Friday, August 6, 2010

Witchspyre Hill: Session 6


May 16 - May 22

Our last session began with our intrepid adventurers descending once again into the gloomy depths of the dungeon below Witchspyre Hill. The group journeyed for about an hour through corridors and passageways that had they had previously explored, intent on visiting a previously unknown section of the underworld. Along the way, they stopped to make a rubbing impression of a mysterious copper disk that they had previously found that was covered with strange and unrecognizable magic runes. The party's magic users, Imgmar and Abu, thought that Bytor of Null's Harbor might be interested in trading the information for knowledge that he claimed to have regarding a possible clue to the dungeons strange origin.

Shortly after this, the party was attacked by a band of roving lizardmen. After besting the reptilian humanoids in combat, the group pressed forward and made the acquaintance of a strange individual, a filthy long haired human who emerged from behind a secret door and claimed that he was willing to trade goods and supplies for gold. Puzzled by this strange encounter, the party attempted to gather information from him. His answers to their questioning proved to be evasive. Who was this strange individual exactly? How did he come to be in the dungeon? These questions remained unanswered and the party decided to return to Null's harbor to trade their information with Bytor and hire an additional hireling. On their way out of the dungeon, they were beset by a group of strange froglike humanoids. The fight went well, though one of the mysterious creatures did manage to escape.

Back in town, Abu hastened to Bytor's shop and discovered that the mage was in fact very interested in the rubbing, though he claimed not know or understand its meaning. In exchange, he produced a very old tome that had been in his collection for some years. The book was entitled "Tales and Legends of the Old Empire" by Thentis the Sad - written in 603 (more than four hundred years earlier). It contained a collection of legends of the old empire that had existed in what is today Thrang over a millennium earlier. Bytor drew Abu's attention to the third chapter entitle "The Mysterious Dissappearance of the Tower of the Four Faces" It purported to be a retelling of a scroll dating from 1000 years earlier, now lost, that contained a story by someone named Skelos of an incident that took place some fifty years earlier in a coastal province of the empire. A tower with four screaming faces inhabited by Zorander, a powerful wizard stood once stood on a high hill by the western sea. A crude map included indicated that this spot was in all likelihood what is today Witchspyre hill. One day, according to Skelos's account, the tower and its foundations just mysteriously vanished into thin air. (Note: these events, if true, would have taken place 1,498 years earlier). Written in the margin by a hand other tahn the author's was the word "Malfarazzaar?" Bytor claimed that it seems likely that the tower of the faces may in fact be the same tower that appeared atop the Witchspyre just months earlier. When asked what the word "Malfarazzaar" might mean, Bytor claimed that he had no idea, nor did he know what later owner of the book may have authored this marginal gloss on the text. His own magical inquiries had only revealed that the word was a proper noun, but beyond that he had never been able to learn any more. He recommended that they seek out the advice of Sul-tas the sage, a learned man who lives on Boar's Head Isle in the Drakenspree Tarn and who specializes in ancient and obscure languages and history. When Abu asked him why he had never sought the advice of this sage, the mage claimed that he had never deemed the matter to be of much importance, or at least he never had until the tower mysteriously appeared recently. Bytor claimed that his business interests in town prevented him from making the journey to see Sul-tas himself at this time, but that he would be happy to share in any costs if Abu and his companions wanted to travel and ask him themselves.

The rest of the night passed without much incident, though several members of the party decided to enjoy some wenching in Sorrowside. This led to mixed results. Abu awoke the next morning only to find that in his drunken binge he had had an image of the tower of the faces tattooed on his back. Igmar also awoke with a new tattoo, a mysterious symbol on his wrist that he could not explain or understand. Wolfgar the cleric had had a less successful evening. Apparently, in a drunken revel he had managed to accidentally set fire to several fishermen's shanties by the harbors edge. Uncertain, if anyone knew that he was responsible for the accident, Wolfagar was understandably eager to leave town.

And so the party did, after hiring an additional hireling, one Zelig Croop, a heavy set, talkative individual whose breath reeked of garlic. On the journey back to Witchspyre Hill, Zelig privately told Wolfgar that he knew that he was responsible for the fire in Null's Harbor but that the town watch did not. He intimated that, as long as he was well taken care of by the party, he would make sure the town watch did not learn of this either.

