Online/Tabletop Session 55 (11/30/13)

*Giantsfall: The Storming of Ettenhead*
  
Aric (Saint's Day), Martenin 26th, 838 ID

After having gathered the loot and scouted about the ruined campsite for more signs of giant warbands, the PCs press on for a few short hours towards Ettenhead, when at last the denser forest passes into a vast East-West dell of rolling hills where the trees begin to cede, some of which seem to have been cleared down to the trunks. The PCs use Baro's spyglass to scout out the ruined stronghold ahead, and determine that it is indeed well populated with giant guards...ettins and brown bears on patrol, ogre, troll and hill giant troops within the crumbled walls. Ballyhoo's geased and charmed ogre companion, Mothlok, reveals what information he knows about the mysterious 'Titan of the Glen' who lives somewhere beneath the castle and the Vernal Wall, and also about the 'King of the Surface Ruin' who presides over the giants within the actual stronghold. They also notice a suspicious bush about half way between where they've stopped and the castle. They decide to rest and regain their spells, so Gruulsh takes watch. After a few hours, when darkness has fallen, a suspicious halfling stalks about their campsite, and then confronts the bugbear, telling a tale of his missing sister who has been taken by the giants. Gruulsh agrees to allow him to use their camp to rest and join them in the onslaught the following morning. Aylward and Mudgol are awakened by the chatter and the paladin makes sure this newcomer is 'alright', while the halfling, Gardner Thom, seems excited to be in the presence of the 'hero' of the realm, Mudgol the Undecided.

Tault, Martenin 27th, 838 ID

The PCs gear up for the assault on Ettenhead, but early in the morning notice a suspicious whirring sound from somewhere nearby. Unable to determine its source, they continue their plans, which are to send in the aerial paladin Aylward as a distraction and then teleport two groups into the midst of the castle, beyond the breached front door. After some quick buffing up, Aylward takes flight on Lightwing, and as he approaches he is struck by some flying rocks from the giants within! Taking their cue, the rest of the group teleports and the battle begins. The giants seem unsurprised by the tactic, having somehow known there was a group of enemies in the area, especially after the dire bat and paladin approach. The battle is tense and grueling, the trolls, ettins, hill giants and bears surrounding and beating on our heroes as hard as they can, but it eventually starts to sway in the PCs favor...until one of the ettins alerts a second group of giants, these led by the 'King of the Surface Ruin' himself, a massive, twisted fomorian giant wearing a crown of Eidolorn skulls and helms; coincidentally the brother of the fomorian killed the day before at the campsite, and more imposing. Strangely enough, the mysterious mind flayer that appeared not long before during the fight to liberate Floivin Castle, has once again manifested here, seemingly in cahoots with the giants...what is the connection?!

With this second group entering the chained combat, the fight grows far deadlier, and many of the PCs are brought to the brink of death. Once the 'King' is close enough to mete out destruction, the game changes. Fortunately, Ballyhoo and Mudgol have made use of dimension door and teleport spells to keep the most vulnerable and wounded party members out of harm's way, and they end up saving the day on numerous occasions. After being caught in Baro's vortex of teeth, the elusive illithid decides to gets its tentacles dirty and engage the Tour Taborlan evoker. Alas, the valiant paladin Aylward meets his fate, as the fomorian brings him low with a massive amount of damage that crushes him into paste on the courtyard earth. Enraged, the dire bat Lightwing, who had been sent away from battle to circle around and remain safe, reenters to avenge its fallen companion... but it too, is destroyed by a hill giant. In a last ditch, desperate confrontation, the 'King' also lays low the halfling Thom with another barrage of brute attacks, but then the behemoth is finally destroyed by Mudgol! An end is in sight, with no reinforcements yet arriving from the tunnel purported to run below the keep, and the PCs polish off the last handful of resilient trolls, ettins and hill giants that had survived this far. Unfortunately, the illithid, pressed by Gruulsh, manages to escape once more via plane shifting to who-knows-where...

The battle cleared, the remaining PCs begin to search through the ruins, finding and unlocking a number of iron treasure chests and a lost weapon cache that might have belonged to earlier residents of the stronghold. Mudgol finds a giant eagles' nest containing two unhatched eggs on one of the more intact towers, and decides to leave them along for a moment. Though Ballyhoo searches, there is no evident sign of the 'sister' of Gardner Thom, or any other captives. Simply a lot of old bones and corpses, of both giant and Eidolorn soldier, all over the place, some placed in overt positions as 'warnings', others just haphazardly tossed about. The heroes are beginning to wonder why they bothered with the place, but when repaired it does seem like it will be quite a substantial stronghold with access to Wintersbreath. Baro teleports back to Floivin Keep while Neddyn begins the process of using stone shape to block off access to the large tunnel running beneath one of the north towers. The other PCs bury their dead, and then examine some of the loot they found in the chests. One item is identified, a robe of stars! Back in the city, Baro contacts Commander Hoary and Captain Banghorn with news of the party's success, and plans to return the next day with another teleport, the Captain and a few engineers, while Hoary will commission a team of carpenters, masons and a handful of site guards to make the trek North and begin repairing the stronghold.

PCs: Aylward, Ballyhoo, Baro, Gardner, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Neddyn

NPCs

Mothlok (ogre male): An ogre bandit captured by Lord Ballyhoo, he stands around 8 and a half feet tall with a brooding underbite and large, but beady black eyes, unkempt mutton chops and patches of baldness on his greasy, long-haired head. Mothlok was drilled for information before the storming of Ettenhead, but was unfortunately slain in the battle itself.

Session 54 (11/8/13)

*Don't Reel in the Fish*

Ivric, Martenin 24th, 838 ID   

Informed of Lord Ballyhoo's intentions to seduce the local druidess Shayla, the PCs set about keeping themselves busy until the evening. Baro and Mudgol decide to swap spells with one another, and set about the 24 hour task, while Neddyn continues a string of theological arguments with the ignorant elves of the Reddenbalm and Roodeye clans. Aylward decides to start a dire bat taxi service, taking local children for a ride in the sky, much to their excitement. And to the rest of the party's relief, none of the children plummet off the back of Lightwing to their deaths. However, the gnome is quickly upstaged by Lord Ballyhoo, who summons a shadowy, unicorn-like phantom steed that he plans to use to impress Shayla. First, he decides to show off in front of the local children, snatching away their interest from the poor golden bat. He tactically taxis a young elf maiden through Shayla's farm, that she might see the bard's 'sweet side' (gods, what has become of my campaign?! - DM). As evening sets in, and Ballyhoo prepares for his final approach, the group reassembles around the tents they've set up (or been generously gifted).

Gruulsh is approached by one Visyo Reddenbalm, a local elder who wishes to recruit her and the other PCs away from the Last Eidolorn guard into house bodyguards for the Reddenbalms...after which their first duties will likely be to bully, thwart or otherwise trouble the Roodeyes. Gruulsh is not convinced entirely, but wishes to meet further. At long last, Ballyhoo makes his move, but all his attempts at seductive showmanship have failed, since Shayla was simply excited by the prospect of the Corellon bible that was gifted to her. In the midst of their...'heat', the elf transforms into a large black dog! Barking is heard throughout Littlewolf...

Evalais (Saints' Day), Martenin 25th, 838 ID

In the morning, two exhausted wizards continue the process of transcribing a spell from one another, and at the Swineherd's farm, Lord Ballyhoo awakens alone, to find patches of fur, claws, bestial teeth, feathers and other oddities lying about, which he doesn't recall from the prior eve's affair. He does the 'walk' of shame, in this case riding his phantom steed through Littlewolf, heckled by the locals who shout that he's not the first to have experienced the druidess' passions firsthand. Meanwhile, the rest of the party gathers, being sold sweetbreads and delicious, syrupy coffee by the local elf maids who seem to be the community's primary mercantile force...no doubt for their innocent, childlike charm. While the heroes are gathered together, they are all approached by one Silas Roodeye, who attempts to recruit them all away from the Last Eidolorn and into the employ of his family, as house guards and saboteurs (against his enemies, the Reddenbalms).

