tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52812016457560044232024-03-01T00:45:54.061-08:00Beyond the WallA resource for my Old School D & D sandbox campaignBaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-10327797557922804762016-05-09T09:10:00.003-07:002016-05-09T09:10:34.184-07:00The Great HostIt took all Gruffydd had not to say "I told you so" to Lars.<br />
Instead, he offered some advice.<br />
"We've traveled this way many times", the dwarf said. "We have some alternate routes."<br />
Stunned, the rest of the caravan tried their best to go about their preparations to move again. Meanwhile Gruffyd and the rest of his party gathered around a map with Lars and the ever present Lud.<br />
Gruffydd put a stubby finger to the map they had created over their months of travel Beyond the Wall.<br />
"Here. Right here is a path that takes you to another crossing upriver. This time of year, it shouldn't be too bad. There's some sort of hornet men that inhabit the ruins across the other side, but they haven't bothered us yet."<br />
"I'll put it to the Old Man," Lars said,"but it seems like a plan". He rolled up their map and headed for Von Aldensburg's wagon. The old man had taken one look at the bloody horse and quickly retreated to the safety of his wagon.<br />
A few hours later, they pulled off the road and followed Nemon and Gildrid down a small track to the northeast. The going was rough. This was more of game trail and less of a road. Some of the wagon struggled.<br />
At last they reached a rise. The tree lined banks of river were below. It was mid day and the river rolled along at a leisurely pace. But something drew their attention immediately.<br />
Smoke rose from the far bank. Dozens, possibly more, campfires burned.<br />
Gildrid, Nemon and Gruffydd, along with Lars dismounted and creeped along through the trees to the rise overlooking the near bank.<br />
Across the river, stood an army. Hundreds of flags fluttered in the gentle breeze. Flags bearing the blue crescent moon.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-86862335479673641672016-03-15T11:05:00.001-07:002016-03-15T11:05:32.862-07:00ScoutingMiss Adventure ran to meet the Dryad, arms open, but Newly stepped back unsure, "are you my friends?"<br />
Conversations with Newly were always odd. She perceived time differently. She aged differently as well. She appeared as a child in the Spring, and woman of middle age in the Fall, an old crone in Winter and as a woman in full bloom in Summer, like now.<br />
Her eyes widened, "You ARE my friends" and embraced the halfling.<br />
Nemon spoke to Gruffyd under his breath, never taking eyes from Newly, "I told ya we should have come by here in summer."<br />
The dwarf grunted in reply. Gustav fidgeted. It made the monk nervous being a nude female, even if she wasn't human.<br />
Gildrid spoke up. "Newly, do you has anyone come through here recently? Any men in masks, or monsters?"<br />
Again, asking about "recently", didn't always get you the response you wanted from the dryad.<br />
"Things don't come here anymore", she said. "My tress protect me."<br />
As if in response, a light wind rustled the trees, although no wind blew out on the plains.<br />
"Thanks you, Newly", Gruffydd said as he filled a canteen from the stream. He looked at the position of the sun in the sky."We best be going".<br />
As they rode out of the glade, Nemon looked back in hope of one more look at the dryad, but she was gone. Then a unseen branch almost knocked him from his horse.<br />
When they reached the wagon train again, it was nearly dark, and most the caravan was making dinner and preparing for bed.<br />
They found Lars speaking to a mounted man, while Lud picked his nose.<br />
The horseman rode off down the old trade road.<br />
"Where's he headed?" Gruffydd asked.<br />
Lars looked at him with a scowl. "Last time I checked, I was the Caravan Master and answering only to Von Aldensburg".<br />
The dwarf responded with his own scowl. "Where that man's headed is a bridge. Under that bridge is the biggest, nastiest, craziest troll I've ever run into. You don't want to head that way."<br />
"That's why I sent a scout". And the conversation finished, Lars walked away, Lud in tow.<br />
The party spent a fitful night. Wolves howled in the distance. A strange wind blew criss cross over the camp. A general feeling of being watched....<br />
The next morning the scout's horse returned, covered in blood.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-27180957129595617962016-02-24T14:13:00.002-08:002016-02-24T14:13:37.177-08:00Old friendsThe body was that of a man. Stripped, and staked to the ground. He had been eviscerated, and his guts left strewn about. What was left of them. The vultures and wolves had done their work so it was hard to tell how long he'd been there in the middle of the road.<br />
Strangest of all was the hood on his head, and the noose around his neck. The party had seen it before, on bandits that prowled Beyond the Wall. The Brotherhood of the Black Hood.<br />
