ep 33 26-27/11/4712 Floodgates opened

In dam chambers. Grazuul the Scrag killed, Scorpion construct evaded in control room. Meet a pit fiend. Thassilonian gate system recharged, pit fiend destroyed. Come out and see water pouring through three open gates, and a sight of Black Magga. Kill ettin in cave at west end of dam. Returning through the Valley of Broken Trees, get into a fight with hill giant Razmus & kill him too. Camp in his cave overnight (from ca 2am-10am).

Quillax's Journal

Journal (27-Nov)
Sepheria had started some reading while we were resting and she couldn't be parted from her studies as she was on the verge on a discovery so she sent us ahead with Moncey. We continued down without her and eventually found the stairs opened into a room about half way down the dam. We judged ourselves to be roughly the level of the giant skulls that decorated the front of the dam.
We paused outside the room as it had a large pool of stagnant, slime coated water. Having previously encountered ooze and such hidden in water, we were cautious, as slime and the nearby pile of skull did not indicate it was a safe room.
Neril threw a copper coin into the water as a test. We watched the water expectantly but nothing happened. Claw then poked at the pool with the end of his staff, disturbing the surface layer long enough to see something move under the water. He was able to jump back and avoid the first lunge of a Troll as it rose partly out of the water. It bore a club studded with adamantium shards.
I recognized it as a large aquatic troll known as a Scrag, which can regenerate itself while in contact with water.
Jarrick stepped forward and attacked but was unable to knock it prone. I threw a spell from the stairs but missed, so I shifted to my animal form and moved into the room.
The Scrag struck at me and left painful injuries even as the water healed it some. Claw raged and struck the troll, followed quickly by Neril and Jarrick. Clockwork was unable to land a blow. I tried to pull it from the water so it could not regenerate but I was not able. The Scrag caught me with its claws again as I tried to retreat to free up some fighting space. With my animal form as damaged as it was, I was forced back to human form but I quickly summoned my form again.
The Scrag attacked Neril even as the water continued to heal its injuries. Claw was able to yank the troll out of the water and Neril then managed to stun him. Clockwork came to my side and stood guard over me. Jarrick maneuvered into a position and attacked. I stepped forward, attacked, and retreated to keep from crowding the others. Neril's stun held for a moment more and Claw, Neril, Jarrick, and I were able to land attacks. The Scrag shook off the stun and struck me again as it tried to retreat into the water. Claw failed to drag it out of the water a second time but Jarrick struck a heavy blow and killed the troll before it could recover. He dragged the Scrag's foot from the water before it could regenerate.
Jarrick pried the adamantium from the maul as we watched the body to ensure it did not return to life.
Once we were certain it was staying dead, I cast water breathing as a ritual and Claw, Neril, and I descended into the filthy water to investigate while Jarrick and Claw watched the body and the doors. There were two tunnels, East and West. Claw went East while Neril went West and I waited in the middle to play backup to whichever might need me. When both returned, we surfaced and spoke. Both East and West tunnels ended at small pools within larger rooms. Both rooms seemed empty at first glance but Neril had been able to locate a hidden door. Jarrick joined us in the water and helped pry it open with his crowbar. Neril swam down the tube which led North (Kraken side). It ended with another door that he examined; the damage indicated that the Scrag entered the dam here and closed the door behind itself. We decided to leave it alone.
We headed East next. There was a control panel set atop a set of stairs on a dais. I looked but it was too complex for me. We assumed the skulls with the jeweled eyes on the control panel represented the skulls on the dam. All the lights were off, so we believed the power was off.
We relayed the situation through Moncey back to Sepheria, who confirmed our assumptions. We turned on three skulls so that when we got the power working, it would open three sluices, not all five which would potentially be a disaster for anything along the river as it would certainly flood.
There was a noise above us and Neril and Claw spotted a skull-covered, scorpion-shaped construct crawling across the ceiling above us. I recognized it as a Skull Ripper. It would be immune to lightning, fire, and so much more as it was neither metal nor alive. Claw attacked, Neril moved in and attacked before he retreated to open the nearest door. Their attacks proved the existence of golem resistance.
The Construct lashed out at Claw and managed to grab him, moving as if to cut off his head. Jarrick tried to free Claw with the crowbar but could not, so he retreated back to open the other door so the barbarian had a quick exit route on either side of the room. I took a constrictor form and tried to bind up the construct so that it could not kill our teammate. I was not able to control it but Claw freed himself and jumped into the water. Neril darted in to attack and draw attention away as he called for us to retreat. I was grabbed by the construct but Jarrick was able to free me with the crowbar. I took owl form and hurried to safety before I summoned animals to distract the construct for Jarrick to escape.
We slammed the doors and waited to see if it would give chase. After a period of silence, we decided it was safe. We headed across the room and pushed open the double doors. There were two chambers in this room. One contained a pile of red dust of sorts; the other a large but weak looking demon/pit-fiend, Avaxial. It told us that if not freed the system would drain the last of its energy.
It tried to bribe us for its freedom, but we were not willing to let it loose on our plane. If we could have banished it, that would have been my choice as it had been trapped there with a second one for centuries powering the dam. After some discussion, we agree that it could not be released but we had no way to dismiss it. As our goal was to fix the dam, we were forced to make use of it to power the dam. I summoned an animal inside the other circle and the dam rumbled into life. The demon was destroyed and I banished my summoned creature as it was in pain. Without anything to power it, the dam stopped but the power was on long enough to activate the sluice gates.
We collected Sepheria as we left the dam and she deduced that two healthy adults would be able to power the dam's mechanisms long enough to change the gates without dying, so there are still options available to the local area.
We peered out over the dam and could see that on one side the water had dropped and on the other, the river had risen but not to dangerous levels. The Kraken popped up momentarily to look at us before it disappeared back into the water.
The only safe route down was the cave system which we bypassed previously. We prepared ourselves to take on the Ettin, with Claw raging and charging in. Jarrick and Neril and Clank all followed while I threw magic from the stairs. The Ettin landed several blows to Claw, but not enough to knock him down. Clank managed to land the fatal blow by cutting the Ettin's femoral artery. Claw beheaded the Ettin, just in case, and Jarrick took the skull necklace it was wearing.
Despite my reservations, we headed back towards town by way of the Valley, avoiding the Fort for the moment, where we ran into the Giant Razmus.
Though we could not understand the Giant-speech, it was quickly apparently that Claw failed at his diplomacy attempt as he bore the Troll head aloft. Neril attacked and retreated a safe distance away while I called down lightning. Jarrick tried to persuade the Giant we meant no harm, but Claw had truly angered him. We were forced to fight and as injured and exhausted as we were, we were ill prepared. Claw was forced to retreat and hide around the corner while Clank attacked. Neril kept his distance and went to the Giant's cave to look for anything to use in our favour. Jarrick was forced into the fight but his heart was not in it as he hoped still to stop the fight and he tried simply to knock the Giant prone.
When the Giant struck Clank hard enough to send sparks up and not long after also struck me, I was quite done. I called Clank to me and I called for a retreat as I prepared to shift and carry him away. Neril and Jarrick were already placed to run and Claw could outdistance the Giant given enough time.
Neril, from his spot outside the Giant's range, struck with some sling-stones and the Giant staggered. The sign that the Giant was so weakened heartened us and we regrouped and struck hard. I lashed out with lightning and claws while the others bore down on the Giant with steel. Jarrick and Claw struck hard but it was Clank who, once again, landed the fatal blow.
We settled into the Giant's cave, despite the smell, under Sepheria's dome of protection for a well deserved (long) rest.