The priest Neddyn begins to bicker and argue with the elf, whose proposition is refused by all BUT Mudgol, who in a few minute break between finishing his spell transcription, accepts a bag of coin and signs an NDA with Silas for future employment and not to make any agreements with Visyo Reddenbalm. The half-orc is promised leadership over a cache of clan mages that will make the Reddenbalms tremble. The rest of the PCs, bored out of their minds, decide to get some additional rest, and let Mudgol and Baro sleep after the 24 hour ordeal is complete and they've finished their task.

Aric (Saint's Day), Martenin 26th, 838 ID  
 
The players rise early to at last begin their mission towards Ettenhead, after some parting words with the locals. They are not left with a positive impression of the elves, several questioning why they don't just let the fairie-kin to the giants' mercies (or lack thereof). After a few hours travel north and northwest of the village, Aylward and his mount spy a strange hill-like structure covered in thick, felled trees. It is surrounded by a clearing of likewise ruined lumber, much of which bears claw marks and other grim signs. There is a wooden sign out front of the structure, and several cavernous entrances into the hill itself, but for some reason, not a single PC can speak the proper language to decipher it! Gruulsh, made invisible by Ballyhoo, decides to approach, along with Aylward who chooses to land...as they get close, the bugbear is suddenly overtaken by terror and flees, refusing to go anywhere near the place. The PCs decide unanimously to skirt around the area and press on towards Ettenhead and the Vernal Wall...

After several more hours, Aylward spies a column of smoke rising from the forest ahead. As he swoops in closer to investigate, he is nearly knocked from his aerial steed by a hurtling boulder! Well, it appears the gnome has found the giants, or at least a roving warband. He returns to the party and they approach on foot, using the cover of trees to avoid any more flying stones of death. They engage a force of about a dozen ogres and trolls, led by a twisted fomorian giant, and a bloody battle ensues. The massive cretins manage to nearly fell our heroic mages, and various other PCs are put into precarious positions, but in the end, they emerge victorious, despite the regenerative abilities of many of their adversaries. Lord Ballyhoo even manages to lesser geas one ogre into serving him, which it begrudgingly does, though the other PCs do not trust the situation (after all, who says it will protect them?) After looting the treasure of the warband, which might in fact have belonged to the merchants in the area that were earlier murdered by the giants, the PCs stop to gather their senses before pressing on...

PCs: Aylward, Ballyhoo, Baro, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Neddyn

NPCs

Silas Roodeye (elf male): An elfin merchant with a shrill, annoying voice, Silas Roodeye has flowing white hair and a trimmed goatee both streaked with strands of gold. He dresses in fine silks colored like the Frail Forest he calls home, and possesses an unending loathing of his neighbors, the Reddenbalm clan, in particular their current patron Visyo Reddenbalm, who he has been at odds with for centuries. Walks with a cane.

Visyo Reddenbalm (elf male): The clever son of Herr Jaeger Reddenbalm, eldest elf in the Vernal Valley, who has recently taken ill during the siege of Floivin Province, and no longer fit to manage the day to day affairs of the family. Though his father was somewhat even-handed, Visyo despises his neighbors of the Roodeye clan, to the point that he actively seeks to thwart them. Frail and narrow-shouldered, he wears flat round caps, purplish robes and has a fondness for chocolate sweets imported from afar.

Online Session 54 (10/28/13)

*A Major Loss. A Major Lost*

Here is the link to the transcript for AIM online session 54.


PC: Doorjamb

Session 53 (10/17/13)

*Tour de Remorse*

Essel, Martenin 23rd, 838 ID  

Sgt. Baro awakens with a dreadful hangover, deciding to get some coffee before rejoining his companions. He takes a cup at the Fiery Rat, the place where he had gotten drunk, and Flake Falloway inquires if he's dropped by so early to look for a missing item. Apparently several other patrons of the prior evening have lost things at the Rat. Baro checks his inventory and all seems well. Meanwhile, Gruulsh continues to press some training upon the Last Eidolorn, this time challenging a quartet of new recruits who haven't yet even been suited up for armor. Among these recruits is a pudgy, imposing former cook's boy named Benevolis who refuses to spar with a proper weapon, instead sticking to his rolling pin. He actually manages to land a few 'lucky' blows on Gruulsh, but she easily trounces them, noting that particular boy's strengths for possible officer placement. Eventually, the PCs all gather together once more, inspecting their purchases, and they are then approached by Captain Banghorn who wants to know their plans.

He insists they settle themselves into a new headquarters where he himself can reside and oversee their operations. The PCs first inquire about using Castle Floivin, which they recently helped liberate, but the Captain seems to believe the Regent might not go for that (especially having Ballyhoo or Mudgol in close proximity, for differing reasons). After several grumbles of disappointment, Banghorn suggests they could have an entire ruined dwarven stronghold if they could rout the giantkind dwelling within, and this would coincide with a possible mission to protect the elves of Littlewolf from warbands in the Frail Forest, that have been turning up with some frequency. Eventually the PCs concede to this idea, Gruulsh suggesting that it would also make a great staging location should the Vandrakki berserkers penetrate into Floivin Province. The matter settled, the PCs make a stop off at Teven's Tomes II so that Baro can purchase some items (he was unavailable during the previous shopping spree). After making inquiries about 'regenerate' spells to the twisted dwarf wizard, who boasts to Baro about how he's challenged the Regent of Toul Tabor to a spell duel, the party exits Floivin Keep through the East Gate.

They travel through the day to Halehusk, encountering naught but a giant ant mound which they do not disturb. Upon arriving, Baro, Neddyn, Ballyhoo and Aylward attend the Blind Vixen, while Mudgol and Gruulsh (his assigned babysitter for this stop) go to the Lone Wheel House. Mudgol is curious if they will remember that he has been banned from the premises. At the Vixen, the proprietress immediately calls out Ballyhoo, who insulted, decides it better to follow the half-orc and bugbear to the inn. Baro makes small chat with her, and then he and the gnomes are served an excellent meal while interacting with a Private Bazda, who is drinking on duty despite being one of the sole Last Eidolorn left in Halehusk. At the Lone Wheel House, Mudgol and Gruulsh are immediately ushered out to other dining quarters a waitress feels is more suitable for them...an emptied rabbit hutch out the back. Mudgol is brought a heaping helping of leftover pork and spoilt ale, which offends the monk. Ballyhoo, on the other hand, shows up and announces himself at the inn to the great joy of its patrons. He performs a ballad so well that even the livestock outside near the rabbit hutch seem smitten. In the end, they all gather together and decide to travel into the evening to press the distance towards Livenoak.

En route, while Aylward is scouting ahead on Light Wing, he spots a wagon approaching along the Great Westermarch to the north. Once he returns to tell the party, the sole occupant of the wagon, a gaunt old man named 'Vasiliste', from whom the paladin has sensed a disturbing aura, has set up a lantern and attempts to peddle wares...bone weapons which emanate magical energies. He's an excellent salesman, but only Neddyn is interested, purchasing a bone 'moon-touched' cudgel which Mudgol later identifies. Aylward does not seem willing to just leave matters be, but the other PCs insist they march forward. They reach Livenoak where Lord Ballyhoo invites the others to his tent-home. Realizing they might run out of space, Sgt. Baro also pitches his travel-tent, and begrudgingly allows Mudgol to sleep in it after the half-orc is immediately kicked out of Ballyhoo's house! The heroes sleep...

Ivric, Martenin 24th, 838 ID   

In the morning, the group heads over to the nearby Leaping Knuckle Lodge, where patrons are already awake in good cheer, gaming with dice and boards, and a generous breakfast being distributed. Gruulsh and Ballyhoo shower the barkeep with coin, but then somehow the old man becomes engaged in an argument with Neddyn. Ballyhoo casts a number of beneficial spells on the man, which further escalates the dilemma, and infuriates the dainty serving wenches who begin screaming at the party. They eventually take off and head along the Great Westermarch towards Littlewolf. Baro, drunk once again after snagging a bottle of wine from the Leaping Knuckle, disappears into the woods. A peddler selling skunk sausages meets them on the road, but is rather vexed by Aylward and his bat. Gruulsh offers to console the man with a platinum coin, after which the merchant drops the cart and runs along to seek out a new life. They decide to burn the cart rather than sample its sausages... A bit later, they encounter a pair of annoying Reddenbalm House Guards, who harass them and report that they've encountered a drunken, tattooed man earlier from the woods (most likely the missing Baro).

