This session involved a TPK, and a harsh one, considering we had a level up recently and the PCs had Hippogriff mounts. Nothing lasts forever though. 

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Player Characters: 

Jassan Al` Nadir – Cleric 2 – A Dervish gentleman posing as a trader, known for dark whispers.

Tiaathque – Elf 1 – a mysterious elven warrioress. 

Ithitus – Assassin 1 – A killer in the making. 

Characters after the TPK 

Ari – Fighter 1 

Lelni – Fighter 1 

Maron – retainer – non combatant NH

Phohas – retainer – Thief 1 

---

We’d finished the last session with a bit of a cliff hanger. The ghost of Niarchos was looming over Jassan when he awoke. Twenty days had passed since Niarchos had taken the sword of the undead Gunther Wyrmslayer. The curse was coming close. 

Jassan managed to use his turn undead ability fairly rapidly, and the gurning ghost vanished. He was safe for now. There were still a few hours before dawn, so the party tried to get back to sleep with Tiaathque on watch. 

This was where the first in a series of unlucky rolls took place. I rolled a random encounter of twenty mountain gazelles. The elven guard rolled for surprise and was very unlucky indeed. The gazelles had a 3 in 4 change of stampeding as they ran through the camp. I rolled this, and the creatures were stampeding furiously. The gazelles stomped through the camp crushing Ithitus’ skull as he slept. Jassan was also hit but the damage was low. 

The pair of surviving characters stripped Ithitus of his gear and made a plan. Once dawn came Jassan used his newly acquired spell to heal himself. Then they took to the air atop their stolen hippogriff mounts, looking to escape the hills in favour of safer terrain. This they found only four miles West, on the shore of Lake Fie. 

Whilst they had arial advantage, the PCs surveyed the area to see if they could find anything interesting. There saw a ruined village only one hex north. So Jassan and Tiaathque decided to go check it out. 

They spent a few turns observing from a hundred yards up in the air. There were six ruined cottages with dilapidated roofs, surrounding one larger stone house. All the area was covered with thick ropey vines, pink in colour. 

Landing like lords of the sky, they came down into the centre of the ruin. They dismounted and discussed which they’d like to check out first. One of the roofs on a cottage groaned and lifted from the stonework. There was a hill giant within, he peered out and enquired what they were doing in his village. 

There was a tense bit of back and forth between the party and the giant, but the characters soon learned the giant was named Vonas. He had come here because many years ago his father had been a protector of the village in return for food. Vonas had turned up and found the area in ruin, and had been searching the houses to see if he could find out what happened. He’d checked all the cottages by lifting their roofs, but the larger stone house was brick with a flat roof, so he’d been unable to look inside. Vonas offered a reward if they went inside to look for clues. Jassan and Tiaathque agreed immediately. 

The vines were a little troubling. They covered every entranceway to the house. Jassan cut them, and they leaked a yellow fluid that began to immediately grow new vines. 

“How cool would it be if we could cast talk to plants and ask them to move aside.” My player fantasied. I concurred silently, and hoped they’d one day make it to such levels.

Using an open door check they managed to pull the vines from the stonework and lever them aside. The doorway was clear for entry, and no yellow fluid was released. Inside there was a dark foyer with two doors. The place was thoroughly ruined, and quite damaged. The door to the West was stuck, so Jassan tried the door to the East instead. 

This room was large, with a great collapsed fireplace. There were loungers completely ruined. There was evidence of a struggle, and old blood was splashed in an ark on the wall. There was another door to the North. Jassan opened this, but as he did he heard the whirling of a chain. An axe swung from the ceiling inside the room and nearly beheaded him, but his quick feet saved him from damage. 

Inside was a bedroom, dilapidated but not damaged. In the centre of the room was skeleton hanging from a noose. Tiaathque searched around the cupboards and found nothing. Jassan searched the hung skeleton, and found it it wearing a fine sovereign ring, which once pilfered caused the skeleton to crumble. There was also a note that was found reading, “I’m sorry father, I couldn’t face them.” 

The players were intrigued by this, who had killed these people and trapped them here? Jassan crawled onto his belly and looked under the bed. This is where another bit of bad luck was encountered. There was a skeleton of a women in foetal position under there, but she wasn’t alone, over a dozen giant rats scuttled out of the floor and crawled all over Jassan. 

For a few rounds the two explorers tried to battle the rats, but were soon becoming overpowered. Deciding to flee they made for the door, loosing initiative was deadly, Tiaathque dropped to the floor from his wounds. Jassan dragged him through the door and slammed it. Rats started squeezing under the door. Jassan carried his elven friend towards the door, but this impeded his speed, and the rats soon caught up with him. After another couple of rounds, unfortunately the cleric fell to the bites of many rats. 

