a rusty suit of decorative plate armor stands on the east wall near the massive fireplace to the north.   To the west is a set of double doors and two doors are closed on the southern wall. Opposite the fireplace on the southern wall is a staircase leading down.  Just north of the staircase is another closed door.  This room looks “semi-civilized.”  

As the trio creeps along the hallway  out of the room (heading north) Vasilya joins them.  Vaz then calls out “Behind us!!”  Within a second of his warning there is another loud sonic thunderclap of sound from behind the party.  As Atalaya recovers and turns to look behind her down the hallway,  she sees a man with a bald head (Thegger Grynn) holding up his hand which is glowing.  

Vasilya turns and shoots an arrow into the magic user as Sorrow, shaking off the stunning from the sound calls out again in his low intense voice “Freeze!”

The bald headed man freezing.  Atalaya walks up towards him as Vasilya pointing at his tattoo says, “He’s a Thayian.  

Atalaya then paralizes him using her wand of paralysis.  Vasilya ties him up as Atalaya gags and blindfolds him.  Opening one of the doors on the south wall of the sitting room near the southwest corner of the room, they find a linen closet.  Atalaya and Vasilya toss the Red Wizard into it and close it back up.  

The double doors on the west end of the sitting room now stand open and appear to be where the Thayian came out of.  Atalaya begins to search his room, finding it to be his bedroom.  

While Atalaya is searching the bedroom Vasilya searches the Thayian.  He jumps as a skeletal hand comes towards him and then grabs him.  Vasilya begins to shiver as the hand grasps him.  Atalaya, hearing the commotion outside the bedroom, rushes over towards Vasilya, her sword out in her hand to try to stab the skeletal hand or otherwise detach it from Vasilya. But as she readies the sword to try to knock it off him, Tif, who heard the sounds of fighting, has rushed up the stairs.  He casts a dispel magic spell and the hand disappears in a mist. 

Vasilya moves away from the door.  Macterah uses a spell and turns her Magic Missile wand into an elemental weapon and shoots the wizard as he lies tied up in the closet.  She then shoots him with a crossbow bolt just to be sure that he is really dead.

While this is happening three more gnolls come upon the group from the hallway they had started to follow towards the north.  

The first gnoll shoots at Joan and misses her.  The second takes a shot at Sorrow and also misses him.  The third, moving a bit more deliberately, takes a moment to actually aim and hits Joan, causing some (9 points worth) damage.  

Joan turns and fires, missing with her first arrow as the gnoll’s arrow grazes along her thigh.  She immediately fires off another arrow with her longbow and this one hits one of the gnolls, who growls and readies another shot.

Vasilya attempts to shoot at the gnolls but fumbles and is more vulnerable to the next attack against him.

Sorrow attempts to cast “Hideous Laughter” on one of the gnolls, but it doesn’t seem to phase the gnoll.

Macterah quickly moves over to Joan and touches her quiver and turns 12 of her arrows into flaming arrows. 

Ivar, pulling out his bow, shoots at the gnolls and misses.

Grinda is hiding behind Tifinin in the corner of the room.

Cirilli moves over to the closet, kicks the door closed and holds her shot until she can get a clear shot at the gnolls.

One of the gnolls tried to shoot Sorrow but instead fell down as he pulled back on the bowstring.  He lands face down on the floor, but has managed to maintain his grasp on his bow.

Another of the gnolls shoots at Joan, but misses her.

Atalaya fires her two thunder arrows at the gnoll who shot at Joan.  He falls down and is pushed back 5 feet.  

A different gnoll shoots at Atalaya and hits her causing minimal damage, just grazing her.

At this time the southern door (not the closet door) opens and three more gnolls are seen entering the room.  

Joan, hearing the door open, pushes past Ivar and shoots with her longbow at one of the new gnolls.  Her second arrow hits causing both piercing damage and fire damage.  She then lets fly a third arrow at one of the gnolls standing next to her initial target, hitting it and causing both piercing and flame damage again. 

Vasilya moves into the room and shoots at the first gnoll that Joan had targeted, but misses him.    

Sorrow targets one of the gnolls and casts Hideous Laughter.  This gnoll starts laughing uncontrollably.  

Macterah casts shots from her magic missile wand at the gnoll that had attacked Joan, and at another of the gnolls. One of the gnolls falls down.  

Ivar, who had hidden in the bedroom, runs out, takes a shot at a gnoll, killing it, and then jumps back into the bedroom.

Grinda, using his shortbow, shoots one of the gnolls, hitting and doing some damage.  Cirilli then shoots at the same gnoll, but misses it. However, the gnoll, looking at the armed party facing him, backs out through the door in the south wall and runs away.  

Tifinin puts on his ring of flying, picks up Grinda and flies to the corner of the room where the fireplace is.

The large hyena-like gnoll takes a shot at Joan, misses her and then falls back through the southern door into the room behind it and closes the door. 

The gnoll that had been laughing stops laughing.

The door that the gnolls had fled through was locked.  Tif casts a “Knock” spell and opens the door.  Behind the door is a trophy room.  This room holds the remains of scores of hunting trophies-- furs, mounted heads, skulls and small beasts stuffed whole-- of which only a few still hang on the walls. Four wooden bookcases, their shelves broken out, have been laid on the floor and filled with grass and furs.  A stairway to the south leads downward. 

Before exploring further, Atalaya, Macterah, Cirilli and some of the others loot the gnoll bodies, finding an equivalent of 68 gp in coins and gems.  

Ivar is actually able to complete the search of the wizard’s bedroom (Phylund Lodge Room 16) that Atalaya had attempted but been called away from.  He finds:  

A desk with a spell book and journal on it, 

A white bowl and a copper cup, 

A black ceramic bowl with a spindle shaped magic lodestone.  

