Problem is if you hesitate to use it harm will definitely come to those you love. Better to utilize what you have when it is needed instead of worrying about what happens next. However careful planning can better prepare you for the unexpected. However you can't plan for every thing.
Sometimes the inevitable will come. No matter how hard it is we are forced to deal with the outcome either way. Celeste is right you can't blame yourself, you can honor the memory of those that have passed.
CT, once again you impress me with your story telling skills. I love your narrative, you can feel the emotions behind your story. Keep them coming.
Problem is if you hesitate to use it harm will definitely come to those you love. Better to utilize what you have when it is needed instead of worrying about what happens next. However careful planning can better prepare you for the unexpected. However you can't plan for every thing.
Sometimes the inevitable will come. No matter how hard it is we are forced to deal with the outcome either way. Celeste is right you can't blame yourself, you can honor the memory of those that have passed.
*Nods* Trouble is that's a lesson I want Ahvrania to learn in character. This was the first time anyone ever truly died on her watch since she became an adventurer. She feels like she could have done something about it if she'd been wise enough to save her spell. In truth it's not her fault. I know that, but I think the passionate Gray Elf needs some experience to push her along to come to that conclusion on her own terms.
The good news, though, is that she has two 2nd level spells so she has two of them prepared. She's a lot more ready to spend the first one than the second. The lesson may never be required if I'm lucky. But then, it would make for such a wonderful story.
Argon wrote:
CT, once again you impress me with your story telling skills. I love your narrative, you can feel the emotions behind your story. Keep them coming.
Aww, thank you. I always said emotions were my strength in writing. If writing is not emotionally driven I find it much harder. That makes the third person perspective a bit more challenging for me. Mystic-Scholar has the first part of the story of the Knights of the Silver Dawn that I'm writing now. I put a lot of effort into trying to actually physically describe my character in that (Celeste is the only one present in the first part) since I know I've only given you bits and pieces in these excerpts. Hopefully when you read the 'polished' telling you'll get a complete picture.
SirXaris wrote:
I do. And, I understand. I was the same way in my youth with potions and scrolls. My characters would end up hording them because I was always afraid that if I used them up, I'd have greater need of them in the future. Thus, I almost never used them.
I'm better about that now.
SirXaris
It's not so much that I'm hesitant to use them. Iressi can tell you I'm a rash player. It makes controlling a wizard and actually trying to be logical, calm, and planning very difficult for me because my gut instinct is to charge in and deal with the problem before it has time to grow. Not always the best plan, and thankfully we've been doing a lot less of it in this campaign than in the last one (In our last campaign my party literally fought 70% of the dungeon in one big battle two or three times because of their tendency to rush into things unprepared. Their warrior was a barbarian though, and no in the party had an extensive education, so it was rather fitting.).
Anyway, I am very much a flexible player, and one who uses resources cleverly. In this particular instance I am putting a hold on Ahvrania's willingness to spend that resource because of her past experience.
That said, I do tend to hold onto potions for some reason. I tear through scrolls (especially in this campaign with my little Scrollmaster (Celeste)), but I believe Celeste is still carrying a single Cure Light Wounds potion she has had since our first adventure with these guys. _________________ Shadows and Dust; Just Another Soul.
Last edited by crystaltears on Wed Sep 21, 2011 6:21 am; edited 1 time in total
This will be the last post for Delvenbrass! I guarantee it.
Planting - 591 CY: Delvenbrass
The Knights are awoken during the night to the sounds of battle above them, and Celeste using her magic sneaks up to take a look at what is going on. As she slowly step by step makes her way up she can hear her heart beating, she knew that there was a very good chance that she might very well die right here and now like Jaken, and Arshae had. Invisible she made her way to the ground level of Delvenbrass, and to outside.
It was a humid summer night outside, the sun was hidden under a thin layer of grey clouds though you could still see its radiance shining through in places. In the distance through a light fog she could see the battle that was underway. A massive goblin horde had surrounded a much smaller army. Celeste took out her spyglass, and saw a large group of Janni along with a few Shaitan in the back with a massive Efreeti.
She felt the breath leave her, and she travels back inside as quickly (and quietly) as possible. She finds the rest of the knights and tells them what she saw. Celeste said, "This is likely the work of the Genie-Binder that the Janni had mentioned." The rest of the knights agreed with this, and decided that they needed to teleport back now to bring back their lost friends now lest they be caught unprepared.