An unfortunate end to some great characters. 

Onwards! The players rolled up new characters and started at the town of Renton on Fie. They’d received some hooks about the cult that occupied the temple ruin to the East. They set out to visit it, taking only two retainers with them out of a potential six. 

On the way they had a random encounter with three green skinned men with great talons who tried to rob them. They attempted to battle these monsters and this went horribly. Lelni was paralysed by a claw. They agreed to hand over all their gear. 

This was not going well. 

Searching for a few hours the party found some good heavy sticks they could use as clubs. Then they marched back to the hills where the new the cult was growing. They came upon a hippy commune of sorts. Nearly fifty beautiful women dressed in white togas welcomed them to the place, assuming they were going to join the cult. The PCs played along, and had a night of hedonistic pleasures with these women, who were as promiscuous as they were beautiful. It was agreed that the PCs would go up to the temple and receive initiation in the rights of Traz’grozan. Hippies and their dark gods, what can you do? 

The new PCs were led up to the temple, which was huge and columned. There, they met with some masked individuals who took their weapons and led them for their interview with Kindrel, a cleric of Traz’grozan. Led into a great chamber with a huge bottomless pit they saw strange bird headed beastmen counting copper coins. These beastmen guarded them whilst they were taken for interview, one by one.

Lelni went first, and quite quickly agreed to join the cult and give up his life to the order. He was led down into the dungeons by a bird headed beastman.

The next to go in was the normal human retainer Moran, but he bottled it at last minute. He was flung into the bottomless pit. 

Ari was next. He went into the interview room and had an intense conversation with the cleric. It turned out that his memories were to be removed, so that his flesh could be reconstituted. Ari was having none of that, so he attacked. 

That’s where we left the session. One PC manacled in a dungeon, the other engaged in combat with a dark cleric. 

Lets see what happens next time. 

Riding high above a vapour wave pocket dimension, the PCs search for an exit, and find much more. One of the players used a satyr race as class character this session. I’ll post that sometime later this week.

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Characters 

Jassan Al` Nadir – Cleric 1 – A Dervish gentleman posing as a trader, known for dark whispers.

Tiaathque – Elf 1 – a mysterious elven warrioress. 

Tych – Satyr 1 – the bravest young buck in the pocket dimension. 

Later joined by – 

Ithitus – Assassin 1 – A killer in the making. 

---

Due to the players of Vahan and Chiron being unavailable they decided their characters would rest with the Satyrs whilst the other PCs rode out on Hippogriffs. 

Jassan, Tiaathque, and their new satyr friend Tych, took the reigns of three hypogriffs and flew West. Keeping one hundred yards in the air, they followed one of the footpaths through the enchanted wood. Soon they came over a river bridge and were able to view the pagoda to the South. They came to a fork in the path and decided to go North, this was where they came upon a familiar sight; a three way crossroad with a skeleton hanging in a gibbet. 

The party landed and asked the skeleton some questions. The skeleton told them he would answer three questions for every day that passed in the ‘real world.’ This time he wasn’t limited to yes/no questions. Only one of his answers would be truthful, but he wouldn’t tell which one was true. 

Q1. Tiathque asked: What is the average flying speed of the unladen swallow?

A. 20.1 miles per hour! 

Q2. Jassan asked: Which way does water flow?

A. Up! 

The party then huddled together and tried to figure out what to ask next. There came a rustling in the foliage however, and eighty yards away a rider came blowing on a horn. He wore green garments, a stag skull atop his head, and carried a shield and a lance. He rushed towards them. 

The battle was fast. Tych attempted to climb a tree, failing miserably. Tiaathque loosed two arrows, the rider dashed aside and avoided them. But it was Jassan with his mighty sling who felled the elf. 

“Right where were we?”

Q3. Is the way home inside the mound of Herne the Hunter?

A. Yes!

The players had inferred that the first question about a swallows flying speeds was the one truthful answer, so now they assumed that the bronze doors leading home would not materialise there. They saddled up on their noble mounts and took to the air again, this time heading due West. 

They’d only travelled for twenty minutes when they saw on the path below the set of bronze doors. Stood astride of the doors were four more off these mounted elven hunters. 

“Look! They have taken the masters steeds!” One of them cried, pointing towards the party. 

“I’m your master now!” Said Jassan, and the party began to dive bomb the elves with their mounts razor sharp claws. 

Arrows were loosed, two elves died. Tych managed to swoop down within ten feet of the elves on the first round, but not close enough for contact. The elves failed their morale check and fled through the door. Beyond the portal was the dark catacomb Jassan recognised. Tych swooped in and his mount sunk its claws into a horse. With his spear the satyr felled another elf. 