As Atalaya and Mac search the wizard, they find:

A dagger with a faint aura of magic

A potion of healing

An unknown potion

Set of platinum rings set with a black pearl

Keyring with keys

When Ivar tries using the keys on the locked chest it opens revealing what looks to be the wizard’s personal effects (i.e. clothing).

Deciding not to go through the Trophy Room, but rather down the hallway leading to the north they pass a couple of windows, noting nothing of import through them as they pass by.  

The hallway ends at a landing where they see a partially opened door. Deciding that was probably where the gnolls came from, they choose to go through that door.  (The walls of thi s landing are decorated with hundreds of wooden crests bearing the emblems of noble families.  Some crests have been removed, some have fallen to the floor, and all have faded with age and weather.  A large hole in the ceiling explains the weathering of this area.)

Going through the partially opened door they find 4 doors and stairs winding down.  Skipping checking out the closed doors, the group heads down the stairs (and ends up in the Old Keep Hall).  

As they enter the hall, Grinda becomes excited at the traps on the doors he finds, explaining how the spiked wooden planks would come swinging down and crashing into anyone who pushed their way through the doors into the room they were now in.  There are 3 doors in the room and traps on each of them.  

The stone walls of this room are bare and aged.  Part of the rune engraved monolith on which the structure is founded is visible in the southwest corner, and a fireplace has been carved into it.  The room contains disorderly piles of containers, as well as rugs, blankets, cloaks, furs, vases and other earthenware.  The stairway they used to enter the room is on the northern wall.  In an alcove to the southeast is a descending stairway.

After looking at the 3 trapped doors, they decide to head down the stairs to see where that will go.  They find there way into a small wine cellar.  Looking around they find several bottles of elvish wine and decide to keep 3 of the bottles for themselves. 

In the east wall of the wine cellar is a door.  Ivar checks it and doesn’t think that it is trapped.  After opening it, they see a hallway that goes east for a short distance and then turns southward.  Tifinin sneaks down the hallway and peeks around the corner to see what he can find there.  He comes back and tells us that there are “things” down there, he’s not sure whether they are alive or undead, but he is sure that he was hearing something down there.  After further listening, we decide that we are hearing creepy doggish/wolfish-like sounds.  We think that there must be more of the hyenas we have seen in other places around the lodge.  Deciding that we really don’t want to get into a fight with a bunch of hyenas in the closed in space of the hallway we head back upstairs into the Old Hall.  

After returning to the Hall we got Grinda, Ivar and Vasilya to untrap the doors leading into that room.  

Tifinin then opened the door on the eastern wall. This led into a kitchen.  This old kitchen had been recently cleaned and put back into use.  Near the fireplace, neatly stored in a wooden casket, are several cooking utensils.  A tarnished copper pan punched with multiple holes hangs on the wall near the entrance.  This kitchen appears to be in pretty good shape and like it has been used recently.  Further searching reveals some edible food.  There is another door in the southeastern corner of the kitchen on the eastern wall.  The door appears to be locked from the kitchen side.  

When Tif tries to open it, it sticks and is hard to push open.  Once he is able to open it he finds that a sack of chestnuts was blocking the door.  We take the bag of chestnuts and add it to our stores. Looking out the door we see hyenas patrolling the yard. We head back into the kitchen and lock the door behind us.

Checking the south and western doors reveal that they also open to the outside.  There is a well outside the south door.  We can also see the rock that the fireplace is carved into from the outside.  We go back into the hall and lock the doors.  

After a little more discussion we head down the stairs to the wine cellar and into the hallway, preparing ourselves to fight the hyenas we expect to find there.  

Mac, Joan and Atalaya lead the way and encounter two wolves.  Mac sends flames at wolf 2.  Wolf 1 bites Mac.  Ivar pushes his way forward and shoots wolf 2 killing it.  

At this point a hyena-like gnoll attacks Macterah but slips on the wolf blood on the floor stumbling as he tries to swing his weapon at Mac.  He recovers and takes a second swing with his halberd.  This swing hits her and she takes 10 points of damage from it.

Vasilya moves forward through the hallway, but doesn’t have a viable shot. 

Sorrow moves from the wine cellar to where the hallway turns south, mentally running through the spells that he might use.  He realizes that he doesn’t have much casting ability left for the day.  He feels that he can cast Vicious Mockery spell and does so.  (But I don’t know what he cast it on.)

Joan, using her flaming arrows that Mac had bespelled earlier, shoots two arrows at the hyena-like gnoll, hurting it.  She then shoots a third arrow at one of the wolves.  It dies. 

Atalaya shoots at the gnoll hitting it with both her shots.  It bursts into flame and we see the demon Baazka leave its body. There is a smell of burning hair in the air around the gnoll. 

Atalaya, Joan and Mac take some damage from the fire as the gnoll bursts into flame.

Once the fighting is over, Atalaya actually looks at the area they have been fighting in.  She sees that the walls of this square room are brick lined.  In the room are three empty barrels and an upturned chest.  The rotting shards and rusty hoops of a few other broken barrels are scattered here and there on the floor. The stench of burning fur lingers in the air of the room.  What is left of the body of the hyena-like gnoll that the demon had been using smolders on the ground 

The room (Phylund Lodge, Room 22) is searched/looted and we find the following:

A small copper pot that holds a pair of worry dice.  And a metal bucket.  They also find 6 gp, 13 sp, and 35 cp.  

Deciding that we had already passed a long day and were tired and hungry and hurting we returned to the Great Hall.  Dinner was made, making use of the kitchen.  After eating, and then resetting the traps on the doors leading into the hall Tifinin and Sorrow cast a Leomund’s Tiny Hut spell, making two safe huts for us to spend the night in.  

