[This was a relatively short session as we started a bit late and there was a good deal of discussion during the first half of the session.]
Attendees
Hugo Underwood – Wood Elf shaman
Felix Lutsk – Human “acquisitioner”
Albrecht Artyom – Human Grey Wizard
Fritz Schmidt – Human scout
Alset Alokin – High Elf mage
Before heading out into the wilds again, the group spent time dealing with business in town.
Fritz became the patron of the owner/operator of a general store in town, Ditmar Lumm. Fritz directed Ditmar to start growing contacts and a supply chain to support the colony (when established). [Fritz spent experience points to buy a Follower.]
Uncle Felix’s Armor Shop opened for business and Felix started making plans to bring in weapons smiths as well as the high quality armor smiths he had hired. [Felix spent experience points to purchase a base with "followers" of it's own - the employed smiths. Note: the smiths are loyal to the shop, not Felix.]
The loot from the treasure closet was divvyed up*. The sealed lead chest was investigated and determined to have no traps on it, but it was sealed with a lump of lead instead of a lock. "Morrsleib" sounded familiar to the adventurers, but most could not remember why. Hugo remembered it was the name of the green moon, but could not quite remember the significance.
After the lead lump was removed, Felix opened the chest. Inside was an oversized skull made of glowing green crystal – it was pure warpstone!** As it’s corrupting energies washed over Felix, he could feel it trying to change him. Made of sterner stuff, Felix resisted its effects and slammed the chest shut. He then set about resealing it immediately. All the exposed skin on his front was red as though sun-burned. This triggered Alset’s memory: Morslieb was reputed to be the source of all warpstone, so the symbol embossed on the chest was a warning. [GM wearing an evil grin here.]
Alset commissioned two sets of three copper-covered iron rods from Felix’s smithy and was told they would be ready in a week and a half. He has plans for them relating to his teleport spell...
Finally, Albrecht decided to bring two handfuls of the unmagic dust with him on the current expedition and Fritz chose to bring three. The remaining three handfuls were left at F&A Holdings.
The next morning the group mounted up on their horses and headed east along Quarry Road. At Watch Tower 1 they turned off the road and headed northeast across the plains, aiming for the southern of the two towers out on the plains on their map. As they got near, their path crossed the fringe of the Wedge Wood, where the forest was growing around a barrier that only seemed to affect the forest. The adventurers searched the area, finding an abandoned logging camp. Hugo was able to determine that the camp had been abandoned for at least a year, but there was no indications as to why it had been abandoned.
The adventurers then continued on to the lone hill with a tower on it. Just like its neighbor to the northwest, Alset was able to locate lines of force emanating from inside the hill. One line headed to the northwest, directly towards the tower the adventurers had previously explored. One line of force headed northeast, to possibly link up with one of the lines from the other tower, and the third line headed due east, where the adventurers theorized another tower could be found. They deduced that there were a total of six towers with something at the center, possibly a seventh tower.
The adventurers examined the tower they were at. Like the tower to the northwest, it had no windows or doors. Albrecht teleported to the top of the wall and verified that the tower was completely hollow inside, just like the one to the northwest. Searching around the hill, they did not find the illusion covered cave entrance where they were expecting it [on the "inside" of the area delineated by the lines of force]. They did find a one on the southeastern edge of the hill, set into a low cliff face.
As it was getting late in the day, the group decided to camp, but back at the abandoned logging camp three miles away. They rode there and set up in the largest standing building [about the size of a barn]. The doors were long gone on the building, which was significant later, but the building provided cover for the adventurers and their mounts.
On second watch (Alset and Albrecht), Alset spotted a small group of creatures approaching. The creatures looked similar to the Cold Ones that Dark Elfs ride and were directly approaching the camp. Alset had Albrecht wake the rest of the group. The adventurers clustered at the front entrance and readied for the creatures to attack. All three wizards cast enhancing spells on Felix, increasing his Dexterity and armor protection significantly. He stood in the front center, ready for the rush of the beasts.
The beasts had been making clicks and trills at each other while approaching and when the rush happened, it did not go as expected. Two of the six beasts charged the front entrance, but the others broke off into two groups and moved around the sides of the building, heading for the wide open rear entrance. Felix stood his ground and fended off the two attacking the front, barely scratched by their ferocious attacks thanks to the magics protecting him.
As the fight progressed, the four flanking beasts charged in through the rear entrance and fell on the horses stabled in an adjacent side room. Horrible sounds of horses dying could be heard by the adventurers at the front, which angered the adventurers. The group started peeling off from the front fight to stop the slaughter of their horses. Felix cut down one of the two beasts at the front, driving off the other [who suddenly found its sense of self-preservation], ending the front fight.
The adventurers killed the rest of the attacking beasts, but not before losing all but one of their horses. With one horse left, the group decided to return to town. Alset could teleport the group back to town with the horse, but not if they found any significant treasure under the tower as the horse put him at the edge of of his teleportation spell’s capabilities.
Back in town, the group waited a few days until the full moon for the next monthly auction to happen. They sold off several items they had been holding on to: the wraith crowns, the ceremonial gold bowl, and the gold torc. They then split up the proceeds and made arrangements for Quetzal and Zoglug to get their shares.
End of Session
* The treasure consisted of:
1. Large dragonhide shield [50% resistant ED damage reduction to fire attacks, 11- Act.]
2. Pendant charm (minor magic) [2rPD hardened vs. missiles, 1 Turn per day]
3. Fingerbone charm (minor magic) [+5 DCV once per day]
4. Potion of Vitality [LS: aging, sleep, and food, plus 0 END Running and STR, lasts 1 hour]
5. Unmagic dust - took a while to identify [Dispel, 10d6 per handful of dust, bag of 8 handfuls]
6. Bronze torc with opals set in the caps (old-style Jicarilla work) - 350-450g
7. 10,000 copper coins, triangular in shape, with the face of an Elf on one side and the phrase "Through Darkness, Light" on the other.
8. 1000 silver coins, triangular in shape, with a skull on one side and the phrase "Through Darkness, Light" on the other.
9. 600 gold coins, triangular in shape, with the face of a Human wearing a crown on one side and the phrase "Through Darkness, Light" on the other.
10. Small lead chest with the Elf symbol of Morrsleib embossed on it.
** Yes, Kasey, the party just found a crystal skull. ;)
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