One-shots

[Paul]

Cast

Yumil - An elven archer who defended the city at the recent seige of Palerias.

Lissan Chaerel - A mercenary woman from Palantyne who served with Yumil

Heimdal Varson - A northerner cleric of Thor. In times where the goes seem to have abandoned the world, his spells are true miracles.

Alfick - Heimdal's Brother, a Paladin of Thor. He is very zealous about smiting those who oppose Thor's values.

Michael Bourne - A human rogue with several alter egos who has a hard time keeping himself out of trouble.

Session 1: March 5, 1 "Yellow Musk Creeping & why we don't lie to Thor"

Several months after the siege of Palerias ended, Derek Ranel sent a group called "The Messengers" searching for a man who had gone missing named Anadan. After a month without news from them he sent an elven archer named Yumil, who had served at the city during the siege, to see what he could find about what had happened to the group. He headed toward the town of 'Rock-river' to look for news accompanied by a mercenary named Lissan who had served with Yumil at Palerias. Meanwhile, a pair of barbarians named Heimdal Varson and Alfick traveled down from the north spreading the word of Thor while a westerner named Michael set out searching for adventure.

As Yumil and Lissan approached 'Rock-river' from the south they came upon another traveler, dressed as a pilgrim who turned out to be Michael. Lissan suggested that he travel with them as journeying through the wilderness without companions could be dangerous and he accepted her offer. Soon they arrived at the edge of 'Rock-river' and after noting a huge waterwheel at the falls, Yumil headed toward 'The Bronzed Frog' to see what he could learn of the where abouts of 'The Messengers'. Michael and Lissan also asked about odd jobs that they might be paid to do and were sent to the docks. Meanwhile Heimdal and Alfick entered through the front gates and headed straight toward the docks where Heimdal noted a Viking man and woman named Mave and Valerth, who were bringing ice down from the mountains. Immediately he began to tell of Thor's return after his magnificent success at Ragnarök. The pair seemed interested and soon a crowd was drawn. Alfick watched over the different people at the docks suspiciously and intimidated a group of jeering halflings while Lissan helped move blocks of ice and Yumil searched for a raft to charter passage to Fangrel, where he had heard the group he was following had traveled to. Michael looked for work that might need someone who was less than conspicuous and was sent to Furento, a druid who lived on the edge of the town.

As Michael arrived at the druid's home he noted a strange set of vines with yellow flowers growing on one of the wall. Ignoring them he knocked on the door and was given entrance moments later by a cloaked figure who brought him to see Furento. Inside he noticed that the vines with yellow flowers were also on the inside of the hut but after discussing employment for a few moments several other cloaked figures attempted to grab him from either side. Moments later one of the flowers sent a puff of yellow dust towards him. In a trance, he stepped up to the plant as the men in cloaks attempted to block any chance of escape, only to have the plant inject him with a toxin. Realizing what was happening he frantically scrambled past the guards at the exit and ran calling for help just as Heimdal, Alfick, and most of the rest of the men who had been at the docks were returning toward the inn for dinner.

Running up to Heimdal, he explained that he had just been accosted and the cleric immediately began to march toward the hut accompanied by Alfick, Yumil, Lissan, and several villagers, while saying a prayer to Thor to allow him to see the truth of the situation (casting Zone of truth). Knocking on the hut's door, it swung open and he immediately recognized the yellow musk creeper for the threat that it was. Then calling to Thor's expertise on agriculture he ordered the monster the stand down. While it did not obey the command, the yellow musk zombies on either side which had been waiting to ambush him did. The yellow musk creeper fired a mass of spores at Heimdal but he was unaffected. Alfick immediately charged as Yumil and Michael fired arrows. Moments later he was joined by Lissan who slashed at the creature with he bastard sword while squashing bits of it with her shield. Heimdal then said another prayer to Thor to grant Alfick strength and the the power of a bull he finished it off. Heimdal then called for the villagers to bring fire to burn what remained of the plant while he examined the 4 yellow musk zombies and determined that with the death of the creeper, they could be saved. Michael meanwhile searched the room wondering where the druid had disappeared to and found a trap door. Revealing it to the rest of the group they decided that they should head down it after the missing druid.

After heading down the passageway they found it came out in the mill, next to the giant waterwheel. Unfortunately they also found that 8 yellow musk zombies were waiting to ambush them. Heimdal attempted to command them to stand down but his attempts were counted by the druid who stepped out of a wall. Alfick took the opportunity to charge while Yumil, Michael, and Lissan attacked and killed most of the zombies. Heimdal then attempted to bull rush the druid into the waterwheel, pushing him past Alfick who hit him squarely in the chest with his war hammer. Moments later he was crushed by the gears. However, it seemed the ordeal was not actually over. Out of the remains of his chest burst what Alfick recognized as a Tsochar, an otherworldly monster which likely had been controling the druid. Heimdal however was quickly able to push it into the center of the group where all together they were quickly able to finish it off.

Michael quickly began to search the remains of the druids corpse but was caught pocketing several obviously magical items. He attempted to explain that he had been gathering them for distribution among the group to Heimdal but forgetting the zone of truth accidentally said "I was trying to pocket them for myself." Heimdal and Alfick decided that while it was not a terrible offence they should take him with them on their further journeys to teach him the ways of honor. Then returning to 'The bronzed Frog' they learned from Baraistel what each of the enchanted items were (An immovable rod, a ring of featherfall, a ring of protection, 10 +3 arrows, and a horn of fog). He also offered each of them a room for the night and dinner free of charge, in thanks for destroying the creeper and Tsochar. Over dinner Yumil spoke with the barbarians and suggested they join him in his mission for Derek Ranel, as they had proven themselves honorable and competent and after a short discussion, they agreed to his terms.