The remaining elf fled down into the catacomb. The party charged in after him, loosing arrows but none found purchase. The rider opened the second set of doors, which opened into the fragrant bathhouse filled with comely elven maidens. The maidens screamed as the rider dashed through to the next door. 

The party reached the doorway leading to the bathhouse. Beyond this they saw the rider open another set of doors into the great hall of the King. 

“Close the doors!” The party screamed, and they did so. 

Jassan put his staff through the hand holds of the door to bar it. Someone tried to open it several times with a slam. Tych dashed towards the doors they had originally come through to attempt to find escape. It was getting very tense now. As Tych reached the other end of the room the doors burst inward. King Lazziar and his court stood there, furious. 

“You! What are you doing out of your cage? Prey.” Said the king to the Satyr. 

For Generations Tych’s kin had been hunted by this elf, and the blood rage rose up within with heart. He charged! 

At the other end of the corridor Jassan and Tiaathque opened the doors. Lo and behold! It was the entrance foyer lined with a hundred sets of armour and weapons. They were home free. 

Tych leapt at the King, drop kicking him with his hooves. The King chuckled like a dandy. Tych rolled back into one of the cemetery alcoves. Inside was the corpse of a beautiful elf Queen. 

“Get away from her!” Lazziar screamed hysterically. The king strode forth with his sword and cut the satyr in twain.

Jassa and Tiaathque had got back into the saddle and were charging towards the exit. The doors slammed behind them. They took a second to grab a set of chainmail and a helmet. Then the doors blew in behind them and the King stood there in his emerald finery, splashed with the blood of his hunt. 

“Dismount immediately!” He commanded. 

“Hell no.” The party dashed towards the entrance, their mounts claws pushing the doors open, and they saw before them the fields of the vale. The sky was blue, not a hideous pink. They were outside the emerald citadel. They took to the sky, but heard the Elf King mutter an incantation, and looking over their shoulder they saw he was flying after them! 

An hour of evasive manoeuvres allowed the party to escape him and make way to the local village of Ronton on Fie. Their arrival caused a commotion amongst the population, having a bunch of adventurers turn up on Hippogriffs was quite unordinary. Jassan unloaded the captured crowns of the dead Elf Kings and began bartering with them.  

The party took a few days rest here. Selling the crowns, and burying much of their treasure in a nearby wood. In total the five crowns were worth 3,000 gp. All this money attracted an assassin named Ithitus to join the party. 

All was not well however, because during the night there had been a raid by twelve mounted elves on the town. Thirteen peasant guardsmen had been slain. The town wanted to host a meeting, clearly the attacks had something to do with the party stealing from the elves. 

This was a great time to scarper, and the party did exactly that, mounting their hippogriffs and making East. 

Long ago they had received a quest to investigate the strange cult growing at the old elven temple of Omirion. This didn’t take long to find from the air. They saw the ancient temple atop a hill and a small village at the base of the hills. 

Flying down to this village they were approached by many white toga wearing peasants. This place had a strange hippy feel to it, the women tried to coo and lure the character into taking off their armour and joining them for ‘pleasure untethered.’ The party refused. This caused a sort of hue and cry from the toga clad cultists. The party took off on their mounts into the hills. As they did so, they saw strange men with large hooked heads emerge form the huts. 

Whilst traversing the air high above the hills they saw a fort. 

Camping that night Jassan was awoken by a terrible figure looming over him. It was Niarchos, the retainer who had taken Gunther’s sword over twenty days ago. He stood, white as a sheet, his gurning mouth chocked with black blood. He raised a finger and pointed at Jassan. 

What will happen next time? 

---

Judges note: Quite a session really, the players managed to escape with quite a bit of treasure. Unfortunately some PCs are still inside the emerald citadel, we will see if they wish to try and escape via PbP. 

This session marks the campaigns first level up, Jassan is now a level 2 cleric. The part also have three very well behaved hippogriffs, which could change the nature of the game significantly. 

Maliks player is still engaged in PbP and is having quite an adventure on his own, this will be posted at some point in the future, perhaps when it reaches a conclusion. 

I’ll post the satyr class later this week. I offered this to a player because it seemed a little off to keep having the party running into wandering PCs in what is effectively a prison. I made this using the ACKS players companion with a bit of janking. I tried to keep it as close to the AD&D monster stat as I could. 

Posted at Dragonsfoot

In this session we continue following the party in the Halls of the Emerald Citadel. 

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Characters 

Chiron – Magic-user 1 – Come to expand his knowledge. 

Jassan Al` Nadir – Cleric 1 – A Dervish gentleman posing as a trader, known for dark whispers.