Of all the petty kingdoms this side of Wall, they were the most dangerous.<br />
"Whatever could it mean?" The question came from a nervous looking Klaus, who was dabbing sweat from his forehead and curl.<br />
Lars said loudly, "Just bandit nonsense. Get to moving!"<br />
Nonsense or not, he looked shaken. The ever present Lud just sat and picked flowers.<br />
Gruffydd stopped Lars as he was mounting up. "We've seen this thing beofre."<br />
Lars stopped with one foot in the stirrup and looked down at the dwarf. "Yeah?"<br />
"Could be inter tribal warfare between the bandit groups. Not something we want to get in the middle of."<br />
Lars paused, a foul look on his face. "Wall's that way," he hooked a thumb south. "Want out? Start riding. Otherwise, get going."<br />
Gruffydd spoke up again. "We have a friend that lives close".<br />
Lars looked around and the emptiness. "Out here? What kind of friend?"<br />
"Close. We'll ask some questions, catch up later."<br />
"I doubt it", Lars said as he swung his horse about. "Lud! Quick pickin' at that body and move along. Got a long day ahead!"<br />
As the wagons pulled away, the party rode slightly northeast to a valley. The plains around the valley were dry. The grass barely hanging on to life. But in the valley, the grass was green. The trees were tall and full of leaves. They passed old rusty logging equipment and ancient stumps, until finally entering the cool of woods. One last look over his shoulder, and Gruffydd spied Lars watching from far off.<br />
A few minutes later they entered a familiar clearing. A small brook trickled between twisted roots. A slight breeze moved the leaves.<br />
The party was not alone.<br />
From behind a great oak, a beautiful woman appeared. At first, she could be mistaken for an elf, but her pupiless eyes, and green skin tone betrayed her.<br />
Miss Adventure spoke.<br />
"Newly".<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-32014889189618833102016-02-23T14:24:00.000-08:002016-02-23T15:45:25.150-08:00The trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Indeed, they did leave in the morning, and were blessed by a cool breeze. The blessing did not last, however. Arnor was merciless this day.<br />
The party, having their own mounts, were positioned as outriders, They were to be used as scouts and herders for the massive flocks of sheep, and herds of cattle.<br />
The wagon train stretched for a league at least. And with it, the massive dust clouds. Besides clouds of dust, were clouds of biting flies.<br />
They were, safe to say, miserable.<br />
"I don't like the the attention this massive dust cloud is going to attract," Nemon said through cloth he wrapped around his mouth. "We're used to traveling light. Moving quickly."<br />
Gruffydd, who rode beside him on a pony, grunted agreement. "Yes, but who'd attack a caravan this large. You'd need an army."<br />
Nemon, shaded his eyes and looked up in the cloudless sky. "Or a dragon. Or a giant..."<br />
Hours passed.<br />
Arnor still punished them.<br />
Then, the caravan stopped.<br />
Gruffydd, and the others rode to the front. A group of riders had dismounted along with Von Aldensburg and his bodyguards, sweating in their heavy armor.<br />
They all were staring at the ground.<br />
In the middle of the road was a body.BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-58305196260019532342016-02-22T12:28:00.001-08:002016-02-22T12:57:58.312-08:00Klaus Von AldensburgLars led them deftly through the throng of workers to a large, red merchant's wagon. It was the tall, sturdy make used by traders for long hauls across the Middle Plains of the Empire. Looking at it, Gruffydd had the distinct impression that under the gaudy red paint, it could closed up to approximate and fairly good fortress.<br />
Emblazoned on the side was a blue heraldic shield bearing a wagon wheel surrounded by starts.<br />
Standing in front of the wagon was a older gentleman surrounded by a gaggle of drovers, freighters and trader types badgering him for signatures, orders and money. The whole scene took on the look of hunting dogs cornering their prey.<br />
He signed papers, gave orders and emptied a seemingly bottomless purse into open hands, all with a far off bored looked about him.<br />
Lars ran the pack off with some colorful language, and few kicks and the mere presence of the mountainous Lud.<br />
"Master Von Aldensburg, may I present some new recruits for or security detail."<br />
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At Lar's introduction, the old man seemed to wake from a dream.<br />
Von Aldensburg was of middle height with broad shoulders but the belly of a man who had lived well. His rich clothes matched the livery of the wagon and despite the heat, his fur collar was clasped shut with one of largest rubies the party had seen. He had a waxed mustache and beard, and ridiculous curl on his forehead. On seeing the group, he pulled himself up, and cleared his throat.<br />
