10/6/2007
Players: Kathi, JC, Chris
Characters: DM, Elendil & Jolley, Billi
[Game Time: 11 bells - 30th of Eleint, 1372 D.R. Rain this morning has been steady and hard.]
Muriel's last known location was in Helmer's neighborhood in Oldtown. She had delivered a message to Calybrid Kneebreaker and spoken with him for a few minutes before departing to her next delivery. Calybrid had watched her depart through the forest behind his house and then returned inside. Given that the Locate Creature spell is arcane in nature Billi's going to have to be the one to read it.
"Besides, I know her best anyway." the halfling points out.
The group slogs through the mud behind Calybrid's home to the edge of the wooded area and Billi casts the spell. Sensing nothing immediately he moves quickly toward the center of the forest. Nothing. He continues through to the other side but still senses nothing. Returing to Calybrid's we start off in the other direction skirting the forest edge and BINGO, Billi senses her inside the isolated building just to the west of Calybrid's. It's a typical two story house about 40' by 30' facing mostly to the south. It has a large porch on two sides, swinging doors in the front, and windows on both floors none of which are shuttered. The house is dark with no sign of activity or occupation within.
Jolley bangs on the door, then tries to open it but it's locked. Billi tries to pick the lock and is struck with darts several times. Finally he gets the door opened and tries to disable the trap device but has no luck. It seems fairly sophisticated and is somehow connected to the doorknob. The others move inside weapons drawn.
The spell indicates Muriel is somewhere above so Billi checks the stairs for traps. He sees nothing and starts to ascend up to a landing. Downstairs there's a bedroom and kitchen in addition to the large living area to which the front door opens. Upstairs is a master bedroom, a music room and three other dusty bedrooms (one of wich appears to be a nursery) but they are all empty.
In one of the empty bedrooms, there's an apple-headed doll though the apple is old and withered. There is nothing in the nursery so they continue upstairs to the attic. Bethan stops, thinking he heard something, but after a moment, he too follows upstairs. As they near the attic, there is a blast from a trap that produces a Cone of Cold. Frosty, but only mildly damaged otherwise, we continue up the stairs. Inside the attic we find nothing but Billi advances to the back wall and says Muriel is behind it. As he starts to examine the wall he discoveres it to be illusionary and simply walks through. We find Muriel unconscious in a cage within and Elendil casts Cure Moderate Wounds on her. He then carries her out of the room and downstairs.
As we're heading back down we all hear something from below and it's obvous that someone else is definitely in the house on the staircase below. The pursuit is on! Jolley and Billi bound downstairs and see a man standing in the open front door. The miscreant aims a wand at Billi and seems to discharge a spell but nothing happens. With a curse he then runs outside.
MELEE
Billi goes to open a window with the intent of casting Magic Missiles. Jolley charges after the miscreant and tries to bring him down. He catches up to the man but overruns him as the man dodges quickly changing direction. Elendil sets Muriel down on one of the soft chairs and races outside to follow. Billi fires Magic Missiles while Bethan gets of a crossbow bolt from the same window. Billi then casts another Magic Missiles just as Jolley catches up to the man and hits him twice. The man is an obvious mage and tries to cast several spells at Jolley. Fortunately the fighter is able to either shrug off the magic or disrupt the casting and kills him just as Elendil arrives to help.
Elendil goes to find a member of the city guard to let them know what has happened and instructs them explicitly to get Captain Dorren James. Meanwhile Billi and Bethan search the remainder of the house and Billi finds a secret door behind the wardrobe in the master bedroom with a small chamber beyond. In it he finds a long sword, coinage, a golden goblet, a belt dagger, locking garrote, potions in a small padded chest, and gems. The coinage and gems equal 25 PP, 250 GP, 200 EP, with two jaspers worth 45 GP each, a pearl, and a piece of rose quartz worth 75 GP. He also finds a Night Mask costume and a satchel full of documents indicating that this was indeed Arzhul.
Dorren and several city guards arrive in short order, one of which is sent back out to fetch an apothecary when it becomes apparent that Muriel cannot be easily roused. While Elendil, Jolley and Dorren look through the document stash the apothecary is working on a potion to revive Muriel. Soon thereafter Radori and Gobriann arrive as well and Dorren, at Radori's question as to the identity of the body outside, instructs several of the guards to "Get that scum out of my site!"