Vahan – Fighter 1 – Deep voiced and broad shouldered. 

Maximus – Paladin 1 – Oath, “I dedicate myself and my actions to Phoebus. No matter the cost, I will fight for a world guided by law that is free of corruption.”

Tiaathque – Elf 1 – a mysterious elven warrioress. 

Retainers 

Aegon – man at arms – Vahans squire.

---

Last time we left on a cliffhanger. The PCs were running away from a hall filled with over thirty elves, led by a King who could fly. 

The party were rushing away from the hall, back into the portal room, they sought to reach the second set of double doors, knowing that beyond them another room would ‘spawn.’ 

The King had the initiative, however, he flew over their heads and landed before the doors. 

“Another hunt, how marvellous.” He said. Then, whilst making a gesture, he uttered a word in elven. The double doors behind him slammed open revealing a vast forest. The trees of this forest were unlike any the party had ever seen. Tall as red woods, white as snow, they gave off faint luminosity. 

“In you go,” said the King, “into the woods for our hunt. Oh I do like this game.” 

Vahan first pleaded with the king that they meant him no harm, but it seemed their fate was already decided. Giving each other a knowing look, the party broke towards one of the portals hanging in the air. The party proved lithe, dashing forwards through a portal they deemed the safest; a brick corridor draped with webbing. 

As they did so, the King called for them to be apprehended, and several elves cast sleep spells. Vahan led the party into the dark chamber, but then, his eyes became leaden. He turned to see his comrades fall the the ground, snoring. Then he himself slumped into slumber. 

Things looked dire. Terrible dreams took them. 

Vahan awoke first, a rock slamming into his temple. He was laying on some grass, the sky above him was pink, and hanging there, like a grizzly marionette, was a skeleton in a gibbet. 

“You’re awake then.” Said the skeleton. 

Vahan tossed around and saw his comrades about him, sound asleep. He was in the woodland he’d seen beyond the doorway.  Standing twenty yards distant was a elven warrioress. She waved. The gibbet was hanging at at three pathed crossroad. 

Vahan woke his friends with a few good slaps. The elf introduced herself as Tiaathque, which was quite the tongue twister. This woman had been exploring the emerald citadel with a party, but had been captured and driven into this wood. For two days she’d been wandering. She was welcomed into the party with open arms. 

“Ask me queries three, and I’ll give an answer to ye, but whether they be wrong or right, I shan’t tell thee. Teehee.” Said the skeleton in the cage. It agreed to answer three questions, answering with a yes or no. 

Question 1 was asked by Tiaathque: “Is there a way out?”

Answer: “No!”

Question 2 was asked accidentally by Tiaathque, for she was really aiming her question towards her comrades: ”So do you happen to have a locksmith with you?”

Answer: Yes! 

Question 3 was decided by the party after careful whispered deliberation: “Does this lead to the exit?” They pointed to the Eastern path. 

Answer: Hmm, I can’t give a yes or no, for no path leads to the door forever. 

A maybe then! The party picked the eastern path and walked onwards. 

Hours passed, but the light never seemed to dim. There was a small pink sun in the sky that never moved. The paths were very well kept with small hedging at the sides. The trees were very tall and blocked line of sight for more than a few yards. 

Eventually, they came upon a black bear sat in the path. It was holding two fruits and comparing them. 

“Hello there?” said Vahan. The bear reacted calmly and shrugged at the party. They tried to talk to it, but it pointed at its bear mouth and shrugged. It rolled one of the fruits to them and Tiaathque devoured it, delicious. The bear pointed to the high canopy, the trees were littered with the fruits. 

Finally the bear drew a swirling line and a fish in the dirt, and pointed south. They party interpreted this to mean a river was that way. They thanked the bear and moved through the woodland, taking their first steps off the path. The bear walked away, strangely human in its manner. 

For eight hours they marched through the woods. They were beginning to get tired. Eventually they came upon this river. It was very fast flowing. On its bank was a finely built log cabin. The cabin had a jetty into the water which carried a rack of canoes and harpoons. 

Maximus ran up to the log cabin and peered through one of the windows. Inside there were twelve bunk beds, many arrows, bows and spears on a rack. There was also a chest. At the mention of a chest Vahan rushed through the front door and claimed it. It felt very empty though. 

The party started thoroughly ransacking the place whilst Maximus kept lookout on the jetty deck. He spotted a massive wolf on the other side of the river. It was matted with gore and filth and stood nearly as tall as a man on all fours. The creature gurned at him and began crossing the river! 

“Prepare for assault!” The party closed the cabin door and took up positions at the window with the short bows. They loosed many arrows, Tiaathque seeming the expert amongst them. 