[Paul]

Cast

Yumil - An elven archer who defended the city at the recent seige of Palerias.

Lissan Chaerel - A mercenary woman from Palantyne who served with Yumil

Heimdal Varson - A northerner cleric of Thor. In times where the goes seem to have abandoned the world, his spells are true miracles.

Alfick - Heimdal's Brother, a Paladin of Thor. He is very zealous about smiting those who oppose Thor's values.

Michael Bourne - A human rogue with several alter egos who has a hard time keeping himself out of trouble.

Garruk Kylemore - A human druid of Thor. He is an orphan and lost his tongue fighting alongside Heimdal

Jengul Morrow - A dwarven wizard who recently left a life as a miner and has been traveling with Garruk.

Session 2: April 1-4, 1 "A ghost of a chance, I smell a rat."

April 1: For the last few days the group had been hiking away from Palantyne. Yumil, Lissan, Heimdal and Alfick (with Michael being dragged somewhat unwillingly) were traveling to Stormport to investigate a rumor of swarms of undead rats which had been plaguing the city. When they were a little less than a days travel away and were setting up a camp for the night they found two statues in the middle of the clearing they had been planning on camping in and while investigating them were approached by Garruk and Gengul who had been following them in hopes of catching up with Garruk's one time companion Heimdal. Halfway through the introductions however the group was attacked from either side by what looked like giant chickens. Garruk and Heimdal recognized the seriousness of the situation however seeing that the birds were actually cockatrices, magical creatures which can turn a man to stone with a touch. Garruk cast a spell to strengthen himself while Heimdal entangles one of the birds. Alfick charged the entangled creature while Yumil shot an arrow at the other one. Michael sneaked around to flank while Lissan and Jengel each charged one of the birds and moments later the monsters were dead with none of the group petrified. Heimdal then found upon closer examination of the statues that one was holding a scroll of "Stone to Flesh" which the group used to revive him. He introduced himself as Frederick and explained that he and his still petrified companion, Merrick, had been ambushed so quickly they did not realize what was attacking them. Heimdal offered to help bring the statue to Stormport where his companion could be revived and Frederick graciously accepted.

April 2: Getting to Stormport took the entirety of the next day due to the extra effort of dragging a statue. Frederick and the group made it just at duck and hurriedly made their way to The Harborman's Rest where they paid for space in the common room. In thanks for their help Frederick gave the group a magic javelin and a magic ring.

April 3: Michael rose early the next day to go speak to cemetery's grounds keeper as he had learned the previous night that many of the undead rats they were investigating were found near the graveyard. Before leaving he left a note for the group. Upon arriving he learned that recent sewer excavation had broken into a crypt which seemed to be where the undead rates were originating from. He also purchased a map of that area of the sewers before rejoining the group. Everyone agreed that it was the best way to make headway and the group began its investigation using Michael's map. While traveling to the crypt however the group was attacked by a carrion crawler bursting from the muck. It paralyzed Michael who was in the lead but was unable to seriously injure the party before they dispatched it. Continuing on they were also assaulted by a large group of skeletal rats and two animated statues which they promptly smashed to pieces. Inside they crypt they spotted a spectral figure standing behind a sarcophagus. It disappeared as the group was attacked once again by rats but this time Heimdal simply raised his holy symbol and destroyed them all.

While examining the crypt they found that much of it had been defiled and soon Heimdal began to act weirdly. He insisted upon leaving and when Michael attempted to look inside the sarcophagus attacked him. Alfick, realizing he was possessed by the ghost which they had spotted minutes earlier restrained him only to have the ghost move on to Gengul. When this happened Heimdal was able to force it back to its sarcophagus through a blast of positive energy. He then approached offering to speak to it rather than fighting. Emerging, it explained that it's name was Griswald Greayhelm, and was forever trapped between the lands of the living and the dead until its murder was avenged. To allow him to rest the group was have to bring Antony Veinire, the descendant of the one who killed him to justice. He also explained that he could sense the man's presence and knew where he resided in the city.

Upon returning to the surface from the crypt Michael offered to search out the man to find out what he could of him. When he returned however, he had disturbing news. Anthony, the man they were searching for, was a wererat, and leader of a thieves guild full of wererats. What was worse was that Michael had to allow himself to be infected to be allowed to leave. Immediately the group went to the tower of Enoch, where they had sent Frederick to have his friend revived. There they spoke to the wizard who was more than happy to do what he could to help them. He gave the group 5 vials of silversheen so as to allow them to effectively fight the wererats and offered them a further reward if they were able to end the threat. The group then spent the rest of the night resting so as to be fresh for the next day's fight.

April 4: The next day they returned to where Michael had met the wererat guild leader and after Michael climbed to a roof looking for an ambush point were swiftly confronted. Heimdal stated that they had come to bring Anthony to justice and offered to fight him alone. In response to this Anthony chuckled and accepted the duel expecting his wererat nature to protect him only to find Heimdal prepared. Soon Anthony called his companions to his aid including a gargoyle and ran as the fight began in earnest. Heimdal chased him to a roof while Yumil shot arrows at the rats which swarmed from all sides and Anthony and Lissan charged the closest enemies. Gengul fired bolts of fire while Garruk attacked with his warhammer. On the streets the party was holding its own but on the roof Heimdal seemed to be at a disadvantage until as a last ditch effort he plowed through Anthony knocking him off the building and smashing his face in. He then heped finish off the remaining wererats throwing his magical javalin which immediatly turned into a bolt of lighting.

After finishing off the rest of the wererats the group returned to Enoch, who identified all the items they had taken from the wererats and gave them a wand of cure moderate wounds in thanks. They also found that upon returning to the ghost's crypt all the defiling marks had disappeared and Griswald was nowhere to be found, apparently finally resting in peace.