When finally awoken Muriel is very shaken up and starts to cry. Billi is quickly there with a hot cup of tea and the two to cuddle together as he comforts her. He tells her that he has her pinky finger and that they will certainly make sure that she is Healed back up good as new. Dorren is the last to leave after hearing the full report and he promses to let us know whose house it really is. He posts a guard nearby just in case.
When Muriel has collected herself and is ready the group heads to the Dragonfly Cave, as much to get her out of the place of her brief captivity, as to have a nice lunch and a well deserved pint.
[XP awarded - 3525 Billi, 3225 Elendil & Jolley]
The potions Billi found in the secret chamber turn out to be all Cure Serious Wounds and we receive word later that the house was owned by some folks who have been dead for a while. However, the taxes had mysteriousy continued to be paid, and now we know by whom. When we ask what will become of the place the city leaders state that in recognition for removng the threat of the Night Mask from Silverymoon the place is ours if we wish it so Billi and Elendil take formal ownership. Jolley declines knowing that Alicia will not want to move and tells his friends "Naw, that's okay. Ya'll can make it up to me later."
That evening as Billi and Bethan are discussing the plans for retrieving the golden cube during the Champions Challenge Billi learns from Bethan that the cube is in a five sided room and built into a dais in the center of the room. Promising to meet up in the morning for breakfast the group disperses to their respective homes. Elendil is accosted by Lasarra outside his door, lets her know that he'll be moving out shortly, and then excuses himself for communion. He surveys the insides of his simple apartment and decides that while he really will miss it, he won't miss having to avoid his bothersome across the hall neighbor. It's not that he doesn't appreciate buxom young ladies wearing next to nothing it's just that... well...
His thoughts turn to Salaisee and the intensity of the feeling surprises him as he realizes just how much he actually misses her beautiful face, soft spoken demeanor, and the pleasure of her company. It takes him several moments to then quiet his thoughts for devotions.
------------
Highharvestide
[Good Morning Silverymoon and Happy Highharvestide!!! This is Peabody J. Pillsbury, owner of Happy Bakers Dough's A'Rising Bake Shop now with three convenient locations to serve you. Today's weather is... well heck just look outside! It's 45 and raining now and it's probably gonna be 45 and raining all day so stop on by any of the three Happy Bakers locations, the original on Hopeless Street in The Boot, my son JP's place on Harmony in Hunter's, and our newest location on Harmony Place in The Aerie, for a steaming cup of your favorite coffee or Ma's hot chocolate, and don't forget our Highharvestide special, buy three crazy breads and get one free. (Offer expires at 11 bells. May not be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer limited to supply on hand and does not guarantee availablity. First come first served. Tax and gratuity extra. Void where prohibited. See store for details. Some restrictions apply. Not affiaiated with Harpy Takers Bow's A'Flying Rake Shop.)]
After breakfast the group arrives at the Champions Challenge to learn there are a total of 15 teams:
As the teams are milling around waiting for the competition to begin we meet Biscayne who claims that he is a shoe-in to win, and he wants to know if we'd like to get in on the private side pot being circulated among the teams so he can take our money too. The ante is 100 GP per team. After a moment of private discussion we decide the chance of winning his money (and wiping that smug arrogance off his face) is just too good to pass up and after we agree there are a total of 8 teams participating.
The rules are as follows:
While we wait to begin the teams talk amongst themselves and with others. We speak breifly with Lasarra and Dorren but are soon called for our turn through.
First Challenge
We're given a hand mirror and taken into a 10 foot by 30 foot stone room with Continual Flames on the long walls. A red line is painted on the floor which leads directly up to (and past) a large figurine of a griffon on the far end just in front of the exit door. We fail to solve the riddle but Elendil does just barely make it out with the #1 disk. Billi is killed.
Second Challenge
We're given a Ring of Spell Storing which contains Animal Trance and Hold Animal. Elendil is killed this time, but the others make it out with the #2 disk.
Third Challenge
We're given three cloaks. A Cloak of Arachnidia which grants the wearer the abilty to Spider Climb, cast Web, have a Protection from Spider Poison, and be able to not be trapped by a web, a Cloak of Poisonousness, and a Cloak of Resistance. The entire group makes it through the room and out the top with the #3 disk.
End of session.
Next Session 11/10/2007