The beast beached itself and leap onto the window, riddled with arrows. Vahan and Tiaathque fired two final arrows and felled the creature, just in time. As it fell back out of the window, there was a puff of smoke. Carefully peering out the party saw that the wolf had turned into a dead man! He wore chainmail and carried a sword. This they swiped. 

After the battle the party smashed open the chest and found a blue vial. After testing the liquid on a pinky finger they found it caused invisibility. 

The party decided to stay in the lodge for some sleep. In the morning they saw in the woodland a set of bronze doors. They ran towards them as fast as they could, but not quickly enough, for as they were within twenty yards the doors vanished. 

After all this excitement a little river trip was in order. The Canoes were readied and the party set off down the river.  The flow was very fast and within four hours they’d reached a large lake. To the north were hills where there were no trees. Atop the highest hill was an emerald green pagoda. 

The canoes were beached and the party walked up the steep hills, soon finding a path. This path led to a set of steep steps straight towards the pagoda. 

The pagoda was four levels high, its corners were decorated with elf gargoyles. There were no windows, but the top level was open aired with a roof. A courtyard was before the entrance with a large censer burning pine resin. 

The party took up a marching order and approached the entrance. Inside there was a withered elf, pure wight and wearing only a sash, he sat in lotus position. The interior was painted green except for a large gold foiled snake across the floor. There were stairs in the north. 

The party carefully crossed towards the stairs. The snake animated and popped out of the floor! A bitter fight ensued, lasting all of twenty seconds. The party surrounded the giant gold serpent and slew it. Unfortunately the paladin Maximus was struck in the breast by the snakes fang. His mouth foamed for a few short breaths before he fell dead. 

The withered elf smiled, creaking like wood, then pointed upwards.

The party continued up the stairs, leaving the fallen behind. The next room was pitch black. Tiaathque noticed four faint heat signatures on the walls. A torch was lit, and they saw that the room was lacquered with black paint. Where the heat signatures had been there were four vague humanoid silhouettes painted on the walls.    

The party entered the room, and as they did they noticed the marks on the wall leap down. Ninja! The dark robbed assailants rushed on them from the shadows. Vahan and Aegon charged two of them, but Tiaathque was surprised by two ninja swinging daggers. She managed to parry and deflect their blows. The fight was brief, the party victorious. When the ninja were struck down they turned into paper, or logs. Once the ninja were defeated the room suddenly changed colour from black to green. 

Onward! They proceeded up the stairs to the third room. The floor of this room contained a impossibly deep pool. Sticking up from the water were tiny poles many feet apart. The Shaolin dexterity test! Tiaathque took off all her armour and gear and leapt across the poles like a lioness. Afterwards there was some messing around with a spear head and the tying off of ropes. The party had fastened a loose guid line to help them cross. After a few near misses, everyone had crossed the pool. 

The final level of the pagoda awaited! They went up and found an pillared stable open to the air. In the centre of the room were four fine hippogriffs. They wore barding and saddles and seemed very amicable. There was also a rack of lances and a chest. The chest was opened and it contained emerald green chainmail with an elven rune of protection on it. There were also a set of elven cloak and boots and five gems. 

They divvied up the treasure. Vahan taking the cloak and boots, and Tiaathque taking the green chainmail. Then it was time to make use of these feathered mounts. It was a struggle to get one of the beasts to take two riders, but this was eventually managed without rebuttal from the creatures savage claws. 

The party took off from the pagoda and swooped down over the waters of the lake in a V formation. Below the waters they could see many mermen. 

“What the hell is this place?” 

With great mobility they took to the sky and began to survey the area. The woods seemed endless. Following the river they soon found a bridge which joined a path. They followed the path towards a grove. 

Satyrs clearly lived int he grove, and once they saw the party approach they began to shriek and hide. The party landed and hailed the tribe, who were about thirty in number. The tribe seemed deathly afraid of them, referring to them as hunters, and specifically referring the the elf Tiaathque as ‘Herne the Hunter.’

“You wear the mail of Herne, please show mercy on the children!” Their chief said in sylvan. 

The party got some useful information from these folks, they discovered that there was no time here, just perpetual pink light. The exit door moved frequently they learned, but the satyr referred to it as the door of hades and kept away from it. The elves apparently hunted mercilessly here, riding these hippogriffs. There was a forbidden area of statues that the satyrs avoided at all costs. 

With their new mounts and provisions, what will they do next? Will they ever escape the hunting ground of King Lazziar, and what will he make of them stealing his prized stallions? 

Lets see next time. 

Also posted at Dragonsfoot.