They gathered together, and prepared to crash test her first use of the teleport spell, she set her focus to the beautiful fountain she had seen as a girl outside of the Grand Cathedral of Heironeous in Chendl. In a poof of smoke and a slight shutter in the world around them the Knights teleported to the far away city of Chendl. They appeared more or less where she wanted, though the first thing they heard was the splash as Garek landed into the fountain. Much cursing, and grumbling could be heard as he forced himself out. Garek started to say, "Arshae could..." He trained off at that point sighing softly.
Arshae 'armed' with her prestidigitation spell often took the time to keep all of them clean, and dry. Ahvrania put her hand on Garek's shoulder before they made their way inside of the Cathedral where they found a yawning acolyte trying to clean the floors of the massive room. The Grand Cathedral had no pews like you might expect, everyone that attended these services were expected to stand (unless they were too old or young in which case they were given a honored position on a few select pews near the High Priest.) The marble floor of this massive room depicted as much as the walls and ceiling the birth, and story of Heironeous.
Talking with the acolyte they were lucky to find that one of the priests could be awoken, and had a resurrection spell still prepared that day. However he needed the Knights to get the material components something that Celeste could only do because she was a high noble. Even then it took a few hours before they had gathered together the precious diamond dust needed for the ritual. After that had been done Arshae was returned to life into the loving arms of the Knights of the Silver Dawn.
[Aside: Jaken was returned as well though since he died from injury rather than a death effect Garek was able to cast Raise Dead on him]
After the proper spells had been cast the Knights along with Jaken returned to the horrible halls of Delvenbrass though by now the morning sun had risen. The battle was over when the Knights arrived, the goblins had been slaughtered or fled the battlefield. The Knights reunited start to make their way down the long passage to the dungeon when they hear noise upstairs. They wait for a moment before going to investigate, when they do the Knights took long enough that whoever was up there was gone.
[Aside: The genie-binder sent these genies here to destroy this places connection to the Elemental Earth Node, and to Ogremoch. The Janni would have had the PC's help them in this if they had not teleported away, but since they did the PC's never did find out who did so much damage to the forces of the earth elementals in the second dungeon level. They lost some loot, and experience from this though it made finding the Well of Many Worlds easier as you will soon see.]
The Knights after that decide to travel down into the dungeons of Delvenbrass, and eventually pass into the lowest level which had been claimed according to the stories they had heard by the Shaitan, who now were corrupted by worship of Ogremoch the Elemental Prince of Evil. They traveled down into the main entrance hall and discovered a pitched battle had taken place here. Moving on the Knights discover that one room after another had been cleared of the monsters that were in it, the traps sprung by whatever force had been in here.
They discover the main 'cathedral' of Ogremoch (in area 14) along with a moat made out of liquid salt, but before exploring that cathedral they make their way through the area's that it looked like the genies had not explored. There the Knights came across a fierce foe (in area 6) a pair of Rock Trolls armed with enchanted Macuahuitl (Aztec weapon, look it up if you are curious) though the Knights were able to overcome them. Exploring this area more they come across earth mephits, xorn, a few traps, and the left overs of what the Genies had left behind. They discover a annoying teleportation trap as well that launches them into the air only for them to fall down hard to the ground to spring the trap again (area 13.)
Finally they enter into the cathedral itself exploring the ruin that the genies had left behind them in till they entered into the central hall (area 21) which was dominated by a mighty throne along with many dead gargoyles, and two Shaitan. There they discovered the only remains of the high priest of Ogremoch in the form of a ghost that haunted this throne room. Garek tries to figure out what is keeping the Shaitan here, but fails to figure it out forcing them into battle.
After a long, and painful battle that almost killed Jaken again the Knights discover hidden under his throne a set of stairs that lead down into a treasure room that the Genies had managed to miss. There they find many beautiful carvings, and gemstones along with the Well of Many Worlds. The Knights explored the rest of Delvenbrass finding little of important left here.
With their mission finished in this place the Knights decide to leave Delvenbrass for the last time, and make their way to the Timeless Tree to meet with the Grey Elves and return the magic item. They had learned much in the dungeons here, and experienced what might very well be their fate, death at the hands of their enemies.