After arriving at Littlewolf, a young elfmaid showers Gruulsh and Mudgol with garlands of flowers and other floral jewelry, trying to curb their stink a bit and also turn some coin. The party proceeds to the Elfmarket, where they end up being the only customers of the afternoon...a half dozen elf peddlers hawk goods to them, including candied taffies, nuts, and licorices, as well as a masterwork composite bow for Lord Ballyhoo. The PCs pick up some rumors of where the giant raiders are originating, and it is indeed Ettinhead from which the tide stems. They are prompted to visit Shayla the Swineherd, a local wisewoman, and so they do. She turns out not to be characteristically normal for an elf, broader of build and more toned and muscular, and she does not seem thrilled with the PCs, claiming she did not send for help. She seems to be particularly offended by the two gnomes due to their chosen faiths. However, she confirms where the giant problem is coming from, and begins to soften once Ballyhoo presents her with the bible of Corellon that he and Ginkwrench had discovered in the ruined shrine east of Floivin Province, when they were hunting Baron Mordanc. She seems surprised, and offers to 'peruse' the book with Ballyhoo later that evening...smugly, the bard returns to the Elfmarket where his companions await...to plot their next move...he already knows his.

PCs: Aylward, Ballyhoo, Baro, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Neddyn 

NPCs

Benevolis (human male): A robust young man in his early 20s, with longish dirty blonde hair, Benevolis is a recent recruit into the Last Eidolorn who was formerly working as a cook's boy at the Dirty Dagger Alehouse. He seems rather bold and scrappy, having accrued some skill at bludgeoning with a rolling pin; claims it comes from altercations at the Alehouse. 

Private Badza (human male): An insensitive, swarthy soldier stationed at Halehusk after the refugee farmers decided to return to their homes. He's got deepset, glittering brunette eyes and fat sideburns, not to mention a rude tongue that immediately seems to offend the gnomes Aylward and Neddyn. Seems to have a few drinks at the Blind Vixen while on duty, and rub his nose in everyone's business who comes along.

Shayla the Swinehard (elf female): Quite toned, fit and muscular for her race, Shayla is an elfmaiden of some years who devoted her life to Crake and the Circle of druids operating in the Empire. She is seen as a sort of neutral, spiritual leader to the elves of Littlewolf, often mediating the disputes between the Roodeye and Reddenbalm clans. Has thick brunette hair in long braids, and wears a plain dun-colored shift which serves to further enhance her unique appearance. Has brown eyes and a hawklike stare, and her hands have obviously done much physical work in her years.

Vasiliste (human? male): A gaunt, elderly man with graying skin and grayer hair, seems to also have some sort of old concussion wound that disfigured the crown of his skull. Wears ragged, gentlemanly jacket and tophat and claims to be a vendor of rare and exotic goods, including the 'Bones of Dakaa', ivory crafted weapons that he claims were carved from the ivory of a great land beast a thousand miles south (of the Eidolorn Empire). The PCs encounter him late at night on the Great Westermarch road between Halehusk and Livenoak. Aylward senses a great evil within him...

Online Session 53 (10/7/13)

Here is the Link to the transcript of AIM online session 53.

PCs: Doorjamb

Online Session 52 (9/30/13)

Here is the link to the transcript of AIM online session 52.

PCs: Doorjamb

NPCs

Doss Drarn (human male): Thick-armed, middle aged man with long brown hair, he is garbed in finely crafted furs and speaks with a deep, resonant voice from his chest. Doss is a refugee who fled Vettlar with several cousins and strangers on a half-dozen roughshod flotilla made from rafts and debris. Doorjamb Grizzlebeard encountered and fed the man and his retinue while they were rafting south down the Pinewater, and he pointed them out to Tarndim for refuge.

Tyro Roodeye (elf male): A slender but fit elf of unknown years, Tyro’s platinum brow and slender, aquiline nose are all adorned with rings of sparkling gold, while similar bands are clasped to his wrists and elbows. Thinning, long platinum hair hangs behind his neck. He leans upon a staff affixed with crows’ beaks, and wears a fine cloak of red over a russet leather robe. Tyro is sent on behalf of Littlewolf to procure some assistance with a 'giant' problem stemming from the ruins at Ettenhead.

Session 52 (9/13/13)

*The Suckers and the Sucked*

Verne, Martenin 22nd, 838 ID  

Soon after the close victory in Castle Floivin, Doorjamb and Captain Lesper take off together to some unknown destination, leaving the rest of the PCs to 'clean up' the mess. They do so, looting the useful arms and armor off the githyanki forces, and then searching the rest of the first floor for survivors. They discover the newly appointed Treasurer of Floivin, one Coven, stuffed in the bottom of a desk in the Castellan's Office, who is escorted out by Mistlethroe; and the Regent herself placed in some sort of necromantic stasis and set aside in one of the ornamental suits of armor in the Regent's Meeting chamber/study. She is grateful for the rescue, though rather peeved that the invasion took place to begin with, and implores the party to seek out any other survivors. They find dozens of corpses of both castle staff and petitioners in the front foyer to the castle, which answers that question. Determined to leave the charnel house, the Regent and the PCs step outside, the body of Ginkwrench in tow, and they meet up with Hoary, Banghorn, and Schnoo, who appears to have been frizzle fried, losing much of his hair and personality in the process.

The burgundy robed wizard informs them that while he wasn't able to put an end to the githyankis' dragon battle platform, he did in the riders and managed to use a taxing spell to permanently transform the creature into a large red lake fish, which will make some angler happy in the upcoming seasons. The Regent and Hoary order that some soldiers comb over the upper levels of the castle to ensure there are no more survivors or enemies, and then the group begins to debate whether or not to pursue immediate retaliation into the Astral Plane. Mistlethroe, the resident 'expert', advises against it, since the Fell Queen will be aware of any force moving in on the mercane trade vessels, there aren't enough local wizards who can 'plane shift' an army directly onto the Fell Queen's stronghold, and training them all to 'fall' through the Astral might prove disastrous. Instead, it is ultimately decided that Schnoo and Mistlethroe will moor the Flabbergast Manor onto its lakeside Prime Material location indefinitely, so as not to invite further knowledge of their location to hostile forces. Hoary posthumously promotes Ginkwrench to Captain, and also promotes Banghorn to that rank, and Gruulsh to that of Lieutenant. Before rejoicing, the PCs head to the Cathedral of Blades to deal with the gnome barbarian's remains...

When they arrive, several of the PCs notice a large, golden-furred bat suspended from one of the statues atop the Cathedral. Gruulsh begins to scale the church, and the others argue about what to do, when Conniff blows out the front doors and tells them to leave it be, stop climbing the sacred place, and come inside. He takes specific notice to Lord Ballyhoo, whom he orders into his office. Meanwhile several acolytes come to take Ginkwrench's (looted) remains. Neddyn, flashing his wasp symbol of Radhol Thidhe around in the open, is confronted by a rigid female acolyte who tells him to put it away. A snoring, cloaked figure sits in the back pew of the church, and Mudgol and Gruulsh take an interest, to discover a golden haired gnome who has 'squatted' here for some time now. In Conniff's office, he accosts Ballyhoo for his recent actions with a female acolyte which resulted in her pregnancy (purportedly the bard's child!). The minstrel agrees to pay some cash to take care of the inevitable offspring, though he insists upon seeing the poor woman, which the bishop will simply not allow. Tired of the chaos of his party, Baro decides to head out for a drink at the Fiery Rat. Ballyhoo nabs Neddyn and heads for the Seven Flood Inn.

Before the rest of the PCs leave, Conniff informs the golden gnome, Aylward, that perhaps these men have the 'cause' he's been looking for, and that he and his bat should be gone and make some use of themselves. The gnome reluctantly agrees to speak with them, and he follows them out to the Armory Square. After arriving at the Fiery Rat, Baro has a heart to heart with Odd Jon and Flake, before the three decide to get drunk to the memory of Ginkwrench. In the midst of this desobering, a band of polite, black-clad halfling minstrels enters the Rat, and requests permission to perform: Machli and His 'Pies, so they are called. They are skilled and diverse musicians, able to handle requests and immediately pick up business for the Rat, since everyone wants to know who the band is. After some mingling in between songs, the halflings up and leave, believing that they've made the right impression on Odd Jon and will be invited back to perform. Baro stays a bit later before heading back to the barracks at Armory Square.