"These,....people have some experience travelling into the wild?" His question delivered with a bit of a lisp the upper crust sometimes affected, and aimed at no one in particular."<br />
"Aye, lord", Lars replied. "From what I hear, regular citizens of Beyond the Wall."<br />
At this the old man's blue eye's almost gleamed.<br />
"Well, well, we have quite the adventure planned! I shall be the first merchant in a dozen generations to set up regular trade routes North."<br />
Gildrid, one of the elves laughed. "There ain't nothing out there but beasts and monsters. They tend to take things, not trade".<br />
The rest nodded at his assessment.<br />
But the merchant would have none of it. "Oh no! Oh no. Gentlemen, oh, ... and lady" he had spotted Miss Adventure sheltered behind Mellion's cloak,<br />
"I have come into possession of a map and quite reliable intelligence that a city lies far to the north. Some sea traders arrived just last year with news of it. A few months later a purchased maps."<br />
"These sea traders", began Gruffydd, "they wouldn't happened to have pointy ears, pale complexions and penchant for torturing people, would they?"<br />
At this, Von Aldensburg frowned as if annoyed, or just not used to be questioned.<br />
Before any more questions could be asked, one of the shudders to the wagon flew open and a young, richly dressed woman appeared. Any amorous thoughts that might have appeared in Nemon's brain quickly evaporated with her shrill voice.<br />
"Kluas, this wagon is cramped. The heat is stifling, and this place smells awful..."Before she could continue, Klaus cut her off, "Light of my dawn, my precious darling, we leave first thing in the morning. Tut, tut, just one more night."<br />
She stuck out her bottom lip, gave the party and look that turn milk sour and disappeared with a slam of the shudders.<br />
He turned to the group. "We leave in the morning."<br />
<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-27500966470130200712016-02-12T09:07:00.002-08:002016-02-12T09:07:23.379-08:00New CompanionsIt took most of the afternoon to round everyone up. Gruffydd criss-crossed most of Wall, digging his companions out of their various haunts.<br />
The sun was setting when they reached the crowded courtyard of the Dragon and the Maid. If Wall could be said to have a swanky establishment, the Dragon and the Maid would be it. It wasn't quite as run down as most inns in Wall. The paint was somewhat fresh. The sheets were changed at least once a week, and the food was as fresh as fresh can be when you're leagues from anywhere.<br />
The courtyard was packed was high sided wagons stuffed with bags, boxes and trunks. It was a little like a maze for the smaller, non human members of the party.<br />
All about people bustled, packing and rearranging gear. The smell of sweat and animal dung filled the air. At the center of the chaos sat a very calm, slim man dressed in leathers, cleaning his fingernails.<br />
Beside him stood a giant of a man. His clothes were slightly better than a beggars. He was filthy with a dull, far off stare.<br />
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As the party approached, the slim man spoke while never taking his eyes from his work, "You must be looking for work."<br />
Gruffydd grunted.<br />
Still not looking up, "Have any experience Beyond the Wall?"<br />
Nemon let out a burst of laughter, while Miss Adventure sniggered.<br />
The slim man finally looked up, wiping his nails on his leather jerkin.<br />
"Well..." he sighed," I'm Lars. This is Lud"he said as he pointed with his knife. Lud was too busy swatting at flies to notice his introduction.<br />
Shaking his head, Lars said, "His Majesty, Von Aldensburg has final say, but I'm the head of this circus. So as far as I'm concerned, welcome to Glorious Company of Klaus Von Aldensburg." He finished this with a bow.<br />
"Come this way, to meet our brave leader..."<br />
BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-33216674428998456942016-02-11T10:55:00.000-08:002016-02-11T10:55:07.309-08:00The Job<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At some point during the afternoon, it had rained. This only added to miserable heat outside. The weather was only one strange aspect of life in Wall. Despite being a very northernly place, it experienced some of the largest swings in temperate in all the crumbling Empire. Winters were frigid to the point of being painful, fall and spring were wet, and summers, like this one were bristeringly hot.<br />
Now, thanks to the rain, it was also chokingly muggy.<br />
Gruffydd headed towards the market square. When one was searching for work, one needed not to look any further than the Market Tree.<br />
Like city name itself, names in Wall tended to be simple and to the point.<br />
The Market Tree stood at the center of the bustling market square. It was large and of indeterminate age. It had always been here. It's base was covered in fliers, posters and notices of all sizes and shapes. It had cracked and tossed aside the surrounding paving cobbles over the years. All the rusty nails, holes and scratches left the Tree in a sickly looking state. Devoid of foliage, it refused to die.<br />