Conclusion: And its done! Delvenbrass if finished after like two pages of CJ posts. Hope you guys enjoyed the ride. They gained I think four levels inside of Delvenbrass, which so far is the most they gained from a single place. Next CJ will be the Knights traveling south to the Timeless Tree, and then to Ironstead to join the army that is marshaling to destroy the Serpents Mound near the Defiled Glade.
They discover a annoying teleportation trap as well that launches them into the air only for them to fall down hard to the ground to spring the trap again (area 13.)
Funny!
I'll have to remember that one the next time I DM a party of an appropriate level.
The Knights left Delvenbrass, and traveled through the lands controlled by the Goblins with caution. The goblins for the time being seem to have abandoned the idea of traveling into Delvenbrass not that there is much left their to steal. The Knight had managed to make off with most of what could be found in there, including the Well of Many Worlds which was their first stop. The Knights made their way south to the Timeless Tree in truth the last stop on their path back to Ironstead.
However along the way that night they have a strange encounter, the Knights enter into a glade only to come across one of the protectors of the forests. A Nymph named Tellsondra that lived in a small glade with a beautiful pond. The Knights decide to make camp for the night which results in a terrible nightmare for Jaken. He is given a choice in his dream to either die his soul moving on to a unknown afterlife, or to live with a curse. He chooses to live not knowing if this is simply a dream or not. That night he becomes a Oracle his eyes clouding, and a eternal wound left on his leg that looks like a clawed hand trying to hold on cursing him with a limp.
Jaken says it is the hand of Iuz, though who can say about such things. All they can say is that Jaken has been accepted into the loving arms of the gods of nature, and he believes that Ehlonna in this sacred place has saved his soul. The Knights after thanking Tellsondra leave reluctantly from the Nymphs glade though not before she gives to Arshae a lock of her hair so impressed was she by the young girl.
[Aside: In Pathfinder a nymph can act like a muse of sorts for a Bard, giving her bonuses so long as the nymph continues the bond.]
Setting out it takes them a few days to finally make their way to the Timeless Tree, when they do the Knights are glad to finally be out of the territory of the goblins of the Vesve.
Flocktime - 591 CY: The Timeless Tree
The PC's enter into the territory of the Grey Elves of the Vesve, and while there are no border markers or any real sign of the passage into one border from another they can feel it. There is a change to the air, a peace here that the parts of the forest north of here could never know. They were about 30 minutes into the forest when a Grey Elven Patrol found them lead by Lord Vaethorion, one of the most skilled Grey Elven warrior in the lands of the Timeless Tree.
He demands to know what the Knights are doing in his forest, and threatens to kick them out in till the Knights show him the beautiful cloak known only as the Well of Many Worlds. Vaethorion is taken aback by this staring with some wonder at the item, the first of it's kind made by the High Priests daughter hundreds of years ago. Nodding Vaethorion gives them passage, and escort into the lands of the Timeless Tree. He gives them permission to speak with High Priestess Calandryen of Labelas Enoreth, the leader of the shrine and enclave here.
She proves to be a hard woman to talk with, it is nearly impossible to tell if she is truly finished speaking as long as it takes her to contemplate one thought to the next, but the Knights do well enough that after a long conversation, and the returning of the Well of Many Worlds she does something that has not been done for many years. She allows a small band of Grey Elven warriors to aid the Knights. With many thanks the Knights leave the Timeless Tree, and make their way to Ironstead.
Flocktime - 591 CY - Ironstead
When the Knights arrived at Ironstead the small town is abuzz with activity of all sorts. There are mercenaries from Perrenland, Keoland, and elsewhere gathered alongside the Knights of the Hart, and the Knights of the High Forest. There are dwarven soldiers from Highguard, and even a small detachment of Grey Elven archers from Celene. The Knights meet the leader of this expedition, General Bemedior of Chendl.
He is happy to see them, and puts them to work right away helping to prepare for the battle to come. He also gives them a job well suited to their talents, it seems that the Serpent Mound is built around a ancient High Elf city similar to Flameflower in some respects. The forces of Iuz there (mostly orcs) have set up fortification on the outskirts of the Serpent Mound. There are four of them in fact, and he wants the Knights to travel to one of them.
As far as his scouts have been able to report along with what divination magic he has access too they are trying to set up some sort of shield like the one that protected Chendl during the worst days of the siege during the Greyhawk Wars.