Meanwhile, Ballyhoo drags Neddyn to the Seven Floods Inn, where the bard is met with great fanfare, and the cripple given preferential treatment for his company. The two are bathed and then fed royally, and a crowd begins to gather once Ballyhoo performs. As usual, a flock of females surrounds the handsome bard, and one persistent woman name Skara makes several 'offers' at Neddyn, who rightfully seems frightened by her outrageous accent and unwelcome amorous advances. Despite Ballyhoo's encouragement, the gnome spurns the woman, but not before she makes off with the bard's platinum. Seeing that the gnome is possibly depressed, and hideously garbed, Ballyhoo snags him once more and drags him over to Swyft the Tailor, who is currently closed, but makes an exception when he sees that it is the noted bard at the door. Swyft is determined to take the raunchy, crippled priest and perform a great transformation....Ballyhoo leaves him off overnight in the capable clothier's hands.

After checking out their vault's safety under the burned Royal Leathers, Mudgol and Gruulsh arrive at the Armory Square with the gnome paladin and his bat, the latter of which perches directly on top of the barracks. Mudgol is almost saddened to find no practical jokes awaiting him. In fact, it turns out that the last two privates who were quartered in Mudgol and Baro's bunks died earlier that day against the githyanki's dragon. Sad times indeed. Some curious soldiers gather outside, and one, a Pvt. Enraz decides he wants to join the PCs unit, so as to procure a dire bat mount for himself (not exactly 'aware' of the truth, dealing with the half-orc diviner). He is told by Gruulsh that he must pass a sparring challenge with her to get into their unit, and it's agreed the two will meet the following morning and duel. The PCs go to their bunk to sleep, Lightwing and Aylward actually sharing a bed together...and then, a drunken Baro lurches in, seeing the ridiculous sight of a giant bat, bugbear and half-orc in his bunk, he lets loose a thunderstone in drunken rage! The stone explodes, causing Lightwing to freak out and smash through the roof!

The commotion attracts angry comments from neighboring barracks, and a shirtless Commander Hoary comes to discipline the PCs, ordering them to repair the whole the next day. But Baro has already fallen into deep sleep...Gruulsh wakes up later to do her rounds in the city, and Ballyhoo makes one more 'stop' at the Cathedral of Blades to learn that his 'sweetheart' has been stashed at a convent in Nobbish, but most of the party has finally drifted off to dreamland.

Essel, Martenin 23rd, 838 ID 

In the morning, after taking his breakfast, Ballyhoo is shocked to discover a divine vision of fashion having arrived at the Seven Floods, showing him up! And it is none other than the cripple Neddyn, whose rose fashioned garments eclipse any in the city. And then the gnome hands Lord Ballyhoo the bill for these tailoring services, and shock ensues. Desperate to get the money he needs, he heads out to join up with the rest of the party. Gruulsh has knocked out Pvt. Enraz and several other soldiers, and along with Mudgol, Lightwing and Aylward, they are repairing the roof to the barracks. Once united, the party goes on a tour of the Keep to sell the stash they got from the githyanki, after putting a few choice items into the party treasure. They reward Aylward with a few complementary gifts, and then sell a huge pile of enchanted and masterwork weapons and armor to Dronn and Teven, who pay them handsomely. They then proceed to pick up a few scrolls and items they can afford, and divide the remainder of the loot amongst themselves, leaving Doorjamb's share with Hoary. Mudgol, unable to find another charity scrying mirror, commissions Dronn Bellowbroth to construct a new one, which should take about a week.

Next, the PCs meet with the newly minted Captain Banghorn, who is once again in charge of their missions, and they begin to discuss resettling their headquarters and vault, since the Royal Leathers is obviously not going to be of much use...

PCs: Aylward, Ballyhoo, Baro, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Neddyn 

NPCs

Machli (halfling male): Plucking at a lovely mandolin of ash and ivory, this smug and portly middle-aged halfling seems to smile with his amber-flecked eyes moreso than his jaw. Adorned in fine-fitting black-dyed leather armor, his rings are aglitter with silver and jewels, as is the hilt of the short sword strapped to his left leg. Machli is a wandering minstrel who travels with eight other musicians he refers to as his 'Pies, and they have recently set their sights on entertaining in Floivin Keep. Machli meets with Odd Jon, Flake and Baro at the Fiery Rat, where they offer their first performance. The evoker and dwarves are taken in with how tight and uniform their performance is, and their ability to draw customers and 'mingle' among them in between numbers.

Pvt. Enraz (human male): An 'ambitious', moustached young soldier in his early 20s, Enraz seems taken in with Aylward's bat mount after the gnome brings it to armory square. He speaks with Mudgol about joining the unit, but then faces a sparring challenge from Gruulsh. Although he tries to get out of the match with the bugbear and face Mudgol instead, he nonetheless shows up for the fight and is dispatched fairly quickly by the monk, though not so quickly as several others unfortunate enough to be chosen for 'training'.

Skara (human female): A swarthy, plump woman with curly black hair and glimmering, dark eyes, she is a prostitute who services the wealthy crowd at the Seven Floods Inn. She speaks with a strange accent that falls somewhere between Jersey and Philly, TWO PLACES THAT DO NOT EXIST IN THIS WORLD, and seems to take a liking to Neddyn Starkweather, if only because the cripple is dining in the presence of the ever popular Lord Ballyhoo.

Online/Tabletop Session 51 (8/23/13)

*Consequences*

Varony, Martenin 21st, 838 ID  

The heroes manage to pull themselves out of the Mothergorge in Badash, and then they make a brief trek across the Fyreklaw Barrens until they find a defensible outcropping of stone and cactus where they can make rest. Watchful eyes remain directed at Badash, wary of being tracked since the orcs had begun to 'purge' the pits of their slave town.

Verne, Martenin 22nd, 838 ID 

Lord Ballyhoo is shaken awake by Lt. Banghorn, who informs him there is an emergency in the city that might require his services. As the bard and cripple emerge from the Seven Floods Inn, Ballyhoo is shocked to see fire raining down from the sky, as a massive red wyrm threatens the Western half of Floivin Keep. They rush off to a temporary operation center where Commander Hoary is trying to put together a defense plan against this new, unexpected threat. Several members of the Arkana Arkiva are present, including the dean (Schnoo) and chancellor (Mistlethroe), who quickly put 2 and 2 together once they make out the invasion force that has captured Castle Floivin, murdered most of the servants and house guards, and who are now holding Regent Velvedine and an unknown number of other public officials captive inside... Hoary asks that the wizards recall the other PCs to send a team in to deal with the threat, while the scant Eidolorn soldiers deal with the dragon.

Thus, Mistlethroe uses scrying and teleport spells to snatch up the unwary Mudgol, as well as Doorjamb, the latter of whom is none too plussed to be pulled off the scent of his own prey. Captain Lesper comes along also. Meanwhile, Schnoo has recovered the rest of the party from the Fyreklaw Barrens, popping in as they broke fast and prepared to move off. The PCs are eventually all gathered at the operations center, where Mistlethroe begins to accost and accuse Mudgol of attracting the githyanki of Takesh're to Floivin Keep! According to the gnome, something on their quest to free the other Arkana Arkiva staff happened where the general location of the Flabbergast Manor's Prime Material location was revealed to the Fell Queen and her minions, who are raging angry at Mistlethroe and Mudgol. So they brought one of their dragon transports to the proper location, and plane shifted to the Prime to exact payback! Mistlethroe believes they found this information out from githzerai refugees who Mudgol and Rumpridge might have prompted to seek safety at Flabbergast...

At any rate, the githyanki have arrived and take over Castle Floivin to provoke their targets to action, and sure enough, it happens. Schnoo takes to the air for a spell duel against the red dragon, supported by all the artillery the Last Eidolorn can muster, and the PCs are ordered into the Castle to retrieve the Regent and eliminate the intruders. Mistlethroe blows through his clerical spells to heal up those PCs that are injured from their recent travails, and the group crosses ground quickly to the side and back of the castle, where Hoary claims there is at least one secret rear entrance disguised as one of the first floor narrow window/murder holes. Doorjamb is placed in command, and orders Ginkwrench and Gruulsh off the walls as they attempt to scale to the top of the Castle (possibly earning the attention of the genocidal dragon circling above). They finally find the secret entrance, and use the bugbear to stealthily scout ahead, while the rest of the party (which includes Mistlethroe and Odd Jon) trails behind. Gruulsh scales to the top of the corner tower but believes it is heading the PCs away from where they want to be.

