DM Gralbor

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: Eastern plains of Western Lithar
Date: 14 August 2002 (session date will be for 13 June 2002 to 19 June 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

13 Waloom 731 (09/13/731 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith, Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, and Mistanealla (Missy)
NPC Cast: OS Cpl. Kadrac and OS Capt. Brolo

Summary: The recently promoted Sgt. Jalowsmith receives his orders to report to a small village on the eastern plains of Western Lithar named Echel, and there meet up with a squad of new OS cadets. After meeting in the local tavern, Heads'n'Beds, the new OS group is surprised the next morning by the appearance of another Order soldier, an OS Cavalry Cpl. Kadrac. The corporal informs the group that he has been ordered by Celusian OS Col. Petra to escort the group to a small outpost on the plains. The group, with their new addition, heads out to the open plains.

As their journey takes the OS cadre west across the plains towards Celusia, the first day's march comes to a close. During the night, though, the group is surrounded by a mysterious fog which has the effect of rendering the watch unconscious, and maintaining the deep sleep that the rest of the group is enjoying.

Upon waking, the soldiers find themselves in a large, hewn stone chamber with the ceiling towering over head into a dome, but also lacking the presence of Cpl. Kadrac. The first of two corridors tried resulted in a disappointment as a strange restraining force keeps the group from moving forward. After deciding that this way is barred, the group returns to the main room and find a small pedestal with a large diamond set in the top. Before the group can do anything else, a large ogre comes from the unexplored corridor and attacks the group. Fighting valiantly, the group takes to the offensive against the apparent threat looming over them with a massive 2-handed sword. As the fight wears on, Missy takes a tremendous gash to the chest and falls unconscious, while Feanor impales the creature's head with his blade. As the group tends to their fallen member, the ogre begins to disintegrate.

Eventually deciding that it would be best to move on, the group takes the second (and last) corridor available to them. Entering darkness so deep that Alentiara's makeshift club-torch is unable to penetrate and light the way. After a moderate journey into the depths of darkness, the floor slopes downward, causing the adventurers to slide further underground. Upon reaching the bottom of the slide, the group gathers themselves again and enters a door that Missy was fortunate to find.

Entering the new chamber, the group locates a long, yet narrow, chamber with a lone occupant. This lone occupant, though, happens to be a giant fire lizard sitting atop a nest. Wedged into the side of the nest rests a silver rod, one that gleams despite the low light provided from the torches on the sides. The group wisely chooses to move as quietly as possible and pass the lizard, heading for the only other exit visible… located at the opposite end of the chamber. Successfully passing the nest and resting lizard, the group arrives at a massive wall of fur.

The fur "wall" is actually a type of tapestry covering the opening to a large dark chamber. At the opposite end of the darkened chamber is a doorway with the light of day glaring through it. As the soldiers begin to move quickly through the chamber, the noise of their progress gains the attention of a giant located in the corner. Striking his torch alight, the giant gathers a nearby boulder and defends against the onslaught of the group. After a long and hard fought battle, the cadets fall to the giant's wrath and crushing boulder. Feanor is the last soldier remaining standing after the loss of Fiona, and he receives a glancing blow that knocks the Order sergeant unconscious.

Later, the entire group awakes in a sky lit open room. Uncertain where they are, the group begins to stir. Then the friendly faces of other Order soldiers and Capt. Brolo greet them, and inform the confused cadets and sergeant that they are in the Order's Officer Training School and they have just been tested.

Treasure: None
Group Casualties: Feanor, Alentiara, Fiona, Missy
Monsters Defeated: 1 Ogre Demon

EXPERIENCE
--------------------------
Feanor:
4.5 Hours Active Session (90 XP)
Individual Session Award (170 XP)
IC Board Activity (not applicable yet)

Alentiara:
4.5 Hours Active Session (90 XP)
Individual Session Award (170 XP)
IC Board Activity (not applicable yet)

Fiona:
4.5 Hours Active Session (90 XP)
Individual Session Award (170 XP)
IC Board Activity (not applicable yet)

Missy:
4.5 Hours Active Session (90 XP)
Individual Session Award (170 XP)
IC Board Activity (not applicable yet)

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: Eastern plains of Western Lithar, OS Outpost "Raven's Loft"
Date: 21 August 2002 through 28 August 2002 (session date will be for 20 June 2002 to 27 June 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

23 Quark 731 through 5 Provos 732 (10/23/731 - 01/05/732 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith, Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, and Mistanealla (Missy)
NPC Cast: OS Capt. Brolo


From the weekly report of OS Captain Brolo:
This last week has been moving at a grueling pace for the cadets and sergeant. The amount of information that the new Officer Candidates (OC) have had to process is truly an amazing thing, and at times almost seems to consume the soldiers. The instructional classes, combined with the additional bookwork, create a fast moving and mind-boggling situation.

As the week moves on and the OC's finish their studies and tests of tactics and command, the final work starts to come in. Fiona, Alentiara and Feanor show an incredible aptitude for combat strategy, as well as an easygoing interaction between them. The ease at which the group seems to get along is very favorable to future unit interaction and cooperation in joint efforts. Unfortunately, though, Missy's absence from the common room has been a bit disappointing to the Order's teachers, regardless of her equal ability to learn the tactics being taught.

The many different ideas that were presented by the four Order soldiers all were inventive within the limits of the resources provided and quite impressed the review panel. Fortunately, the easy interaction of the two paladins and the Mountainlord can only help to strengthen their abilities by discussing the various tactics they employed.


Treasure: Letters of Review, Letters of Recommendation, Graded Tactics Tests
Group Casualties: None
Monsters Defeated: None

EXPERIENCE

((As this was a strictly email and IC Board session due to circumstances of school starting up again, there will be no Active Session XP awarded. Instead, I have figured the approximate amount of time it would take to take this exam and provided XP for that time in the Individual Session Award. Also, to clarify any discrepancies in the XP provided, points were awarded based upon the individual performance of the test.))