Gruffyd made his way through the crowd and looked over the Tree. Amid the notices for lost dogs, laborer jobs, proclamations of faith and wanted posters was a simple job listing:<br />
"Calling All Stout Hearted Adventurers! The Merchant Company of Klaus Von Aldensburg seeks Courageous Types to escort a Caravan North, Beyond the Wall. Please make Inquiries at the Inn of the Dragon and the Maid."<br />
Gruffydd stroked his beard once, twice .... and snatched the paper from the Tree. <br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-31350094370530706092016-02-10T11:42:00.003-08:002016-02-10T11:42:58.409-08:00Here againGruffydd found himself, as he often did these days, at the sign of Skull and Crown. It had not been his usual haunt, but had become it as of late, being off the beaten path and away from the others.<br />
Inside the tavern the air was stale and stifling. The dwarf stared deep into to his barely passable mug of ale .<br />
I<br />
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t seemed everyone in his little party had found other things to do. Other places to go.<br />
Gustav to his studies, Nemon to his places of leisure, Gildrid on side adventures that frequently left him in the hands of the Healers at the Temple of Shealla. And Miss Aventure? Gods only know where she goes.<br />
But they all had one thing in common. Their once vast wealth was dwindling.<br />
They would need another job, and soon. If not for the money, then to keep their sanity.<br />
Gruffydd finished the ale in one big gulp, tossed a copper on the bar, and stepped out into the heat of the day.BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-5998439933071590122016-02-01T12:33:00.002-08:002016-02-01T12:33:37.569-08:00Soon...It has been too long since we read any adventures of our favorite party. But have no fear! I'm finishing up my Kickstarter and have more time to chronicle their adventures. Stay tuned.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-25891995309430915072015-02-12T07:03:00.002-08:002015-02-12T07:03:56.160-08:00Interlude: Meanwhile, in the "real" world...A good friend sent me a link for a job as a professional DM for the company Roll20. Roll20 is basically a web hosting site that let's people from around the country play together. I'm intrigued by this as it is not system specific, it allows you to use a vast library of art and maps, but most important to me: use your own art. So my vision of the world is what you see.<br />
At last, someone paying me what I love to do! You too, could go Beyond the Wall...BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-60438696752564358562015-02-11T10:43:00.001-08:002015-02-11T10:43:27.950-08:00Long way home"What is it?", Mellion whispered.<br />
"Orcs", Gruffydd answered, "can't you smell 'em?"<br />
A low, gutteral growl came from the orc in the cave mouth. The sun was rising behind him. It was obvious he was looking for someplace dark to pass the day.<br />
Just then, several more shapes appeared behind him.<br />
"This doesn't look good," Nemon spoke. "We're too beat up for this".<br />
There was a blast of wind as Miss Adventure blew past the party towards the cave opening. Her Boots of Speed carried her past the orcs, and the wind of her passage knocked the orcs down.<br />
"NOW!" shouted Gruffydd, and gave a fierce Dwarven war cry.<br />
The party pounced on the shaken orcs. Only Mellion stayed behind to grab their horses, who had been tethered in a hollow of the cave.<br />
Gustav smashed an orc's helmet in with his cleric's mace. Gruffydd knocked another off the ravine edge, to plummet to the river far below. The third orc turned to flee, but was felled by Gildrid's elven longbow.<br />
"This looked liked a scouting party", Gruffydd surmised. "There'll be more. Probably looking to move into this place, now that we've cleaned out the upper level."<br />
So began the long trek home. They avoided the road, instead hugging ravines and defiles to make their way back to Wall. The rout took twice as long but avoided some of the spots they knew danger lurked.<br />
Newly, their dryad friend, was not there to greet them in the woods outside Wall. Another dark omen to carry home. Their adventure had been successful in riches, but reminded them how unprepared they were for the deeper dangers of the Well of Souls.<br />
As they approached Wall, exhausted, starving and thirty, the great doors creaked open. There, standing in the doorway stood the Gray Ghost of the Wall himself, Sergeant Malloy. He greeted them with a toothless grin and a cackle, "Home, sweet home, eh?"<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-34413247261609648622015-02-10T11:15:00.002-08:002015-02-10T11:15:52.382-08:00The dark wayThe first arrow struck the goblin king in the neck. He rose, and tried to shout out a command, but all that issued forth from his mouth was a turrent of black blood.<br />
The second bolt struck him solidly in the gut. He staggered and fell from his small dias with clatter, as his crown rolled from his head.<br />