Eventually, while on the second floor and clueless of much of the Castle (having only been in the Mopp's Welcome foyer and Bartlebuck Hall for their celebratory feast), Mudgol decides to use clairvoyance to find the enemy, setting it down on the first level Bartlebuck Hall where he thinks the astral invaders might have set up their defense. Sure enough, he spies a githyanki champion in there with a flashy, double bladed weapon spouting two forms of energy...along with a squad of mercenary warriors and gish witches, not to mention what appears to be a mind flayer! But then his spell is put out! The PCs now know where to plot their offensive, and so move down to the first floor where they enter a massive pantry area. Gruulsh listens at the doors, but unfortunately a lot of them have been locked by either the staff or the githyanki. So she begins to break them down, triggering a fireball attack from a gish witch awaiting in the Castle kitchens! She quickly dimension doors away in the next round, and the PCs come up with an idea to teleport Mudgol and one squad into the central Hall while the others attack through another door.

So the battle is joined, but once Mudgol and his squad port into the Bartlebuck Hall, they realize they are surrounded by a lot of opponent's the half-orc hadn't yet seen with his spell...including a hulking undead form and a score of aberrations (gricks) that have been molded into combat pets by the Fell Queen's legions. He realizes he has made a mistake, and after a round of combat begins, he uses another teleport spell to get them back out. Unknowing, Gruulsh breaks down the door into the central Hall, and with only Odd Jon and Baro for support, he jumps in, out of the direct path of the mind flayer, who seems to be observing and waiting for a chance opportunity to do something nasty. The monk is pinned down and fights desperately to survive against several casters, grick and other githyanki that assault him. Meanwhile, the githyanki captain and many of his forces have busted into the kitchen where they confront the rest of the group. Spells fly, and a grueling, detailed combat commences...most of the opponents seem less powerful than the PCs, but they have the numbers to compensate, and while Ballyhoo has hasted most of the party, so too have the gith witches hasted a number of the githyanki shock troops and their leader!

Gruulsh is inevitably brought down by a concentrated attack involving a hold spell, a wave of grick attacks and a githyanki assassin who appears in the fight, but she hasn't died and her wounds bind up naturally. In the main melee, Ginkwrench the barbarian engages the githyanki champion...it doesn't end well, as the gnome is obliterated by the massive damage from a series of lightning-speed attacks via the champions double-weapon. Once losing his temporary Constitution, our arm wrestling barbarian is embraced by oblivion, which enrages his companion to fight on harder. Neddyn remains busy healing where he can, while the three mage combo begins to slaughter the opposition, and Doorjamb hacks his way through any comers. Baro does manage to destroy the githyanki champion by penetrating his Spell Resistance, and at that point the mind flayer disappears, while having done nothing at all...!? The battle presses on, and much harm is delivered, but the PCs and their friends eventually wipe the floor with the remainder of the gith invaders. They suspect that several of the githyanki might have escaped out into the Keep, but the immediate threat in the Castle has been ended. They quickly loot the bodies of the enemy mercenaries, gather up Ginkwrench's belongings and set out to find what became of any hostages...

PCs: Ballyhoo, Baro, Doorjamb, Ginkwrench, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Neddyn

Online Session 50 (7/13/13)

Here is the link to the transcript of AIM online session 50.

PC: Doorjamb

Session 50 (7/26/13)

'The Fall of the Righteous Prick'

Varony, Martenin 21st, 838 ID

After the PCs carefully pick their way back out of the prison complex into the Mothergorge, they attempt to head back North where they might climb out to safety. Unfortunately, despite the orcs' enmity towards sunlight, Badash is still quite a busy town in the daylight hours, and there's a high likelihood of being spotted by the local guards and possibly the Gray sorcerers. While they decide upon a course of action, constantly looking behind them to see if Syriux is hot on their heels, they come across a gathering of gutter bums who are cheering on a pair of thugs fighting for money and pride. One thug takes out another with a slate knife hurled into the melee by a bystander, and then Ginkwrench goes in to challenge the victor, easily dispatching him. At the arrival of the PCs, Neddyn and Lhuno, the rest of the crowd disperses. It is decided ultimately that Mudgol will teleport himself, Ballyhoo, Demeskos and Lhuno to Floivin Keep with the corpses of the two other incinerated victims from the cells, while the remainder of the group (Baro, Ginkwrench, Gruulsh, Neddyn and Ymurf) will wait for Mudgol to return with more teleport spells.

Unfortunately, the plan goes awry...Ginkwrench, pridefully and antagonistically sitting in an open area in the middle of the Gorge, is come upon by Syriux, who with a few short words initiates another mortal feud! Baro, Gruulsh, and Ymurf join the gnome in dishing out whatever pain they can, but nothing seems effective against the Score's new enforcer. At one point a spell from Baro has some effect, but they are unable yet to discern what that effect was, and fear it might have actually bolstered Syriux's combat capabilities! With few options left to them, the PCs must flee after taking a lot of damage from the ex-slave's mighty fists, so they make their way back towards the prison complex where they initially had tracked the Score...but not before Baro cries out in Orcish to alert the natives to the presence of the infamous slave. Once inside, they set out to trace their steps back to where they first encountered Syriux. In doing so, they come across another patrol of Slaughtertree mercenaries and sorcerers...

Meanwhile, after transporting instantly to Royal Leathers at Floivin Keep, Ballyhoo takes Demeskos and Lhuno to the Cathedral of Blades in case they need any treatment, and also to let Lt. Banghorn know of his nephew Rumpridge's sad fate. Mudgol remains behind to do some scrying, first failing to detect Syriux and then succeeding in finding the tracker Luorn Stride, who appears next to an impossibly thin elf, standing on a very familiar city street and smoking his pipe. The half-orc panics, and rushes to a window so he can get a sight on if he's being watched. He is met by a hail of arrows, one of which is explosive and sets his face on fire! While Luorn presses his assault, Mudgol also hears the back door to the shop being turned, and fears he is about to be flanked by the mysterious elf Scroundel. Seeing no other choice, the half-orc uses his last teleport spell, not to return to Badash where his companions wait in the Gorge, but to the safe distance of Tarndrim across the Well...prompting exclamations of 'oooh shit' from the DM and other players.

Ballyhoo has better luck, though a male acolyte more or less pleads with the bard not to go near any of the female clergy at the Cathedral. Lhuno finds the 'heathen place of worship' most remarkable, being of the Lhazon race and religion. Banghorn is quite upset at the loss of his nephew, but he finds renewed vigor and determines to take himself off the 'disabled list' immediately, reporting with Ballyhoo over to Commander Hoary before the two go out and get raging drunk. They gather up Lhuno and Demeskos and head over, and then relate the progress of their adventure down south in Sothos Karr. Demeskos reveals more of why he had been kidnapped by the Score to work his magics upon the unstoppable Syriux should he become harmed, but once again, his failure to comply wound up in his imprisonment. Hoary beseeches Ballyhoo to sign up for the Last Eidolorn, but the bard politely refuses. Leaving behind Lhuno and Demeskos for further questioning and shelter, Ballyhoo and Banghorn head out into the Keep, unable at first to agree where they should go for a drink...

But down in Badash, the only drinking is blood! The clash against the orc patrol proves lethal, even if they are without their abyssal scorpion pets, the warriors and sorcerers unleash a savage exchange of spells and axe blows with our heroes. Black tentacles, acid arrows and scorching rays come flying, while Baro uses his vortex of teeth to break their resolve, and Neddyn tries to silence the enemy sorcerers. One wounded mercenary and one sorcerer both manage to escape up into the Slaughtertree Hold complex above the caverns, but not before Ymurf Gnarlbottom is slain by the grappling damage of black tentacles while he burns with acid. A sad loss, and yet the PCs quickly grab up his useful gear and attempt to pursue the fleeting orcs. They come to a wooden lift which is drawn up into the Hold, and debate whether or not to head up and continue the fight, or explore and double back around.