GAME ENDS.

Cut Scene: During the short rest, 7th Day of Kythorn,1492

   7th Day of Kythorn, Phylund Lodge Stable      

The tired group of adventurers surveyed the carnage in the stable turned bunkroom. Light filtered through the cracks and holes in the severely damaged roof.  Realizing that they needed to give themselves time to recover from their wounds and to ready themselves for whatever was to come next, they barricaded the doorways leading into the stable as best they could and cleared an area of dead gnolls to rest in.  There wasn’t much they could do about the awful stench the dead creatures emitted though.

Atalaya sat, with her back to one of the walls from which the bunks had been cleared away to form the door barricades.  Cirilli sat near her and Atalaya explained how to check each of her spent arrows for any signs of cracking or weakness that would make them ineffective during combat.  Cleaning them of blood, she patiently explained each step of refletching the arrows as her ward watched avidly, her finger unconsciously mirroring Atalaya’s motions.  Atalaya smiled when she noticed that, remembering her own impatience when being taught by Aliwin.  

“You can practice this for yourself when we recover arrows spent by our foes.  But be sure that you keep them separated from those that are yours, until you have perfected your skills.  You need to be able to trust your arrow in the fights we are likely to have as we cleanse this lodge of the evil that has overtaken it.”

“For now, look over this arrow.  What is needed for it?  Should I clean and repair it, or cut off the arrowhead and toss the shaft?”

Cirilli examined the arrow carefully, turning it around in her hands.  “Repair the fletching?” she asked.  

Atalaya took back the arrow and turned it in her hands as she looked at it.  “First, it must be cleaned of blood.  See here?  We don’t know what has happened to the shaft under this.  Wet the rag and wipe it clean and then look again.”

Joan, watching from a few feet away, smiled.  She had her own repair kit out and was performing the same tasks as Atalaya was teaching Cirilli.  

After a few minutes working, Atalaya frowned while looking at an arrow.  Gaining Cirilli’s attention she showed her a crack running up the shaft.  “See here? This one is cracked.  Even though it appears sound, it is not.  The best we can do is remove the arrowhead like this.  Now it can be placed on a new shaft.” 

 

Opening a second bundle within her repair kit, Atalaya brought out a new shaft.  “It’s always good to keep a supply of new shafts with you.  You don’t want to run out of arrows.  I know you are learning to use the sword also, but arrows keep the foes at a distance, which is usually safer for you.  Running out of arrows puts us at a disadvantage.”  

Cirilli frowned with concentration as she watched Atalaya bind the arrowhead to the new shaft.  “Where do you get the shafts?  Do you make them yourself?  Can I learn to do that too?”

“Well, I like best the shafts that I make, or those of my father’s.  But there is not always appropriate wood to make them yourself, or the time and tools needed to do so.  Ash and oak wood is the best for making war arrows such as these.  You need a heavier, stronger wood.  But there are many choices of wood, depending on what you want the arrow for, and what is available.”  

Turning the shaft around she reached for the feathers and her glue.  Searching through the remaining feathers, Atalaya picked out three.  “See these?  They are all of a similar size and weight.  Here, I’ll trim this one slightly and then they will match,”  Atalaya continued to instruct Cirilli as she worked to replace the broken arrow.  Finally smiling, she put the arrow aside.  “We’ll just let that set for a while.  I won’t put that one in my quiver to use today.  It will go into the bag of holding with the others I have just repaired.  The glue on the fletching needs to dry out completely before use and the bindings also need to dry so that they hold the head on securely.   That’s why I carry so many arrows, and always pick up spent arrows, mine and the enemies’.”

“Okay, these are done for now.  Did you eat something?  You need to keep your body prepared and ready to fight.  You need the energy from the food to be at your best.”

Cirilli nodded.  “Yes, I’ve eaten.”

“Good.  Now just rest your mind and body.  We will be pushing on soon.”  Atalaya reached over and gently pulled Cirilli over so that her head rested against her shoulder.  “Just rest.  We are as safe as we can be at the moment.”

Cirilli rested.

Atalaya, looked over towards Vasilya and gestured for him to bring her his spent arrows.  “I’ll just take a look at those for you while she sleeps,” she said in a low voice. Vasilya settled next to her, handing her arrows when she indicated and just watching as she methodically checked each, repairing them as needed..  

Firehammer Hold, Continuation of the 16th Day of Mirtul,

April 2, 2021 Game notes from Atalaya 

Continuing the adventures of 16th of Mirtul, 1491 somewhere along the WNW border of the Forlorn Hills outside of Firehammer Hold

Atalaya looked at Tif with concern showing in her eyes.  He was pacing around the others muttering to himself, clearly upset about finding the pit filled with the broken bodies of many, many people.   “We are going to find out what happened to them Tif.  You need to calm down so we can plan how we are going to do just that.”

Tifinin looked at her with despair and anger warring across his face.  Not answering he turned away and continued his pacing.  His despair gave way, leaving nothing but raging anger that burned through his body and filled his thoughts with nothing but revenge for those left in the pit and for the villagers that they had been looking for.  Suddenly, even as Atalaya was looking straight at him, he disappeared from sight.  Calling softly for him had no result.  Atalaya wanted to pull her hair out, but instead turned back to the rest of the group, finding Macterah, Ivar and Vasilya watching her.  Myricia, their small pseudodragon, had also disappeared.  