Treasure:
- 1053 gp
- 1240 sp
- velvet pouch containing 6 large pearls worth 100gp each (keep for spells!) and a box with leather inset which we recognize as a phylactery
-- Phylactery of Channeling (positive channeling) needs to be worn on wrist or forehead and any positive energy is channeled ((to Jarrick))
--- channel against undead - 2d8 more damage
--- channel for healing - double the effectiveness
- ivory scroll tube set with jade (worth 300gp) which contains 3 separate spell scrolls (Cone of Cold, Hold Monster, Telekinesis)
- Ring of spell turning - resizes to wearer.
- Earthbreaker mace [+1 maul] 2d6 ((to Claw))

Claw, Shoanti Goliath Barbarian Background

Ursal Claw-Born Arcus

Born in a small village in the northern mountains, Claw's tribe (Arcus) and the local Great White Bear's (Polar bear's I've heard people call them) co-existed in peace, on the day that his mother waters broke she was attacked by one of the bulls under some sort of malady of the mind. Even though she was about to give birth she attempted to help the beast, as is the way of the tribe. It lashed out and Clawed at her abdomen, expediting the birth as Claw's father fought off the beast the tribal heal pulled pulled his mother into a nearby tent and as the icy howling winds swept around, Claw was born. Given the events of the birth the tribal leader named the child Claw-Born (a fitting name). Years passed, Claw grew up trained by his father and his people to hunt and survive in the harsh environment.
14 years passed...
One day Claw set out, saying that he had located the cave of beast and would return victorious or not at all. The journey was long, but recalling his years of training with his father and the tribe he eventually found the cave and descending down the creature’s lair. After a few hours he heard the sound of heavy footsteps entering the cave…
It was no ordinary bear, over twice the size of even the largest ones back with the tribe this huge beast its shoulder height over 3 meters, this would be a battle to remember. Claw attacked; the battle was brutal but eventually, Claw was able mount the bear back and bring his axe down upon his head. Roaring in pain the creature fell with a thunderous sound. Victorious, Claw cut off front paws of the bear as a trophy and returned home.
Months passed by and the story of Claw and the great bear spread among his people. One morning the tribe leader called Claw to his tent. Claw has now come of age and is preparing for his tribal right of manhood, which will require him to journey to the south to experience what the other lands have to offer before returning home. Returning from his last hunt the day before his journey was to begin, he finds his village destroyed and tracks that do not match a Goliath's heading south…