The rest of the goblins screeched and turned to face the party, which now spilled from their hiding place.<br />
Nemon killed one with with a swift blow to the head. another went down to Gruffydd's hammer.<br />
The rest of the goblins, terrified at this surprise attack, ran for the door. The sentry squeaked a warning, but to no avail. His brethren threw him aside and unbolted the door.<br />
No sooner were they out the door, than a loud roar announced the arrival of the manticore. It tore threw the goblins with ease. Black blood splattered the walls.<br />
"Now!", Gruffydd shouted, "while it's distracted".<br />
rather than search the room as usual, the party took the chance to slip past the beast while it gorged on goblin flesh.<br />
They raced down now familiar hallways and up unguarded steps, never looking back, for fear of seeing the manticore in pursuit. They decided to take the dark way, through the caves that emptied on the side of the river's ravine. Up ahead could be seen the last dying light of the day as it came through the open cave mouth.<br />
But suddenly, the opening darkened. A large silhouette filled the opening. A figure barred their way.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-85680458970105143472014-02-21T05:51:00.000-08:002014-02-21T05:51:12.571-08:00The KingWith no apparent outlet, they back tracked.<br />
It didn't take long before a few loose pieces of gravel and a scrape on the floor led to a secret door. It was small. Nemon would have to strip off his armor before he could squeeze through, but it was their only choice short of facing the Manticore. A meeting they would not likely survive.<br />
Miss Adventure went first. The other side of the door turned out to be a small altar carved into the wall. It was probably a bowl for purified water at one time. But the small temple room was now a foul smelling bedchamber off a larger room. She could hear raised voices coming from the other side of a tattered blanket that separated the two spaces.<br />
She crept up to the door and looked through one of the many holes in the blanket.<br />
A half a dozen goblins filled the roughly square room. They were shouting. One goblin guarded the only door out of the chamber. He peered nervously through a metal grill in the door.<br />
The rest were poking two dead lizardmen on the floor. These must have been the wayward lizards that had led the party here, caught while sneaking about.<br />
Above them all sat a massive yellow skinned goblin in an oversized chair. He was twice the size of the rest, almost man sized. He wore ill kept armor and a massive gold chain around his neck. Upon his head rested a crude iron crown.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-84926780636609348392014-02-12T07:38:00.003-08:002014-02-12T07:38:44.957-08:00Dead EndEvery step was taken with care. Every stone making up the floor could be a potential trigger. A trigger ready to drop an avalanche of rocks from above, or storm of poison darts from hidden crevices.<br />
They approached single file with Gruffydd in the lead. He toed each stone before putting his weight on it. The others behind were careful only to step where he stepped.<br />
After what seemed like an enormous amount of time they reached the door unscathed. Miss Adventure hurried to the front to put an ear to the door and check the lock. The lock wasn't trapped, and she put stuck her tongue in and out rapidly, miming a snake, to show she heard lizardmen on the other side.<br />
She ducked just in time to have Nemon smash the door in.<br />
He crashed inside, crushing one lizardman under the door. The rest hissed and charged the door.<br />
One fell to a crossbow bolt from Mellion, another to Gruffydd's hammer.<br />
It was a cramped, chaotic melee in the dark room. No one escaped without some sort of cut or scrape. When it was over, eight lizardmen littered the filthy floor.<br />
In a corner, Miss Adventure found a chest and too large bags. The bags were full of jewels, the chest stuffed with coins.<br />
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"This is great", said Nemon, "but we still have to find a way out of here."<br />
After a quick a search for hidden doors by Miss Adventure and Gruffydd, the dwarf spoke. "Hmmm, no doors, but there are fewer lizards here than we faced in the passage. We didn't pass any on the way here, so they had to go somewhere."<br />
Gear was gathered. Wounds were bound and the last crumbs of rations eaten.<br />
And somewhere in the dark, the manticore roared.....<br />
<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-67655384087546129712014-02-11T07:24:00.002-08:002014-02-11T07:24:29.943-08:00The DoorThere was a loud CRACK as Gruffydd's great hammer struck home. The skull helmet of the Lizardman shattered and the great scaled creature dropped like a puppet with its string cut, lifeless to the ground.<br />
Several of the lizardmen, now leaderless, sprinted down a dark hallway. The rest were trapped and fought like demons against the party.<br />
