Briefly: Wanted Dead or Alive?

A Notice to Travelers and Bounty Hunters Alike

Attention Road Weary and Restless Souls the wood hereabout is haunted by a brigand

and a murderer of honest men.

Backstory: Samantha Rose

Balduren, City of the Horse Lords, is built on a narrow peninsula that juts into the Great Sea. It boasts massive walls, decorated with the graven images of the animal which is highly revered there. It is also a port city, from which many set sail to the strange Land of Southrun. It boasts tens of thousands of residents, and is the home of the Great Warrior King Belasarus and of Drawmij the Wizard.

Catching Up: The Further Travels of Ziek pt. 2

Finally, coming to the Lake of Mist, they made contact with Caelfa, a Great Druid, who spoke to them cryptically but truthfully. She finally revealed the history of Collonia as she knew it. For her predecessor was none other than Tersia whose writings had other details to spare. Thus armed with some hidden history, Ziek and his adept decided to journey to Peakshadow to visit the archives there. For they surmised that a true copy of the book might exist in the High King's library.

The Haunted Forest of Talir pt. 2

The Town of Umfreville is a logging community that provides valuable lumber to noble houses across all of the Eight Kingdoms. Said nobles use it to panel their manors and the interior walls of their halls. But, the wood harvested here is also highly prized by the finest boatwrights for its superior water resistance. The local Baron makes his living by using his serfs to harvest lumber and mill it. The party is not made of loggers, though, they have come to solve a murder at the behest of the victim's 12 year old daughter.

Apollo of the Creed pt 5: The Third Quest

Apollo found himself, along with the rest of his companions, in and around the City of Peakshadow, as the mighty horde of goblins besieged it. Many sorties were fought and there were many distractions of war, with heroes from around the realm flocking to the banner of humanity. This included the entire Peerage that Apollo sought to join, which brought itself to Wanderhalt to protect the women therein. So it was that, in the shadow of the salvaged city, Lunsford of Saklan released Apollo from his quest and declared it well-accomplished, thereby granting to him the authority to turn undead.

Endstory: The Passing of Thalwyn and Gurdand

Such an ignoble end for two storied adventurers -- Thalwyn, the elven thief who would not lie; and Gurdand, the dwarven Curate whose loyalties were sorely tested.

Briefly: In Peakshadow

At the conclusion of his training under Clem, Garland is set to receive another spell from his wizened master. He asks specifically for the spell called, Teleport without Error and he presents the magister with the Black Unicorn's horn as a gift. The two of them are in the richly appointed study of the master, situated as one of the top floors of his tower. It boasts a panoramic view of Peakshadow.

Cache a Fallen Star pt. 5

The adventure begins again in the great stone trough with Quin insisting that something isn't right about the construction. The party is weak and wounded from their last battle and know that more punishment is coming. They know they need respite. Still, Budokai looks to his faithful squire, the boy Jarvis, and informs him that his period of apprenticeship is over. Jarvis takes a knee before the old master knight who lays his sword upon each of the boy's shoulders in turn.

The Haunted Forests of Talir pt.1

While living off their fame in Glittermore, the party is joined by Ala the Sorceress who has come East in search of adventure more suited to her ability level. She, the Rangers Traven and Radolfo, and Fr. Brendan hear many rumors from the sailors and travelers through the Kingdom of Rath. They ignore most of them, but none are quite so intriguing as the rumors out of the Kingdom of Talir. These rumors indicate that the Sacred Forests are haunted by an unspeakable evil which has resulted in the loss of many woodsmen.

Endstory: The Death of Lucia Rijker, Paladin

Lucia Rijker knew the smell of the ocean. She had grown up in the Provinces and visited its sea ports often enough. The others in her company thought the town picturesque, but Glittermore was just another sea port to her. As with all sea ports, it was filled with ne'erdowells and mischief makers -- the sort of people who blow into town to drink away their wages and have their way with wanton women. Lucia knew them, too, and she did not approve.