ep 32 25-26/11/4712 To the Dam

Quillax's Journal

Journal (20-Nov)
We were just fixing ourselves up when we heard footsteps from the house above. We were wary, expecting either one of the rangers or possibly another ogrekin, and so a little surprised to see a new face.
He introduced himself as "Claw", a Goliath Barbarian who's encampment had been attacked when he had been out hunting. He had tracked the trail back to the Ogrekin's home, and with us slaying the last one, found himself without revenge. We explained our purpose and he agreed it was a worthy cause and as it would allow him to fight such creatures that attacked him camp, he decided to join our group.
With our new companion in tow, we checked the final door of the three. It opened into a storage room, filled with useless junk and another doorway set in the far wall. We searched through the junk anyway – in case some of the Rangers' gear was mixed in – then continued through the door. It opened into a small corridor and led to another door, this one rife with rot and moss, with a puddle under the door. We all agreed that this likely led to the Shambling Mound's room.
Claw charged in first and attacked immediately. I followed behind and squeezed in between the monstrosity and the wall, then shoved it, managing to topple it over.
Sepheria was not able to get a clear line of sight with all of us in the way but Neril darted in and was able to land his attacks. The Shambling Mound struck out at Claw and I but missed us both. Jarrick entered and struck the enemy repeatedly. Claw and I attacked and Sepheria then landed the fatal blow.
There was a door in the far wall, which Claw ripped open, revealing a chest. After checking it for traps, we opened it and found some treasure as well as the Black Arrow Rangers' gear.
We decided the best thing for this cursed land was to destroy the house and barn so that nothing else could live there and after we all evacutated the premises, I called forth a localised storm and blasted the two buildings with lighting, burning them down.
As we prepared to part with the Black Arrow Rangers, Jakadros warned us of the following:
If we travelled too close to Fort Rannick on the way to the dam, we would have to watch out for the Ogres, both scouting parties and those watching from the Fort as the road would be visible.
If we detoured through the Valley of Broken Trees to the West of the Fort, we needed to watch out for Erasmus, a supersized hill giant.
Jakadros told us that if we were able, the better option would be to negotiate with the Giant as some rangers were able to do this successfully.
At our request, they drew us a map of the Fort, including the Eyries of the Eagles, where the Giant Eagles nested. None of the Giant Eagles had been seen since the attack, so it was assumed they were all killed. He also pointed out where a secret passage was placed.
We sent the Black Arrow Rangers and Kibb back to the town with their gear to rest and recouperate and we continued on our original quest to the dam.
We rested overnight in Sepheria's magical hut and when we woke, it was to even heavier rain. A quick ritual of water walk allowed us to step over the growing puddles of standing water, though Sepheria chose to use the broom.
Claw informed us that he spoke Giantish and so we decided to take our chances with the Hill Giant and headed for the Valley.
As we progressed through the Valley, there was a growl to our right and a very large Giant stepped close, growling in his language. Claw conversed with him, then informed us of the Giant's request for payment. We offered the Ogre Hook. Some more conversation and a further demand was made. We offered the head of the King Ogre in the Fort once we killed him. Our offer was accepted and we moved on to the dam.
We reached the end of the Valley (approx 4:30pm) as the sun started to set. Some of the party were able to see Ogres and Trolls fighting on the dam, and much damage to one part of the structure. We decided we needed to move quickly. While we watched, the Trolls drove the Ogres away from the damaged area and then they went into the bastion.
Both groups of monsters seemed unusually organised. After some discussion, we agreed that there were probably 5 ogres and 4 trolls. Jarrick mentioned he had seen the Trolls crawling out of Storval Deep (a body of water) and so they were probably aquatic based Trolls, so water walk was no longer the best option. We decided to go through the trees up the far side of the dam.
Looking at the dam, we could see that there used to be a floodgate system where water was regulated through the eyes of the giant carved skulls on the dam. It appeared that the system had either stopped working or been purposefully damaged and we would need to get it started before the dam simply flooded over. There were also several stakes along the stairway we were climbing that were marked with skulls in a Karzoug/runelord symbol.
Sepheria sent her arcane eye ahead of us through the cave, across the wall, to the bastion. We found an Ettin chewing on a bone in the caves, and a ledge 15 foot in height that we would have to scale if we proceeded that way but little else of interest. The top of the dam had a series of damaged areas and 5 ogres, one of whom was obviously their leader. They were injured still, with one of them having a badly damaged arm. Inside the Bastion, Sepheria scouted out the best she was able, finding the four trolls hiding inside dark, mossy corners in one room, and another more interesting room with a sign written on the door. With some effort, she translated it to "Below dwells Wet Papa Grazoul" or something to that effect.
With a little ingenuity, we were able to get the entirety of the party onto the far side of the dam without being seen by the Ogres. (About 8:30pm). The dark aided our movements. As we landed, an enormous horse-like head, at least 15 feet in size rose out of the water of the Storval Deep then disappeared back under a heartbeat later.
We all agreed that was a Kraken and Black Maga was not just a myth. We also agreed that it was very important we did not fall into the water.
Examining the crumbling damage, I was able to fix the bridge with a large outpouring of magic, shaping the stone back into a proper structure. It would hold against normal wear and tear but not against systematic destruction so we needed to stop the Ogres from doing further damage.
We were able to get over the Bastion before our spells wore off but we had to leave Clank behind, which I do dislike but it was necessary.
From there, we went after the Ogres, who were damaging this side of the bridge but had not done enough to destabilise it. We threw stones and javelins at them as we ran towards them. Sepheria was able to ensnare 3 of the 5 with hypnotic pattern and we systematically killed them one by one. Claw landed the fatal blows on two, Jarrick also claimed two (shoving one off the side of the dam, not the Black Maga side), and Sepheria killed the last with her magics.
We headed towards the Bastion, with the hope of avoiding the Trolls while we looked for the mechanisms and to fetch Clank from the other side of the dam. We opened the "Papa" doors and revealed a long staircase. We started down, pausing to catch our breath part way down.
[2800 xp total, each. None for Clank]

Jarrick, Paladin of Iomedae Background

For the Temple of Iomedae, Magnimar. An Explanation and a Request.