Nemon skewered a few on his blade while the rest died from elven arrows.<br />
There was no sound now except the heavy breathing of the group, and the constant drip of moisture on the stone walls.<br />
Gruffydd searched the lizardman leader. Under his bone breastplate was an enormous ruby necklace. It was of ancient design. The gold necklace that held the ruby was woven like a great rope, and the ruby itself positioned to look like a great eye.<br />
The party was exhausted. It was time to leave the Well of Souls once again, but how? The way back was blocked by the enraged Manticore. The only way left was down the passage the Lizardmen had taken.<br />
They were down to their last few torches, whose light revealed a passage made from interlocked river stones. The sides were slick with moss, while the floor had been worn with use.<br />
After a hard right turn, which the Dwarf Gruffydd guessed was north, they found a door at the end of a long hallway.<br />
Miss Adventure whispered, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I smell a trap".<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-61195681211614493962013-11-11T12:49:00.001-08:002013-11-11T12:49:23.099-08:00ScalesLizardmen seemed to pour from every dark crevice. Them approached slowly in a low crouch, all the while emitting a low hiss. They came from both ends of the tunnel, a least a dozen.<br />
Then, suddenly, the hissing stopped as well as the advancing reptiles. For a moment, no one moved.<br />
"Well," Gruffydd shouted, "come on then!"<br />
Beyond the edge of the light of their torches, something big moved. Some of the lizrdmen shuffled aside. Into the light stepped a giant Lizardman.<br />
He was brighter in color than the rest. He had great spines protruding from his head and back. His helmet was made from a great serpent, fangs and all. Bones made his breast plate. He carried a great axe made of sharpened stone.<br />
The great beast flicked a bright blue tongue to taste the air.<br />
Then, with a great war cry, Gruffyd attacked.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-19379363404172520112013-09-05T10:36:00.002-07:002013-09-05T10:36:43.974-07:00DesperationWith an enraged Manticore behind them, and a horde of goblins in front, the battle became a desperate affair. Fueled by fear, fear of losing what they had gained, and most of all, fear of death in a dark place, the party fought with reckless courage. Goblins were killed in batches and groups. The party was cut and jabbed, but always they pressed forward. One room, then another, until battered and bruised the last goblin dropped to the floor. But now, they were trapped again. This room ended in no exits. They could already hear the manticore tearing at the door two rooms away.<br />
It wouldn't hold long.<br />
Wounds were bandaged. Weapons were ready. A last stand it would be.<br />
They heard scraping behind them. Gruffydd turned and saw Miss Adventure on the floor, behind a chest scraping at a stone with her short sword. Suddenly, the stone moved! A secret passage.<br />
Nemon was the last to squeeze through the hole in his bulky plate armor.<br />
They lay scattered down a damp, narrow hallway. A small trickle of water gathered in the tunnel's lowest points.<br />
The passage had been dug by hand. It had a strange, unpleasant stink about it. In the distant they heard a "thunk" as the manticore broke into the distant room beyond their secret door. Everyone held their breath. In the silent they heard a low hiss.<br />
Turning, their torches showed a low scaled form....<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-41643747909476109502013-07-29T11:33:00.000-07:002013-07-29T11:33:01.914-07:00No way outBefore the roar had even faded, they were stuffing every bag, sack and empty container full of coins. Even the bag with their provisions was emptied on the floor and filled to the brim with coins.<br />
When they could carry no more, they ran for the door on the opposite wall. It lead to room that could only be the Manticore's lair. What furnishings that existed before were now smashed to bits. The room was full of bones of various humanoids and remnants of clothes. Another loud bellow from the darkness and they quickly moved to the next room.<br />
The smell hit the party first. This room was covered in dried blood and festering corpses. Piles of offal filled every corner. Retching, they moved to a closed door.<br />
They emerged in the long hallway they had been to before. When another roar came, it was close enough to fee reverberating from the walls. They ran. Coins clanked and clinked on the floor behind them leaving a glittering trail.<br />
When they came to an intersection they turned left an ended up facing a barred door. It was iron bound and sturdy.<br />
Another roar. This one filled with pain and hate. The monster had found it's mate. No where to run. No time to listen at the door. Nemon and Gruffydd hacked and smashed at the door. It gave in with a crash.<br />
They poured into the room fearing the other manticore was right behind.<br />