Grim Tidings in Glittermore

A group of mercenary travelers stops over in the picturesque town of Glittermore on the South shores of the Kingdom of Rath. The populace of the town proves to be as friendly to visitors as the town is scenic. Glittermore relies heavily on merchants, pilgrims and travelers who are seeking respite from the road. All is good until the party mentions that they might be staying through the weekend, suddenly their reception turns a bit chilly.

Apollo of the Creed pt 4: The Second Quest continues

When last we left the tale, Apollo of the Creed had been challenged by Lunsford of Saklan to find someone "who is naked and to clothe them with nobility." Apollo interpreted this to mean the restoration of the so-called Scarlett Hood to the throne of Collonia. To do so, he purposed to find the sword of Rigel, son of Rigel, last King of Collonia.

Cache a Fallen Star pt. 4

Once again, the party stands on the field of recent battle... the twenty feet wide paved and walled "trough" that has been cut into the ridge of the Malochan Mountains. It runs to the West from this scene and toward the enclave of the Frost Giant Jarl. It also runs to the East toward the Mistwood Forest.

RETCONNED: Using scrolls while invisible

There is nothing I hate worse than getting hoisted by my own petard, except perhaps to have to retroactively adjust the continuity of a session. It always leaves a bad taste in my mouth to have to fix a session after it has been played. Now, it is true enough that Robby pointed this out during play, but I had to do some reading afterwards to check my own writings on the subject before I could make a ruling. I blame the fact that Steve doesn't have WiFi and my laptop was useless to me in his basement.

Bookkeeping: Help with the Halls

I have been working on my fighter's guilds. I have done a great deal of work on the other professional associations, but not much in this department, at all. So, I am looking for help. Experience awards are available for those who want to do some work in this area.

Briefly: In the Shire of Hillsdale

Freja and Budokai, along with Nor Nidrah the dwarven geologist were leading the company's mounts when they found themselves entering an area of rolling foothills. The narrow footpath from the quarry road slowly began to wind back and forth to avoid the hills rather than going overtop them and the way became unnecesarily long and tedious. So, instead of following it, the party of three and their beasts kept the wildly winding path to their left and walked along the tops of the hills in the straighter path.

Endstory: The Death of Oghren, House Ironbeard, Dun Balnolmor

From the Journal of Gneelix, Apprentice Illusionist

In the Year 5823, The first Week of the first Moon of Harvest, a Wavesday.

Master is having a bad week. I think he has eaten Gnostwick and Gnarlsley just as he has always threatened he would eat all of us. When these black moods come over him none are safe. We try to remind him that he is a vegetarian, but he seldom seems to hear our objection. Surely he must be jesting about the ignoble deaths of his own apprentices. But still, where are Gnostwick and Gnarlsley? To be invisible from Master is punishable by death. So even if it were true that they did not die under Master's hand (fork?) surely they will for this.

Cache a Fallen Star pt. 3

The party stands on the field of recent battle... a twenty feet wide paved "trough" that has been cut into the ridge of the Malochan Mountains. It runs to the West from this scene of battle and toward the enclave of the Frost Giant Jarl. It also runs to the East toward destinations unknown.

Apollo of the Creed pt 3 -- Second Quest

After leaving the presence of Yanlong of Shu, Apollo was instructed to find Lunsford of Saklan, also of the Order of the Sword and Rose, who had a three day head start from Peakshadow. Apollo raced after the Champion and received the command to, "Find someone who is naked and clothe them with nobility."

Backstory: Fung Lee Nan Mai

Here I sit in the damp and dark hold of this foul smelling merchant ship. I stowed aboard several days ago after fearing capture as a horse thief. The boat keeps rocking and listing. I’m not sure if it will ever stop and I cannot take much more of this. I have not been able to eat anything that I stole and I am running low on water. At least it is quiet on the decks above me.