Feanor:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (264 XP)
IC Board Activity (60 XP)

Alentiara:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (260 XP)
IC Board Activity (50 XP)

Fiona:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (300 XP)
IC Board Activity (80 XP)

Missy:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (280 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: OS Outpost "Raven's Loft" and moving westward
Date: 28 August 2002 through 4 September 2002 (session date will be for 28 June 2002 to 5 July 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

6 Provos 732 through 13 Provos 732 (01/06/732 - 01/13/732 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith, Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, and Barthis Drinn
NPC Cast: OS Capt. Brolo, Cpl. Kardac, and Cpl. Bunson

Summary:
As the session begins, three of the original four tired and study-worn Officer Candidates (OC's) drag themselves into the common room, preparing for another day of studies. Discussing the previous weeks work in tactics, they realize that they had a lot to learn, but they also knew quite a bit about the necessities of their future positions. After a few moments of greeting and early morning drowsiness, Captain Brolo enters the room prompting a significant change in all three OC's.

As the OC's sit and wait to hear what the captain has in store for them today, they find out quickly that they have finished their initial training and that their rank promotions have been decided. Feanor receives a scroll with a red wax seal embossed with the heraldry of the Order upon it. Contained within the scroll is Feanor's promotion to 1st Lieutenant. Next, Alentiara steps forward and receives a similar scroll, except that this one designates her new rank as temporary grade 2nd Lieutenant. Finally, Fiona approaches for her conferment, and the entire room notices a subtle difference. The wax seal closing the scroll is not the same color of red; rather it is a dark black wax with an embossed Order Heraldry contained within a circle and triangle, the holy symbol of Thr. Contained within the scroll is Fiona's rank conferment of temporary grade 1st Lieutenant.

After being dismissed, the new officers go in search of their missing comrade, Mis'tanealla. After searching her quarters and not finding her there, Fiona storms to the Captain's station and confronts Capt. Brolo. During this brief interaction, the group discovers that during the previous evening a dispatch rider arrived with the rank conferment scrolls and two additional scrolls, one for Mis'tanealla and one for Fiona. As the three new lieutenants learn, Missy's orders had her leave the outpost during the night.

Once again being dismissed by the captain, the newly minted officers make their way to the commissary to receive their new uniforms. The excitable Corporal Bunson, a small and sly man, retrieves both Alentiara and Feanor's uniforms without any hesitation. These uniforms are the new standard uniforms of scarlet and they are neatly bundled in new light leather packs. But when Fiona finally gains his attention, he looks at her oddly for a moment and then hurries into the backroom. After quite sometime back there, the corporal finally returns with a darkened leather pack with a different set of uniforms inside. The uniforms are more sable than scarlet, and are a decidedly subdued version of the Order's new image. The corporal quickly leaves the pack on the countertop and shuts his doors for the day.

As the lieutenants head towards Celusia along the rough and worn wagon trail that has been established between Echel and Celusia, the scent of smoke is caught on the breeze. Choosing to investigate, they find a successfully raided wagon train. Two of the wagons are ablaze, while the third has three of the four survivors seeming to fend off the orcs nearby. The fourth survivor, a large and sinewy man in an Order uniform, is in the middle of a circle of orcs pitted against the ogre leader of the raiding party in a wrestling fight.

The lieutenants decide to play it safe and use some of their newly learned strategies to attempt to disrupt the enemy. Initially, the tactics of spreading their forces apart to create confusion as to the direction of assault works. Fiona manages to successfully drop two orcs from behind before the rest of the marauders take notice. It is only when Alentiara's arrows barely snip the gnoll's ears and Feanor lands an arrow in one orc's arm that they take notice and attack. While the three lieutenants engage in close combat with the enraged orcs and gnoll, Barthis continues to wrestle against the ogre, gaining quite an advantage on him.

Unfortunately, the new officers didn't use everything they learned, as they chose to engage in melee combat after a few volleys of arrows. This choice to engage the enemy hand to hand resulted in the vicious blow from the gnoll driving Alentiara into unconsciousness. As the fighting continues, Fiona calls upon Thr for his guidance and several of the orcs and the gnoll flee in agony as swarms of insects rise up and begin to terrorize the raiders. Feanor soon finishes off the orcs that had closed upon him, and then he turns to the aid of Barthis who has managed to knock the ogre unconscious. Having taken out the larger threat, the impressive Orderman, Barthis decides to use a bit of ingenuity in his weapons' tactics and uses one of the orcs' short sword as a throwing dagger and then later tosses his longsword as well, both skewering an orc each.

As the battle finally begins to diminish, several of the orcs become incapacitated while the rest are driven away or killed. The immobilization of the orcs came from a quick decision from the Mountainlord. Deciding to apprehend the criminal marauders instead of eliminate them, the Order soldiers utilize their shackles and some chains from the wagon to restrain the surviving bandits.

Having secured the area, now it will be up to the Order soldiers to see to the old man, his wife, and the young girl in the wagon.

Treasure: Scrolls of Conferment, Orders scroll from Sorrowtown for Fiona
Group Casualties: Alentiara savagely beaten (but still alive)
Arrests: 4 Orcs and 1 Ogre
Monsters Defeated: 13 Orcs, 1 Gnoll, and 1 Ogre

EXPERIENCE
----------------------------------------
(( Just a not on procedure, I'll be awarding IC Board XP for the week prior from here on out. To clarify, what you post on the IC Board this week {29 Aug - 4 Sept} will go on next week's TT. ))

Feanor:
5.5 Hours Active Session (110 XP)
Individual Session Award (330 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Alentiara:
5.5 Hours Active Session (110 XP)
Individual Session Award (250 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Fiona:
5.5 Hours Active Session (110 XP)
Individual Session Award (320 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Barthis:
3 Hours Active Session (60 XP)
Individual Session Award (385 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: Plains southeast of Celusia
Date: 4 September 2002 through 10 September 2002 (session date will be for 5 July 2002 to 12 July 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

13 Provos 732 to 20 Provos 732 (01/13/732 - 01/20/732 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith, Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, Barthis Drinn, and Mis'tanealla (Missy)
NPC Cast: Rache Kalmirson, Mitrian Kalmirson, and Emerald Rachesdater

Summary:
Having secured the area, the four Ordermen set about the task of learning more of their new charges. Barthis provides very little information about himself, but the Kalmirsons (including their daughter, Emerald) do some moderate conversation. They explain that they were simply trying to move to a less populated area, but this attack only makes it seem that the only place for them to be safe would be near the Order.

Between some exchanges of with Fiona and Rache, a long forgotten legend is told to the Mountainlord. He recounts the legend of Kinesthe, a man that had been granted a powerful suit of armor and a dark blade designed to defeat chaos that had been rampant in the land. As Rache continues, he tells of how only the "guardians" would be able to wield such a set as the "Shadow of Kinesthe," implying that Fiona would be able to do so being a servant of Thr.

