3/5/2005

Players: Kathi, JC, Chris

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

After the battle with the mouther the group settles back to try and get some sleep and we continue with the watch schedule.   Elendil is glad second watch is quiet and he curls back up under the thick bearskin to keep warm during the rest of the night. Third watch is also uneventful.

In the morning we break camp and have just set off following Tudor towards Ash Temple when it starts to rain again (as seems to be par for the course on this journey).   The rain continues through lunch but slows to a drip by the time the legionaire says we need to leave the main trail to reach our destination. When we get to where we can see the temple ahead of us on a hilltop several of the party members see a translucent old man who's wearing an oak holy symbol. He seems to gesture at us to go away and then he disappears into a tree.

Billi advances toward the spot but stops when he hears something from within the structure. Tudor warns us that he thinks he's seen something, a large animal, sneak inside to what we can see is an atrium and as we come closer we notice a pile of bones on each side of the entrance. Just before we reach the porch Elendil casts Bless on himself (and the group) and then casts Bull's Strength on himself. As Billi passes the entrance the piles of bones pop up into fully formed skeletons and move to attack.

MELEE

Cyrus and Tudor advance to attack while Elendil presents his holy symbol and tries to Turn them. Somehow though it isn't effective and the cleric gets the feeling that these are more magical animations than true undead. The one attacking Cyrus gets some fairly good blows in but despite the fact the fighter has taken a good bit of damage he continues to hammer away at the bony construct which gets smashed into dust at his next blow. Meanwhile Billi sneaks silently into the atrium and spots two huge weasels coming out from hiding behind the tree to attack him.

MELEE

Elendil and Tudor rush in and attack the dire weasels and where Elendil misses once Tudor gets in two hits with his rapier and kills the first easily. He does the same with the second leaving the cleric somewhat in awe of the leginaires skill. Billi's (who'd been hit pretty badly) is not in good shape and Elendil promptly casts Cure Serious Wounds to revive him.

The group proceeds to the far side of the atrium and as Elendil looks up sees that there are human bones and skulls entwined in the branches. As we approach the far opening at the opposite end of the atrium both Cyrus and Tudor pause for a moment at the sound of music coming from within. Cyrus stops but Tudor continues on (recognizing the sound as a spell vehicle of some type) to try and stop it and the magic it carries.

MELEE

A large ogre comes around the corner and charges to attack Cyrus. It hits nearly knocking the fighter down but once again Tudor demonstrates amazing (read 7th level) skill and hits it for major damage. So much so that when Billi hurls a sling stone at it the creature falls (a story in the making for sure). Elendil advances to where he can see the creature casting the musical spells and casts Searing Light at it for minor damage. Tudor advances to get in the face of the hostile mage but can not attack due to the distance he had to travel. The creature (a tyfling) tries to cast a spell but that gives Tudor an attack of opportunity which he uses to great effect. So much so that when Elendil comes up to hit it he knocks it over easily.

Billi has spotted Cyrus (who is attempting to staunch the flow of blood from several ogre induced wounds) and goes over to the fighter to try and cast Cure Light Wounds from a scroll. Unfortunately he fails and the scroll is consumed without results. However, he does notice that at the base of the tree there's a shimmering effect and soon a translucent old man standing there smiling. Billi calls for the others and backs up a step or two not quite sure as to how to handle a ghost.

As Elendil approaches he senses no hostility or evil present in the figure and nods his head slightly. The shimmering figure acknowledges the nod with one of his own and touches the large oak leaf hanging from a leather cord around his neck. When he does so Elendil hears his voice on the wind and in the rustle of the leaves of the tree. It is Eramus, the druid of the grove. He tells of being killed by the tyfling and ogre and of trying to ward pilgrims away from the place since. As he speaks he reaches into the tree and retrieves a seemingly ethereal wooden staff which he holds out to Elendil to take.