Mudgol has made it safely to Tarndim, where he meets with Hagel Ossted the farmer. For some reason unbeknownst to all, a slip in the conversation turns into the strange diviner concocting some lie about Gruulsh having been killed in Sothos Karr...which upsets Ossted and his daughters greatly. He plans to attend a memorial dinner with the family and then is offered a place to hole up for the night. In the meantime, though, he is treated to drinks by Blake Bauerkroft, the mayor, who assures the half-orc that there will be no further assassination attempts at the Steady Oar (referring to Doorjamb's temporary death just prior). The half-orc politely accepts all the freebies lavished upon one of his heroic status, while down South his companions struggle for their VERY LIVES! Unbelievable! Inconceivable! Irresponsible! Mudgol.

Back at Floivin Keep, Ballyhoo briefly returns to Royal Leathers to gather up the corpses Mudgol had transported, but when he arrives he finds a gathering of neighbors and soldiers trying to put out some fires...too late, of course, because the PCs' headquarters has been burned to its foundation! The corpses are burned even further than before, and the bard even detects that Mudgol's borrowed mirror, which was so difficult to procure from a local noblewoman, has been shattered in the blaze! The Score has obviously sabotaged their base of operations, though it doesn't seem that the subterranean vault down in the sewers has been affected...yet. Shocked and appalled, and thinking Mudgol might possibly have met his end, the bard and Banghorn head out to that drink...now with an added impetus.

In Badash, the PCs decide it best NOT to try tampering with the full might of Slaughtertree Hold in their reduced state, and so the four survivors trek back out into the Gorge, hoping to make it to one of the outer tunnels and climb to safety beyond the guards' reach...all the while asking, 'why have we been forsaken!?' Out somewhere in the Gorge, they think they can hear the commotion of Syriux fighting against a large amount of opponents...

PCs: Ballyhoo, Baro, Ginkwrench, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Neddyn

Rest in Peace...Royal Leathers.

Online Session 49 (7/12/13)

Here is the link to the transcript of AIM online session 49.

PC: Doorjamb

Session 49 (6/27/13)

Varony, Martenin 21st, 838 ID

The PCs enter the cavern complex beneath Slaughtertree Hold, moving cautiously since they expect the place to be heavily defended. Before long they have already attracted the attention of a group of orc guards at a nearby guard post, set up behind a low barrier, and battle commences...but unlike the humanoid tribes of Floivin Province, the orc mercenaries, including several of the 'Gray' sorcerers, prove incredibly difficult to kill, employing deadly magics and savage attacks. After Mudgol flings an evard's black tentacles to block off the back exit to the orcs' post, in which the PCs can hear more guards mustering, one of the sorcerers flings the same spell at the main body of the party, grappling everyone other than Rumpridge and Gruulsh! The battle becomes very nasty then, with the pair trying to fight through the warriors while the sorcerers continue to unleash nasty magics, like an acid arrow that burns Rumpridge.
 

Eventually, Mudgol gets his senses and is able to teleport himself, Ballyhoo and Ymurf to a free zone and enter the fray, but not before one of the sorcerers dispels his own tentacles and allows a pair of massive, fiendish scorpions and more orc mercenaries to join the melee. Rumpridge soon falls unconscious to the acid damage, while Baro remains strung up in tentacles, so the fight is still rather lopsided until Ginkwrench and Ymurf begin cutting enemies down, and Mudgol metes out several fireball attacks to wound the enemies. Ballyhoo manages a successful lesser geas on one of the orc warriors, who turns around to attack his own companions, but the battle gets edgy as Ginkwrench is beaten to a point at which he might die when his barbarian rage diminishes! After a second evard's black tentacles from an orc sorcerer, the outcome does not look good, but the group eventually pulls through after Ymurf Gnarlbottom deals massive damage to one of the giant scorpions, and the PCs are able to surround and take down the other.

After rifling the bodies and grabbing some of their masterwork gear, the PCs move on further to explore the cavern complex, though anyone else inside is likely to have heard the scuffle. Rumpridge moves silently ahead, searching for traps as he traverses the sharp, hewn walls of the orc complex. He sneaks up on a pitiful orc cook in a kitchen area, slays him almost instantly, and dumps him into the meat and root vegetable stew he was preparing. Ginkwrench disgustingly then CONSUMES the stew, and the PCs swipe a handful of finer cutlery, bowls and plates that are present. Then they move off to a curtained off area where they find some hastily abandoned beds, chests, dressers and a wardrobe. Baro claims some of the sheets off one bed in his magical haversack, so that they may be later used to potentially scry one of the Score (assuming it belonged to them). The PCs then backtrack to a previously unexplored corridor, where they find a horrific torture device (somewhere between an iron maiden and a straight up fleshpress), and a bag of masterwork torture implements which Sgt. Baro also loots.

Beyond the torture room, they come across an electrified grated door which damages both Ginkwrench and Rumpridge before the rogue is able to disable and unlock it. Inside, there are six cramped little cells, which Mudgol recognized from his daring teleport rescue of Lt. Banghorn, and three are full of charred remains. One is a human male they can't identify, another a woman with good cheekbones who has been basically incinerated, and lastly they find a stocky, gnarled and muscular man who is still breathing! After picking the lock and casting some restorative magic, they are only able to get some grunts out of the survivor, so Mudgol uses his pneumonic enhancer to drill the man mentally for information, while of course insulting him in the process. He claims to be called Demeskos, an engineer who was brought in to work on something for the Score, but refused, and was thus imprisoned until he would presumably relent. He didn't. The PCs then travel back south through the corridors to a three-way split, and choose a route that takes them to what seems like a war room or staging area...

...where a bare-chested, scarred, rigid and incredibly muscular man with gray hair awaits them. At the sight of the lone antagonist, Demeskos warns the characters to flee. "Syriux! Run for your lives!" However, as they have the numbers and don't want to walk away without taking a crack at the Score, Rumpridge and Ginkwrench close in to test the man's 'mettle'. "Go no further", growls the man in a metallic tone, and then he proceeds to instantly squash the skull of Pvt. Rumpridge, killing him! Ballyhoo howls for revenge, and the gnome barbarian begins to rage! Seeing that Rumpridge's magic rapier had no effect, and that a vortex of teeth cast by Baro was entirely useless against the brute, the PCs decide to cut and run, tending to their wounds and losses. Ballyhoo's haste spell helps even the most infirm escape the slow-moving Syriux, but not before he breathes a cloud of gas on the fleeting party, affecting Ymurf only. The party races for the entrance of the prison hideout...but is this over?!

PCs: Ballyhoo, Baro, Ginkwrench, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Rumpridge

NPCs

Demeskos (human male): A muscular, gnarled, stocky man discovered in the Score's prison hideout in Badash, beneath Slaughtertree Hold. He can barely speak and has been nearly incinerated by one of the 'purge' traps that had been set off. Has only a few greasy strands of long hair remaining on his head, and still covered in a lot of burn damage, though the PCs have used magic to restore his health as much as possible. Claims he is an 'engineer' who was recruited by the Score to work on one of their number...but he refused, and was thrown into prison. Knows nothing about Aslak or the other prisoners that were burnt alive.

Syriux (human male?): A tall man of incredible physique, he stands roughly 6'4" with long graying hair and a number of scars chiseled into a serious expression beneath gray eyes. He wears shoddy chain mail pants and a pair of weapons across his back (a broadsword and axe), but seems to ignore them when he fights using his bare hands. Speaks with a metallic twang to his voice, and thus far seems impervious to every harm sent against him by the PCs...Syriux is known to be one of the Score's latest recruits.

Online Session 48 (6/11/13)

Here is the link to the transcript of AIM online session 48.

PC: Doorjamb

NPCs

Shellas (human male): A young acolyte and scribe stationed at the Cathedral of Blades. Wears his robes tidily and has a generally friendly disposition. Assigned to heal Doorjamb after his revival. Has brown hair cut into a short bowl, and tall green eyes.

Session 48 (5/24/13)

Aric, Martenin 19th, 838 ID

Before setting forth to Sothos Karr, the PCs debate whether or not it's the best course of action, some desiring to head out to the Crowslode and attempt to trace the head of the legendary axe of dwarven lords.
They also debate taking time out to have Baro learn a spell or two from Mudgol, but realize the time crunch could result in the Score making some further, nefarious moves. Rumpridge leaves some money with Odd Jon in case he is unable to come back for it, and the group also decides to grab a bunch of the unidentified potions from the party treasure at Royal Leathers, so that Mudgol can discern their functions en route. At long last, the PCs head off through the Tooth Marsh to the pass where the orc-occupied Mimresh fortress stands, and then argue over how to breach it. Should they use the 'contact' Skremek Slaughtertrees and pay a handsome fund? Or should Mudgol just use his teleport spells to blink them safely to the opposite side. After first using clairvoyance above the Mimresh to scope out safe destinations, they decide to go with the latter plan, and safely arrive in a sheltered nook of the Vernal Wall where the soldiers on the Mimresh minnerets and battlements won't spy them.