As the group prepares to move on to Celusia, the paladins, Alentiara and Feanor, notice an oddity that they attribute to the child, Emerald. She wears a medallion with a flightless bird emblazoned against a blazing sun, and anytime she comes near the snarling ogre he becomes contented and Feanor has a calmness settle over him that is nearly bliss.

Having finally set their path to Celusia, the group looks forward to arriving at the Order garrison and turning over the four orcs and the ogre. Out in front of the entire procession strides the strong and tattered Barthis, his stern glare fixed on the horizon. Next comes Fiona and her four orcs, cowed by the thought that they can be verbally abused and berated just as well by this female human as by their own wives. Following the orcs are the Kalmirson family of Rache and Mitrian, their packs loaded and bundled well with the guidance of the Ordermen. Finally, the strangest sight of all, the paladin walking behind the chained and shackled ogre, with the young girl, Emerald, perched upon his shoulders giggling mirthfully.

Meanwhile, Mis'tanealla has arrived at Celusia and checked in at the garrison there. With some time to herself, she has entered the city and conducted various searches for information. Knowing that she is to be reunited with her OTS classmates soon, she looks forward to the reunion.

Treasure: "Legend of Kinesthe", unknown parchment, 2 crude bracelets of pounded gold, 10 gold pieces and 2 linert each (( In custody: 4 orcs and 1 ogre ))
Group Casualties: none
Monsters Defeated: none

EXPERIENCE
----------------------------------------
(( Due to injuries and server crashes, this TT reflects almost exclusively the IC activity. What little In-session XP that was awarded was given based on the actions by those individuals. ))

Feanor:
0.5 Hours Active Session (100 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (100 XP)

Alentiara:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (100 XP)

Fiona:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (70 XP)

Barthis:
0.5 Hours Active Session (75 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (80 XP)

Mis'tanealla:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (10 XP)

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: OS Garrison northeast of Celusia
Date: 11 September 2002 through 17 September 2002 (session date will be for 13 July 2002 to 27 July 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

21 Provos 732 to 10 Tramic 732 (01/13/732 - 02/10/732 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith, Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, Barthis Drinn, and Mis'tanealla (Missy)
NPC Cast: Major Drowers, Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) Vanel, Rache Kalmirson, and Emerald Rachesdater, and assorted Order soldiers and guards (oh, and Col. Petra's body!)

Summary:
The marching group of Order soldiers, along with the Kalmirson family and the apprehended raiders, finally arrive at the Order garrison located northeast of the city of Celusia. Processing through the gates, their charges are handed over to the garrison detention cells for further questioning and later charging of crimes.

After relinquishing control of the criminals, the Kalmirsons are informed that they will be staying in civilian housing within the garrison for the evening, and then allowed to seek new housing and occupations in Celusia. With this, the group begins to fragment to their own destinations, some heading directly to the reporting station, others moving to the barracks, and others going to the Mess Hall. It here at the Mess Hall that the group meets up with Lt. Oruasamen (Missy) once more. She informs the late arrivals that she was ordered here, but has yet to see any action. Exchanging pleasantries over meals and mugs, the group gets reacquainted while others meet for the first time. As the night wears on, Barthis and Missy are left together in the Mess Hall while the others head to bed.

The next morning, as people begin to wake up and go about their business, there is a noticeable clamor and sense of disorder in the garrison. After retrieving a hungover Barthis from the Mess Hall, and tending to Missy's slight hangover as well, the three ladies and Barthis decide to check out the commotion at the stables. Arriving at the stables, Barthis is admitted immediately while the ladies are left outside at first. At Barthis' insistence of their admittance, Fiona, Missy, and Alentiara are allowed in to the crime scene. There, lying in an open stable, is the mutilated body of Colonel Petra.

Barthis and Maj. Drowers banter between themselves, and after some interviewing from Fiona and Barthis of the stable boy, Jamison, and the sentries on duty, they catch up on the current information of the investigation. Sometime in the evening, the colonel had come down to the stables under his own volition and met with a disfigured dark person. The demeanor and appearance of the man was enough to scare Jamison away from the stables, and make him head back to his housing ward that he was assigned. He told the lieutenant that that is the last he saw of the colonel.

Meanwhile, Lt. Jalowsmith was attempting to gain information from another source, the colonel's offices. During this time, he found out that the colonel's quarters had been ransacked in the night. Having met up with Alentiara and Missy at the civilian housing, they discussed with the Kalmirsons the situation of them being moved to more secure housing inside the keep. Fiona and Barthis meet up with the three other lieutenants at this point and proceed to the colonels quarters. After some talking and investigation of the quarters, Fiona has come across a set of papers that look to be what was described by the colonel's aide, SSgt. Vanel.

The papers in question are something of a mystery. Vanel informs the group that he was sent to retrieve a report from an operative in Hilwreathfield, a small hamlet east of Carleon. This report was to be turned in directly to Petra, and it bore a dark seal of an eye circumscribed by the three moons of Thardferr.

Having decided to look through the room, Fiona goes about organizing a cleaning party and sets about examining the tomes. After going through one stack, she finally finds something of interest; a tome, filled with darkened papers.

Treasure:
Casualties: Colonel Petra
Group Casualties: none
Monsters Defeated: none

EXPERIENCE

Feanor:
4 Hours Active Session (800 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (50 XP)

Alentiara:
4 Hours Active Session (200 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (50 XP)

Fiona:
4 Hours Active Session (1000 XP)
Individual Session Award (100 XP)
IC Board Activity (30 XP)

Barthis:
4 Hours Active Session (600 XP)
Individual Session Award (100 XP)
IC Board Activity (80 XP)

Mis'tanealla:
3 Hours Active Session (450 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (10 XP)

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: OS Garrison northeast of Celusia
Date: 18 September 2002 (session date will be for 28 July 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

11 Tramic 732 (02/11/732 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith, Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, Barthis Drinn, and Mis'tanealla (Missy)
NPC Cast: Major Drowers, Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) Vanel, and Jamison the Stableboy

Summary:
The murder investigation of Colonel Petra continues in the slowly re-organizing garrison. The loss of the commanding officer, and its resultant chaos, is slowly being restored by the efficiency of a garrison prepared for a hard life on the plains of Western Lithar.

