Into the Swamp of Bones!

[Jeikor]

"Peace, Quelten!" Innil stepped between him and Eghas. "I think we just learned a valuable lesson in what forces not to play with. Right now we need to take care of the children and figure out where we are."

[Quelten]

"Peace?" Quelten gripes, propping himself up on his elbows.  "Tell that to the dwarves using my head for an anvil.  Dwarves using my head for an anvil because that fucking idiot just tried to invoke a demon's name.  I think that's a pretty good excuse to bash his skull in, actually.  Isn't it a crime to worship demons?"

[A.B]

Elan'fal hears Eghas invoking Kryploc but before he can turn and stop him knowing what will happen...well it happened. Elan'fal could feel his inside rolling as they were transported to...

 

"Where are we?" Elan'fal says before he remembers what happened and to the bewilderment of all he starts a hysterical burst of laughter, rolling on the floor, clutching his belly.

 

"I...have not seen...something as colossally...stupid as this...since the Ygral campagin....poor Igrain...what you didn't think that the orcs actually could have defeated the humans then did you?!" He says amidst hysterical laughter before he gets serious in an instant.

 

"Or so I've heard...." He says getting up and dusting the sand off of his clothes.

 

"We could let Quelten kill Eghas...or we could bathe in the sea. Quelten wasn't you that wanted a bath?" Elan'fal grins widely, removes all his clothes and jumps in the water. "The water is great come in!" He says and dives underwater.

 

Some time after he comes out and dresses up.

 

"So what's next boss-cleric?" He asks looking at Barrett. He is not being sarcastic...well not entirely but he is seriously asking (and somewhat accepting) Barrett as leader of the group. At least as far as fighting is concerned because in Elan'fal's mind the boy doesn't have a strategic or diplomatic bone in his body. (Elan'fal pokes his tongue out at this )

[Kyle Aarons]

**** GM NOTE ****

 

And this is how Warlocks sometimes stumble upon power to become Warlocks....

 

Anyone who wishes (other than one who must ) may take a level of Warlock- with a patron of a Great Old One-  rather than go up a level in whatever class they are: I will help with anyone who wants to go down this road.

 

The rest of you advance normally. I give full hit points for the first three levels then you can either take high average or have me roll.

 

On a level of 1-10 your headaches are somewhere between a 7-8 and it actually feels like thunder is rumbling  inside your head, but it fades within half an hour.

 

Quelten, the only thing that really changes is who you are a cleric for, and you have to realize almost no one will have heard of Mithris.

 

***** End GM note ****

 

Zem: Enumclaw: a vast power almost no one has ever heard about, but somewhere along the line of becoming a bard you have come across the name- a force of lightning a troublesome force- a trickster force- thought to have been defeated by the god Mithras, who was in turn vanquished by the gods now worshiped.

 

As you start to explore, you note Gothen is still with the others but is out cold. Up the hill in an area of burned and blackened grass you find the four other boys who are out cold but moaning slightly. Lying on the burned ground around them are five items- a spell book, a flail, a holy symbol of Zerris, a short sword, and a smoky quartz crystal.

 

Finally, just down and on the opposite side of the stream from the grazing mounts, all of which seem totally unaffected by the events, are the bodies of all those you have taken down with their gear: four Gnolls, three Orcs, and the two creatures, but all of the bodies seem to be sunken as if there is nothing but skin and bones left, like they have been dried out of all fluids...

 

Also, Innil, you do have the heavy crossbow with you. it is loaded, but that is the only bolt you currently have for it.

[ken barber]

Barrett sits up and looks around he eyes Eghas and locks gazes. Then Kneels and faces the sun and leans forward until his forehead touches the ground. "Vindayin, My Protector and guide on this world and and in the heavens, I beg of you to guide me with your hand and protect me from the darkness I have found myself in. The ancient and dark forces called upon will rip this world asunder. I will remain ever faithful and will fight to my dying breath in your most glorious name and be bathed in your light. I will extract myself from these creatures of darkness I find myself surrounded by as soon as the children we came to rescue are safe. In your Light, in your Glory, forever my Heart, my Shield, and My Mind are yours to command." 

 

He stands and looks at all of the others,intently and then moves over to the four kids to try to assess their wounds

[Zergrinch]

The boys are here! Zemzelett calls out to the others to come over and see, and proceeds to take an inventory of the spoils from the desiccated corpses of the enemy. What could have caused such a thing, the half-elf briefly muses to himself.

Kneeling down by the eerily preserved body of the horned orc who was fighting against the bossy cleric and the human tank, the half-elf tries to remove the creature's horn by force. By Serif, he has never heard of such a creature and means to take a souvenir. Bards are after all known to spin tall tales, so some concrete proof will only aid him.

Having done all these things, the half-elf strips off his clothes, takes out the bar of soap from his pack, and proceeds to wash both himself and his clothes in the stream. He couldn't but help sing happily to himself.