They travel a bit further south into the Fyreklaw Barrens, where the night brings cooler air, and eventually come across the path of a large, stone-wheeled wagon being driven by rock-hided, burning-eyed trolls. Ballyhoo turns invisible to scout out the potential danger, and finds that the cart is occupied by a massive, three-armed giant and a pile of stinking furs of great beasts. He returns to the rest of the PCs, and they decide to avoid a confrontation with the giant-kind, much to the dismay of several of the party's more militant individuals. They press on through the early hours until arriving at the River Thaar, on the banks of which they make camp and set watches after avoiding another confrontation with some wheeling hippogriffs they spot in the sky above.

Tault, Martenin 20th, 838 ID 

Ginkwrench and Gruulsh devise a small rope bridge to ford the River Thaar, and the party makes it safely across after the gnome swims it. Mudgol chooses instead to teleport with the rest of the group, not taking any chances. After hours more travel, the edge of the Barrens is in sight, where it meets the vast desert known as the Sunkindle. The rough lands become cracked, and they spy an orc settlement that has been established over a series of gorges in the earth (the 'Mothergorge')...Badash. After a near encounter with a flight of giant wasps who decide it in their best interest to just 'buzz off', they make a plan to infiltrate the orc slave town. It is deemed safest for Mudgol and Ballyhoo to make the attempt, the latter using a magical disguise, and to tow along Gruulsh as a slave. So they snap on an extra pair of her manacles, and drag her up to the stone bridge granting access to the town. The two guards there, heavily armed, seem not to trust the 'silver tongue' of Ballyhoo, far too well spoken for an orc, but admire the gruff parlay of Mudgol, and so they allow the half-orc to bring Gruulsh in to the slave market.

Annoyed, Ballyhoo uses a charm spell on the other guard to follow them. When the pair arrives at the large slave stockade, they come across a group of silent, gray-clad orcs speaking with another that wears a large birdskull mask: a local slave master called Tel'tesh. He confronts Mudgol about trading Gruulsh for a pair of human children, but the half-orc instead chooses to pay to have Gruulsh caged up for the night. Soon, the bugbear is harassed by a dwarf prisoner in a neighboring cage which has lost his marbles, but she does her best to ignore the racial hatred. Mudgol and Ballyhoo head over to the Scorpion's Clutch, a local tavern and inn to see if they can dig up more information. Meanwhile, at camp, Rumpridge disappears into the night, deciding to scout out the Mothergorge channels and see if he can't locate the hidden Score prison that is purported to lie beneath the slave town. He manages to climb down into the shit, piss and corpse-strewn chasms, where he encounters a sniveling, begging elderly gnome who is both emaciated and amputated, not to mention blind in one eye...

Baro and Ymurf notice that Rumpridge has taken off, and after waiting, Baro decides to scope out where the rogue might have gotten to. He uses a spyglass to examine the Grays' Enclave, home to the sorcerous orcs wearing the strange robes, and note that they employ everburning alchemical fires to keep their district lit. But no sign of Rumpridge. Over at the crowded Scorpion's Clutch, Mudgol and Ballyhoo encounter an orcish prostitute who takes a liking to the 'far-too-handsome-for-an-orc' disguised bard, and she agrees to bring both to her chamber at the Dustrunner Enclave. They follow, but before 'sealing the deal', Ballyhoo casts a lesser geas on her to put her to sleep, and they then teleport back to camp, where they learn of the Private's disappearance somewhere in Badash. It is now nearly morning, so the PCs decide to rest up while they await Rumpridge's return, and then head back in to reclaim Gruulsh and make a further plan.

Varony, Martenin 21st, 838 ID

All the while, Rumpridge is sneaking through the chasms of the Mothergorge. He's first jumped by a gnoll thug, who he quickly dispatches, and then he finds a cavern the blind gnome from earlier had noted, being guarded by one antagonistic orc soldier who hurls rocks and spit at him in passing. Later, he comes across a strange, foreign looking man smoking offal through a bone pipe. 'Lhuno the Mystic' introduces himself and exchanges some conversation with the young man, begging him for help to escape the pits and to reclaim his camel 'Shirli', being held at the stables above. Mudgol and Ballyhoo re-enter Badash during daylight hours to get Gruulsh back, but find to their dismay that they've waited to long, and that another of the stockade masters (Surtuk) has purchased the bugbear for a small fee and plans to perform some horrible experiments. Gruulsh is just about to break free and fight her new oppressors when Mudgol discharges the situation by purchasing back Gruulsh for 1000 gold coins! The three hastily beat feat back out of Badash, and then Lt. Ginkwrench orders that they all wait for Rumpridge's return.

But Rumpridge can't climb out of the Mothergorge...after a lengthy wait, when the evening arrives, the PCs all sneak down into the 'gorge, with Ymurf, and start exploring the place. They pass numerous thugs who are sneaking about to escape the waste cast into the chasms by the orcs, but none are willing to confront such a large and serious band. Eventually, after also encountering Neddyn the half-blind gnome, they follow his lead and discover Rumpridge and Lhuno the Mystic hanging out. With the group combined at last, they decide to scope out these mysterious caves beneath Slaughtertree Hold which Rumpridge had been tipped off to. As they arrive, the guard who was previously there is nowhere to be seen. They enter the caves...

PCs: Ballyhoo, Baro, Ginkwrench, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Rumpridge

NPCs

Lhuno the Mystic (human male): A strange, plump, squat middle-aged human with flecks of black/white beard on his ashen-tinted skin. Lhuno claims to come from far across the Sunkindle, and wandered into the orc community of Badash only due to becoming blinded by a sandstorm. His faithful camel, 'Shirli' guided him to the Fyreklaw Barrens, where he was captured and eventually thrown into the Mothergorge refuse pits due to his unfitness. Lhuno, a 'mystic', claims to be able to project himself out of his body, and he also gains insight and tranquility by smoking whatever he can find. Takes to Pvt. Rumpridge quite handily.

Neddyn (gnome male): Amputated below the left knee, pitifully wan and pale due to emaciation, and with a cloudy, blinded left eye, this pathetic gnome has reached the brink of insanity after being cast into the Mothergorge and trying to eke out survival among the piss, shit and bones tossed into it.

Surtuk (orc male): One of the 'day masters' at the Badash slave stockade/market, like his fellows he wears an ugly giant bird skull/beak as a mask to conceal his features. Quickly purchases Gruulsh after Mudgol fails to pick her up on time in the morning from her temporary cage, and seems to have some knowledge of magical trickery after Ballyhoo (disguised) fails to charm him. Reputed to be one of the crueler slave masters in Badash; woe to he or she that winds up in his clutches.

Tel'Tesh (orc male): A 'night master' of the Badash slave stockade, he wears the traditional greatbird skull mask to hide his face when dealing in the buying and selling of unfortunates.

Vessa (orc female): A prostitute working out of The Scorpion Clutch, the crowded tavern and inn located at the heart of Badash. She takes quickly to Lord Ballyhoo thanks to his too-perfect disguise, and then takes he and Mudgol to her flat at the Dustrunner Enclave to turn her tricks. Later, Ballyhoo casts a lesser geas to put her to sleep so he and Mudgol can teleport back to the rest of the PCs waiting outside the village.

Online Session 47 (5/21/13)

The Death of Doorjamb Grizzlebeard?!!?

Here is the link to the transcript of AIM online session 47.

Off-camera: Cannon Mack Roy was slain in a shoot out with a third Score assailant hiding on a roof top in Tarndim. This information was not relayed through the AIM session but is revealed by Blake Bauerkroft.

After the session, the tabletop players voted to use their raise dead scroll and revive the poor dwarf. Thus, he has pulled a Superman...for now. 