[Aside: The shield around Chendl was me misreading something from the Furyondy Gazetteer, and not bothering to check it. So in my version of Greyhawk the Chamber of Four (wizard council of Thrommel) made a shield to protect the city though it was not a permanent effect.]
They are protecting the Serpents Mound, and if the four sites are disrupted it will be up before the army is mobilized. Thus there are three adventuring bands that were brought along for the ride, he was going to send a detachment of the army there instead but with the Knights here he is going to send them instead. Giving them a scroll of Deadeye Arrow (which lets you light a signal as one of its effects) when they have finished assaulting the complex.
They also get to meet the other adventuring parties that night, the first is called the Band of the Hand (a mercenary adventuring band), the Circle of Green (worshipers of Obad-Hai that feel very unwelcome in this forest), and the Windlords (worshipers and priests of Velaeri from Verbobonc) who all talk with the Knights. The Hand acts as rivals toward the Knights, and are antagonistic though not enough to cause too much trouble.
That next day the four adventuring parties set out for the outlying complex's to face whatever threat has been placed there as the army moves out in preparation to assault the Serpents Mound.
Conclusion: Mostly role-playing was done during this session, all of the random encounters rolled up were non-hostile something of a tradition it seems with this game. The next adventure is a fairly short dungeon, with a long stretch of down time for the Knights before heading off on their next adventure.
Hope you enjoyed it!
Last edited by Iressi on Fri Sep 23, 2011 8:56 am; edited 1 time in total
The Nymph's name was Tellsondra. I actually wrote that one down so you're not fooling me, Iressi. *Winks*
~*~*~
Ehlonna's Blessings
Character Perspective: Arshae, Aasimar Bard.
Three days since I’d met the unicorns. One day since I’d died. The morning was plain enough. We struck out to the south from Delvenbras, winding our way through the trees with our two remaining Kalistren Drafts. How was it possible that it had only been a few days since our encounter with the Behir and the loss of Ahvrania and Garek’s steeds?
Jaken walked near me and I smiled at him. From what Celeste and the others had said he cried with them when I fell and his own death came a short time after mine. The latter, of course, is disheartening. I hate to think of him dying. He’s made so much progress in the past few days… From the ways of the Old One to a reliable ally for us. I wonder though how it’s so easy for me to trust him when I trust so few… Perhaps because of how we encountered him.
I count my lucky stars that Ahvra, Garek, and Celeste made it through the rest of the Goblinoids without us.
Morning slowly slips to midday, the heat and moisture in the air made worse by the fairly hard rain falling from the skies. Somewhere in our travels we must have gotten turned around because we saw the same tree with its lightning-scar three times. Progress was slow.
Lunch was comprised of rations eaten under the shelter of our hoods. The rain soaked through them of course, leaving our skin feeling like it was coated in warm sweat. I felt worst for Ahvrania, Garek, and Jaken as the rain found the cracks in their full plate. At least we had a spare cloak to offer Jaken when Ahvra took the Cloak of the Manta Ray for herself.
Noontime crept by, and in the afternoon we stumbled quite suddenly into reprieve… A glade as beautiful as any ever dreamed, and the sky above as clear as the driest of summer days. It caught me by surprise and I cast a look around just in time to hear her giggle, like music on the wind.
My eyes lighted on an elf more stunning and beautiful than any I had ever seen. She sat on the edge of a pond, legs splashing in the water. Her dress was wet and clung to her form as I heard Celeste murmur, “She’s a nymph.”
“Quite correct you are,” the nymph responded, a smile on her lips.
We were all silent for a time, shocked at this respite after the trials we’d known in Delvenbras. The world felt safe to me in a way completely different than I’d ever known. It was Celeste who eventually spoke again.
“May we shelter in this glade?” our noble companion asked in a soft voice.
“Of course you may,” the nymph responded, rising and approaching gracefully. “My name is Tellsondra,” she said.
“A pleasure to meet you, Tellsondra. I am Celeste Kalinstren,” Celeste only paused a moment in her introduction, for she’d taken to introducing us as she did herself, but the nymph interjected.
“And you are Arshea,” Tellsondra said.
She was looking straight at me with those dazzling eyes and I found my mind racing. Was Ehlonna’s hand in this? Of course. “I-I am. How d-did you know?” My words were broken as they often were, my nerves shaken a little by her attention.