I have come so far...
It seems like a lifetime ago that my family and our caravan of travellers made our way to start a new life on the frontier. Even the Paladin of Iomedae laying down his life for mine as we were torn asunder by an Orc raid is vague. It's so distant it feels almost a dream and yet the voice I heard in that moment, a female voice, steely and absolute, urging me to find my strength and embrace my anger reverberates as powerfully as ever.
It made me persist on my journey through the academy at Lastwall and find new solutions. When I was physically less able to cope with the bulky armours, heavy weapons and large shields it forced me to match my peers through speed and grace. I forwent their style in favour of lighter more manoeuvrable armour, dexterous precise strikes and deflecting blows with a lighter shield – the broken remains of the shield of my saviour all that time ago.
It drove me to learn the tongue and read the words of my enemy even though I had little interest in academic pursuits. Anything for an advantage while hunting Orcs.
It lead me on many missions from Lastwall for my Brother and Sisters in the Knights of Ozem and ultimately it led me to the Pathfinders.
But, most of all, it allowed me to understand that the strength of a character is not measured in might but conviction.
There is a darkness creeping at the edges of this world, I can feel it. With the Pathfinders I am sure we have seen glimpses of it out in the remote places but also here, in this city (and I am sure many others). So far we have prevailed and I feel my companions are trustworthy folk. They have their own reasons for action but I believe they are willing to face and vanquish whatever perils we ultimately seek.
We have, I believe, bought death to numerous evils along our journeys but death itself is always at my heels. I am under no illusions, we walk a dark path but in those shadows of darkness I stand for the light and I wish to leave a testament of that light shining when I am gone.
To that end I have negotiated a 99 year lease on the old Shadow Clock in Underbridge. It was until recently home to some unpleasant individuals and has been in a state of disrepair for too long. Renovations are likely to take some time but I have paid for them in advance. My intention is to create a beacon of Iomedae for the city and people there who endure much hardship and an angel in the shadows is more than apt. The ground floor is to be converted into a functioning soup kitchen for the poor while I intend to use the upper levels as a home if and when I can. I would like you to oversee these efforts when I am not around.
The lease is in the name of your temple should I not return. I would ask that you continue to honour my plans in that scenario. I will, of course, continue to make donations as and when I can.
The nature of my work means I try to keep a low profile and, ultimately, if this is all that is ever known about me then it is enough. These few words of The Inheritor should give all the insight that is needed: "Justice and honour are a heavy burden for the righteous. We carry this weight so that the weak may grow strong and the meek grow brave."
I have come so far yet there is so far left to go...

Jarrick, 

Brother of the Knights of Ozem, Servant of Iomedae.

ep 31 25/11/4712 Killing Grauls

Three Black Arrow Rangers rescued from Graul barn. Mammy Graul and several Graul Ogrekin killed. Party clears farmstead ground floor and attic, explores basement.