PC: Doorjamb

Session 47 (4/26/13)

Essel, Martenin 16th, 838 ID

Gruulsh quickly grapples the teamster Kozke and rolls him off his wagon, which rambles down the road before the horses realize to stop. Menacingly, the bugbear presses the fat man for information on his latest 'cargo', after damn near knocking him unconscious. Gruulsh showers the man with a few coin to loosen his lips, and fearfully, Kozke reveals all. He claims he was looking for fares outside the Seven Flood In, when  the elf named 'Scorpio or something' paid handsomely for a lift to Halehusk. Kozke denies any involvement, and when the elf said he wanted to hide himself in back of the wagon, who was he to complain? Gruulsh decides to bring Kozke back to Commander Hoary for questioning, even at this late hour, so they gather up the wagon again and head off, arriving soon at Armory Square where they stir up some commotion. Baro takes note and joins Gruulsh in dragging Kozke over to the officers' quarters. When Hoary hears whats up, he orders the team to case and infiltrate the Blind Vixen in Halehusk. The two head off to sleep, after Gruulsh drops Kozke at the foot of the Cathedral of Blades.

Ivric, Martenin 17th, 838 ID

Ballyhoo and Mudgol prepare for their final restoration spells, while Rumpridge heads to the Fiery Rat to speak with Flake Falloway about a business proposition. The rogue is interested in purchasing a partnership with Flake and Odd Jon in the tavern, and generously donates a hunk of platinum for further repairs. Flake says he'll have to speak with Stuckle, but that it shouldn't be a problem. After this the PCs purchase a few more potions from the Cathedral of Blades, while Rumpridge, Ballyhoo and Mudgol speak with Lieutenant Banghorn to see how he's holding up. Mudgol manages to insult the invalid (no surprise) and then gets sent off. The heroes acquire a wagon to roll over to Halehusk later in the morning, and when they arrive they set up a plan to flank the shady tavern where 'Scroundel' was presumably spending his evening. Gruulsh and Rumpridge sneak around back to watch for potential escapees or secret entrances. Mudgol and Baro take watch out front of the place, and Ballyhoo (disguised as the Yellow Hen) and Ymurf Gnarlbottom head inside to speak with the owner. As for Ginkwrench...he parks his wagon over at the seasonal dog tracks and then attempts to set up an arm wrestling exhibition with the locals...what a soldier!

Ballyhoo and Ymurf parlay with Frestha, the incredibly canny blind woman who runs the joint, and who it seems impossibly to sneak anything past, including a disguise. In fact, she recognizes Ballyhoo by his voice alone, and he swears he hasn't met her! All the while, Ymurf is 'scanning' the tavern for signs of evil, and when Ballyhoo suddenly decides to plays some music as a distraction, he gives him a warning look, since he notices numerous sources of ill-will coming from Frestha and just about everyone in the kitchen behind her. Frestha informs the 'Lord' that they usually only have entertainers at night, but that he's welcome to come back that evening for a proper performance. The farmers seem a bit rowdy. Meanwhile, a young teenage girl with a bear crafted from hay and straw bothers Mudgol, and seems to know his name...the hijinx continue inside the Blind Vixen, when Baro decides to follow up his friends in case they're having any trouble. A few moments later, Ginkwrench, not finding any takers for his challenge, encounters the same little girl with the straw bear...

She ACCEPTS his arm wrestling challenge, but unfortunately for the gnome, it turns out that she is not who she seems, but an assassin who sneak attacks and paralyzes Ginkwrench! She continues to slowly torture and stab the gnome, who mentally communicates (thanks to Mudgol's pneumonic enhancement spell) his agony to the others. Gruulsh and Baro rush off to help him, the latter interrupted right as he is entering the tavern, and Mudgol decides to take flight. Rumpridge waits behind the tavern just in case. The assassin notices Mudgol out of the corner of 'her' eye, and decides to break for it, using some combination of magic and stealth to escape the PCs, and leaving the gnome alive and in great pain as a warning not to meddle in the affairs of the Score! Gruulsh, Mudgol and Baro eventually catch up to the scene but can't find the assailant anywhere, so Mudgol decides to fly about and scout, using true seeing. Meanwhile, Ballyhoo and Ymurf are about to leave the Blind Vixen, when out back, Rumpridge notices some drugged out, wealthy local adolescents coming out of the straw latticed trap door about 15' behind the tavern. He decides to follow them for a short while...

The rest of the PCs meet up, towing the paralyzed Ginkwrench along with them, and then Baro stuffs him in a rain barrel while they speak. They eventually call out for Rumpridge, who abandons his pursuit of the addicts, who seem to be collecting their horses to return to the Keep. They change up their strategy, with Ymurf, Gruulsh, Mudgol and Baro going inside the tavern to muscle in on the proprietress, while Lord Ballyhoo and Rumpridge creep into the underground passage out back. Frestha decides to bargain with the PCs for an enormous amount of cash, which they begrudgingly pay; but not after threatening them that she'll blow the whole place sky high if they try anything. She notes that two Score agents, Scroundel and Derelech (aka Adder) did indeed meet the previous night, and that she has hosted their ranks before for payment, but that she does not belong to their organization. She jokes with Baro (since both are from Toul Tabor) that 'her organization' is from her homeland, but the evoker is dumbfounded. She informs the PCs that she overheard Scroundel saying that he was heading for the villains' hideout beneath the quarry town of Badash in Sothos Karr, but doesn't know where Adder was off to (which turned out to be nowhere, since he was likely the assassin that jumped Ginkwrench). After a few more questions, Frestha tells them they've worn out the fabulous chunk of cash they handed her...but not before acquiring the drinking mugs used by the Score members the previous night.

Meanwhile, Ballyhoo and Rumpridge discover the drug den in the large back area of the tavern, where questionable folks gather to smoke 'Haze', a dangerous narcotic inhaled through pipes. There are a few patrons, including a Floivin Keep merchant named Nestor Manteau, heavy into his smoking. Ballyhoo disguises himself as Monch Gnarlbottom, and Rumpridge dons his red dragon outfit (from the astral plane) and they give the wealthy bastard a shock within an inch of his life, before Ballyhoo enchants him to turn himself in for rapes he admits to committing during the sack of Floivin Keep. The hear the latch from the kitchen area turning, and a swarthy chef ('Baffles') armed with a nasty meat cleaver enters the drug den, to collect pay from the clientelle. He seems surprised to see 'Monch' there (Rumpridge is meanwhile hidden), and the bard notices a strange tattoo off a smiling man giving a 'thumbs up' on the cook's wrist. After he does his rounds, Ballyhoo and Rumpridge leave, to meet up with their friends. Ginkwrench has meanwhile thawed out, and the party gathers their wagon and returns to the Keep to plot. Upon arriving, Rumpridge heads back to find out if Flake and Odd Jon accepted his offer. They did, and he is now 1/3rd owner of the Fiery Rat tavern.

Evelais (Saint's Day), Martenin 18th, 838 ID

The PCs decide to allow Mudgol to scry while they finish getting Ballyhoo restored. The half-orc makes several attempts, to locate either Scroundel or Adder, but fails miserably. The party decides it in their best interests to wait one more day, and attempt again to spy in on their quarry...

Aric, Martenin 19th, 838 ID

Today, Mudgol is more successful in scrying Adder's, but it turns out that in the two days since their encounter with the assassin in Halehusk, he has made his way to the Haunted Horrn to meet with the red wizard and other members of the Score, surrounded by Warlord Ultroon and his Blooded Lash host! The half-orc then attempts to locate Luorn Stride, Pedegar Pell and Shalabar Klasp, others the PCs are hunting, but has no success (the spell immediately fizzled when trying to pin down Klasp). Since they don't feel like teleporting right in the middle of the Haunted Horrn at the moment, they decide it might be time to take a road trek to the Score's hideout in Sothos Karr, and begin to make their preparations to travers the Mimresh and Fyreklaw Barrens.

PCs: Ballyhoo, Baro, Ginkwrench, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Rumpridge


NPCs

Nestor Manteau (human male): A wealthy Floivin Keep merchant; short, paunchy, bug-eyed and with greasy locks of gray-white hair. He was encountered by Lord Ballyhoo and Rumpridge as they were scouting out the drug den beneath the Blind Vixen in Halehusk, and the pair quickly took advantage of his paranoid, drugged out state. He guiltily confesses to having raped several women during the recent siege of Floivin Prorince, so Ballyhoo lays a lesser geas on the him to turn himself in, which he does.