9/18/2004

Players: Kathi, JC, Chris

Characters: DM & Salaisee, Elendil, Billimiah (Billi)

The next morning, with heavy hearts Elendil, Billi(Salaisee) and Salaisee(Billi) start distributing the stuff that was on the other horses and pack mule when all of a sudden both Bill and Salaisee go rigid and then Salaisee collapses in a heap. "Hey!" says Billi's voice from Billi's body as he pats himself all over. "I'm back in my own body! Salaisee, are you back too?"

Salaisee makes no answer and remains slumped over. Billi and I quickly move to check our friend and find her shivering and apparently in shock so we wrap her in one of the bearskins and set her gently near the fire. When she finally comes to she makes the comments that she is badly in need of a bath and some good hair care, with no offense to Billi naturally. She also tells us of dream she had of her spirit guide. Nate was there too and told her of doorway that opens to one place with the key, but a different place without it. Salaisee seems to think it means that we need the key, whatever or wherever that might be.

We turn away from the torrent and start off again up into the mountains and our ultimate destination, the ruined monestary. The temperature is in mid 40's and naturally by the time we set out at roughly 10:00 am it has started to rain again. We continue through the dreary weather with Salaisee and Elendil walking and Billi riding Sander. The day's travel is quiet, wet and cold but quiet, and the temperature that night will probably be in the mid-30's. By the time we've gotten camp set up and are starting to think about dinner the days light is nearly gone and the fire has been well stoked. Then several of us hear something stumbling around in the darkness beyond the edge of the firelight. Several somethings trying to be quiet but not doing a very good job of it.

Elendil immediately casts Bless for the group and then Bulls Strength on himself. Ogres!

MELEE

They charge to attack. Sander gets hit pretty hard but we defeat them in fairly short order. Elendil soothes Sander's injury by casting Cure Moderate Wounds on the horse just before dinner and his evening communion. During his communion Elendil realizes that his connection to Tymora is wonderfully stronger and his ability to cast and memorize spells is enhanced.

The nightly watches are uneventful. Morning is cold, mid 30's with strong wind from SE. The morning is also uneventful but just after resuming our travel after lunch we here voices raised in battle. Billi sneaks forward and sees a two-headed giant in locked in combat with a human fighter. He also sees that there are other, presumably dead bodies scattered about the battle area. This is enough for the halfling and he casts Magic Missle at the giant.

MELEE

When Elendil reaches the scene he comes to the same conclusion and casts Sound Burst also at the giant. This gets the monsters attention focused on us (and off of the fighter) and it charges at us giving the man an attack of opportunity from behind as the giant tries to jump up to where we are. It hits Salaisee for a nasty, heavy blow and she falls backwards reeling. Elendil casts Bless.

The fighter finally kills it with a blow from behind and after taking a moment to catch his breath introduces himself as Cyrus saying that he is genuinly glad to see us and is grateful for our fortunate arrival. Introductions are made and Elendil, with Cyrus permission, performs last rites for his fallen companions and then helps build a cairn out of the stone walls of the Ettin's pen.

We then light a lantern and investigate the Ettin's cave. There's a large pile of bones towards the back, a nasty pile of furs (it's bed) and a pile of junk tossed casually in a heap which we figure is spoils. Elendil casts Detect Magic and we go through it carefully finding a couple pouches of gold, two amethysts, a vial of some kind of magical potion (Protection From Acid, 10 points per attack for duration of potion, 3 minutes), and a wand (also magical) that is topped with a silver cats skull and has a ruby colored gem at its base. Elendil touches the wand tentitively and then, when it doesn't bite, picks it up. Billi casts Detect Magic but doesn't get anything specific. Elendil does the same, this time specifically on the wand, and can tell it's some type of Transmutation. He also gets that he can't use it so he hands it to Billi.

Cyrus offers to travel with us on the remainder of our mission, partly in return for us saving his life and partly because this isn't the best of places to be off on your own. We travel the rest of the afternoon and evening which are both uneventful. We've finally risen above the tree line so shelter is a bit hard to come by. Settling into the crook of a low depression with partial cover from an overhanging rock we set communion and watch schedules and then settle in for the night.

First watch is nearing its end when Sander gets very agitated and Salaisee goes to see what is disturbing the horse. Sander is obviously nervous and his ears are laying nearly flat back on his head as he looks around straining at his tether. Salaisee, trusting the horses insticts and senses, unties him and then goes to wake the rest of us. As she does poorly made javelins begin to rain in among us.

MELEE

The 8 goblins and 2 wargs take a while to defeat but we finally vanquish them when the last surviving goblin thows itself down and surrenders. Cyrus kicks it demanding to know where the book is. Amazingly it speaks common and squeaks out that the chief has it and that they were going to take it to "the witch" in Hilltop. When Cyrus demands to know where the chief is the trembling goblin points to one of the larger of his fallen kinsman. A quick search does reveal a spellbook, the one Cyrus and his unfortunate companions were hired to find and retrieve.

End of session.

Next Session 10/9/2004