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Atalaya led the small group of adventurers slowly and carefully towards the hold, searching out the most cover she could find, but keeping them as far from the pit as she could.  With care they finally crossed the last open area and reached the double doors of the hold.  They were massive stone doors with large 9 foot tall slate bas-relief statues of dwarven warriors flanking each side of the doorway.  Large knockers were situated in the middle of each door at about a 4 foot tall height.  As they approached the entrance to the hold, Atalaya heard Myricia’s voice in her head warning her that they needed to stop.  Tif was already in the hold and needed them to wait until he returned outside.  Atalaya, once again wanting to pull some hair out, but now not sure whether she wanted to pull out her own or Tifinin’s, signaled the others to hold still.  Feeling highly exposed in the open area, Atalaya waited to hear something from Myricia or to see Tif appear through the closed doors. 

After waiting for a few minutes that seemed like hours to Atalaya, Myricia announced that Tif was heading back out of the building.  Suddenly her panicked mind voice called out “Now!!! You need to go now!  Something has happened to Tif!”

Myricia’s voice must have been heard by everyone because Vasilya lunged towards the door, checking quickly for traps or locks, but finding none.  He pushed the door open, revealing an empty hall.  Macterah reached into her component pouch, pulled out a small packet containing some mistletoe ash and a sprig of spruce. Quickly opening it, she rubbed them together and tossed the ashes over the heads of the group.  A slight feeling of power washed over their bodies and then silence prevailed as they entered the building looking for any signs of Tif.  Trusting in Macterah’s spell to help keep them hidden, they carefully made their way down the hallway.  Atalaya saw signs of blood ahead of her and ignoring the door she saw in the hallway made her way to where the blood trail began.  Going down some steps she saw that it opened into a squarish room.  She almost stumbled as she saw Tif suddenly appear at the end of the hallway.  

Atalaya grabbed Tifinin and pulled him back up the hallway away from the opening to the room they could see ahead of them.  Macterah dropped to her knees, checking for his pulse and looking for injuries.  Slowly Tif started moving and then suddenly sat up looking around him.  At the barrage of questions flung at him asking him what he had done and if he was hurt, it became apparent that he could remember nothing about what had just happened.  

Once both Macterah and Atalaya were sure that he was not hurt more than having hit his head and being unable to remember recent events, the group carefully made their way into the room at the end of the hallway.  It seemed to be a guard room.  There was a fire burning in a corner fireplace, a table with a few chairs and some racks that probably once held weapons on either side of a door on the western wall.  There was an archway in the northern wall with the hallway continuing beyond that.  In the center of the room they could see the remains of several druegar, maybe four Atalaya thought, though it was hard to tell.  Blood was everywhere and there were bits of hacked off limbs and flesh littering the floor.  Atalaya looked at it in amazement and a little bit of fear.  She could not imagine how they were all so terribly wounded and Tifinin had only been knocked out without other visible wounds.  Tifinin looked over the bodies but still could not remember anything that had happened, or so he said.  

Atalaya walked over to the door. Hearing nothing, she asked for Vaz or Ivar to check it for traps and locks.  Finding none, Atalaya opened the door, saw a giant lizard and slammed the door shut before it could truly register that the door had been opened.  Atalaya had not wanted to need to shoot it, therefore canceling the spell Macterah had placed on them.  

With that area closed to them, Atalaya led everyone north through the archway and farther into the hold.  The hallway ended in another room.  This one was larger than the guardroom and seemed that at one time it might have been a chapel.  There was a large statue of Haela Brightaxe, a dwarven battle goddess.  Dried blood was everywhere over the floor although there were no signs of dead bodies.  Atalaya looked around, taking it all in.  She noticed arrow slits in the east and west walls.  Looking through the eastern ones she saw druegar in the room behind the wall.  

Tif had disappeared again, but the rest of the group readied themselves to ambush the druegar.  Wishing that she could get them to congregate to make shooting them easier, Atalaya threw a gold coin into the room.  Unfortunately, the druegar remained isolated, showing little interest in the coin and more in determining where it had come from.  Taking a deep breath, Atalaya nodded at Mac, who sent a bolt of lightning into the room which killed one of them instantly and wounded another.  Atalaya started shooting, as did Vaz and Ivar.  The arrow slits both provided cover and made shooting more difficult.  Even with that, they quickly dispatched the druegar that had been in the room.  

Looking around, Atalaya noticed that Tifinin had made his way back into the room and was gesturing to them to follow him back the way we had come.  Stopping at another set of carved stone double doors, he suggested that they try that way.  The door specialists, Ivar and Vaz, checked the doors out and decided that they were both untrapped and unlocked.  With another look at the elaborate carvings of fighting dwarves on the doors, Atalaya pushed them open and entered into the next passageway.  This one was very short.  The north and south walls are decorated with ornate brass torch scones and two friezes of azure slate that depict dwarves fighting dragons.  Tif pushed ahead and opened the door at the end of the hallway and entered the room that appeared to be a dining room.  Worried about Tifinin, Atalaya followed him, searching the room for any signs of more druegar. 

The rest of the party started to follow just as two plumes of flame burst out of the walls.  Atalaya and Vaz were in the direct path of these and even though they tried to dodge out of the way were still caught in the flames. Swatting out the flames Atalaya tried to determine what exactly had just happened.  Looking around she noted two holes in the wall, one directly ahead of the entrance way, and one near the corner of the north wall in line with those entering the room.  Eating the Goodberries handed to her by Macterah, she debated how to secure the room.  Ivar, Tifinin,and Mac decided to place some tables along the walls in front of the holes.  Atalaya was unsure whether or not they would actually provide any protection from the flames, but it felt good to at least try to do something.  