Quillax's Journal

Journal (13-Nov)
We snuck along the perimeter of the farm, keeping an eye out for additional scouts, trying not to draw attention. Unfortunately, the barn was over-engineered to cope with the bad construction, so we couldn't simply rip out a few planks to get to the prisoners and the roof was too high for us to easily climb and test the shingles.
We edged along the side of the barn nearest to the woods, aided by the onset of heavier rain. Despite the additional natural cover, we needed to leave Clank in the tree line to await the signal to come help as he was a bit too noisy and may further alert our enemies in the barn.
Our plan required that we get the door open quietly as to not draw attention from the house or send the OgreKin in the barn to kill the remaining prisoners. After a quick discussion, Jarrick agreed to employ his scarf of disguise and appear as the last OgreKin we killed with extra facial injuries.
He pounded on the door and demanded entrance and was able to bluff his way inside and surprise the OgreKin with an attack. As soon as the doors were open, the rest of us moved to join him in the fight.
Jarrick knocked one of teh OgreKin down, damaging it, then moved to the centre of the room to prevent them from dashing towards the back.
Sepheria stepped inside and cast hypnotic pattern, enthralling two, then moved to distract the last OgreKin who had been out of the range of the spell so it would not run to kill the captives.
I took an animal form and killed the one Jarrick had knocked over. Behind me, the non-spelled OgreKin swung at Sepheria but she dodged. Neril ran in and attacked the one Sepheria was distracting.
Kibb followed the Monk, mauling the bespelled OgreKin. Jarrick moved to assist Kibb. Their attacks allowed my passing swipe to finish it off as I moved to assist Sepheria and Neril. My large form drew the OgreKin's next attack but Neril finished it off immediately after.
Clank, Moncey, and Neril watched the house to ensure our fight hadn't drawn attention while Sepheria moved immediately up one catwalk, cracking open the unlocked door to peer inside the next room. She reported back a huge floor-to-ceiling structure of spiderwebs (like an upward funnel) as well as cages.
Jarrick went up the other catwalk and opened the other door, though it was far less used. After some consideration, we threw one of the dead OgreKin into the door on Jarrick's side and closed both doors. We waited for a few minutes, then Sepheria opened her door again and saw a giant spider enjoying its provided meal. We threw the other two bodies in then Jarrick ensured his door was tightly closed before he got off the catwalk and kept Kibb under control while Neril and Sepheria crept past the spider to unlock the chains and assist the three survivors out. The door was closed behind them while Kibb was happily reunited with his human companion, Jakadros Sovark.
Jakadros was the stepfather of Shelelu, the Elven Ranger mentioned in the previous journal entry. He was second in command of Fort Rannick under Commander Lemata Baydon, who was in the Fort at the time of its capture by Kreeg Ogres and was to be presumed dead, though Jakadros thought that his Commander might still be alive despite the odds.
Also rescued were Kaven Windstrike and Vale Temros. All 3 were Rangers at Fort Rannick who were part of the party captured and were the only non-eaten survivors.
As all the survivors were wearing very little, Neril spotted a tattoo on Kaven's wrist - a Sehedron. Kaven tried to hide it, claiming it was old and he had gotten it at Riddleport where the symbol was a fashionable tattoo to get and it was in honour of his love of the stars. We convinced him to let us look at it and from my examination, I could tell it was new, only a few months old. We warned him to be careful as nearly everyone else wearing that symbol was dead.
He seemed surprised to hear that the Paradise had sunk and showed great concern for the proprietress, who we are fairly certain was behind the sinking of the barge and the murder of all those people.
We healed them up a little and shared out our extra gear and took them with us as we went to kill the remaining OgreKin in the house and fetch back their gear.
Neril darted across the yard, keeping to the shadows and peered into each window around the 'toy room' until he spotted the two OgreKin we expected to be there. He then waved us over. Sepheria teleported into the room first and attacked the more deformed one. Neril teleported in after her and assisted her. Jarrick followed them in and killed that one. Sepheria then turned to the second one and attacked, followed by both Neril and Jarrick, who finished off that one also.
The rest of us then carefully pried the boards from the window and climbed inside, trying to be quiet. We all headed towards "Mammy's" room, leaving the injured Rangers with Kibb in the dining room on guard for the eighth mobile OgreKin, which we suspected to still be in the house. Jarrick crept up and threw open the door.
Unfortunately, our fights had not been as quiet as we had hoped and Mammy OgreKin was prepared with Mirror image and a fly spell. Before we could react, three undead OgreKin lurched out of the coffins in the walls of her room. As one of nature, it is a disturbing thought that she slept with undead in her room.
I cast a quick burst of flame at one zombie while Neril worked his Silence spell. Sepheria then cast Fireball into the room. Fire filled the room and backwashed into the hall somewhat but Jarrick and Neril avoided the blowback. The floorboards rippled lifting Jarrick slightly onto his toes and he let us know that the fly spell had been interrupted.
A moment later, he stumbled back as a barrage of magic missile struck him, doing him a fair chunk of damage. Despite that, he still managed to dodge all three of the OgreKin zombies' attacks. I moved forward and worked a touch of healing magic on Jarrick while Neril got out of the way to focus on keeping the Silence spell working. Sepheria dropped another fireball into the room. Jarrick and I backed up, luring one zombie into the hall, but the door closed behind it.
I could hear the crack of wood being broken through in the room next door and I left Jarrick to fight the OgreKin zombie, half-squeezing and half-climbing over the others to see what the noise was. One of the zombies had broken through the wall of Mammy's room into a closet and was in the process of breaking the closet door. Both of us were somewhat surprised by the other but we stuck simultaneously.
I looked up to see Mammy glaring at me from where she had moved off the bed before she wielded the black wand in her hand and struck me with the same Magic Missile spell as Jarrick. It hurt but I was just able to retain my animal form.
I could hear Jarrick and Neril as they struck the other zombie in the hall before Clank moved in beside me and attacked the zombie also. He tried to grapple it but failed and was knocked a few steps back.
Sepheria stepped in beside us and threw another fireball into Mammy's room. There was a quiver of floorboards as something hit them, later determined to be the third zombie and my enemy also fell. Mammy attacked Sepheria with the wand but Sepheria blocked the missiles.
I moved into the room and attacked a nearby enemy, but got a mouthful of air as I dispelled one of the mirror images. Jarrick threw open the door and attacked, dispelling another image, leaving only the real OgreKin behind. He then shield bashed her and managed to knock her over.
Clank followed me in and Neril teleported in and attacked. At Sepheria's signal, Neril dispelled the Silence spell and Sepheria used her own Magic Missile.
Mammy threw more Magic Missile at Neril, striking him painfully. I attacked her in response and Jarrick lunged forward and struck the final blow.
A little toad hopped from her body and under the bed but at her death, it started to fade. Once the familiar was gone, we quickly searched the room with Sepheria finding the spell book. From there, we searched the rest of the floor, finding the remains of many baby girl- OgreKin bodies as well as other disgusting things.
The living room had a trapped couch. In the pit trap beneath it, a mutated plant-looking OgreKin which called to mind a Shambling Mound snatched at our ankles. We left it along as it could not get out, then double backed with the two dead OgreKin from the toy room, pushing them in to distract it. Jarrick informed us that he heard something from the kitchen door leading down to the basement. We left that for the moment also.
Upstairs, a trapped chest nearly poisoned me but the rusted blade was too slow. There was little else of interest upstairs so we moved to the basement. The first room was some sort of Skin-removing room. The second room, Jarrick was surprised by an OgreKin and badly struck and yanked to the floor. He was badly hurt and then to add insult to injury, two enormous donkey rats attacked him also.
Neril went after the rats immediately while Sepheria used Tasha's hideous laughter to distract the OgreKin. I followed in animal form to attack the rats, killing one. Jarrick got to his feet and managed to kill the other before backing into the corner of the room, very bloodied. We then all focused on the OgreKin, who still went after Jarrick, knocking him unconscious. We all struck the Ogrekin hard, with Neril managing a stunning blow and I finished it off.
I managed to stabilize Jarrick and then we poured a healing potion down his throat.
Assured he was safe for the moment, we checked over the body and I tucked away the armour to remove the disgusting bits and resize for myself as it was stronger than my own.
We have one door remaining in the basement, which may contain the Shambling Mound, and we still have not found the Rangers' armour and weapons. If it's not there, we will need to recheck the house and barn as there may be a hidden room.

[XP total 3811 each]