"For the first time in forever,

I no longer have to stink.

For the first time in forever,

There is time to calmly think.

How should I go about in looking for my family?

'Cause for the first time in forever.

For the first time in forever...

For the first time in forever!

There's a future I can see!"

Song of Rest for the entire party.

Gather up all loot in one pile, contents to be listed by DM.

Take creature's horn. Use sword to pry it loose if necessary.

Take a long bath.

[Jeikor]

Since Quelten seems to not be starting anything right now Innil strips and follows Elan'fal into the sea to bathe. After his bath Innil checks on the boys who are still unconcious.(not spelled right but can't think well yet this morning)

[A.B]

Elan'fal sees that everyone is okay before talking to Innil.

 

"I hope you are okay? You don't know where we are by chance do you?" He asks before following Barrett "Boss-cleric" to Zem and the boys.

 

Kneeling down he removes any remnant binds and makes sure they're okay before standing up.

 

Looking around he sees the spell book and takes it.

 

"There are some items here that might aid us." He yells to the others before examining what remains of the Gnolls and orcs they were fighting. Next to one he sees his short staff. He picks it up and secures it on his back. "Thought I'd lost this one in all the fuss..." he says to himself. 

 

Kneeling down he tries to understand what kind of magic could have done this to them.

 

Attempt a knowledge check on magic used to do this to orcs and Gnolls.

[ken barber]

Barrett places a hand on the each boys head. "Vindayin, my queen use your light to ease their pains." (Healing word) 

[Jeikor]

"I am fine now that I am clean and the headache has gone, Elan'fal. Not sure but I think we are on the Bay and those are the Knight Guard Mountains to the east." states Innil. "if I am correct we only need to follow the beach to return the boys home." He watches as the others gather spoils.

[ken barber]

After he finishes he looks out over the group. "After these Children are returned to the legion in Old Port I will part ways with you. My faith and loyalty the the Great Elvin Maid Vindayin will not allow me to travel with One who calls upon an Ancient Demon Lord and brings forth the Magics of the ancients gods to the World. And a Cleric whose faith in Pilgrin was so week his soul was taken by one of the Ancients is no companion for me. Bath in the sea and have fun as if this is of no consequence but you Demon Child  have opened the path to a new war between the gods.  You stunt will rip the world apart and should Vindayin command me to I would destroy you where you stand." He Pauses and looks at the rest. "Any of you who associate with the one who called this darkness to the world or the one who now worships them are in the same groups." He looks at Eghas and Queltin. "Your Names shall never cross my lips again."

[A.B]

"You can go if you want, no one's going to stop you. No one wants such arrogance around anyways or a pompous ass who thinks that because he believes in a god it makes him better than others. Eghas did a mistake....grave one mind you but a mistake that he has to atone for and one for which you have no right to judge him for. You are no saint, and if you have done no grave mistakes yet you will and I hope that you have friends there who will help you correct it rather than judge and abandon you. New gods, old gods, they're all the same shit and they come and go. Elves and humanity remain to believe something different every eon. Yes I'll stay with Eghas, Innil, Zem and Quelten if they'll remain. You think yourself high and mighty, assert yourself as our leader and then rush into things without thinking or consultation. Perhaps this is as much your mistake as it is Eghas' for if we had made a plan before storming the god damn tower and then threatening the fucking gnolls Eghas would not have had to do a mistake as colossal as this. Leave or stay but judge not."  Elan'fal says. He is clearly not amused or trying to amuse himself like before. No, now he is royally pissed off and the air is pulsating with magical energy.

[Jeikor]

Innil reaches out and places a hand on Elan'fal's shoulder in both support and as a calming gesture while looking straight at Barrett.

[Kyle Aarons]

**** GM NOTE (again) ****

I have been having some connection errors so I was not able to modify my earlier post in a timely manner-

 

Anyway, I meant to add one more thing: becase fo the massive magic you were all just subjected to you can add one point to any one stat (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, or Cha) please let me know what stat you want bumped.

 

Also, please note, it was snowing and cold where you were, it is nothing like that where you are now. It is a pleasant 75 F or 24 C and that is as the sun is coming up... also none of you have seen a palm tree before in real life although some of you have heard of them.

 

++++ End Note ++++

[Eghas]

Without a word being said, Eghas gets himself to his feet, strips down and bathes in the water, making sure he is well away form the rest of the group.  when he is done, he grabs his gear, and starts to go through it.  once again staying a part from the group.  unless directly spoken to, he does not talk to anyone.

[A.B]

Elan'fal takes a deep breath and nods to Innil. Then he looks around and sees Eghas by himself alone. Grabbing his gear he nods to Innil and heads over to Eghas.

 

Offering his hand as a gesture of not keeping any ill feelings towards him he speaks to him.