There was a passageway in the wall near the northeast corner, heading north.  Just as they were beginning to feel the effects of the Goodberries two druegars appeared in the passageway and were about to enter the room. Seeing the room full of intruders they immediately began shooting at Vasilya and Ivar who were closest to them.  Both men were hit, but the commotion alerted the rest of the party.  Atalaya had her bow drawn and arrows flying from it within seconds of seeing Vasilya hit.  The druegar continued to appear from somewhere deeper in the building.  While Atalaya’s attention was focused on the northern end of the room, a door opened in the southwestern wall and more druegar entered the fight from that side.  These included two druegar priests.  One of them cast a spell that seemed to paralyze Vasilya.  Determined to protect Vasilya, Atalaya shot at the priest who she thought was preventing Vasilya from moving while Ivar grabbed him and pulled him behind a pillar, hoping that it would provide Vasilya with some more cover. 

Mac, focusing on the power she gathered from the ground below her, had turned into an ape and was attacking the warriors and priests while Tifinin was shooting at them with his new magical crossbow bolts.  The battle was short but very intense.  Ape Mac was damaged enough that she returned to her natural form.  She saw Ivar get a shot off that killed the priest that was bespelling Vasilya. Tif continued to shoot at anything threatening Macterah.   

Suddenly there was silence. Atalaya looked around realizing that there was no one left to shoot at.  With a muffled cry she headed towards Vasilya, muttering curses about his thinking he needed to be a walking pincushion.  Reaching his side she knelt beside him and carefully cut away the broken arrow and removed the arrowheads.  Cleaning out the wounds as best she could, she placed her palms together and made a small circle as she said something that Vaz could not quite make out.  Then as her hands started to glow with a warming healing energy she placed them over his wounds, willing them to close and for his body to return to health.  Her eyes closed in concentration as she continued her low muttered mantra of healing.  Atalaya could feel the skin knitting together.  After a few moments she felt the last of the healing energy leave her hands.  Looking at Vasilya she could tell that he was better but probably still hurting.  Bidding Vasilya to sit still, she looked around to see if anyone else was hurt.  

Not seeing Macterah immediately, she got up to look for her and noticed her coming out of the room that the priests must have come out of.  At Macterah’s gesture, she hurried over to see what the room held.  The first thing she noticed was the throne.  Then she saw the fireplace and the bedrolls in front of it.  As she looked further she noticed the bas-reliefs of dwarven kings, the black banner with a broken crossbow bolt held in red hands hanging on the wall.  Looking at Macterah, she noticed that Mac was carrying some scrolls and a silver bowl back towards the rest of the group.

Deciding that a short rest was needed as everyone recovered from the recent fight, everyone worked together to block the entrances to the room as well as possible and then looked over the scrolls.  They seemed to be renovation plans for the hold.  Using those, the group decided that the mine must be to the north end of the structure.  Looking into the silver bowl revealed a collection of teeth; human, halfling and possibly elven.  Atalaya shuttered as she looked at them and took out a small pouch and placed the teeth into it, vowing silently to herself to bury them with the elven ear necklaces in the dryad’s grove outside of Julkoun.   

After a couple of hours, they got ready to press on, looking for where the Julkounian captives were being held, more certain than ever that this was where they had been brought.  Tif, unable to wait for everyone else to get ready, headed out on his own.  Atalaya watched him leave wondering what was driving him.  She had never seen him so hyper focused and bloodthirsty before.  Carefully and methodically they searched through the rooms they came upon, eliminating any druegar they came across.  There were several barrack rooms.  One that had more arrow slits revealing a cavern with a rail track and a minecart in it.  The tracks seemed to start in that room and lead off in a northerly direction. Beyond the minecart Atalaya could see two iron gates and then more druegar behind the second grate.  Another room they found held a large furnace with a bellows system.  

Behind the barrack rooms was a passage that appeared to lead to a lower level.  Atalaya wanted to go that way, looking for the mine and the villagers.  Tifinin, however, was determined to head back to the Chapel room and search the passages on the other side.  Atalaya, seeing that he was driven to explore the entire hold and would not rest until it had been searched, and would probably leave them and search them on his own if they did not go with him, gave in to Tifinin.  “Just let me make a quick check to be sure that this is the way down and that there is no one there right now to creep up behind us.”  Tifinin agreed to wait just long enough for her to do that.  Determining that there was no one likely to come up behind them, and that this seemed to be the way deeper into the hold, hopefully into the mine, Atalaya came back to the group and then started back through the rooms they had already cleared of threats.  Through the dining room, and back to the Chapel room the crept, keeping as quiet as possible.  

Entering the passage to the west of the chapel room, Atalaya and Ivar were in front of the others.  As the hallway turned and headed back in the direction of the chapel Atalaya heard the sounds of metal scraping along the walls.  Looking up she saw a gate crashing down in front of her.  Turning to race back in the other direction she saw a gate drop down behind them.  Both she and Ivar were caught between the gates.  Tif, Vaz and Macterah raced to the gate trying to raise it so that they could get out.  Looking up the passage, past the first gate Atalaya could see more druegar racing to attack whoever their trap had caught.  Drawing her bow Atalaya took aim at the shot at them as they appeared, as did Ivar.  After that small annoyance was settled, Atalaya and Ivar returned to the gate where their friends were trying to release them.  Tifinin put on his ring and with the added strength that it imparted to him was able to raise the gate high enough for Ivar and Atalaya to roll out from under.  Giving up and moving through in that direction, they returned to their previous location, outside the door that they were sure would open into the caverns behind the hold and hopefully to where the Julkounian captives were being held.  

Session Ends.  

Cut Scene: Return to the Grove, 23rd Day of Mirtul

 

By Katrina

23rd of Mirtul, 1491    Julkoun

Atalaya walked outside the door of The Jester’s Pride and leaned on the wall.  Looking around this section of the village she smiled to herself as she saw that the survivors of the Firehammer Mine and the villagers who had taken refuge in both Riverport and Secomber were still celebrating finding each other alive after so long a time.  Watching their faces as they sought out friends and family and seeing a few finding each other again made the arduous work from the past couple of weeks worth it.  