As Fiona and Missy search through the tomes of Colonel Petra's quarters, they come across a haphazardly placed page of the darkened paper described by SSgt. Vanel. On this page is the following riddle:

"Two heads have we, but born with one.
We avenged, healed, and protected.
Our master was the Mountain,
But punished we all who objected.
Heeded we the Storm,
And so by our god were rejected.
Thus, this is out fate:
One head, twice bisected."

The same time that the two find this page, Feanor discovers a copy of the dispatch order placed by the colonel, sending Vanel to Hilwreathfield. The lack of permissions and following of protocol are enough to disturb the paladin. When questioned about the illegitimacy of the orders, Vanel simply responds that it is not his place to question orders from his commander.

Having determined that the room has been sufficiently searched and no more information can be gleaned, Feanor and Drowers head to the commander's office for a conference while the rest of the group heads to the mess hall. The conference at Drowers' office turns up some unexpected information, though.

In the past, Feanor had worked and studied the laws of the land for quite some time. His work and dedication seem to have paid off, as a notice from the High Court in Coopersville Forge had arrived for him while he was occupied at Echel and Raven's Loft. In the notice was an invitation to accept a position as a regional wandering judge, an Adjudicator. Deciding not to turn down a position of such importance and responsibility, the paladin gladly accepted his new title.

Having received permission from Major Drowers to pursue their quest, the group is provisioned for travel with winter gear, horses, armor repaired or replaced, and a bit of encouragement from the young boy, Jamison.


Treasure: "Petra's Riddle", Feanor's assignment to Adjudicator, Horses and provisions
Casualties: none
Group Casualties: none
Monsters Defeated: none

EXPERIENCE
----------------------------------------
(( Once again, since we're back to a "regular" session, I'm going to add in this coming weeks IC Board XP into next week's TT. ))

Feanor:
3 Hours Active Session (600 XP)
Individual Session Award (175 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Alentiara:
3 Hours Active Session (150 XP)
Individual Session Award (150 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Fiona:
2.75 Hours Active Session (688 XP)
Individual Session Award (150 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Barthis:
3 Hours Active Session (450 XP)
Individual Session Award (25 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Mis'tanealla:
2.5 Hours Active Session (375 XP)
Individual Session Award (25 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: Hilwreathfield
Date: 25 September 2002 (session date will be for 1 August 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

15 Tramic 732 (02/15/732 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith, Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, Barthis Drinn, and Mis'tanealla (Missy)
NPC Cast: Dunrik Dourcheeks, Eruid Evannister

Summary:
"Two heads have we, but born with one.
We avenged, healed, and protected.
Our master was the Mountain,
But punished we all who objected.
Heeded we the Storm,
And so by our god were rejected.
Thus, this is out fate:
One head, twice bisected."

This is the riddle that has led the group of Order soldiers to the small hamlet of Hilwreathfield. But, before they could arrive in Alentiara's home, the group was required to travel awhile across the plains.

On the road to Carleon, the turning point for the group to head east, travelers were scarce and rarely optimistic of the soldiers that they saw riding along the roadside. Their faces reflected their concerns or joy at seeing the symbol of law and order in the relatively untamed plains of Western Lithar. Upon reaching the crossroads to Carleon, Barthis makes a decision to ride into the city for something that he neglects to inform the rest of the group about. Deciding to keep on moving, the remainder of the unit turns their eyes to the east and sets across the plains.

The grasses of the cold and dry plains reach up to the riders' legs, barely rising enough to cover a halfling, but enough to make a discernible path of the riders track. Later that evening while encamped, Fiona hears a slight noise in the darkness but pays it no heed. The next morning comes quickly and Feanor finds his pack missing. Taking nearly an hour after sunrise to search for the missing pack, the group wanders in circles along the beaten path that was worn along the outskirts of the camp. Finally giving up the effort, the group continues on to Hilwreathfield with a much angered and sullen Feanor in tow.

Arriving at the edge of town, the group spots Barthis astride his horse, a falcon perched upon his shoulder. The brash Orderman spots the group and lets a laugh at Feanor's face when he informs the paladin of the location of his lost pack. The prank does not fall well on Feanor.

With the "pleasantries" of reunion taken care of, the entire unit moves into Hilwreathfield, a nervous Alentiara leading the way. The first person to recognize the adventuring lady is the hamlet weaponsmith, Dunrik Dourcheeks. Hailing her with a heartfelt warmth, he is glad to see the group arrive. His mirth diminishes quickly when he relates a story of an encounter he had at the former Mage's Tower, a story of fire and lightning. Returning to the town, the dwarf is ignored by everyone, including the sheriff, until a scrawling of words is found upon the walls of the Zetetic Library.

Leaving the dwarf with kind words, the Ordermen head over to the Library to speak with Eruid Evannister, the Head Librarian. Here they find even more chilling information. It seems that someone came into town and scrawled the Riddle on the walls of the Library. After recounting a story of a long since finished battle at the Mage's Tower, he tells of how the Riddle is referred to as the Riddle of the Cleric.


Treasure:
Casualties: Feanor's wit and patience
Group Casualties: none
Monsters Defeated: none

EXPERIENCE

(( Once again, since we're back to a "regular" session, I'm going to add in this coming weeks IC Board XP into next week's TT. ))

Feanor:
2 Hours Active Session (400 XP)
Individual Session Award (35 XP)
IC Board Activity (145 XP)

Alentiara:
3 Hours Active Session (150 XP)
Individual Session Award (175 XP)
IC Board Activity (175 XP)

Fiona:
3 Hours Active Session (750 XP)
Individual Session Award (75 XP)
IC Board Activity (130 XP)

Barthis:
3 Hours Active Session (450 XP)
Individual Session Award (120 XP)
IC Board Activity (145 XP)

Mis'tanealla:
2.5 Hours Active Session (375 XP)
Individual Session Award (35 XP)
IC Board Activity (145 XP)

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: Hilwreathfield and the Mage's Tower
Date: 1 October 2002 (session date will be for 8 August 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

22 Tramic 732 (02/22/732 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith, Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, and Barthis Drinn
NPC Cast: Beregund and Mis'tanealla (Missy)

Summary:
The group, having heard enough information, decides to go directly to the Mage's Tower to discover the true nature of events and solve the "Riddle of the Cleric." Journeying to the lonely tower, set away from the town and out on a rise in the plains, the five members of the Order ride out on horseback.