Sephiria's Account

Letters that will never be sent…
My dear Sister, it was so good to have been able to spend time with you recently. I was extremely gratified by the degree to which you managed to conceal your boredom when I presented my initial findings on the research I’m presently carrying out regarding Sorshen and the Lady’s Light. Your presence was much appreciated and I’m sure lent gravitas to the proceedings.
As you know we have been asked to investigate matters around our distant outpost: Fort Rannick. The journey upstream by barge to Turtleback Ferry was not the most pleasant given the increasingly incessant rain. I fear I shall never be dry again.
Turtleback Ferry was everything you would imagine from a small, provincial settlement: poor quality, overpriced lodgings, sour wine and inquisitive locals. Given that we are on an investigative mission, the latter has actually proven quite useful. Certain of the locals were garrulous enough to tell us all about a pleasure barge (if such a thing can truly exist) that recently sunk on the lake with great loss of life. We have spotted more than one Sihedron tattoo amongst the populace and think this may be the “more elegant” means of marking victims that was described in the letter to the lamia, Xanesha, that we salvaged from her tower.
The description of the mistress of the pleasure barge, presumed to have gone down with the vessel, sounds particularly suspect with the term “otherworldly” used to describe her. I think this is almost certainly Xanesha’s smarter (and notably arrogant) sister, Lucretia.
So enabled by Quillax’s mastery of all things soggy, we walked out across the lake to the place where the barge went down and then descended into the dark and unpleasantly cold water to investigate. We found the wreck and moments later we found an enormous fish – I’m sure Quillax will be able to tell you the taxonomy if asked. The druid decided to chat with it but evidently the fish had small regard for her conversation and instead decided she should be dinner. I’m sure I don’t need to go into what happened next, but suffice it to say if we ever decide to open a fish restaurant we have significant stock…
Now able to study the wreck it was clear that the barge had been deliberately scuttled, and with the doors onto the deck barred from above, it was evident that the intent was the maximum loss of life. The cold eventually got the better of me and I’m afraid that I spent the next few days recovering in bed.
My colleagues continued gathering rumours from around the area and aside from the lack of communication with Fort Rannick’s rangers, they heard tell of a group of inbred woodsmen – the Graul family - who had in effect made the Kreegwood a no-go area for the folk of Turtleback Ferry (inasmuch people who did go into the Kreegwood tended not to come back).
Being the bold, intrepid sorts that we are, we naturally decided to investigate. On our way we encountered an enormously ugly man – definitely a fair amount of ogre somewhere down the family tree – along with a pack of hounds hunting a wounded cougar. Quillax decided that the cougar was some ranger’s animal companion which implied that the huntsman was likely up to no good. He then made a bad judgement all and ordered the hounds to attack at which point I fireballed them all. My allies made equally short work of the huntsman.
After a few miles we came upon the Graul homestead and I sent in my Arcane Eye to scout it. I spotted three rangers – presumably from Fort Rannick – imprisoned in the barn, while the house itself was an education in the grotesque depths to which some people can sink to which end I will not append any further details as they were uniformly disgusting and unutterably repulsive. The Graul matriarch was apparently a wizard of some description, though due to extraordinary obesity, a not particularly mobile threat.
Having got the terrain mapped out, we attacked the barn first with Jarrick managing to con his way past the locked door with the aid of his scarf of disguise. Killing three Graul guards and bypassing a giant spider by dint of giving it ogrekin to feed on, we manage to rescue the three rangers: Jakardros (the cougar’s master), Vale Temros (a warrior) and Kaven (whose explanations for possessing a sihedron tattoo were notably unsatisfactory).
We attacked the main house with a view to leaving the matriarch until last. Our earlier reconnaissance proved most satisfactory as Neril was able to hamstring her spellcasting capability with a Silence spell, and neither she nor her zombie kin proved at all adept at dodging fireballs. In the end Jarrick struck the telling blow, though how his dagger managed to find a vital organ beneath all that blubber, I cannot begin to guess.
The last member of the Graul family ambushed us in the cellar and nearly killed Jarrick before we defeated him. We continue to explore the house, but hopefully we have seen the last of the disgustingly inbred Graul clan. I think that once we are finished, Quillax will want to take advantage of the foul weather to lightning bolt this appalling house into oblivion.

ep 30 to 25/11/4712 Hook Mountain Massacre #1

Quillax's Journal

Character Update:

- Jarrick spent his break securing a 99 year lease for the Tower for 1gp, thus forming a contract with the Mayor/City in the name of his religion. He plans to renovate it (contractors already secured and paid) and turn the bottom level into a soup kitchen and the upper levels into personal quarters.
- Sepheria spent her break studying at the university, and preparing a draft to publish her knowledge on Sorshen. The break was not enough time to complete a paper, so instead she published her research notes and is well on her way to being renown for her knowledge of the Lust RuneLord/Lady.
- Quillax spent her break working and training with Clank, helping him adjust to his processor upgrade and practicing his new skills.
- ? Elwin went off to study with a high level cleric from his Temple.
- ? Neril was working with his students at his dojo.


Additional Notes:

- It's been about 1 month since anyone last heard from Fort Rannick (or the Black Arrow Rangers). Magnimar has loose control in the area, mostly since the people there don't want Korvosa as their rulers. The area around Fort Rannick is controlled by Magnimar, further East is controlled by Korvosa, and further West and North are under Shoaunti and other tribal rule.
- Ferry travels about 20-25 miles per day upstream. The distances are as follows: 182miles to Wardol, 113 miles from Wardol to Whistledown, 64 miles from Whistledown to Isle Cyrian, and then 82 miles from there to Turtleback Ferry. Approximate travel time, 20 days.
- Turtleback Ferry on the edge of Claybottom Lake
- Pendakka - tiny village across the lake from Turtleback Ferry.
- Paradise barge anchors about 2.5 miles away from Turtleback Ferry.
- Fort Rannick is reachable by travelling up Skull River


Quillax's Journal

We secured transport on the Ferry, watching people get on and off at each Ferry port, until we eventually reached our destination of Turtleback Ferry. The Ferry master told us that the "Turtle's Parlour" was the place where the Black Arrow Rangers would stay. Beside the Parlour is another Inn, the "Bottom's Up", owned and run by a pair of halflings, where hunters, farmers, and fishermen tended to stay. The Ferry master also mentioned a barge stationed in the middle of the lake, the "Paradise", which from what we gathered was a little like a brothel, though we were not able to spot the Paradise as we docked.

We decided to split the party and increase our chances of finding further information by staying at both Inns. Neril and I secured lodgings at the Bottom's Up while Sepheria and Jarrick secured lodgings at the Turtle's Parlour.

The Bottom's Up was very lively, with drinking and dice games. Neril spotted a hunter with an odd tattoo - a Sehedron - on his wrist, partly hidden by his sleeve and brought it to my attention.