Not being too sure of what he will be able to do with an etherial object Elendil nonetheless reaches for it and is surprised to find it quickly become solid in his hands. Eramus also takes the holy symbol from around his neck and holds it out too and when Elendil takes it becomes solid as well. The staff is of good solid ash with the carving of an oak leaf at the top. Eramus says that it is a Staff of Plant Control (a +1 magic weapon with 12 charges remaining) and that the holy symbol is also an Amulet of Protection (offering +2 to natural armor).

Eramus says (as Elendil takes the objects from him) that we need to let the druids at Silverymoon know that a new druid is needed here at Ash Temple. Elendil asks about Rio and Glow and Faragon and if there is anything that we can do but the old man smiles, looks skyward, and says that with the exception of notifying the druidic heirarchy as requested that we have already done everything needed (meaning the defeat of ogre and tyfling).  He does however ask Elendil if he will send word back to Glow that he has moved on. (It is at this point that Elendil decides that the staff will go back to the druids at the grove in Silverymoon and the the amulet will go to Glow, as heir to Eramus.) Then with a deep bow the old man fades his work on this plane finally complete.

Returning to tend the wounded while Billi and Tudor search the area Elendil casts two Cure Moderate Wounds on Cyrus and a Cure Light Wounds on himself. We find 30 GP on the ogre and another 25 on the tyfling. The tyfiling also has and evil holy symbol of Mahlar, a horn, a golden belt and a golden bowl.

While trying to decide how to best clear the tree branches of the defilement from the weasels, Elendil suddenly realizes that the answer to that riddle has just been given to him. He touches the staff to the tree (invoking its magic) and the tree itself shakes the bones from its branches. We bury them in the grove as befitting for the pilgrims of the faith and then Elendil takes some time to write a letter to Glow (and Rio) before dinner. When complete he allows some time for the ink to dry and then rolls it carefully into his scroll tube.

Billi digs a firepit outside away from building and cooks dinner. The rain has stopped but we can tell it is going to be COLD again this night.  We settle in under the overhang in case the rain starts again but before the watches begin Elendil takes Sander out for a run to get both of their blood flowing and then rubs the horse down before retiring himself.

We setup in the back area of the keep and set watches for the night, Cyrus, Tudor and then Billi. The night is uneventful and Billi makes a hot breakfast before we set out again. The temperature never makes it above freezing and the snow grows in intensity by late afternoon.  As we are travelling before sunset we come upon a group of legionaires. Elendil gives them a brief outline of the events and then allows Billi to fill in the color and details, including how he felled an ogre with a single sling bullet.

Elendil asks if they know of a source for a restoration and in fact the leader of the legionaires can cast the spell herself. We bring Cyrus to the front and Elendil explians to the fighter that there are some wounds that can not be seen or felt and that he needs this type of cure. Afterward, with our fighter restored to his normal wisdom level, we travel until sundown and then stop for a cold camp. The night is quiet and we set out in the morning along the trail leading home.

Late in the afternoon we come across an old huntsman and his dog. The man offers us shelter for companionship and puts us up for the night in the relative safety of his cabin. Fortuantely he also has a rough barn and even has some hay which he kindly offers up for Sander. With grateful thanks to the man (and his old hound) in the morning we set off again towards Luvenhead which we figure to be two days journey. There is another nasty storm throughout most of the day (it's COLD!!!) but we make it through without incident and huddle together for warmth. During first watch Cyrus hears something large approaching and he promptly wakes the others. Wargs!

MELEE

Elendil uses a couple Cause Serious Wounds to dispatch the one on him as the others all attack Cyrus. Soon thereafter Elendil hears goblins approaching. The battle is long and at one point Elendil is forced to cast Cure Serious Wounds on himself lest he become victim to the vile creatures. When the battle is over he casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Cyrus and himself, and then Cure Light Wounds on Sander and Billi and Cyrus again. After the battle, despite the late hour and cold temperature (or perhaps becuase of the late hour and cold temperature) Elendil spends some time at communion to replentish his spells and discovers that Tymora has granted him a measure of power beyond that which he held before and the cleric thanks Our Smiling Lady for the good forture and victory she has seen fit to grant upon him.

[Elendil has achieved 6th level.]

End of Session.

Next Session 4/2/2005