The party arrived back atop the hill on May 22 only to find the remains of a recent campsite in the ground floor of the tower, a likely indication that another group of adventurers had recently preceded them into the dungeon. And that is where we left off. Thanks to all of you for a great night of gaming.

Experience: 60 points for all involved.

11 comments:

Riley said...

Great summary, Carl. I had forgotten how action packed the last session was. Wow! I think we should make a visit out to Sul-tas tomorrow--after some delving into level 2 maybe?--and see Raven's Falls on the way perhaps.

Bytor said he would help with our expenses, but I'm wondering if that's before he head there or if he's repay us when we get back. I'd hate to head back to Null's Harbor unless we have to before heading East. Thoughts?

post festum said...

Thanks very much, DM. Yeoman-like work as always. I'd love some more detail on the symbol on Igmar's wrist whenever you get around to providing it.

And I'm glad you brought up Bytor's offer, Andy, since I was wondering much the same thing. For now I suggest we make a point to hit Bytor up for some kind of per diem whenever we get around to returning to Sorrowside. I see no reason to risk having to make some promises (implicit or otherwise) to share any information we gain from Sultas until we ourselves know what Sul-tas knows.

I agree: (1) dip our toes in LvL 2, (2) locate the sage, and (3) check out Raven's Falls.

Batman 1970 said...

**METAGAMING ALERT!!!**

I don't know if anyone else paid attention to the language of this last post from our faithful DM, but I don't remember seeing more equivocation from him before. Bytor "claims" three times in five sentences. That gives me the heebedie-bejeebedies. I don't know if we can trust Bytor any more than we can trust anyone else we've come into contact with in Null's Harbor. It seems amazing to me that in such a small town (and I know, it's not that small for where we are in the world), there are so many different agendas and intrigues. This is no Mayberry, my friends (Just in case you hadn't noticed).

Bian Fu is pumped about hitting the 2nd level, but I have to admit that I am worried on his behalf. I don't know if you all have noticed, but my characters have a habit of dying for glory rather than running and living. I just hope tonight doesn't turn into another one of the "glory" nights.

See you all this evening!

Riley said...

Ummm, Jay, I think this might be one of saying-the-devil's-name-makes-him-appear type moments considering that *is* how Bian Fu died. I was very sorry to see him go. A second level fighter in our group will *definitely* be missed.

Batman 1970 said...

Andy,

Unfortunately, you're right on this one. I kind of called my shot, didn't I?

I'm not sure yet, but I think Lasirus Kinerius will be a bit more cutthroat and selfish than some of the other bat-people who have come before him. His background is a bit harsher than the others, and he doesn't have as kind a disposition as the ones who came before. It is too bad about Bian Fu -- particularly because of his sense of honor -- he took no nonsense and was willing to kill to maintain his honor, but he had no better sense of self-preservation than his predecessors. Lasirus is much more willing to be selfish in order to keep his life.

And just to clarify my last post which was ambiguously worded: Bian Fu was excited about reaching the second level of the dungeon -- not second level as a character -- that was far off -- and never to be reached, unfortunately.

When should we do this again? I'd love to get in another session before school starts if possible. If we're going with the usual two weeks, the 21st looks pretty good according to my calendar. Barb has asked if we could hold this next session somewhere else this time though. I think she's a bit tired of being trapped with four children in our bedroom watching a movie on a Saturday night.

Riley said...

LOL, that sounds perfectly reasonable. Tell Barb that for her sacrifice, she's the Hero of the Night™. Again, I mourn Bian Fu's passing. He was a good comrade in arms.

post festum said...

I second the notion, Jay. Very sorry about how it ended for Bian Fu. He will be missed.

And please give my thanks to Barb. She's been so gracious, and we played so late into the evening on Saturday that I just know we left a great big mess for the two of you. Thanks for the wonderful hospitality.

post festum said...

Oh, and while I'd love another chance to play before the semester gets underway, I will be out of state until Monday 8/23. I could do ANY date after this, but, of course, feel no obligation to wait for Igmar if the 21st is the only date that works for others.

Erth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Erth said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Erth said...

Hey, gang.

I have found some inspiration for a character! : )

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/16/columbia-professor-kicked_n_683159.html

I thought I'd share this as it refers to a peer to some of you, albeit in a ridiculous way. I got a kick out of some of the comments, besides. Perhaps, you know the prof in this story, atleast in character.

Kindly,
Paul