Upon speaking to the Landlord, Yads Kesker, who knew of me through my association with the Andusanna Elven Ranger, Shallalu, who had been lost at Sandpoint, betrayed by Orrick. Her adopted father - human - was a Ranger at Fort Rannick and no one had heard from him or any of the Rangers for the last month. Aside from that, we found out that the little frontier town had seen some troubles of late, including the inexplicable sinking of the Paradise, where all hands - about 20 people - perished. This had happened about 1 week after the loss of communication from the Fort. From all reports, the weather was calm, so it was suspected that a Giant Gar sank it. He gave us some general directions to get to Fort Rannick, also.

We met up with the others at the Parlour and shared our findings.

Sepheria and Jarrick reported that their Landlord was less friendly to start but spoke with Sepheria about the troubles in the town also. They were also introduced to Maelin Shreed, the town's Priest and Mayor, who managed both the church and the small hospital hosted inside it. He told them of the nasty things out in the woods, "Grauls", which were said to be ogre-kin. They hunted on the far side of the river (in Kreegwood) but had yet to cross it. As long as people remained on the Ashwood side of Skull River, the ogre-kin did not hunt them. Although, despite the disappearance of the Rangers, there appeared to be no more ogre activity than before, though several hunters had disappeared going to investigate the lack of communication from the Fort. The last ones disappeared about 1 week previous to our arrival.

The Landlord had also pointed out a person with a Sehedron medallion to them. Additionally, he spoke of a Lucreita, who ran the Paradise barge; she was a red-headed woman that stood out and seemed very peculiar, apparently she seemed a touch inhuman.

We decided to go check out the Paradise's wreck to see what clues were left behind. We noticed that all the locals locked their doors at night, uncommon, but it indicated they were afraid. Additionally, we had been informed that it had rained almost continuously for many days previously, though it had mostly stopped now.

To prevent drawing suspicion or notice from our enemies, we decided to slip out of town to investigate the wreck. We employed a variety of spells and rituals and Water Walked out to the general location of where the barge was said to have anchored, using the cover of the church to hide our exit.

Moncey went ahead and dove around looking for the sunken ship but could not find it. We decided to cancel Water Walk and made use of the Water Breathing to look around. Clank sank immediately and we held on to him, getting pulled down to the bottom of the lake without expending any effort. After a few hours, we managed to find the wreck. A large tail fin flicked into the wreck, and I judged it to be a 25-30' long Gar.

We kept our distance as we examined the remains of the Paradise. The barge itself was about 60' long and had many gaping holes in the sides of the ship. From the shapes of the destroyed areas we were quite certain that the ship was attacked from the inside, possibly explosives but certainly not a fish, even a huge one.

A side note: Gar have a very good sense of smell but are aggressive only when hungry or threatened. Considering it did not come to attack us, it was unlikely to be hungry and would very likely just hide. We decided to leave it alone and swam up to the deck to start from there.

The doors were barred, another indication of a pre-planned attack and not a fish, but once we got the doors open, we were able to see a number of bodies, all of them missing most of their flesh leaving white skeletons scattered around. Wary of them getting up and attacking like some underwater ghoul, we watched them carefully as I spoke with the little fish that had scattered at our entrance into the dark corners.

They weren't able to tell us much more than the skeletons had never moved around them, they were tasty meals, and there was the big scary fish nearby. Getting nothing more, I went to talk to the large Gar. It bubbled that it was uncomfortable with me. I backed up and tried to speak to it again, but it felt threatened enough to attack.

I switched to a shark form and bit at it, hoping to chase it away. Instead, it lunged at me, though I dodged. The rest of the party, who had stayed up on deck, jumped off the side of the ship and swam down towards the fight. Sepheria cast magic missile, which fizzled through the water striking the Gar. Clank moved to my side immediately and had to wait for the fish to move into his reach. Neril teleported on top of the fish and struck it with his spear, also stunning it. I managed to bite it once more as Jarrick swam closer. He aimed his crossbow but the thrashing in the water blew his arrow off course. Neril caught it and tucked it away to return later.

Sepheria attacked, followed by Clank and Neril - all doing damage. I landed the killing blow.

While Clank dragged the fish back into the boat to prevent it from rising to the surface and revealing we had disturbed the barge, we looked around. The bodies were dressed for a night out in a manner of dress consistent with the style of the townspeople.

All we could find were bodies and a couple of small denomination coins, which indicated the boat had been cleaned out before it was sunk and everyone killed. This was not a random robbery or accident, but rather the work of a plan, done by someone professional. Very professional. There was not a single scrap of paper or out of place object. More proof of attack was the ballast in the hold was made up of many more rocks than reasonable.

We checked the corpses but found no red-heads, so despite what the townspeople thought, Lucreita did not go down with her ship.

Jarrick looked around for any belongings which we could use to identify people. All he could find was a single ring with "Tomen" carved inside. He later gave it to the Mayor to give to the family.

Just to be sure, we gutted the large Gar to ensure there was nothing accidentally swallowed, then swam a couple of widening circles in case something had landed nearby.

I informed the small fish that they were safe and where they could find a fresh meal. Their reaction dance caused Sepheria some hard to identify emotion, possibly bewilderment, but honestly, dancing fish are far from the weirdest thing that happens around druids.

We swam back and the air seems ten times colder than when we walked out as our clothes were soaked. While most of us are better suited for dealing with harsh climates, Sepheria did not fair well and quickly fell ill from the cold. We hurried back to the Parlour and I took a furry form to act as a hot blanket. She recovered successfully in a few days.