Speaking with Sir Istevan and Kelson had not been reassuring for her.  It was good to know that there were others besides herself and her friends that were taking the threat of the Red Wizards showing so much interest in this area as seriously as they were.  But at the same time it drove home the fact that they had been right to be so concerned about the threat that the wizards presented.  Atalaya sighed and longed briefly for the easier days, when life seemed so new and glorious as she traveled through the woods and mountains at her father’s side.  Her biggest problems had been to understand all the woodlore that he was trying to pour into her at a rate that would satisfy him and to keep up with him without alerting all the woodland creatures to her passage through their forest homes.  

The afternoon sun peaked out from behind the slowly moving clouds and birdsong could be heard from around the less populated areas of the city.  Atalaya listened, identifying each as they chirped and warbled. They had gotten everyone to Julkoun safe and sound.  Tomorrow they could head for home and then on to Riverport to reunite with the rest of their family.  During the past week Atalaya had only been able to spare short random thoughts about those that had not come on this particular quest.  Now, she had time to wonder how Cirilli was and about what Joan had been teaching her while she was gone.  It bothered her that she had had so little chance to train the girl herself.  But Cirilli’s skills had been growing steadily with her time spent with Ivar’s family, with Seraphina and now hopefully with Joan.  There was plenty of woods to explore around Riverport and she was confident in Joan’s skills.  She had watched Joan during their travels.  She could see the hand of Master Elaria in her skills, and mayhaps those of another.  Or perhaps that was just Joan’s own personal style.  But Atalaya trusted her with her own life and the lives of those who were dear to her.  Cirilli had been in good hands.  But still, she longed to see her again and to take her training in hand herself.  A trip into the High Forest would be so good for both of them.  With a start, she amended that thought.  It would be good for Cirilli, Vaz and herself.  Yes, she had reasons to take both of them into the High Forest.  Soon, she promised herself.  We will go soon. 

Hearing the others walking out of the tavern, she brought herself back to the here and now.  Seeing Ivar and Kelson she motioned for them to join her.  Looking into Ivar’s eyes she stated, “I have something that needs to be done before we leave tomorrow.  Will you both join me at Oyfanen’s Grove?  

Kelson looked puzzled, quirking his eyebrow at her.  “Whose grove?”  “You need me to go with you?”

Ivar also looked like he didn’t know what Atalaya was talking about.  “Of course I’ll go with you,” he stated.  “What’s up?”

“We need to let Oyfanen know that those taken captive have been returned, at least some of them.  And we have our finds from both Harpshield and Firehammer Hold to be interred.”  Turning her gaze to Kelson she added, “We found many disturbing things during the past weeks, but the worst was a necklace of elf ears worn like a badge of honor around a particular deplorable orc’s neck.”  Seeing the horror and fury on Kelson’s face, she continued, “His neck no longer has need of adornment of any type, rest assured of that friend Kelson.  But unfortunately this is not the first such atrocity we have found.  I wanted to place it to rest with the others that the Dryad Oyfanen watches over.  We also found some teeth; human, halfling and dwarven at Firehammer set aside for unknown purposes.  I thought that those could also be put to rest there.  We were not able to do anything for the bodies that we found, so perhaps this can stand for all who fell at Firehammer.  

Ivar, understanding what Atalaya was talking about now, placed his hand on her shoulder.  “Yes, of course I will go with you.  Should I get the others?”

“No.  Let them continue to talk with Sir Istevan and see to the settling in of our charges.  I would like to find James and the sisters Shonda and Jiminah.  James should know about Oyfanen and he can reassure her that they have returned.  The clerics should also be aware of her presence and can maybe help to hallow the ground where we have placed the remains.  I will let Vaz know where we are going and see if he wants to join us.”

Ivar smiled and tried very hard to not laugh as he turned his face away from Atalaya’s. “I think you already know what Boz is going to want to do.” Then he added, “I believe that James and Milik were checking out the fortifications that the goblins set up and looking for any other surviving guard members.  I’ll go look for them.”  Ivar set out to cross the bridge to the other half of the town in search of them.  

Turning to Kelson, Atalaya said, “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.  But I thought that you might want to help us honor the memory of the elves whose lives were lost.  It seemed fitting to me that those with elven blood be there to remember and honor them.”

 Fire was still spiking out of Kelson’s eyes as he stated with firm quiet authority, “I will accompany you.  Let me tell Istevan that I am leaving with you, and why.  I’ll be right back.”

“You can meet us at the West Gate.  I’m going to look for Vaz, Sister Shonda and Sister Jeminah.”  

Atalaya entered The Jester’s Pride with Kelson, but continued on through it when he stopped to talk to Istevan.  Seeing Vasilya talking with some of the others, she motioned for him to join her as she  headed for the corridors behind the taproom.  Vaz quickly excused  himself and followed after her.  “What’s up?” he asked.  

‘I’m heading back to the Grove to bury the ears and teeth we collected on our last couple of adventures.  I’m taking a few others with me, but thought that you would want to come with me.  If you don’t or if you have things that you need to do with the refugees or Sir Istevan, that’s okay too.”  

“You know that you are not going off without me again, right?” Vaz stated with a fierce scowl.  He quickened his steps slightly so that he was walking right next to Atalaya.  Placing his hand on her shoulder he stopped her and turned her to face him.  “I need to know that you are safe.  I …”

“I know.  That’s why I asked if you wanted to come with me,” she said, breaking into Vaz’s concerns.  “Come with me, we will find the clerics and then meet the others at the West Gate.”  Tugging on his hand she headed towards the chapel.