Characters 

• Chiron – Magic-user 1 – Come to expand his knowledge. 
• Jassan Al` Nadir – Cleric 1 – A Dervish gentleman posing as a trader, known for dark whispers.
• Vahan – Fighter 1 – Deep voiced and broad shouldered. 
• Maximus – Paladin 1 – Oath, “I dedicate myself and my actions to Phoebus. No matter the cost, I will fight for a world guided by law that is free of corruption.”

Retainers 

• Aegon – man at arms – Vahans squire. 

---

The PCs slept in the stables of Lord Blanbot. They’d made an agreement with him; They’d bring him the dragon slaying sword, and he would go south and slay the dragon. The PCs would need to quest for him. The opportunity to slay the dragon was unique, in that it might help him solidify his rulership in this hex. 

Some players couldn’t attend the game, so their characters stayed behind in the villa. 

The remaining PCs headed off North to where they’d left the sword in a small woodland brook. 

After a few hours of walking they approached the woodland. Only yesterday had they been captured here, the hoof marks still marking the territory. Up ahead at the brook, around 100 yards away, the players noticed a gaggle of small blue women sitting on the brooks bank. The PCs counted them, twenty eight in total. How were they going to get around this? 

These women were observed for some time, they were around three foot tall, blue, with long green hair. They giggled and jested in a language foreign to the PCs. 

Brave Vahan approached the tiny women, whilst the others snuck up on them through the trees. Vahan put up his hands, approaching peacefully. The women giggled and began chanting a strange song to him. Sparks of magic erupted. Vahan was overcome with feelings of dedication. 

“Mistresses! How I adore thee.” He said. 

The tiny women giggled at him. 

“Come forth and remove your armour, we wish to see you.” 

Vahan excitedly rushed to the waters removing his hide armour.

Chiron had begun chanting eldritch words of his own by this point. Jassan rushed up to the waters edge and collected the sword, still wrapped and where he’d left it. Maximus ran forward to help his comrade, plugging his ears with his ripped shirt. 

All this was happening very fast, when the remaining creatures saw men approaching, they failed their morale and fled into the water of the stream. Ten remained, surrounding Vahan who was eagerly pulling off his clothes. 

Chiron cast his spell and all ten remaining blue women fell to the ground snoozing. 

“Don’t hurt them!” Vahan cried. Kicking Chiron in the chest. The whole party overpowered him and tied him up. They dragged their friend all the way back to Blanbot’s villa, screaming how he needed to go back to his blue angels. 

At the villa they handed over the sword to the Lord. Blanket and his men were ready to journey to the Harrow Hills for a spot of dragon slaying. He gave them a quest to travel North East, to the abandoned elven temple of Omiron, where a strange new cult was growing. The party had encountered some of these cultists before; all white robe wearing, long hair sporting, free-love toting, hippies. 

“We’d be happy to check them out. No-one likes hippies moving into the area.”

After a nights rest the party set off. 

Their walk saw them enter a new 24 mile hex. That meant some xp, nice. They saw a deep grassy valley and a large lake with a town on its shore. To the South was a large spire like citadel. It was arrow-head shaped, thin and very tall. It was emerald green. 

The party went to the town for a nights sleep. They spoke to the bar keep of the Blubbering Whale, a man named Nix. They gathered rumours about the Temple of Omiron, far to the north east. They learned the large spire was a citadel of the elves. These elves hadn’t been heard from for generations. One day the elves just stopped all interactions with the outside world, a shame too because their brandy wine was apparently amazing. 

The next day the party set off to the green citadel of the elves. Some things are just too tempting. 

The spire was about one hundred feet tall, but only around thirty feet deep. It was made of some sort of metal, enamelled with green paint, which was very faded and chipped. There was a balcony holding a pair of bronze double doors thirty foot up. 

A grappling hook was loosed and they climbed up. Vahan and Maximus bust in the stuck doors. Inside there was a sixty foot long corridor; checker tiled floors, fine wallpaper, and along the walls were over one hundred sets of fine leather armour, helmets and spears. There were green tabards with a golden oak leaf heraldry at each weapon station. The corridor was longer than it should have been, the building was only thirty foot deep. 

“Proceed carefully, do not touch anything.” 

They moved down the corridor, lit by two large censers framing the door ahead. The doors slammed behind them ominously. 

They reached the doors at the far end and pushed them inwards. Inside was a set of dank cellar steps. They went down very carefully. Below was another long room, it was vaulted and looked like it was underground, there were alcoves and the area was lit by candle chandeliers. 

There were eleven alcoves, each one contained a burial altar with a elf atop it. These elves were pure white, with sunken features, and skin like bark. Each one wore a glittering crown, and was covered with a thin shroud. 