While Sepheria recovered, the others asked around the town. We found someone, a hunter, who had seen the Paradise sink, although from a distance. He said he thought he heard screams but admitted it could have only been his imagination. He saw the lights wink out one by one. He did not mention the sound of an explosion.

We also found a man called Clayton, who bore the Sehedron tattoo. According to him, it was the equivalent of a club membership, allowing the bearers to enter the Paradise without paying the usual entry fee; the tattoo had been provided completely free. He had managed to win rather often at the Paradise, being 12gp up. The night it sank, there had been some special offer, which lured all the regulars there. He had been sick and unable to go. The dead included the servant wenches, most hired from outside of Turtleback. Only one woman known to be from the town.

Further discussion with the Mayor revealed that there was a large dam situated up the Skull River. Sepheria expressed a worry that someone would destroy it and wipe out the rest of the town. We headed immediately towards the dam, via the bridge.

As we walked, we could hear the yowl of pain from a large cat off to the South West then the chorus of hunting hounds. Neril reported that he could also hear a guttural voice singing about eating kittens. We headed towards the sounds.

As we crossed the bridge, a cougar burst out of the woods, running on three legs. It had obviously had his paw caught in a trap but had managed to get out. I called out to it in Animal Speak and moved to examine it. I found a broken leg and bad lacerations. I managed to cast a Cure Wounds on the cougar before five dogs leapt out of the woods and bear form was more suitable.

Sepheria dropped a fireball on the dogs and two died immediately. The others should have run if they were normal but they appeared to be insane. They lunged at Sepheria but she twisted out of the way of their jaws and Neril darted in and struck one down.

We could hear the hunter approaching and Jarrick moved up and looked around for it. The Cougar ran a bit further away, obviously still afraid. Clank killed a dog and I finished off the last dog.

Sepheria spotted the hideous humanoid first, which was a horrid, unnatural creature. From its words, we knew it to be the dogs' huntmaster. It moved far more quickly than expected through the rough terrain and attacked Jarrick. Neril moved to help Jarrick, landing 3 solid blows to the huntmaster, giving Jarrick time to regroup and ready his shield. He bashed the huntmaster, knocked it down, then struck it in a weak spot with his dagger. I finished it off.

I returned to sort out the cougar's injuries while the others investigated the body. On the ragged blanket acting as a cloak, there were 5 Black Arrow patches amongst other patches, including a WheatSheaf that seems familiar but none of us could place, although the patches were obviously trophies.

The cougar was named Kibb, companion animal of the Ranger Jakadros. His friend/master was most probably a Fort Rannick based Ranger, who was captured by the ogre-kin. Kibb was able to explain that they had been out on patrol and were returning to the Fort when they were ambushed. Some Rangers died in the fight but the survivors had been captured. Some of those survivors were eaten. Kibb had managed to escape and had been running from the ogre-kin while trying to rescue his human for the last three weeks, until he caught his foot in a trap and eventually stumbled into us.

He asked us to assist him in helping rescue his companion. He knew there were many ogre-kin but could not give us an accurate count. We agreed and followed Kibb back to the where the people were being held. The area was decorated with creepy little fetishes designed to ward off people, though for us it meant we were headed in the correct direction.

We could see a barn to the right and a house to the left, both in bad repair; the surrounding land was diseased. We settled a distance away and Sepheria called up her arcane eye while we guarded her.

She described the barn - split into two sections, with a double door in the partition. There were catwalks along each side of the barn and kennels. Three ogre-kin were squatting in guard, playing some sort of game using bones as pieces. All three, she reported, were grotesquely mutated, though each unique in their mutation.

Neril pointed out an ogre-kin that tried to sneak up behind us and all of us were quick to spot it, save Sepheria who was otherwise distracted. It had a rather pumpkin shaped head, though this was no construct. It smelled far too horrible.

I tried Hold Person to keep it from making noise, but the spell did not take. The Ogre-kin attacked Neril with a hook-like weapon, landed a blow but Neril managed to slip out from the hook before he could be pulled forward. The ogre-kin was fast and managed to hit Neril with the hook again, and pulled him off his feet and struck him with the butt of his weapon which knocked him unconscious.

Jarrick was swift to give Neril a Hand and provided much needed healing. Kibb leapt forward and struck three times, anger in his growls. Neril teleported out but immediately turned to attack again. Clank joined the fight as did I.

The ogre-kin ignored us and continued to target Neril. It struck Neril hard enough to knock him out once more. Kibb attacked while Jarrick used the last of his power to bring Neril back to his feet. Neril attacked then darted to a safe distance.

Sepheria summoned her magicks and destroyed the ogre-kin. Assured it was now dead, she turned back to her arcane eye while we checked over the body and tended injuries.

She muttered to us that the ogres inside the barn had changed positions so that they were hidden in the shadows by the entrance, ready to trap any who entered. It was obvious that they had heard the sounds of fighting.

She continued forward with her eye and found three badly injured prisoners. We could not determine if any were Kibb's human Ranger, but they were likely from the same party. They looked in a bad way, she informed us, so they would be our priority.

She continued to guide her spell over to the house, her face twisted into a moue of disgust and gagging occasionally at what she saw. She tried to investigate as much of the area as possible, despite her discomfort. She mentioned "toys" or at least carved figurines of a Leviathan type monster the maid in town had mentioned: Black Maga. It was considered a folktale, but many stories have origin in truth.

There were 8 chairs in the dining room. We knew of two dead, three in the barn, two in the toyroom, and one in the bedroom, so perhaps all were accounted for. Unfortunately, that last one was a mage and sensed Sepheria's eye and dismissed it. She would be the most dangerous, despite her reported size being so large that movement would be difficult if not assisted by magicks.

With her eye dismissed, Sepheria sketched out a map of what she had seen in the house.

[2178 xp each, including explorer bonus]