4/24/2004

Players: Kathi, JC, Davy, Chris, Michael, Melanie, Ed

Characters: DM & Salaisee, Elendil, Nathan (Nate), Billimiah (Billi), Rixis, Rowan, Nym

Late in the evening, just before the kitchen closes down, Salaisee and Nate observe three more adventurers come into the inn. Salaisee sees how wet they are and calls out for them to come and sit by the fire.

Rixis - Moon Elf (male) short black hair (Michael)
Rowan - Half Copper Elf (female) short dark brown hair. 5'4" small and lithe, dressed in greens & browns (Melanie)
Nym - Half Moon Elf (male) black shoulder length hair w/goatee (Ed)

During the conversation that follows Salaisee and Nate learn that these newcomers are also searching for the Monestary of the Flaming Fist for the purpose of vanquishing a great evil. Rixis tells that he has heard of some type of gate that has been opened may need to be closed or destroyed. The evenings conversations are brief as the newcomers are exhausted from their travels and soon

The Singing Stone is quiet and comfortable and Elendil gets a good nights rest and is again is up at first light and in the common room before the others. Billi appears moments later and Bari and Pari seem somewhat excited to have such an appreciative (and what turns out to be large) group for breakfast. They've gone all out for the morning buffet. During breakfast there are introductions (and reintroductions) and Elendil and Billi learn that the newcomers are also searching for the monestary and of the dark gate therein.

Bari and Pari (when we ask about the surrounding area) tell us some of the tales of the mountains. They seem more stories than any thing else and we take them with some skepticism. At least all but the young and impressionable Billi.

Rixis, Rowan and Nym want to find Cailean, the village elder, to see if she has any information that may help them. After they depart the four of us ask Bari and Pari where the bard that played last night lives as Nate wants to make sure that he knows where to find her on our return so we can deliver the message to the Bard's College in Silverymoon as promised. Given that she is a member of the Argent Legion we ask at the barracks. A large human male answers the door (he's been painting as is obvious by the paint brush in his hand and splatters all over) and he soon returns with Calyvarra who wishes us well after a brief conversation.

Meeting back at the Singing Stone we then gather up the horses for our continued journey. Given that Rixis, Rowan and Nym do not have mounts our progress is somewhat slower than before. It will probably take us three days or so to get to Hilltop which is the last outpost of civilization before the wilds of the mountains.

Shortly after we set out we are passing between two low rises. Elendil (on Sander) is in the lead followed by Rixis, Salaisee & Billi, Rowan, Nym and then Nate. All of a sudden Elendil sees a javelin streaking toward him from ahead and to the right. Unfortunately he sees it (and the bugbear from which it came) just a moment too late and is struck in the side for a good bit of damage. Even more unfortunately he does not see the other javelin, from the other side, which hits him in the left shoulder.

MELEE

Elendil lets out a yell of pain that rises nearly instantaneously into a Sonic Burst which stuns the bugbear that threw the first spear. Another, which the cleric can't see yet and doesn't know is there, is also damaged and but not stunned. The second, hidden one, charges around his stunned companion, knocking him over, and attacks Sander with a morning star for major damage. The horse does not take this too kindly, rears up and attacks with his hooves and bite. One hoof connects for solid damage.

The next round Elendil removes the javelins and casts Aid upon himself while Sander kills the one attacking us with a steel shod hoof to the head. The round following Elendil spurs Sander towards the bugbear that is still feeling the effects of being stunned.  Elendil hits with his staff and Sander again kills it with a vicious blow to the face. Turning to rejoin the others the cleric arrives at the head of the line and attacks the one remaining bugbear for just enough damage to knock it down for good. The others have already dispatched the rest of the bugbears so Elendil dismounts somehat painfully to see if anyone is in need of emergency healing.

Billi and Rixis are searching the bugbears and find 440 gold pieces, three10 GP gems of blue quartz, and the bugbear leaders morning star which is very well made but not magical. Elendil then casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Nate and Cure Light Wounds on himself and Sander.

Resuming our travels we continue for another hour or so before stopping from lunch. Billi unloads his pockets which contain surprising amounts of breakfast and passes it around. Lunch is uneventful as is the afternoon, and when the sun begins to set we find a good camp site, fix dinner and enjoy the twilight hours before setting up the usual watch schedule augmented with the newcomers. Rixis and Elendil have first watch, Nate and Rowan have second and Nym and Billi have third. The night is uneventful and in the morning we allow some time for Nym and Rowan to meditate and study before resuming our travel in the same marching order as before.

The days travel is uneventful and the evening finds us up in the mountains. The weather was pleasant but as we have been ascending the temperature has dropped slowly and the evening is downright cool. Somewhat before morning, just shortly into third watch, Nym shushes Billi and quietly indicates that he thinks he heard whispering to the east, on the other side of the tarp covering that the others are sleeping under. It seems to be coming from the trees so Billi attempts to stealthily investigate staying hidden and silent.

Billi casts Prestidigitation making the appearance of faint torch light and sounds of hooves coming up the road. At this Nym goes to wake everybody up. A large creature suddenly comes from the trees and attacks Billi. It is an unusual mix of creatures and has red glowing eyes and strikes Billi (who emits a LOUD scream of agony) knocking him down and out. By this point the rest of us are awake enough to begin to act.

MELEE

Nym casts Flaming Sphere at the large creature which initially jumps out of the way. Elendil casts Bless as Rowan moves to Aid Billi. The next round Elendil moves to attack and hits with his staff. Just before the end of the round Elendil feels a surge of Bulls Strength at Salaisee's touch and he moves with renewed vigor to the attack. Both he, Rowan and Rixis hit the creature but it still remains in battle. The next round we attack again. It attaks and then turns to flee. Fortunately we kill it as it flees.

Seeing that Billi is being taken care of by Salaisee, Elendil goes to check the horses. They're fine but are nervous and nickering from the sounds of battle. The remainder of the night passes uneventfully and dawn brings yet another Billi supplied breakfast before resuming our travels.

End of session.

Next Session 5/28/2004