The party talked for a while about what to do. It was decided that they would grab crowns and rush out. To maximise their profits they all stood next to one body, in the alcoves closest to the door. They would grab the crowns through the shrouds, then flee. They figured the bodies of these elves would rise up and attack. 

This was a cunning trap, but not like they’d imagined. 

“Now!” Came the call. They grabbed the crowns simultaneously. However, as they touched the shrouds, the material fluttered and animated! These shrouds wrapped tightly around the closest throat, attempting to squeeze the life from the grave robber. The only character that didn’t get hit was Aegon. All the others were now being choked! 

After a very tense few rounds they’d managed to free themselves. The magic-user Chiron was severely wounded however. Maximus managed to stabilise him with lay on hands. They collected the liberated crowns, putting them in a sack. Time to leave. 

They opened the door they’d entered from, but the room had changed. Now the room was a large circular chamber, a green fire lit the room from a pit in its centre. There was another set of bronze doors ahead, and lining the walls were four portals. 

Beyond the portals were different areas. 

1. A vast dusty tundra lined with craters. The sky was like night, no clouds. A blue and green planet hanging on the horizon. 
2. A long corridor made from thorns and thicket. 
3. A brick hallway lined with cobwebs. 
4. A golden staircase below a vast ocean. 

The party were a little flummoxed to say the least. How would they get out? They took a rest and thought it through, giving enough time for Chiron to regain consciousness. 

They would try the bronze doors again, surely if they tried enough times it would lead back to the entrance hallway. 

Maximus tied a rope around his waste and opened the doors. Inside was a fine bathhouse. Bubbles and fragrant perfumes sprinkled the air. In the central pool, lined by great marble columns, were nine naked elf maidens. 

“Oh, a visitor. How lovely, it has been far too long. Come warrior, come and make merry.” 

“Nothing compared to my blue queens.” Quipped Vahan. 

Maximus walked in, noticing not only the voluptuous beauty of the maidens, but also their queer yellow eyes. The doors began to shut behind him as the women cackled. He dashed back, only just making it inside. 

“Lets not separate.” It was decided. 

The next time they tried the doors there was a great treasure room with thousands of gold coins, and gold statues. In the north and south there were two great iron golems. Nope. The doors were closed.

They tried the door again. This time they saw a great wooden hall, emerald banners with oak leaf heraldry. There was strange music from some type of horn. Over thirty elves were dancing, a band atop a plinth, and high over all of them was a throne. Sat on the throne was a disinterested elf wearing chainmail and a large crown. 

The music ceased. The elves all turned to look at the interlopers. From the stage a horn blower made a few toots and cried, “Visitors to the court of King Lazziar, make thyselves known.” 

The party stood dumfounded, saying nothing. 

“Your names travellers!” Cried the herald. 

Still no response. 

“I ask you your names a thrice, there shant be a fourth!” That made them give their names. 

The kingly elf waved a hand laden with gold. 

“Good good. I grow weary of this waltz. It would be good to see another dance. Take your stations strangers.” He pointed to the dance floor and the elves parted. 

The party was panicked at this point. Vahan tried to close the bronze door, but found it stuck open. This caused the king to chuckle. 

“Oh a chase, a merry chase! Excellent.  It h

as been a while since we hunted.” Said the King. 

The party began to flee back through the portal room. Looking over their shoulder they saw the king take flight from his throne, his emerald cape flapping behind him. Dangling from his belt was a sword and a wand. The band began to pipe a hunting song. 

Lets see what happens next session, in the Emerald Citadel of King Lazziar. 

Also posted at Dragonsfoot

Characters 

• Malik – Fighter 1 – a Thalazian blade master, with a spiffing helmet decoration. 
• Cleitus – Magic-user 1 – a thin young man with a fascination for the moribund.
• Aetos – Magic-user 1 – An Urr experimenter in the arcane. 
• Jassan Al` Nadir – Cleric 1 – A Dervish gentleman posing as a trader, known for dark whispers. 
• Chiron – Magic-user 1 – Come to expand his knowledge. 
• Vahan – Fighter 1 – Deep voiced and broad shouldered. 
• Maximus – Paladin 1 – Oath, “I dedicate myself and my actions to Phoebus. No matter the cost, I will fight for a world guided by law that is free of corruption.”

Retainers 

• Antifus – Ranger 1 – currently wounded. 
• Niarchos – Paladin 1 
• Mamercus – Fighter 1 – master of the shield. 
• Sharif – Thief 1 – cunning and wry. 
• Aegon – man at arms – Vahans squire. 