As they crossed over the bridge to the annex on the other side of the moat Atalaya averted her eyes from the spot where she had cut down the killed Chauntean priest on their first trip through the Julkoun.  Heading down the hallway to the small defiled chapel where she had left the two clerics she felt a lessening of the ominous heaviness that she remembered from her last visits to this place.  Clearly Shondra and Jeminah were already hard at work restoring this sacred space.  Stopping just outside the open doorway Atalaya checked to see if her entering would disturb the two clerics.  They seemed to be having a conversation about the deep gouges and chiseled filth that had been left on the walls.  Atalaya cleared her voice, alerting them to her presence and then entered the chapel.  

“Hello Atalaya and Vasilya.  Do you need us?” questioned Shonda.  

“Yes. I would like you both to come with me.  I have someone I would like you to meet.  And I have what remains of a few of the marauders’ victims that need to be properly laid to rest. I’m sorry, it will involve a little more walking but…”

“What do you mean, ‘What remains’?” asked Sister Jeminah.

Averting her gaze, “I mean, some ears and teeth.”  When she saw the shocked expressions on their faces she stopped.  Quickly backtracking she added, “I don’t think that they are from anyone in Julkoun.  The ears are all elven.  And came from Harpshield Castle.  The teeth…. Well I really don’t know.  They seem to be a mixture of dwarven, halfling and human and they were found at Firehammer Hold.  I don’t know why they were being kept or where they originally came from. I wish that I could tell you that none of these came from anyone from here, but the truth is that I just don’t know. But I do know that they deserve to be laid to rest with reverence.  Both they and those who loved them deserve that.” 

Sister Jeminah patted Shonda's hand.  “Peace child.  Yes, it’s terrible to think about, but we can be of service.”  Turning to Atalaya she asked, “When do you wish to do this?  Right now?”

“Yes.  I would like to have you back here before nightfall if at all possible.  We will be heading back to Riverport in the morning.  We left some of our friends there, and our young wards.  We really need to get  back to them.”

“Of course you do, my dear.  Give us just a moment to get ready.”  Sister Jeminah pushed herself up from the floor where she had been inspecting the defiled walls and made her way over to the bucket of clean water that was placed on one of the pews nearby.  Rinsing her hands she looked down at her torn and dirty robes,  “We no longer have the proper vestments, but I’m sure that Chauntea will see only the intent and not worry about the details.  Come Sister Shonda, let us go with Atalaya and Vasilya.”

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Approaching the grove, Atalaya and Ivar noticed a slight movement in the trees above them.  Without thought they both grabbed their bows and shot at the dark menacing shape.  Three arrows hit their targets almost simultaneously and the small red eyes blinked closed for the last time as a darkenbeast fell from the tree in front of them.  The eerie light from its luminous bones faded away and suddenly a large black and white cow stood before them.    Its confused mooing made Atalaya smile.  “Well, that’s another of them.  Let’s bring it along.  It can visit the grove with us. We can bring it and our previous spy back to the village when we leave.”  

A few moments later they entered the peaceful glade, Sister Jeminah leading the cow as she followed behind the others.   

 Looking around him, Kelson gave a slight shiver as he felt the presence of another being in the glade.  “What…” he started as he reached for his bow.  Atalaya placed her hand on his arm, stopping the movement.  “Calm.  There is naught to fear here.  This place is well protected.  Come, it is time for you all to meet Oyfanen.”  Atalaya and Vaz headed towards the big oak tree that stood tall and straight in the southwest part of the grove, Kelson and the villagers close behind them.  Ivar, gave one final searching look back through the forest before he turned to follow the rest towards the dryad’s tree.   

Sunlight glittered through the leaves casting dancing shadows across the ground in front of the large oak.  As they approached a breeze swept through the glade and the branches of the oak tree swayed back and forth frightening several songbirds which swooped by the party as they made their way forward.  James ducked instintctively as a brightly plumed hepatic tanager flew past his head.  It’s soft red feathers rustling his hair as it sped away.  

Atalaya raised a hand, indicating to the group to hold their position as she made another step forward and bowed.  Looking up, Atalaya saw Oyfanen stepping out from the oak’s trunk.  “I greet you, Mistress of this place.”  Watching as Oyfanen took a step forward she added, “We have returned, bringing many of the Julkounians back with us.  The town is once again the home to those whom you missed.  I hope that this pleases you.”

       Oyfanen smiled at the three adventurers.  Then looked around for the rest of the party.  “Where is the druid?  And the rest of your company?  They did not die to bring my villagers back to me, did they?”

“No, milady,” answered Vaz, bowing in turn.  “They remained in the town, helping those that we just brought back to find friends and relatives and to organize themselves to take the town back to themselves.”  

Ivar, also bowing, greeted the dryad, “They send their greetings and thanks with us.  We are most grateful that you told us of those who had been taken captive.  We were able to save many of them.”

Atalaya nodded.  “That is so.  And we have brought these three here to represent those that you saved with your words of concern.  This is James.  He has become a leader of the townsfolk that we returned to the village.  And these are clerics of Chauntea, Sister Jeminah and Sister Shonda.  Both priestesses made formal bows to the lithe and beautiful spirit that gazed intently at them.  Their eyes shone with wonder at seeing such a creature for the first time.  

James seemed slightly taken aback by the figure standing in front of him and belatedly made his own rather jerky bow.  “I greet you Lady.  And if it was indeed your words that sent these heroes out in search of us, you have my deepest thanks.  We could not have lasted much longer in the mines where we were taken.  So you have my thanks and pledge that I will help you in any way that is within my abilities if you need me.  All of us are so grateful to be home again.”

Oyfanen smiled as she looked over those standing before her.  “And this elf?  Who is he?  I don’t believe that he is from Julkoun.”

