High Tailing From Highport
So we rested up amongst the dead weasels and orcs, we used Leomund’s tiny hut as a refuge though sadly not everyone could fit in, so we left the girls on guard outside. No but seriously we left Varamir and the monk out there too. Once we were ready and had healed up a little Bernice scouted the ladder and opening the hatch found an earthen tunnel beyond.
Bernice, no stranger to new surroundings scouted forward finding a fork in the tunnel, and the rest of us followed single file. The passage was clearly ascending, but checking the western fork there was a set of stairs leading up to a door. Entering the crypt, for such it was, we discovered three stone tombs. Any writing on them was long since erased by age, and emboldened by the lack of undead indicated by Zandeep’s sword we checked the three graves finding them all empty.
Leaving the crypt we were surprised to find ourselves outside and in a heavily overgrown cemetery. Thick undergrowth and trees obscured our view and the night sky above was cloudy. A feeling of foreboding lingered in the air but we followed a path northwards. We could glimpse walls east and north but could not tell if they were enclosing or an indication that we were outside a structure.
After much prevarication we checked the doors finding they opened into a corridor with more doors opposite. Spotting a dead orc we theorised we were back in the area north of the stables we had raided an eternity ago it now seemed, we therefore decided to head back south through the spooky cemetery rather than follow the corridor we had travelled before. Go figure.
We followed the path which split east west on the eastern route only to find that it bent round behind the crypt linking to become a circular path around it, however it also struck off south and we went that way. Suddenly the plants all around us writhed into life, seizing limbs and striking out, coiling around hapless party members and rescuees alike. Only Zunee and Bernice were able to avoid becoming entangled, and they helped everyone else cut themselves free.
Fortunately no wandering hostiles took advantage of us in those few minutes of confusion. Zunee also helped by using dispel magic which seemed to cause the flora to recoil. We continued south, only to find that the path petered out. Back tracking we tried to return the way we had come, only to find the path had been blocked by trees and undergrowth so as it make it virtually impassable.
We still had the western path option open and we used it to head back to the doors without further incident. After listening without result at the northern doors we headed back south, arriving at the stables which we broke into with embarrassing difficulty.* Finding them deserted apart from a solitary horse with whom Bernice had a brief unproductive chat, we exited through the stable doors to find herself in the street running alongside the temple complex.
*Not like it took one of the girls to kick the door in though, er, oh
We roped the girls together so as to appear to be a slaver party and headed down the street, only to encounter an orc patrol coming the other way. They challenged us and there was a tense exchange; things rapidly deteriorating when the orcs noticed Varamir prominently infront and it reached the point where the orc leader drew his sword, unsatisfied with the responses he was getting.
Zunee thinking on his feet, carefully evaluated his position, did he:
a) Have a laugh with the orc leader and congratulate him on his diligence inviting him and his team to enjoy a few drinks at some nearby hostelry with a little slave rape and nachos on the side
b) Admit the whole thing and surrender
c) Charge headlong into the orcs, weapons flying
d) Blast them subtly with his ring of shooting stars waking the entire neighbourhood?
He went for option (d) killing instantly the first three orcs including their officious sergeant. The remaining four dropped their crossbows and fled. Zunee went forward to examine the bodies, apparently unconcerned at the cries of alarm and activity coming from surrounding buildings, then a figure rushed out of a nearby side street gesturing frantically at us.
We recognised Jameson and even remembered the password phrase. He led us away from the scene of the explosion, a couple of shadowy bowmen covering our retreat as we fled. He took us well across town and we ended up in the basement of a large building somewhere in the North West quarter. We lay low there for the day, Jameson quizzed us on our adventures and sent a bird to Seahaven to organise our requested trip back across the river.
We spent the day recovering spells and finishing restoring our health. Well after darkness fell we set off towards the river, and tied up at a little used jetty a mile or two upstream, we found the Swift Venture, her crew reinforced by a dozen heavily armed mercenary types ‘in case of accidents’ as Jameson put it.
We returned to Seahaven unmolested and met with Avalan again who listened to our account and agreed to send the slaves we had rescued back to Steeplefell for 100 GP. Studying the map he commented that the stockade shown was an old military base abandoned years before, he estimated a week’s travel on horseback after crossing the river at the fortified town of Valice,* some 20 miles north. We all agreed that a swift pursuit was required if we were to stay on the trail of the noble woman Althea.
*A town called Valice? Let’s hope that we don’t get in a jam there
He did caution that the country east of the river was pretty wild and full of dangers. Although he agreed to send a couple of men with us as far as Valice he would not risk them over the river. Thus warned we spent a day provisioning and acquiring six horses. We then visited the Mages Guild with trade on our minds. We met with a rather irritating presumed Magic User named Naxcious. In summary everything we had to sell was commonplace, poor quality, lacking a market and overpriced, whilst everything he had was a bargain, essential for our needs and was an incredible gift to us at the price given how invaluable an item it was.
In the end after much often ill-tempered haggling we parted with the Bracers of defence that were surplus to requirements, the salamander’s helm and spear, a couple of magic weapons and more than 16,000 gold pieces. In exchange we got very annoyed, a dozen magic arrows (magic beans were unavailable), 4 new spells for Malakai’s spellbook, a magic Scimitar, 4 potions of extra healing and a wand of wonder. We did try to trade away Malakai’s evil sword, but even though it gives him a headache apparently he has a soft spot for it.
5.11.22
Experience Awards
Bernice
Mapping 50
Characterisation roleplay 50
Scouting /Lock picking 100
Total 200
Reqd 50,018
Bob
Healing 50
Characterisation roleplay 50
Total 100
Bonus 10
Reqd 9,507
Varamir
Total 0
Bonus 0
Reqd 20,026
Malakai
Total 0
Bonus 0
Reqd 28,723
Zunee
Healing 50
Find Traps 50
Dispel Magic on plants 100
Roping Girls together 100
Orcs 50
Characterisation roleplay 250
Total 300/300
Bonus 0/30
Reqd 7,985/19,783
Zandeep
Using detect undead sword 50
Characterisation roleplay 250
Total 150/150
Reqd 7,732/12,732
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