Upon arriving, Missy and Barthis, having grown close to each other it seems, volunteer to approach the tower and scout it first. They enter the tower after winding past and through several ruts in the ground, and a smashed stone fence. The tower's entrance is a broken doorway that leads to a front room littered with fallen stones, remnants of the tower's lofty pinnacle. The first door that they try takes them to what looks to have been a dining room at one time, and now the resting place of a half eaten, decomposing horse. Scrawled upon the walls of this room are bits and pieces of the riddle that has plagued the group since Celusia.

Leaving the dining room, the two scouts move to the only other noticeable door out of the main chamber. Opening this one more gently and trying to avoid another loud squeak, Barthis can make out what sounds like the breathing pattern of two people. Missy attempts to get a better look with her elven vision, but ends up kicking a stone into the room and stumbling, waking the slumbering occupant.

As Missy and Barthis move out of the tower, a large two-headed giant comes from inside the tower. Upon seeing the monstrosity exit the building behind the two scouts, Feanor and Fiona move up to aid their comrades, keeping Alentiara to cover their retreat should it be necessary.

The ettin challenges the group asking if they are friend and foe. Attempting to parlay with the beast, Fiona and Feanor discover that the ettin before them is actually Beregund, the subject of the riddles that have been discovered. Beregund, a changed Mountainlord, has been denied by Thr the ability to return to his former self, trapped in the body of the ettin and plagued by his evil head named Muck. It seems that Beregund was changed into the ettin form when he and his band had come to apprehend the mage, T., but they ended up killing him instead. As the questioning more and more agitates Beregund, the Muck head awakens and all chaos breaks loose.

As a result of arguing and yelling, the ettin chooses to attack the "trespassers at his" tower, and the battle begins. As the battle ensues, the ettin and paladin exchange blows first, Feanor being knocked from his mount. Barthis enters the melee, but instead of attacking the ettin, he chooses to assault the fallen paladin. As the combat continues, Barthis is heard shouting of Feanor's weakness and lack of commitment to the battle. After a couple of exchanges, the paladin falls to the ground unconscious and near death. The group is completely engaged in the battle, Fiona and Alentiara letting their arrows fly at the ettin while Missy manages to try and take care of Feanor. Eventually, Alentiara comes to Feanor's aid while Barthis and Fiona enter close combat with the ettin.

Finally, the battle being over and everyone suffering from massive electrical burns from lightning, Fiona weeps over the body of the ettin while Missy and Alentiara tend to Feanor. Barthis stands in a daze as the group is caught off guard once more; the ettin is changing shape back into a human!


Treasure: None
Group Casualties: Feanor
Monsters Defeated: Beregund/Muck (the Ettin)

EXPERIENCE

(( Once again, since we're back to a "regular" session, I'm going to add in this coming week's IC Board XP into next week's TT. ))

Feanor:
4.75 Hours Active Session (950 XP)
Individual Session Award (125 XP)
IC Board Activity (25 XP)

Alentiara:
3.5 Hours Active Session (350 XP)
Individual Session Award (175 XP)
IC Board Activity (25 XP)

Fiona:
4.75 Hours Active Session (1188 XP)
Individual Session Award (175 XP)
IC Board Activity (100 XP)

Barthis:
4.75 Hours Active Session (950 XP)
Individual Session Award (250 XP)
IC Board Activity (75 XP)

Mis'tanealla:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (75 XP)

[DMGralbor]

"Brothers In Arms" Campaign

Location: the Mage's Tower
Date: 9 October 2002 (session date will be for 15 August 2002 as this group is working on background time to fill in a time spacing)

4 Virtool 732 (03/04/732 Thardferrian)

PC Cast: Alentiara Cedrinus, Fiona Silverstrand, Barthis Drinn, and Mis'tanealla (Missy)
NPC Cast: Feanor Jalowsmith

Summary:
As the unit begins to take stock of its situation after the fall and transformation of Beregund, Missy attempts to continue healing Feanor's injured body to no avail. As she prays to her god to help her with Feanor, Feanor's body gasps out its last breath and begins to grow cold as the light extinguishes from his eyes.

Meanwhile, Fiona demands Barthis relinquish himself to her custody for the death of Feanor. After a series of yelling and shouting from Fiona, Barthis sinks back to the wall of the interior antechamber of the Tower and falls in a heap to the ground, shaking and spasming. After a spell from Missy, Fiona is able to shackle Barthis while Alentiara retrieves an item from around Barthis' neck; the medallion from the orc stash with the tarnished emblem of the three moons and the emblazoned flightless bird.

The women inspect the rest of the Tower, and after some moving back and forth, discover that the chest in the ettin's sleeping room is not actually a chest; instead it is a door to a lower chamber. Gaining access through a chance mention of the command word, the women climb down into the shallow chamber and find another chest located within.

The new chest, clean and in good working order, was trapped with an electrical spell, causing injuries to Alentiara and Fiona when Fiona opened the chest. Recovering from the minor burns, Fiona reaches into the crimson silk lined chest and removes an ornate warhammer.


Treasure: Ornate warhammer, silk lined chest
Group Casualties: Feanor (death)
Monsters Defeated: None

EXPERIENCE

(( Once again, since we're back to a "regular" session, I'm going to add in this coming week's IC Board XP into next week's TT. ))

Feanor:
0 Hours Active Session (0 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (50 XP)

Alentiara:
2.75 Hours Active Session (275 XP)
Individual Session Award (225 XP)
IC Board Activity (75 XP)

Fiona:
2.75 Hours Active Session (688 XP)
Individual Session Award (350 XP)
IC Board Activity (25 XP)

Barthis:
2.75 Hours Active Session (550 XP)
Individual Session Award (225 XP)
IC Board Activity (25 XP)

Mis'tanealla:
2.75 Hours Active Session (413 XP)
Individual Session Award (175 XP)
IC Board Activity (25 XP)

[DMGralbor]

--------------------
"Ladies' Night"
--------------------

Location: Celusian Garrison and onward
Date: 30 October 2002 / 5 Seroum 732

PC Cast: Fiona Silverstrand, Mis'tanealla Oruasamen (Missy), and Natalie Broadbehm
NPC Cast: Maj. Drowers

Summary:
Having returned after a long and sorrowful trip to Hilwreathfield, Fiona and Missy enter the gates of Celusia minus several companions. With the death of Feanor, Alentiara remained behind in her hometown of Hilwreathfield with the desire to protect and watch over the town and Mage Tower. Feanor was buried in the small cemetary located next to the town, his sigil and longsword left as markers of his presence. Barthis, reeling from the damage that he imposed on his fellow comrade, no matter how inferior he felt he was, fled into self-imposed exile demanding his own time to repent for his crimes. Fiona, understanding the need for Barthis' repentance, allowed Barthis to leave with the condition of his word of honour to return to an Order garrison at some time for proper legal proceedings.