“The family of unicorns spoke to me of you when they passed through here,” Tellsondra said.
I swallowed awkwardly. “Th-they did? D-did they f-find their d-daughter?” I’d worried for them so after meeting them.
“They did,” Tellsondra said.
“S-so she’s a-alright?”
The nymph nodded before reaching a hand out and touching my cheek, “You have done so much for Ehlonna in so short a time, Arshea.”
“I-I have?” My brows were knit in confusion as I regarded her, for all I’d done was stand beside my comrades as we sought the Well of Many Worlds in the depths of Delvenbras.
Tellsondra giggled, letting her hand fall to her side again. She addressed us all then saying, “Please, all of you, take what rest you would in my care. I will keep you safe.” _________________ Shadows and Dust; Just Another Soul.
Details are fuzzy at this point. (Shame in us for our lapse in posting these.) I promise to pry as much detail as I can from my fuzzy mind, but for the most part I'll just be avoiding detail for now. I hope you still enjoy the read. This was.. an interesting adventure for the party.
~*~*~
Into The Serpent's Temple
Character Perspective: Celeste, Seuloise Wizard.
We approached the outlying temple cautiously. Arshea led, Ahvrania and Garek were close behind, and I lagged at the back. This was relatively normal for us by this point. Jaken was moving beside Arshea. Protective. Cute. It made me chuckle mentally, though I didn't laugh aloud.
The temple looked abandoned on the surface, but Arshea took a closer look. She found a secret entry, of course, and we found ourselves facing a rope ladder leading down into an underground complex. Ahvrania led. We shuffled down the ladder and Arshea cut it free, trapping us and anything inside that didn't know some other way out in the complex. I wasn't entirely sure I agreed with that course of actions, but with a vast array of scrolls, a rope of climbing, and our various prepared spells I suppose it wasn't too rash.
Arshea found another secret door in the entry chamber, but we left it for now. You never knew what lurked behind hidden doorways. Instead we opted to go west through a hallway. Our Aasimar scouted nervously, but she didn't find anything in the hall itself. She did warn us that there was talking coming from behind the door at the end to the west and the sound of eating from the chamber directly beside it to the north.
Ahvra nodded, taking lead, and burst open the western door. Meanwhile Jaken set himself at the door to the north. We were faced with one of the most horrible things we've yet encountered in the western chamber. Women, nine women... All of them pregnant. They called out to someone for protection and then fired magic missiles, all of them, at Ahvrania. The elf hissed in pain as she moved into the chamber. "Do not kill them," she called to us as she attempted to strike one with the flat of her blade as far from the stomach as she could get. Her caution made her miss.
I shifted into the chamber then, my stomach turning. I didn't want to harm the women either, or at least their unborn children. What a thing to find in a shrine we knew was working with Iuz... And why? After some hesitance I cast a Fireball into the room, modified to be Merciful. Blue swirling arcane energy burst from the central point of the spell outward, striking all but two of the women in the chamber and knocking them unconscious. 'By the Gods of Good I hope their children are unharmed.' My stomach was thoroughly unsettled, for even a bad fall can steal an unborn child's life away. It was quite possible my Merciful Fireball had done the same.
Garek moved forward and bludgeoned another carefully. His attack did land and only one of the women was left standing.
The door to the northern chamber off the hall opened then and Jaken let out an alarmed cry. "What's this?" A chilling voice spoke. "You are taking my food? That's alright, you will make fine meals.. And fine mothers."
The voice belonged to a demon. I couldn't hear Arshea when she said it's name, but I did catch her words as she stammered, "Th-they gain power as th-they... th-they e-eat innocents. Th-that's what the b-babies are f-for."
"Quite right," the creature responded as it attacked Jaken. I heard him cry in pain.
"My staff," Jaken said, "It won't hurt him."
Ahvrania turned from the chamber of the pregnant women and entered the hall again. "Move," she said to Jaken, who readily obliged. Ahvrania swung her axe at the fiend with a furious cry, "Tel Seldarine grant me the power to overcome you, Demon!" ((And here she used Smite Evil. Iressi and I often joked that the Tel Seldarine wouldn't get their strange little worshiper who traveled the land upholding LAW and good. The good they understood, but order? What madness was this? It amused me.))