 

"Look, don't beat yourself up...you're young and still untrained in these ways, heck we're ...uhm all young and foolish. Whatever the affect you did has upon this world I at least will help you find it and fix it. Okay?" 

[Eghas]

Eghas looks up at the Elf, a small smile gracing his lips briefly, before he nods in thanks.  He reaches up and takes Elan'fal's hand and shakes it briefly.  in a quiet voice he says "sorry"

[Jeikor]

Innil nods back, grabs his stuff and follows Elan'fal also offering his hand to Eghas with a slight smile.

[A.B]

Elan'fal grins, "What are you sorry for? Look at the bright side of it! The boys are all here unharmed and the Gnolls are all here...quite utterly dead! I don't think it could have ended this good otherwise." He tells Eghas.

[Jeikor]

Innil grins at Elan'fal's words and nods his agreement.

[Rilbur]

Once Quelten's headache subsides a bit, he strips down and follows the others in bathing.  He carefully cleans and burnishes each piece of gear before putting it on, then finally reaches his holy symbol, left for last.

 

Slowly he sinks to his knees, and for a long time he just kneels there, helplessly staring at the new holy symbol.  Finally, Barret's raw, contemptous attitude gets his attention.  "Weak?" he hisses, rising to his feet.  "Did you just use the word 'weak'?" he continues, voice slightly louder but almost stripped of all emotion.  "I know I didn't just hear you do that," he says as he walks over to the idiot.  "You" he grabs Barret by the collar and yanks him close as he begins to shout, "are not the one who just had a god reach into your heart, your mind, your soul and rip and tear a piece of yourself away.  You aren't the one who had something new shoved in it's place.  You are a fine one to talk about weakness!  Weak?  My new god claimed me, and my old god just let me go.  Passed me on like an old pair of shoes, and neither of them gave me any choice in the matter.  For whatever reason, that tower was important to Mithras.  Do you understand the concept of sacredness, you arrogant twat?  When that idiot of a demonspawn decided to play a little practical joke, the demon lord almost came for my soul as well!  Weak you call me, for aiding a teammate in what I assumed was a reasonable deceit of war?  Would you have fared any better against the power of a god?"

 

Quelten shoves Barret away.  "When you have had a god take your allegiance against your will," Quelten sneers, "then you may talk to me of weakness.  Until then, you and the demonspawn just stay the hell away from me.  I need to figure out why the god my old god worshiped is interested in me.  And whether I should actually carry through on my threats against the demonspawn.  Worship of the dark one is forbidden, and for damned good reason."  Quelten turns and glares at Eghas.  "The only reason I do not try to carry out sentence now is because I don't think he actually worships the demon lord.  I think he's just that big an idiot, and I can't decide if that deserves the death penalty or not."  Quelten's head tracks back to Barret.  "So just stay the fuck away!  If you want to leave, please do so.  Because the next sneering word out of your mouth, and I will invoke Pelgrin as I-"  Quelten's rant stumbles to a halt, and he looks back to where he'd left his holy symbol.  "I will invoke Pelgrin," he whispers, then walks back to the symbol and falls back to his knees.  Slowly, carefully, he drapes the chain across his legs as he stares down at the new symbol.

[ken barber]

Barrett Ignores them all as if nothing was said to him at all. He strips and heads to the water halfway there he stops and looks at Queltin. "YOU should have known better, that one I can almost forgive for lack of knowledge but you are trained in the powers of the great ones. I cannot be angry with you as Vindayin does not allow it. I can only feel compassion and sadness for you. But I will give you this warning you ever lay your hands on my again and you will regret it." He dives into the water and begins washing.

[ken barber]

After washing Barrett comes back to the beach. He stretches out nude in the sun to dry. "Okay everyone we are all to blame, our individual arrogance and pride have made this one blunder after another. I would suggest we rest here and get our selves back together. Eghas please accept my apologizes for my outburst, you did not intend for this to happen. Queltin I cannot imagine having the light of Vindayin ripped from me and cannot fathom how you are feeling. I will help you in any way I can, You were not abandended by Pelgrin but released to his former master. Try to find solace in that you still serve the light just under a more ancient ideology. We are all in shock and our nerves are on edge, does anyone think they can hunt us up some fresh meat or fish. I will be happy to cook up a good meal for us." He stands and walks to Eghas and sits beside him. "We are in this together, You have my apologizes." He reaches his hand out to Eghas to shake it.

[Kyle Aarons]

the four children, all either 12 or 13 years of age continue to moan and have not woken as of yet. Gothan has and stares at the five items for a minute. "My spell book, Talarc's  Spell focus Crystal... his voice trails off muttering the names of the other three and what item belonged to each so softly none of you can hear.