Reporting back to Major Drowers of the Celusian garrison, Fiona and Missy make their report in regards to the fall of Feanor, the situation with Alentiara, and finally the information about Barthis. Explaining Barthis' situation was a bit more difficult, but Fiona assured the major that his whereabouts were known and she would be able to apprehend him if it became necessary. Showing a great level of compassion and forthought, Drowers permits Fiona the leeway necessary. After a bit longer discussion, Maj. Drowers confers on Fiona and Missy their full rank.

Being granted leave for their individual assignments, Fiona and Missy set out for Carleon, the last place that Barthis was seen as the two returned north. Arriving in Carleon, the two Orderwomen encounter a young woman on the street, singing for coppers. Her name is Natalie Broadbehm, they eventually learn as they invite her to dinner.

After some conversation and a bit of lightheartedness, the three of them agree to stay together as a group.

Treasure: Order pay, ranks, and provisions restocked
Casualties: None
Monsters Defeated: None

EXPERIENCE

Fiona:
6.25 Hours Active Session (3125 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Mis'tanealla:
6.25 Hours Active Session (1875 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Natalie:
5 Hours Active Session (500 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

[DMGralbor]

“Ladies’ Night”

Location: Carleon and Ulzo’s Farm
Date: 4 November 2002 / 10 Seroum 732


PC Cast: Fiona Silverstrand, Mis’tanealla Oruasamen (Missy), and Natalie Broadbehm
NPC Cast: Gilzheim (the merc), Ulzo (the farmer), and Griglem (the merc)

Summary:

Having been in the town of Carleon for nearly two weeks, looking for information on a group that might have been responsible for the death of Col. Petra, the group of three ladies has come across another situation that demands the Orderwomen’s attentions.

In the process of working the darker underside of Carleon, a lead has possibly been found in the information gained through a mortally wounded former mercenary, Gilzheim. He overhears the three women looking for work that might involve less than honorable intentions, and decides to let them in on his contact for work in the area. This “work” is at the payment of a farmer named Ulzo, located a day’s walk northwest from the city. The little information that they learned from Gilzheim was that Ulzo is paying for people to help remove produce from other farmers’ plots, and storing/selling those items for himself and his “employees”. His starting offer to Gilzheim was 2 coppers per day, plus a percentage of the take after it was sold.

Deciding that this at least would be a good place to start looking for mercenaries that might have done the Petra job, the three ladies head out towards Ulzo’s farmstead. Upon arriving at Ulzo’s farm, the ladies are met by the farmer and his wife, a cheery and friendly couple. After some talk about their wanderings (mostly fictitious), Natalie manages to approach the subject that they are there for. With a bit of skepticism, but finally giving in to the charming and orally manipulative rogue, Ulzo tells the ladies that he’s tired of doing all his work and hardly receiving any pay for his produce. He’s devised a plan to relieve his neighbors of their goods, making prices go up for him to sell at. He offers the ladies the same job with 2 coppers per day pay, along with a percentage of the harvest sell, and they accept (to get in the works).

Later that same night, Ulzo introduces the ladies to Griglem, the organizer of the nightly raids. After some serious discussion of who to go after and how far to go out, Griglem goes out with the group to see that they are adequate to keep on. The first raid for the ladies consists of “relieving” the farmer four farmsteads over of several of his pigs, enough to make it worth it, but not enough to destroy his subsistence. After obtaining their prizes, they are led back to a set of makeshift cabins and lean-tos located in a copse of trees near Ulzo’s farmstead. This is where the ladies end their first night of raiding, having successfully convinced Griglem of their “integrity”.


Treasure: None
Group Casualties: None
Monsters Defeated: None

EXPERIENCE

Fiona:
5.75 Hours Active Session (2875 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Mis’tanealla:
5.75 Hours Active Session (2300 XP)
Individual Session Award (0 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

Natalie:
5.75 Hours Active Session (575 XP)
Individual Session Award (50 XP)
IC Board Activity (0 XP)

[DMGralbor]

“Ladies’ Night”

Location: Ulzo’s Farm (area)
Date: 7 November 2002 / 13 Seroum 732


PC Cast: Fiona Silverstrand, Mis’tanealla Oruasamen (Missy), and Natalie Broadbehm
NPC Cast: Ulzo (the farmer) and Griglem (the merc)

Summary:

Having previously infiltrated the group of raiders paid for and led by Ulzo and Griglem, Fiona, Missy, and Natalie have been learning about their surroundings. As they keep searching, they discover that there are several more people involved in this operation than you would expect for a simple “cattle raid”.

Taking a brief tour of the facilities, they find that there are nearly a dozen cabins, mostly held by humans, but there are a couple of orcs in the group as well. The lean-tos are occupied by the newcomers, the most recently our group of three ladies. They find that most of their spoils are not actually stored at this location, as they discover when inquiring about the location of the hogs they lifted the night before. They are told by a couple of the other newcomers that the things they bring in during the night are shipped out to someplace else later on that same night.

After some investigation into this matter with Griglem, who only reappeared near nightfall, he informs the women that their merchandise is well taken care of and is going to good use. After some evasive talking and finally leaving the ladies in the lurch, he calls everyone together to give out assignments for the evening. Having received their assignment to acquire two dairy cows from the farmer south of Ulzo’s farm, the ladies head out without any known escort.

Having reached the farmstead, the three having all decided to “fail” in their assignment, they begin to approach the farmer’s home to inform him of what’s happening. Hearing someone behind them, Natalie stops the group and they find that they’ve been tailed by one of Griglem’s men. Being discovered, he attempts to flee the women, but soon finds that he is not nearly fast enough to get away. Making his choice to attack, he singles out Fiona and pushes past Natalie to get to her. Bringing her warhammer smashing down onto his head, Fiona and the other women see something that utterly shocks them; at the same time the snoop is hit, he begins to crumble and disintegrate into nothingness. After searching the remains of his clothing, the women don’t find anything of worth or value, not even some money. Deciding that they should perhaps wait to tell the farmer of what’s been happening, the ladies return back to the camp empty-handed and have to explain what happened.

