6/12/2010

Players: Kathi, JC, Chris
Characters: DM & Salaisee, Elendil & Jolley, Billi

Start Date: 11th of Mirtul 1373 DR, just after lunch in the early afternoon

The afternoon is warmer than yesterday and is uneventful except for the high winds and quickly racing clouds. On a couple instances we look up questioningly but fortunately there is no rain. Shortly after the sun disappears for the day behind the ridge of the mountains a good place to camp presents itself, good news as with the disappearance of the sun the temperature begins to plummet steadily. Again it will be a cold night.

We setup the tent and begin watches. [We will continue to use the same set watch schedule going forward unless otherwise noted. Salaisee, Elendil then Jolley.] The clouds continue their harried journey overhead blocking the moon and starts for much of the night, but it remains quiet and cold and dry.

In the morning Jolley sticks his head in the tent to wake the others but pauses seeing the three curled up tightly together for warmth. His thoughts drift back and he latches on to the memory of himself, Melissa and Reyna (his oldest) curled up in a very similar situation as they traveled near their Nesme home. He shakes his head silently with a smile.

"That was more than 10 years ago now." He thinks to himself. "So much has changed."

"Oh sweetheart I miss you terribly." he says aloud to both his wife and daughter, lost in the moment.

"What?!?" comes Billi's sleepy reply.

"I said it's time to get up." Jolley replies. "Get that spice pot ready and get one of those love birds to conjure us up some breakfast. I'm gonna to talk to a man about watering a tree, and then check on the horses.

Salaisee casts Create Food and Water and comes up with a good hot breakfast for all. Billi is delighted that his description of "Ingalish muffins" is adequate enough for Salaisee to create rather tasty ones. After travelling at normal speed throughout the uneventful morning we stop for a quick lunch and then arrive an hour later at Hawks Nest.

Hawks Nest sits on a bluff and is surrounded entirely by a twenty foot walls. The main gate is part of a rectangular tower that stretches at least seventy feet high and includes a mounted ballista and gong. There is a small settlement of buildings outside the gates and members of the Silver Guard greet us at the entry and point out the way to the stables where we can board the horses.

One of the guards is a halfling named Alistryna and Billi actually remembers her from childhood. She's younger than he, very tiny and delicate, and Billi remembers her fondly so he casts a Prestidigitation cantrip turning Handsome, the mighty war pony, purple with pink spots. Alistryna laughs merrily, remembering Billi as well and his many magic tricks, and they strike up a conversation. She's on duty but says she'll see us at the dining hall for dinner.

The stables are in the northwest corner of the compound, a large stone building under several large fir trees. We enter the keep and are greeted warmly as the first travelers of the season.

Jolley gets a single room alone. Elendil, Salaisee and Billi get the smallest of the group rooms. Billi and Salaisee investigate the library. Jolley goes in search of a late lunch but ends up getting a full early dinner from a sympathetic elderly kitchen worker. He's tired and it shows. He goes to the bath and cleans up, and then hits the bed fully intending to sleep for 12 hours at least.

Elendil wanders the keep giving himself the copper tour and talks pleasantly to those pleased to see him (as one of the first spring travelers). He meets Salaisee and Billi for dinner later but Jolley, after his big meal, is already sleeping.

The dining hall is crowded. We're asked about our travels and adventures and Anghus, the man in chrge of the keep, seems to take pride in introducing us to many of the Silver Knights and guards. It is certainly a diverse group!

A bit later, the remains of the Harper Patrol arrive. There is much consternation at their small number as everyone wants to know where the rest of them are. They tell us a story of chasing brigands and a separation of their group. Their leader, Shaundra Stillhand, returned seemingly dead but not dead. The cleric of Ilmater in the town sent the remaining Silver Knights away claiming it was their non-belief that held the paladin without her soul.

There is an offer of gaming and Elendil, Billi and Salaisee all agree. We play a dice game followed by darts and then it is off to bed. The night is again COLD but we are inside with a nice toasty fire and couldn’t care less. Breakfast is pleasant, but the day is grey, cloudy and cold. It matches Elendil's mood for our travel.

The morning is quiet, other than an odd feeling that we just missed something, and the afternoon travel is equally uneventful. Once again when the sun goes down it starts to get cold in a hurry (go figure). This time it's Elendil's turn to cast Create Food & Water and the hot stew is just the thing for the cold evening. Afterward he tends to the horses making sure they're secure and blanketed for the might.

During Salaisee's watch, she hears quiet voices calling for help. She wakes everyone and Billi goes to stealthily investigate while Elendil and Jolley put their armor on.

A few minutes later, Billi returns and tells us of the four large creatures trying to lure us up there. They are odd filthy creatures with the bodies of large stags, the tail of a lion and the head of a badger (leucrottas). We ignore their calls but they are soon heard advancing towards us from the north and west.

MELEE

It takes several minutes but we defeat the four creatures. Salaisee casts Cure Critical Wounds on Jolley and Cure Light Wounds on herself and Billi. Elendil casts Cure Serious Wounds on Sander and Cure Light Wounds on himself.

After the battle, we drag the carrion a good distance away and resume the nightly watches leaving Billi to return to bed. Second watch is quiet, but during Jolley’s watch...

MELEE

We begin the next session interrupted during 3rd watch, on the morning of the 14th of Mirtul.

End of session.

Next sessions: 07/17