Kelson, taking a deep breath and mentally shaking himself, stepped closer, bowed deeply and looking into the dryad’s eyes said, “My name is Kelson.  Kelson Darktreader.  I greet thee, great lady.  I am but a guide and aide to the people of Julkoun who have returned after their flight to Riverport.  I am honored that you choose to speak with us.”  Shooting an amused but also slightly put upon look at Atalaya he whispered to her, “You could have warned me.”  

Gesturing to them to seat themselves on the ground Oyfanen turned towards her tree and reaching in, brought out a tray with mugs of a fragrant herbal tea.  After giving one to each guest she seated herself with her visitors.  She spoke, her voice a soft lilting cadence that seemed to match the rustling of the trees around them, “My forest friends have brought word of the return of the townsfolk.  I am glad that you have come to bring me this news as well.  The weapons that I have watched over are here and safe.  As is the cow.  I’ve seen signs of other watchers, but they dare not come into this grove. I see that you have ‘found’ another cow.  Will you want to leave it here also? Or, are you planning to return these beings to the people of Julkoun now?”

“We will return them to the villagers.  There is little left for them in the town.”

“And will the villagers continue on as before?  Will you keep the goblins and orcs from terrorizing my forest.  And will you keep your axes and farming implements far from my grove?”

“Yes, my lady,” said James.  “We will do this for you. I did not know of you before today, but I promise that our children’s children’s children will revere this forest and consider it a holy place, not to be disturbed in any way.”

Looking at the priestesses of Chauntea she spoke again.  “And what of your goddess?  She is known to me.  She seeks to settle the wild lands, turning the forests into fields to grow her bounty.  Do you also promise me that my forest will remain standing, a place of safety for the wild animals of the woodlands and for myself?”

Taking a deep breath, Sister Jeminah stood and answered Oyfanen.  “My lady.  It may be true that there are times when Chauntea and Silvanus differ on what is best for a given area, however, Chauntea is also concerned about all nature and has many ties to those who also share this concern, including Mielikki and Shaiallia.  We who are devoted to her understand that all the lands cannot be put to the plow.  There must always be balance.  We will promise to teach the people of this village that these woods must remain a wilderness and refuge for the creatures of this area.  And that they are responsible for providing this refuge to them just as they needed refuge from the goblins that drove them from their homes.  We will do our part to keep you safe, in remembrance of your help to bring us home.”  Bowing to the dryad, Sister Jeminah sat down again and waited to see what would happen next.

Oyfanen returned the sister’s bow.  “I thank you all.  I have loved the people of Julkoun for many many years.  They are good people.  I am glad to have met you and happy to have reached this understanding with you.  As long as you keep this bargain, as long as you keep the axes and plows from my forest and honor all that live within it, we shall have peace between us.  And I will do all that I can to keep your enemies from approaching you through this forest.”

They all sat, sipping their tea as the wind continued to softly rustle through the branches above them.  Birdsong had returned to the glade and the sound of cows mooing was also heard.  As they sat, peace filled each of them, lightening the pain each carried in their spirits.  After time had  passed, Atalaya again looked into Oyfanen’s eyes.  “We have one other sad responsibility to perform while we are here, with your permission.”  Seeing that she had Oyfanen’s attention, she continued.  “I… we would like to bury another necklace of elven ears with those that we already have   laid to rest here.  And a handful of teeth also.  It seems that there have been many victims of the evil ones that have been raiding the lands here in the Delimbyr Vale and along the Sword Coast.  I wish to give these at least a peaceful rest, if you will permit it.”

“Of course, child.  Let them rest with the others.  They shall have peace here.”  Atalaya nodded her thanks to Oyfanen and rose, gesturing to the others to follow her and led them to the rock where they had buried the other grimsome relics.   Reaching into her backpack to find a metal cook bowl to use as a scoop, she quickly dug another hole near to the previous spot.  Then pulling out the pouch containing the elven ears and another with the teeth that had been found in Firehammer Hold she handed them to Sister Shonda.  “Please, will you hallow this ground and see that they are safely laid to rest, that  no malfeasance lingers upon them.”  Then she stepped back and waited while the clerics conferred.  

Sister Shonda took the items and passing her hands over them seemed to seek a place deep inside herself.  Her hands glowed as she softly spoke over the pieces of teeth and ears and they seemed to shimmer slightly.  After a moment or two the light left the priestess’s  hands and the items in them returned to their normal state.  Sister Shonda swayed slightly and then spoke with a quiet voice.  “No evil remains in them.”

While this was happening Sister Jeminah had knelt by the hole and made the sign of Chauntea over the land as she prayed.  When Sister Shonda was ready, she took first the necklace of ears and then the teeth, placing everything reverently into the space that she had hallowed.  Then covering them with the earth piled beside the hole she stood and led the group in another short prayer.  Tears gathering in Kelson’s eyes he murmured, “I wonder how many of my missing friends we buried today.”  Kneeling, he pressed his hand to the earth.  “Be at rest.” Then he stood and walked back to Oyfanen’s tree.  

Ivar, looking very solemn, followed Kelson and stood silently beside him.  Vasilya placed his arm around Atalaya’s waist and slowly guided her back to the tree also. No one spoke for several minutes until the priestesses returned from the gravesite.  

Taking a deep breath, Ivar turned to the others.  We need to retrieve the weapons and then head back to the village.  It would be best to get there before nightfall.”

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As the sun was setting a cry went out from the watchtower at the western gate.  “They are returning,  I can see them,'' cried an excited teen, Sully Coopersmith, who had agreed to stand a watch at the town’s entrance.  Quickly the news spread through the village and as Ivar lead the weary group through the town gate Macterah, Tifinin, Jekk and Sir Istevan were there to greet them.