Missy spins a good story to Griglem recounting how the farmer and his farmhands were waiting for them when they arrived, possibly tipped off by someone that was near them the whole trip out. Stating that there seemed to be a skirmish of some sort near the barn, and the women felt it safer to leave and return another day, when the farmer and his help weren’t so alert, as to get captured or found out that night. Griglem accepts the story after some scrutiny, and turns to inspecting the goods that others are bringing in.

After all the loot has been acquired for the night, Griglem and four other very mean looking guards load a bunch of produce and materials into two wagons and head out of the encampment. Choosing to follow the wagons but knowing that they could blow everything, Natalie is chosen to follow due to her skills acquired while living on the streets. What she finds is a stockhouse full of produce, animals, materials and other assorted items that have been taken from the farmsteads and homes from surrounding and far-off areas. This stockhouse, though, is located underground with the entrance being a well-disguised and hidden building already half buried in the ground.


Treasure: None
Group Casualties: None
Monsters Defeated: None

EXPERIENCE

Fiona:
6.5 Hours Active Session (3250 XP)

Mis’tanealla:
6.5 Hours Active Session (2600 XP)

Natalie:
6.5 Hours Active Session (650 XP)

[DMGralbor]

“Ladies’ Night”

Location: Ulzo’s Farm (area)
Date: 10 November 2002 / 16 Seroum 732


PC Cast: Fiona Silverstrand, Mis’tanealla Oruasamen (Missy), and Natalie Broadbehm
NPC Cast: Ulzo (the farmer), Griglem (the merc), and Rezzak (the kobold master)

Summary:

Having found the hidden stockhouse that the mercenaries have been using to store all the stolen goods, Natalie returns to the base camp to inform Fiona and Missy of this information. Devising a plan over the course of the next two days, the ladies determine that it is up to them to bring this cartel down.

Taking on the task of shutting down an operation of this size was something of a brave, and perhaps foolish, thing. As the girls continue to sneak out of the camp after their nightly escapades, they soon find that not only are the mercenaries that are in the camp in on this, but there are also many kobolds guarding the horde of stolen goods. They realize that the only way that they could actually take the entire group would be to go for help, inform the farmers, or attack on their own. It was decided that the first two options would likely tip off Griglem and his men, so they chose the most dangerous of the three options. Having made up their minds about what to do, they now had to make their plans of how to do it.

Fortunately, both Missy and Fiona are quite proficient tacticians, and their skills came in handy with this endeavor. The cavernous stockhouse underground very closely resembled parts of the OS tactics testing, and they were able to apply the knowledge they gleaned from those tests to this situation. Natalie, having scouted the stockhouse and reporting back to Fiona and Missy, then managed to slip inside the cavern to take up her position for the “ambush”.

As Fiona and Missy make their move, the kobolds are at first reluctant to fight, but their master, Rezzak, whips them into a defensive posture. After several hours of combined fighting (melee, missile, etc.), the remnants of the kobold force flee out the mouth of the cavern in fright. Rezzak, being caught in a ring of fire and trapped without any hope of escape, attempts to sacrifice himself while taking out one of the attackers. His last useless lunge finds him destroyed and only his clothing remaining on the ground.

Later that night, Griglem and his guards arrive with the wains of stolen goods, only to find their stockhouse unguarded. They enter warily, alerted by the lack of guards that should have been there. Their caution, though, did not prepare them for the assault they met upon entrance to the caverns. Attempting to capture the leader of the mercenaries, rather than kill him, unfortunately fails when he is cut down by one of his own men from behind.

Tending their wounds and making plans for finishing the operation, the three ladies take rest inside the storehouse. Having rested for two days, the ladies wounds have healed enough that they feel they can approach Ulzo, but first they head to his neighbors. Going around to the neighboring farmsteads, the three ladies each go to separate homes and manage to convince the farmers to come with them to the storehouse. Showing the farmers the cache of stolen goods, they become enraged and begin marching on Ulzo’s home. Not intending the death of Ulzo, and rather wishing for his capture and trial, Fiona races ahead and arrives before the farmers (being slowed by Missy and Natalie) arrive.

Once the mob arrives, though, the three women are hard-pressed to keep the angry farmers at bay. Only through declaration of their position and status, and the quick thinking of Fiona to flash her uniform of the Order, do the women stop the irate tenders of the land in time. But Ulzo has other plans, rather than be arrested and tried for theft. Choosing to flee, the man only makes his plight even worse as it is yet another charge that the ladies have against him. Apprehended and shackled, the downcast farmer-turned-thief is brought into Carleon for trial and judgment, being the nearest Order outpost.

As a reward to the women for saving the future crops and goods of the farmers, they pooled together monies to compensate for the work and danger they went through. At first refusing the payment for duty served, the women were eventually required to bow to etiquette and accept the gift in order to avoid offending the community.

Rooting out a nest of mercenaries and thieves has been a long ordeal for the women, but at the end they have come closer to each other and a sisterhood has formed. Vowing to find the murderer of Col. Petra, Fiona is intent on scouring the countryside for additional bands of mercenaries. With that in mind, the women take up residence in Carleon, looking and listening for that next lead.


Treasure: 36 linert from the kobold bodies and 15 crowns from the farmers
Group Casualties: Injuries to all, but no deaths
Enemies/Monsters Defeated: Ulzo, Griglem, Rezzak, and a horde of kobolds killed and/or driven off

EXPERIENCE

Fiona:
10.25 Hours Active Session (6150 XP)

Mis’tanealla:
10.25 Hours Active Session (4100 XP)

Natalie:
10.25 Hours Active Session (2050 XP)

[DMGralbor]

“Ladies’ Night”

Location: Carleon, Rosenvault Hills, and Rosenvault
Date: 14 November 2002 / 20 Seroum 732


PC Cast: Fiona Silverstrand, Mis’tanealla Oruasamen (Missy), and Natalie Broadbehm
NPC Cast: Ansel Dimos

Summary:

Still searching for the killer of Colonel Petra, Fiona and her companions scour the dark alleyways of Carleon in search of another possible lead that might aid them in their quest. In the process, they have uncovered a story of a group in search of a lost artifact, one that has been only the thing of legends and myth. Feeling that this might be the item that Petra was searching for with his scouts, the ladies press the inquiry. Finding out that a group of men has already left ahead of them, the ladies spare no time in setting across the countryside on horseback, tracking the mysterious artifact.