---

The party started the session in quite a sticky situation, the survivors of the weasel assault were terribly lost in the middle of night. With some quick thinking from Malik the party orientated themselves using the two moons. They rode north but weren’t clear on where exactly they were. By sunrise they came across the old mine they had discovered. From there they rode back to Rubble Diamond. 

The party met up with the new characters, Chiron and Maximus. Jassan was reunited with the party as well. They had completed their mission to assassinate the wizard in Grand Alum, but unfortunately the character who had made contract was dead and hadn’t shared information about the patron. 

Oh well, they took Jassan’s advice and decided to deliver the magic sword of Gunther Wyrmslayer to Lord Blanbot who was attempting to bring this hex under his rulership. As the party began to prepare their horses, the Cleric of Ariens temple, Hel, came out to offer them his blessing. Hel wanted the sword to remain in Rubble Diamond, but the cunning tongue of Jassan had convinced the towns elders to release it to Blanbot so he might kill the dragon in the south. Hel was’t totally happy with this. 

As Hel bid Jassan farewell he muttered some magic words, casting a spell. His face changed instantly and he retreated to his temple whistling for his men to gather. Jassan inferred that the man had cast detect alignment on him, and was now pretty panicked. I wonder why? The party quickly rode off with the sword whilst Hel’s men took out their nags prepared to give chase. 

The party managed to evaded the fighters of Hel with a 70% chance, and then rode to the Villa of Blanbot. This was the first time they had encountered this subhex. There was a white walled villa atop a hill, fairly new in construction. As they approached a blue skinned herald rode out to meet them. The Urr herald was named Maloni and he began questioning the party. This wasn’t exactly going smoothly, as the party said they were arriving on behalf of Rubble Diamond, the same town that had been resisting Blanbots rule. 

Just as the diplomacy was getting going, and the PCs were explaining how they wanted to offer the sword to the lord, in the distance fifteen men riding horses were fast approaching. What happened next was pretty chaotic; Maloni blew a horn to prepare the villas defences. The attackers charged into firing distance with their short bows. Maloni began to doubt the party’s intent, and then Chiron tried to cast Charm Person on Maloni. This went terribly, as the herald won the initiative and managed to flee back to the villa and out of the magic-users spell range. 

The herald then initiated a volley of arrows at the party by blowing a horn. Simultaneously the attacking riders from Rubble Diamond were just coming into firing range. It looked pretty dire if they stayed around, so the Party fled, and with some lucky rolls were able to evade again. 

Riding as fast as they could they went north, but they were aware they were leaving a large trail of hoofs behind them. They spent an hour trying to find somewhere to hide, but only found a small woodland parted by a brook. This searching and backtracking around the hex allowed the stalkers to find them when they passed their search roll. 

The party heard the fifteen riders approaching from outside the wood. For some reason the party decided to dismount and allow them to come. Jassan hid the sword in the babbling brook. 

The riders approached, ready for a fight, bows at the ready. But the party surrendered immediately. They were instructed to lay on their bellies. All did this except for Cleitus, who, for some reason, refused to lay down, even after many warnings. He was then peppered with arrows and was sprawled out dead upon the ground. 

The warriors of Rubble Diamond then went through all the parties gear, but couldn’t find the magic sword. They pilfered all the gold they could find though, and why shouldn’t they keep it? There were some back-and-forths with these men, but ultimately the warriors decided to bring the party back to Hel as captives. They bound the PCs hands, tied them together into a chain gang, and began slowly walking them towards the South-West. 

This was when the party had a stroke of luck, their first in the session. Since their savage crimes against the barbarians of Grand Alum during the previous session, I had added those same barbarians to wandering monster tables of the grass hexes. Well, after two hours of walking they crossed into a new hex and with a roll of the dice the barbarians were summoned to try and get their revenge.  

Seven barbarians mounted on horses and carrying short bows crested a hill to the South, silhouetted by the sun they gave out a terrible war cry and began raining arrows down. 

There was a brief firefight between the mounted bowmen of Rubble Diamond and the barbarians, with large casualties on either side. Eventual morale checks when both fell under half strength caused both the fighters and barbarians to flee on the same turn. In all six fighters died and five barbarians died in the forty second skirmish. 

The party had no gold, no gear, but they were alive at least. Quite lucky considering. They marched to the Villa of Blanbot and begged to be taken in. There was a brief audience with the lord before the end of the session. They have agreed to find the sword, give it to him, and then quest for him to prove their loyalty. 

We’ll see what happens next, the situation in this hex is becoming more and more chaotic. Great fun. 

Judges note : riding horses and short bows are bloody amazing in the wilderness. Remember that all distances are measured in yards in the wild. Let the arrows rain. I approve this message. 

Also posted at Dragonsfoot.