This room was full of Goblins. Lots of goblins....<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-55364557534814694562013-06-24T10:37:00.000-07:002013-06-24T10:37:21.819-07:00RewardsGruffydd could smell the rank breath of the Manticore. It was that close. He awaited the stroke that would send him to his ancestors.<br />
Then the beast howled in pain. Peering over his shield, he could see Miss Adeventure. The halfling had sped down the hallway and came from behind the manticore through another door. She had drove her short sword deep into the creatures flank. It swung to smash her but she ducked. It t launched poisoned tail spikes, but they missed.<br />
Gruffydd saw his opportunity, and charged. His hammer smashed the manticore's turned head. When it turned sluggishly to face him, a bolt from Mellion's crossbow punctured it's eye. It took a few steps, sliding on the coins that filled the floor, then slumped down dead.<br />
Looking about, most of the party was down.<br />
"We have no more Tears of Shealla," Gruffydd said. "Their wounds are to grievous for me to mend".<br />
"Maybe not completely out," Miss Adventure spoke. She pulled two small vials from her pack, meekly. "Had to keep something for me"<br />
The gave the first vial to Gustav. Once her was awake he was able to call upon heavenly help to heal Gildrid. Nemon got the other vial.<br />
Now, they took stock of the room. Beside the huge bulk of the manticore, the room was filled ankle deep with thousands of coins of every type. Coinage with visages of kings and empires long dead.<br />
"Almost too much to carry", said Nemon.<br />
"Almost", smiled Gildrid.<br />
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Their smiles quickly faded when a distant roar was heard. A roar very similar to the angry bellows of their recently defeated foe.BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-2955791313712710262013-05-22T07:21:00.002-07:002013-05-22T07:21:15.328-07:00The fightThe beast was all fury and hate, flashing claws and deadly spikes. A Manticore.<br />
Gildrid went down first from swipe of its massive claws. Nemon's brilliant armor was pierced by poison spines. Gruffydd and Gustav rushed forward to drive the beast back from Gildrid's fallen form.<br />
Mellion loosed bolt after bolt into the manticore with little effect, while Miss Adventure put on her magic boots.<br />
Another swipe of the claws and Gustav fell. Miss Adventure was gone, with only the drifting dust to show she had left. Mellion was fumbling with a broken string on his crossbow. The dwarf, Gruffydd, stood alone.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-24963405486682100472013-05-21T06:37:00.001-07:002013-05-21T06:37:30.794-07:00Not dead yet.Sorry for the lag in our story. My only excuse is life. Hope to post soon. The gang is getting back together end of the month for new stories.BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-89511193942414920082012-12-12T11:14:00.001-08:002013-05-22T07:14:19.731-07:00A New FaceThe room was quickly filing with noxious fumes. Gruffydd turned to nearest door and began smashing it with his hammer. Meanwhile, Miss Adventure sprinted to the far door and began to work its lock. The others were crashing to the floor, unconscious.<br />
With a "sprang" the halfling's door opened. The gas stopped pouring out. Miss Adventure and Gruffydd began dragging the others out of the room. Most coughed up a green, slimey flem, but were otherwise unharmed.<br />
They were in a hallway that ran south, but had a branch to the left not too far away. While the others recovered, Miss Adventure checked it out.<br />
Beyond the hall was a room with a three branches. The far branch had a reinforced door. The north was hall headed back the way they came. To the south was a large double door. It showed terrible damage. Something large had clawed at the doors, trying to open them. More importantly, outside the doors were two columns. The bodies of two goblins were impaled on the pillars by long, black stakes.<br />
"What's up?" Miss Adveture nearly fainted.<br />
While her attention had been on the corpses, Gildrid and the others had walked up behind her. She pointed.<br />
After a few moments, Gustav said, "I think we should head back that way," he pointed down the hall. "Maybe it links to where we came from. I'm exhausted and we are short on Healing vials."<br />
There were nods of agreement.<br />
Not far down the corridor a door appeared on the right hand wall. Unlike the rest they had seen, it was not reinforced, boarded, or even damaged. Miss Adventure started to pick the lock, but found it open. A quick listen reveal nothing.<br />
After they readied themselves, Nemon pushed the door open. It got stuck but he shoved harder. It seems the door got stuck on all the silver coins covering the floor.<br />
The light of their torches reflected off the the thousands of coins jewels filling the room. No one breathed.<br />