After traveling days to the southeast, the women have successfully tracked the men into a region of the Rosenvault Hills, east-northeast of the town of Rosenvault. Here, the women leave their mounts and trail the group on foot. Approaching the encamped men at night, the ladies overhear the group’s laughter and conversation of their wanderings and exploits. One person in the group, dressed in a long cloak and his face hidden in the depths of his hood, makes mention of passing through Celusia at some point, but doesn’t go into any detail after that. Fiona begins to take a positive attitude that they may have found their man, and she starts to work out a plan with Missy and Natalie to capture this man to interrogate him.

The next day, following the men’s group from a relatively safe distance, the three ladies make ready to launch their plan as the group heads up into the hillsides. They notice that the man in the cloak has remained behind at the camp, his movements from one place to the next being slow and awkward. Judging this to be the optimal chance to take the man, the girls approach from two different directions and a bit of spellcasting involved.

After removing the struggling man from the campsite, and returning to their original camp, Fiona begins to interrogate the man. After some serious work and a lot of threatening, they finally manage to draw from him that his name is Ansel Dimos, he is partly responsible for Petra’s death, and that there is a strong force moving against (and within) the Order of the Sword. When asked why they were out here, and why he killed Petra, he curses out the women for their lack of intelligence and knowledge of the Shadow of Kinesthe. Fiona, recalling that name from the Kalmirson family, presses Dimos for more information. After some intense sneering and many unrepeatable oaths, the women discern that they have gotten all that they can from him.

Deciding it best to return Dimos to Order custody, rather than leave an enemy at their back while pursuing the men, the women set off for Rosenvault to deposit him there for the time being.

Treasure: None
Group Casualties: None
Enemies/Monsters Defeated: Ansel Dimos captured

EXPERIENCE

Fiona:
5.5 Hours Active Session (3300 XP)

Mis’tanealla:
5.5 Hours Active Session (2750 XP)

Natalie:
5.5 Hours Active Session (1650 XP)

[DMGralbor]

“Ladies’ Night”

Location: Rosenvault Hills
Date: 18 November 2002 / 24 Seroum 732


PC Cast: Fiona Silverstrand, Mis’tanealla Oruasamen (Missy), and Natalie Broadbehm
NPC Cast:

Summary:

Having turned Ansel Dimos over to the small OS outpost located in Rosenvault, the women decide to head back to the hills and continue to track the men. If this was something worth killing a colonel over, then it must be big.

Tracking back to the campsite area, the women find that the group of men has moved on further into the hills. Following the very obvious trail that they left, the women don’t have any trouble catching up to their targets. What they find, though, surprises them. The men have setup a guard station out in front of a cave entrance, putting two of the four remaining men out front. Choosing to take out the men instead of waiting to see if they have reinforcements, Missy begins to move towards the cave entrance.

After a brief, but brutal fight between the two men and the three women, one lay unconscious and the other dead. Binding the unconscious man, the brash ladies head into the cave entrance and follow the trail of torches and footsteps in the dirt. Agreeing not to attack first this time, Missy and Natalie hold back while Fiona slowly approaches the two men that are examining the walls. After announcing her presence, and their subsequent rude response, the men press an attack against what they think is a single woman. Missy and Natalie come out of the shadows and strike the men from behind, killing both men. After a search of their packs and persons, they manage to find several pieces of crumpled and torn pages that look to have come from a tome. The handwriting is very similar to Petra’s, and it tells of a crypt possessing a lost hero’s garments and weapons. As they continue to read through the pages, they find a brief reference to Raven’s Loft and a sword, but that is all that they have as the page is torn.

Choosing to search for whatever the men had been searching for, the women look up and down the walls. As the women search, the medallion that Emerald Rachesdater gave to Fiona before they departed Celusia begins to glow. At the same time, the far wall begins to shake with stone and dirt falling from the wall face. Turning to run, the women are closed off from the only known exit by a small rockslide that has filled the cave tunnel. After the dirt and dust clears, though, the women see what has been cleared off.

A large door, measuring thrice the height of Fiona (the tallest in the group) and wide enough to permit four large horses to walk abreast, stands before the women. Looking at the door, they find it inscribed in High Elven and Old Dwarven. After some work and interpretation, Natalie is able to inform the rest of the group of what the Dwarven reads… it tells of a hero of old, Kinesthe, that possessed a mighty set of armor and sword that could drive back the darkness. Eventually the girls find the mechanism to open the door and it opens up to a dark chamber with a sarcophagus located in the center of the room.

After managing to open the sarcophagus, the ladies find a skeleton wrapped in a set of darkened chainmail and a great helm situated on the head. Resting on top of the chest is a large, leather bound tome, while two rubies are set in the eye sockets. A search of the rest of the body shows the tattered and decomposing remains of clothing as well as a small ring on the little finger. The women begin to remove items from the sarcophagus, starting with the tome, but when Missy and Fiona touch the armor and helm, they are both thrown back from the tomb and sent crashing across the room. Natalie, reaching for the armor at the same time, picks the edges up and the skeleton crumbles away as if simply dust. Looking to her friends and the armor, she starts to walk away, but chooses to heft the armor first. Surprisingly, the armor is extremely light, only as heavy as her current robe and cloak.

After some time, the ladies return to the tomb to continue looking over everything. Natalie, having stepped away, has put the armor on with an exhiliration at the ultra-lightweight construction and nearly perfectly silent movement. Taking an interest in the rest of the items, the ladies remove the gems and ring, as well as Fiona removing the helm. Finishing a search of the crypt, the women find an exit in the side of the room, hidden originally by a statue, but seemingly dislodged with the cave-in outside.

Returning to the front of the cave entrance, they find their man still shackled. Picking him up and bringing them back to Rosenvault, the ladies make plans for the trip back to Celusia with their two culprits.

Treasure: 6 torches, 40 crowns, one longsword, two gems, one ring, leather bound tome, chainmail, and a helm
Group Casualties: Missy and Fiona injured (minor)
Enemies/Monsters Defeated: Three men killed, one man captured

EXPERIENCE

Fiona:
6.5 Hours Active Session (3900 XP)

Mis’tanealla:
6.5 Hours Active Session (3250 XP)

Natalie:
6.5 Hours Active Session (2600 XP)