[b]Going South.[/b]
So we headed south through another teleport portal to check out the unexplored section of the complex. We were greeted by a squad of hobgoblins who fired a volley of crossbow bolts, one of which wounded me leaving me unconscious because of the perfidious poison tip. I learned what occurred in the rest of the fight only later. The monk and Ranger cleric rushed forward to get amongst them before they could reload, Bernice bringing one down, however, the female magic user we had mislaid after leaving her tied up in a pit was just around the corner and charmed Zunee. –Awkward – I thought half elves were better than that?
Fortunately Malakai successfully dispelled the charm or it would have gone hard with us. The Magic user was worryingly retreating further back, and Malakai who had been considering using a lightning bolt now put forward that she was preparing one too – the party had earlier been on the wrong end of one of her lightning bolts and it was not an experience we wanted to repeat. Malakai meanwhile had no clean shot and resorted to magic missiles, finishing off the work started by Zunee and the monk.
She used her nifty turn of speed to charge the Magic User and mercifully struck her in time to prevent her getting a spell off. Our magic user finished the job with a final magic missile. Picking over the corpses revealed little of value though Bernice took a crossbow, some bolts and some vials of the drug that had knocked me out. I sometimes wonder about that girl.
On Priscilla the magic user’s body we found a scroll which gave directions for all slaves to be sent to a stockade in Highport on the coast. We checked the room east of the entrance steps and found another guardroom very similar to the first we had found and we rested there, Zunee and the girls dragging my body to one of the rough bunks. Bernice found a few coins in the cupboard of the hobgoblin leader but there was nothing else.
Once Zunee had his spells back he was able to bring me back to consciousness. We did not check the two exits from this room, Bernice heard ominous scuttling behind one of the doors and we decided instead to leave via the spiral staircase from the bandit room, after all the two freed girls were getting increasingly anxious, and ascending through the illusory pool would no doubt invite a fusillade of arrows.
We headed up and out, as soon as I opened the door I sensed a presence very close by, a beautiful maiden with a slung bow was only a couple of yards away and her sing song voice flooded through my mind promising every pleasure. Well I was having none of that and explained it to her via the tried and tested medium of battle axe. No one messes with my mind. Silence fell as we searched the darkness and close pressing trees for more threats, but none came. After a slight disagreement on which side of the tree moss grows on, Zunee successfully navigated us out of the thicket and back to the safety of the village.
The villagers were suitably grateful for the return of the two girls and saddened to hear of the death of the one that had become infected with lycanthropy. We told the headman that the hilltop remains dangerous as the druid remained at large and dryads still abounded. Several bandits had also escaped and of course there was an ogre and a number of zombies still in situ…but we didn’t mention that.
We agreed to head south to Highport in the hope that the five girls still unaccounted for might be found. A collection in the village resulted in about 50GP worth of gifts and we set off following the route south on the scroll. For three days we travelled, passing through the villages of Stelbridge, Vernenburg and Littlehorpe, these were tiny hamlets but we picked up some nuggets of information and a wagon and pair of veteran horses named Molly and Greyburn which cost an earring* and gem.
*shame it wasn’t a pair, then they would have thrown in the stable and Derby winner
A picture emerged of a neglected area with little official interest from Baron Roger apart from tax collection. Malakai also discovered a regrettable lack of easily accessible prostitution, although Mrs Griggs at No 33 Hawes Street* seemed very willing to accommodate. The party interacted with a number of characters apart from Mrs Griggs in their search for information; Mayor Greyburn;** Constable Postlethwaite and a picture emerged of simple folk with few concerns beyond the boundaries of their village and a startling sense of civic duty that was both unique and terrifying.
*Named for a former mayor
**Yes the very man one of our horses was named after. These are, as I say, simple folk.
Malakai tried to offload his probably cursed talisman on innocent villagers*, and it was probably fortunate for them that their idea of a fortune was 10GP and he was looking for hundreds to part with it. Zunee has had a few moments where he clearly doubts his association with him and I wonder what keeps him in his company. If he sees some redeeming feature it eludes me, probably his elvish blood screwing him up.
*Although Mr Perkins the shopkeep was not so innocent according to Mrs Griggs
A chance encounter with a mounted troop of the Baron’s cavalry reinforced rumours that slavers operated from Highport which was a lawless enclave outside Estergrad, across the river estuary from the port of Seahaven. We decided to make for the latter and perhaps approach Highport by boat.
Arriving at Seahaven at last here was a substantial settlement, with old but intact walls, a large commercial centre and port, military barracks and a large monastery complex. A trip to the merchants’ guild led to discussions with one Myles Haverknackle who explained the very reasonable banking arrangements* that prevailed in the town. He also had certain items appraised that the party had looted, revealing several items to be of value notably the salamander helm and monks’ talisman.
*Reasonable for the guild anyway
The talisman of bad dreams seemed more problematic; Havelock Monokyne the guild appointed appraiser was no magic expert and referred both this and the silver circlet to the Mages guild, pointing out that researching the items magically would involve considerable cost. The monastery was a dead end, they were not interested in purchasing the salamander’s spear though they did confirm that the two potions we had found were healing potions.
So still looking for some safe way of storing our treasures we* are reluctant to submit our money and items to the guild vaults where there is no guarantee sufficiently reassuring should the money be lost. There was particular disquiet expressed (by Malakai of course) about the three and a half percent levy imposed by the local thieves’ guild. Zunee was able to get rid of some of his money at least, buying some improved armour as part of preparations for the voyage across the river, there was some talk about the need to strengthen the party more as it sounds like the slavers are a force to be reckoned with.
*Well, Malakai basically, he seems to have a lot of trust issues.
19.2.22
Experience awards
Malakai
Characterisation and roleplay 300
Hobgoblins 40
Dispelling charm on Zunee 300
Magic user 50
Mission completion 1,000
Total 1,690 +bonus = 1,859
Requires 10,239
Zunee
Healing 100
Hobgoblins 40
Characterisation and roleplay 75
Mission Completion 1,000
Total 608/608 + Bonus = 608/669
Required 13,228/25,550
Bernice
Mapping 50
Hobgoblins 40
Magic User 360
Characterisation and roleplay 50
Hearing success 4b 25
Mission Completion 1000
Total 1,525 Reqd 10,382
Varamir
Dryad 130
Mission Completion 1000
Total 1,130 + bonus = 1,243
Reqd 26,400
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