The demon let out a hiss of pain and I turned toward the hall as well. I saw Arshea try to trip the foul creature, but her whip didn't make contact because of the strange angle the door forced her to attack from. Garek was going after the last pregnant woman. I knew why. We couldn't let her go for help. I shuddered to think Arshea was right about their babies as my eyes fell on the hideous fiend. What sort of person could offer their own child up to feed a demon? I could have put a pit in the small room before us, but it didn't seem wise. The demon had wings, so it would only really be good for the first few seconds of falling and the crushing property... And then it would become a hindrance to Ahvrania and Jaken if they wished to enter the chamber. Instead I pelted the creature with an Acid Arrow. Let him feel that sting for a while.
The demon fell back in the chamber and cackled at us as it attempted to summon aid, "Let's even the odds, shall we?" It asked in its twisted voice.
Another demon of the same type appeared. The battle was becoming more complicated. I heard Garek cry out in the room to the west after a small bout of fire. He didn't sound seriously injured... Comparatively speaking. I was turning toward the chamber Garek was in when I heard Arshea say, "You're a demon, you should have no trouble betraying your kind... Kill him!"
There was not even the tiniest stutter in her voice. It radiated anger, aggression. Nothing like the Arshea I'd come to know. "Ha! You think-" the demon started, but then gave a started cry, "What are you doing? Don't listen to her!"
My brows knit together as I stopped and looked back. Arshea was controlling the extra demon as if she herself had been the summoner. That was a trick I'd never seen her use before. Ahvrania grinned and entered the chamber with the two demons, Jaken close on her heels. I looked through the western door and could just make out the last woman's arm. I cast a Merciful Magic Missile at her even as my stomach sank a little more. It struck true and she let out a brief cry before falling unconscious.
Garek rounded the corner into the hall looking a bit singed. "Ruddy human cast Burning Hands on me."
I couldn't help laughing, though the sound was hollow, "And I guess you weren't quick enough to dodge her?"
"Do I look quick to yeh, Celeste?" Garek asked.
"Of course not. Arshea's got control of a demon in there. That's where Ahvrania is too," I said.
Garek nodded as he walked to the door. The sounds of combat filtered into the hallway, but I couldn't really see the battle. That was fine. My spells were mostly useless against a fiend like the one in the chamber. As I stood there in the hall I prepared to cast a pit spell if we attracted unwanted attention. It wasn't long before the battle was ended and Arshea instructed the fiend she still held sway over to heal someone. More combat, though this was not resisted. No blades clashed, rather they sank into the outsider's flesh with wet sounds.
~*~*~
The muse is not with me terribly much today, and no wonder when it's been three weeks since we really played any D&D. I thought I'd go ahead and at least write up the first encounter though. Perhaps Iressi will share more with you. _________________ Shadows and Dust; Just Another Soul.
Eep. We've just been busy. We're picking the campaign back up again this Friday, so with any luck Iressi will be up for writing some more journal entries on it. :) I know I'll be planning to.
Glad we've been missed, and on the same token sorry for disappearing. Life just gets that way sometimes, ya know? _________________ Shadows and Dust; Just Another Soul.
No maps for the next few updates sad to say. Lost most of them recently when we moved the room all around. This is likely going to be a short one I afraid, just trying to get back into the habit of writing them.
Flocktime - 591 CY
The Knights make their way toward the ancient elven temple where part of the ritual to create a shield was being prepared. It was a ancient building dedicated to one of the stranger of the elven gods Darahl Firecloak. Darahl was corrupted for a time by a powerful artifact created by Lolth and the Queen of Air and Darkness (goddess of the Unseelie fey) the temple itself was a rather small affair when they realized that there was a hidden underground entrance. This lead to the 'true' temple of Darahl Firecloak. The Knights prepared themselves Celeste casting light and made their way down.
They encountered no resistance at first, though as they traveled north through the temple complex they came across a terrible site. They discover a horrific Nabasu that has been feasting upon slaves that he has kept in the remains of the temple. The Nabasu who is named Barbel is defeated after a long combat at the hands of the Knights. They travel north through the complex and discover a room filled with beautiful young woman all of them having been gifted with the power of sorcery from the Nabasu.
