Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Online Session 11 Notes (12/17/10)

Here is a link to a .RAR bundle which includes all the .html transcripts for AIM online sessions 1-32.

PCs:
Doorjamb

NPCs

Blake Bauerkroft (human male):
Nephew to the late Regent Reginald Bauerkroft, Blake is one of the few non-military mayors in Floivin Province, assigned to the small fishing village of Tarndim to conduct affairs there. He's become very upset at the passing of his uncle, and plans to leave Floivin Province for Carbadi. He's lightly bearded, with orange hair, and presumable in his mid to late 20s.

Fisslakk (troglodyte male):
Claims to be the last of the Marrow Suckers clan, troglodyte raiders in the Skunk Ridge. He has come to Tarndim to seek asylum and warn the humans when his clan is poisoned to death by a cask of ale they found in the dwarven barrows north of Tarndim. Fisslakk has pale gray skin and greenish/black eyes, a long, scarred and chipped frill hanging down its back. It reeks of oil and carrion. Fisslakk carries a staff of bones and feathers which Doorjamb has perceived to be magical. He may possess some skill in sorcery.
Gregan Hosspotch (halfling male):
An elderly halfling with wiry, gray/white hair, who walks on a cane. He sells alchemical supplies out of Swamper's Swap in the village of Hobfast.
Private Bleeb (human male):
A young soldier in the Eidolorn Guard stationed at Tarndim. He's got a blondish bowl cut and a massive bottom lip which affects his speech abilities, and has difficulty stuttering and pronouncing certain sounds, especially the 'b'. He's handy with a crossbow but has little respect from his fellow soldiers or Blake Bauerkroft.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Session 11 Notes (12/10/10)

Ivric, Clairis 29th, 868 ID.

The PCs decide that a morning excursion to the potential location of the hobgoblin 'Ironballs' would be for the wiser, and they request that the goblin fishermen remain at Cheeky's Hollow for the previous night, to lead them early the next day. They agree only to lead the PCs to the entrance of the old hydra's lair, which they call Murklyre's Maw, in which Ironballs might be hiding out, as they wish not to incriminate themselves. The PCs decide that they must also have the orc Vishlag along, to translate for the goblins. He begrudgingly agrees, still mourning the loss of his close friend and brother Dropy from the previous night. In the night, several crocodiles scout about the Hollow's entrance, frightening Vishlag on his watch, but they pass without conflict.

The PCs set out for a few hours to the west Vernal Wall, where their goblin guides lead them to a cavern ringed by 8 reptilian skulls. They explain this is the hideout of Ironballs, and then the PCs let them free. Inside, they discover a crude lift that leads down into a cavern network, which reeks foully of death and other stenches. There are clove/herbal necklaces hanging in the pit entrance, which the PCs put on to mask some of the stench of these caves. They creep through several tunnels until they hear the sounds of hacking and abrasive conversation. They discover a corridor penned off in which goats and sheep are kept, looking frightened and malnourished. They discover an ogre and goblin, both operating a small butcher's block in a cave near the goat pens, and they take them by surprise, demanding to be taken to their leader.

The ogress, one 'Gusta' agrees to go speak with Lt. Wogg, her leader, but when she leaves without escort, the PCs hear a wooden door being shut, then re-opened, and a horrid, hissing sound. A five headed hydra has been let loose upon them, and it turns out that Murklyre's Maw is a hydra hatchery, where the creatures are raised and sold by the Skull Collar clan. The goblin cook, Kmelk, wets himself and hides in the butcher's cave while the PCs fight the creature in an unending, grueling battle. Once Bulgoth makes note that the hydra's heads must be burned with acid or alchemist's fire, he uses up his supply, the PCs joining in with what few oil flask they have. Vishlag grips the party's lantern, threatened by Langston that if he fails he'll get an arrow in his back. Somehow, the PCs persist and survive the hydra!

After this, they head down the tunnel where Gusta had run to seek out her master, and discover a wooden, barricaded structure with a door in it, large enough for men or ogres, and presumably a hydra if the entire barricade is swung open. There are javelin holes in the barricade, and they are occupied, and the PCs can hear conversation beyond. Frustrated, they rifle through their possessions to see if they can burn it. They cannot, but it turns out the goblin Kmelk's kitchen has flint and tinder with which they could light the barricade. Once they threaten to set it alight, the bugbear Wogg comes out to parlay, angry that they've slain his pet/watchdog Slarsh the hydra. He agrees to give up information if the PCs will leave, but he will not relinquish the hobgoblin Ironballs, who is beyond the barricade.

The PCs learn of several Score members living in the Hud Horrn, one of which is supposedly a foreign priest named 'Gremek', and the leader of the mysterious organization. They also learn that Cheeky is being given asylum by Chizel, the half-giant war chief of the Skull Collar clan, somewhere in the east Vernal Wall, south of the pass through which the Great Westermarch threads en route to Toul Tabor. They leave the hatchery, and return to Cheeky's Hollow with the goblin Kmelk in tow (Wogg angrily told the PCs to take the failure along). After realizing how close they came to death, they ask Lt. Hoary to requisition supplies in Hobfast, which he goes off to do. He returns with alchemist's fire, acid, and other implements while the PCs decide their next move, which is to potentially investigate the Hud Horrn.

PCs:
Langston, Luz, Ogeir, Slab

NPCs

Gusta (ogre female):
Gusta is the resident chef, or rather 'butcher' of the Skull Collar clan activities in Murklyre's Maw, the hydra hatchery in the west Vernal Wall. She's of massive bosom, and slicked, greasy short hair that meshes well with the various ridges and warts on her cheeks and skull.

Kmelk (goblin male):
An assistant cook and butcher who works under Gusta at Murklyre's Maw, he's just as pathetic as most other goblins, with russet/yellow skin and reddish eyes and a severe underbite. Kmelk is 'confiscated' by the PCs after Lt. Wogg of the Skull Collars no longer wants the failure around.

Slarsh (hydra):
A five-headed hydra that gives the PCs a real rough time of it when they assault the Skull Collar's hydra hatchery. Slarsh is slain after a drawn out battle, thanks to Bulgoth's possession of several acid flasks and some alchemist's fire.

Wogg (bugbear male):
Burly and dangerous looking, Wogg is one of the officers of the Skull Collar clan, whose chief duty (under Chief Chizel) is to operate Murklyre's Maw, the clan's hydra hatchery in the west Vernal Wall. Wogg has the markings of the Blood Eagle clan on his chest, which he has mutilated in an attempt to obscure. Wogg parlays with the PCs after they kill his guard pet Slarsh and threaten to burn through the clan's quarters. Wogg is known to harbor the hobgoblin Ironballs, who once worked under the criminal Cheeky.