Before they could set foot int the room, a dark shape moved from the doorway opposite. In a blur of motion a huge beast lunged at them!<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-20726777562146030402012-12-11T10:35:00.003-08:002012-12-11T10:35:59.537-08:00Angel of DeathNo one seemed particularly excited in finding out what was behind the door.<br />
Gruffydd was the first to speak, "We either go down those steps, deeper into the dark, or we see what's behind this door."<br />
There were more nods of agreement than nos. The dwarf began the smash at the boards and lock with his mighty hammer. The halls echoed with the banging.<br />
A few minutes later the door swung open. Beyond was a long hallway. Nemon lead the way, torch in one hand, sword in the other.<br />
The hall was finished stone, ten feet wide. A dozen yards into the hall and they came upon another door on the south side of the wall. It too was locked.The hallway still went on farther into the dark.<br />
"I don't know if we should go forward, with an unexplored door behind us," Gildrid spoke. The rest of the group responded with raised eyebrows. Gildrid urging caution?<br />
Miss Adventure was already at work on the lock. The door swung open to a large room.<br />
It too was of finished stone. Another door was on the wall opposite. It was empty except for six large statues carved in relief from the walls. They were or robed, winged skeletons, each bearing a carved stone sword. Morr's Angell's were not an unusual sight for a crypt, but still, Gruffydd urged haste.<br />
They were all busy searching the room when the door slammed shut! Immediately a foul smelling green gas pouring from the statue's mouths...<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-87887712557928326932012-12-05T06:42:00.000-08:002012-12-05T06:42:22.473-08:00Locked AwayThe little halfling prepared herself. With her magic boots she could easily run past them, but what lay beyond? There were four undead that she could see, but could there be more?<br />
The zombies shambled ever closer. There was a noise behind from the rock slide, but she dare not look. Just as the lead zombie was almost upon her, ..."Thunk"!<br />
An arrow was now sticking out of the eye socket of the closest zombie. It dropped to the ground. A quick look behind her revealed Gildrid had squeezed himself halfway through the a hole between the top of the rockslide and the ceiling.<br />
"Thanks, Skinny", Miss Adventure said before she sprinted behind the furthest undead. Slash! Her short sword dug into the creature. It swung around to face her as the rest took interest in Gildrid.<br />
The elf was trying to squeeze himself through as the zombies moved closer.<br />
He had let loose another arrow, but it went wide. Suddenly he slid forward and smashed into the floor. Nemon, the old mercenary, had shoved Gildrid the rest of the way through.<br />
Gildrd, crumpled at the bottom of the pile of rocks, was set upon by the zombies.<br />
He slashed furiously as they pummeled him with rusted cudgels.<br />
One of the zombies dropped when a large chunk of rock crushed his head. Nemon was halfway through the hole using rocks as missiles. Meanwhile, Miss Adventure had finished her undead foe, and was working on another.<br />
On the other side of the collapsed tunnel, Gustav and Mellon were digging out the remains of Gruffydd. Finally an ankle appeared. Mellion began to tug. Gustav grabbed the other leg. With one last effort they pulled the dwarf free. He groaned.<br />
"Still alive!" Gustav yelled. He grabbed his holy talisman and began to pray.<br />
Nemon, Miss Adventure and Gildrid dispatched the last zombie in time to see a strange glow come form the other side of the rockslide. "What's going on back there?" Nemon shouted.<br />
The weak voice of Gustav responded, "He's alive, but he's going to have a headache".<br />
The rock pile was cleared. Everyone rested. All but 2 vials of the Tears of Shehalla were drank. The zombies had yielded little in treasure. But they had guarded a stairway down.<br />
At the bottom of said stairway was a chamber. It showed damage from a massive brawl. There was dried blood, broken weapons, gouges in the masonry, and strangest of all, long spikes embedded in the walls.<br />
The was another stairway down, but the party's attention was drawn to door. It was boarded shut.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5281201645756004423.post-42390431353060992662012-11-13T11:24:00.002-08:002012-11-13T11:24:59.768-08:00Between some rocks, and a hard placeMIss Adventure jumped when she heard the rocks fall behind her. Dust filled the small passage. She took a few steps back, coughing, into the chamber behind her. She was about to run to Gruffydd's aid when she heard a low moan, and sensed movement behind her in the chamber.<br />
When she turned, she saw 4 shapes rise from the floor of the room. There was the clanking of armor, and the low moans again.<br />
"Ahhh, not zombies....."<br />
She was trapped.<br />
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<br />BaronVonJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13339350668111081119noreply@blogger.com1