[Aside: That combat was fun. They were all level one to two sorcerers which in general wouldn't be a big thread to the PC's. However you get enough Burning Hands and the damage starts to stack up pretty quickly]
They travel through the complex fighting horrific demons that have been called here by someone known as the 'Bog Lord' who is preparing a magical device known as the Throne of Iuz in the Serpents Mound. This device would be able to spread the defilement of the glade throughout the Vesve forest, and soon enough even beyond that. They also discover the remains of a magical forge though decide that it is not worth the time to mess with at the moment.
They eventually face the demonic worshipers and cultists inside of the temple itself which has been rededicated to none other than Iuz himself. They face hordes of Dretchs, Quasits, and the head of the 'guard' a powerful toad-faced Hezrou named Malfraxis. Though even the Hezrou is not the true master of this cult, it is a Alu-Demon named Trironda who is the wizard that was preparing the ritual.
They face her along with more demons in combat before finally slaying the terrible creature. In the end they spent less than four hours in the ancient temple, but it was almost as deadly as their time in Delvenbrass. They travel back out of the temple to cast Deadeye Arrow, and move back to the retreat point that the General had told them about.
They wait and eventually join the army to strike on the Serpents Mound which has built as what defenses they could build in the short time after the failure of the shield. Eventually they make their way down the strange serpent shaped temple to the 'belly' of the beast. They meet Lord Bog, a terrible awakened frog of gigantic proportions. It tries to stall for time as it uses its corrupted druidic magic to finish the throne, but it's orc guards fail to stop the host that had been gathered there.
Lord Bog was slain by the Knight-Commander of the Knights of the High Forest, and with that the threat of the Defiled Glade was over at least for now. The victorious heroes return back to Ironstead, and eventually back to Chendl itself for some well earned rest.
Conclusion: Sorry it has been so long life got really crazy there for a time. Should be posting these more often now once the game gets back up and running. The Knights rest for a time before moving on to their next adventure which was a modified version of the Lord of the Scarlet Tide in Dragon 85.
Glad to have you two back. Yes life happens was looking for some campaign information to read. Canon Hazen needs to get busy and get rid of all those demons.
Sorry we vanished again. We never got to pick up that campaign again, and I'm afraid it's so far gone now I don't think we ever will. A real pity, that, since the characters were so strong.
I still end up skipping by here from time to time to take a read and see what's going on, but not as often as I should, and this is the first time I've signed on in months. I guess I just wanted to say, thanks again for all the support on the campaign journal while it was ongoing. I hope we were able to bring some real enjoyment to those folks who read it.
We also wish you all the best, and hope Canonfire keeps going strong. Maybe someday when our lives settle down we'll come back around for a while. In the meantime take care and best wishes to you all. :) _________________ Shadows and Dust; Just Another Soul.
Sorry to hear that "Life" is interfering is such a major way. I speak for all here when I say that we all wish you the best and hope that things return to normal for you soon.
Your contributions were much appreciated and enjoyed by all and we look forward to the time when you can get back to it.
Indeed, while we won't be continuing this campaign I am sure we will get back to Greyhawk sooner rather than later.
We are planning on running a underwater campaign using the Cerulean Seas book Aeolius put out (at least I think Aeolius put that book out) not the setting mind you but the rules inside of it.
It's a great book either way, well worth the price.
Anyway's it was a fun ride and we will be back sometime I am sure. :)
Indeed, while we won't be continuing this campaign I am sure we will get back to Greyhawk sooner rather than later.
We are planning on running a underwater campaign using the Cerulean Seas book Aeolius put out (at least I think Aeolius put that book out) not the setting mind you but the rules inside of it.
It's a great book either way, well worth the price.
Anyway's it was a fun ride and we will be back sometime I am sure. :)
I've got the perfect deadly adventure for you, then, just as soon as the Canonfire Chronicle gets published.
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Canonfire! is a production of the Thursday Group in assocation with GREYtalk and Canonfire! Enterprises
Thus, I almost never used them. 
It's not so much that I'm hesitant to use them. Iressi can tell you I'm a rash player. It makes controlling a wizard and actually trying to be logical, calm, and planning very difficult for me because my gut instinct is to charge in and deal with the problem before it has time to grow. Not always the best plan, and thankfully we've been doing a lot less of it in this campaign than in the last one (In our last campaign my party literally fought 70% of the dungeon in one big battle two or three times because of their tendency to rush into things unprepared. Their warrior was a barbarian though, and no in the party had an extensive education, so it was rather fitting.).