 

As far as gear on the bodies:

 

Orc 1

Armor: Studded Leather

Melee weapons:

Short sword

Mace

2 Daggers
Ranged weapons:

Short bow  Range: 80/320    20 arrows
Equipment: Hunting trap, Animal trophy- Wolverine pelt, Traveler's clothes, Burglar's pack, Thieves' tools, Silver and Ivory and Wood Lute worth 100 silver, rank insignias off five Old Port guards

2 Pouches with  total of: 7 Griffins, 16 Sparrows, 50 Ravens

 

Orc 2

Armor: Studded Leather & Steel Shield

Melee weapons:

Short sword

Club

2 Daggers
Ranged weapons:

Short bow Range: 80/320   20 arrows
Equipment: Fine clothes, Disguise kit, Weighted dice, Burglar's pack, Thieves' tools, Healing potion Leather and Silver Quiver worth 50 silver, rank insignias off six Old Port guards

2 Pouches with  total of: 9 Griffins, 34 Sparrows, 25 Ravens

 

Orc 3

Armor: Chain shirt

Melee weapons:

Short sword

Mace
Ranged weapons:

Long bow Range: 150/600   40 arrows

Equipment: Alchemist's tools, Traveler's clothes, Explorer's pack, Finely-crafted Viol worth 50 Silver rank insignias off seven Old Port guards

Magic Item: Ring

2 Pouches with  total of: 12 Griffins, 27 Sparrows, 33 Ravens

 

Gnoll 1

Armor: Leather & wood shield

Melee weapons:

Mace

Spear
Ranged weapons:

Sling Range: 30/120 10 bullets
Equipment: a cracked mirror, Common clothes, Explorer's Pack, rank insignias off two Old Port guards, Bracelet of marriage from temple of Veldora with dried blood on it

1 Pouch with total of: 6 Griffins, 35 Sparrows, 15 Ravens

 

Gnoll 2

Armor: Leather & wood shield

Melee weapons:
Battleaxe

Club
Ranged weapons:

Light crossbow Range: 80/320   40 bolts
Equipment: Crowbar, Dark common clothes, Dungeoneer's pack, rank insignias off one Old Port guard, a small wooden pony toy painted orange

1 Pouch with total of: 2 Griffins, 19 Sparrows, 25 Ravens

 

 

Gnoll 3

Armor: Chain Shirt

Melee weapons:

Mace

2 daggers
Ranged weapons:

Light crossbow Range: 80/320   20 bolts
Equipment: wood box with 14 nice toy metal warriors & one big, poorly carved, wood lizard, Common clothes, Metal working kit, Dungeoneer's pack, rank insignias off one Old Port guard

1 Pouch with total of: 3 Griffins, 9 Sparrows, 7 Ravens

 

Gnoll 4

Armor: Studded leather wood shield

Melee weapons:

War Pick

2 daggers
Ranged weapons:

Light crossbow Range: 80/320   20 bolts
Equipment: Bone dice, Common clothes, Leather worker's kit, Dungeoneer's pack, rank insignias off three Old Port guards, a putter mug engraved with "to Dad, love Krenson"

1 Pouch with total of: 8 Griffins, 12 Sparrows, 16 Ravens

 

Creature One

Armor: Breastplate

Melee weapons:

Rapier

Battleaxe

Dagger (Magical)
Ranged weapons:

Short bow Range: 80/320   40 arrows
Equipment: Hunting trap, Traveler's clothes, Explorer's pack, Healer's kit, rank insignias off eleven Old Port guards, tiny pouch with 5 polished tiger's eye gems (75 silver total), a diary of an Old Port Guard by name of Pevel with 6 pages torn out of the middle.
2 large Pouches with  total of: 5 crowns 34 Griffins, 45 Sparrows, 72 Ravens

 

Creature two

Armor: Half plate

Melee weapons:

Dagger

Longsword
Ranged weapons:

Light crossbow Range: 80/320   20 bolts
Equipment: Fine clothes, Disguise kit, Weighted dice, Explorer's pack, Vial of Antitoxin, rank insignias off twelve Old Port guards, letter of promotion of guard by name of Mesard to rank of Sergeant, metal insignia of horned bear holding great Axe, 2 sets of manacles (one with blood on them), a matched pair of silver candle holders (70 silver total), a pouch of glass marbles with blood on the pouch,  a toy wooden sword with silver inlayed serpent on the handle (expensive toy- 100 silver)

Magic Amulet

2 large Pouches with  total of: 6 crowns, 30 Griffins, 27 Sparrows, 84 Ravens

[Kyle Aarons]

Elan'fal, you study the bodies and shudder as you realize this must have been some sort of other worldly power ripping out all vestages of lifeforce to prevent them from being able to become undead. Nohtnig will be able to animate these corpses ever, not even a god. they are totally lifeless.Much like all the demon span torn asunder by the forces of Mithris and Enumclaw back at the tower. A great deal of evil has been forever purged from all existance.