Session 9

Date Played: August 19, 2000

Tserdain, 24^th of Nuwmont 1,000 A.C. (Camp south of Orc Lair)

After tending wounds as best as they could, the party broke camp quickly at around 11:30 am and put as much distance between themselves and the orc lair as possible. Camping in the forest was very tense that night as the watches were reduced and the wounded were tended. However, the break-neck pace of retreat kept anyone from healing overnight. Luckily the party didn’t encounter any creatures that night.

Moldain, 25^th of Nuwmont 1,000 A.C.

Chow-Lin memorized: sleep (x2) and magic missile.

The party made a break for the tree line as early as possible. Slumping Eric over the mule’s neck and going as fast as possible, the party emerged from the forest by late afternoon and then force marched to Radlebb Keep. There they were quickly ushered into the Keep itself and provided with food and healing for the injured. The soldiers reported to their commander and the party met with Rathamandaris Farwanderer, the Druid of the Holy Oak. The druid had received the message and waited with the small owl. He managed to bring Eric back from near death, but Eric needed to rest for at least a week.

DUNGEON MASTER'S NOTE: For the party's mapping experience I granted them 20 xp/hex mapped. They managed to map a total of 60 hexes for a bonus xp award of 1,200 xp. Eric almost died in the orc lair and party morale hit a low point until they managed to escape. I did not pull any punches and relied on the dice for all morale and reaction checks.

26^th of Nuwmont – 15^th of Vatermont 1,000 A.C. (TRAINING)

The party decided to split up temporarily and find what they could in the way of additional training. Their experience had taught them a great deal but they still lacked certain knowledge which may prove essential if they continued as a group of adventurers. Markus departed almost immediately for Luln, the town located about a day’s travel west of Radlebb Keep. The town had been beleaguered by the forces of the Black Eagle Barony, and Markus quickly located a few members of his former Assassin’s Guild for training. He was instructed in the use of various poisons, new weapons, and assassination techniques. He also learned that Sascia of Luln was a very important person in these parts, so much so that Baron Von Hendricks had put a high price on her head. However, Duke Stefan seemed to be looking at gifting her with knighthood. Assassinating a political figure in such favor with the Duke was a tricky situation and so the Assassin’s Guild awaited their big chance. After a period of 11 days, Markus was deemed to have learned all he could and now owes the Guild a sum of 2,250 gp for his training. He purchased some weak poison to practice with on his next adventure. Markus then returned to Radlebb Keep to await news from the others.

While Eric was bed-ridden, Chow-Lin decided to expand upon her spell selection. Taking a trip back to Specularum with a Darokinian merchant caravan after waiting about for a week, she arrived at the Wizard’s Guild only to find that she was very short of funds. In order to make the trip worth her while, she set about asking students if they would like to compare notes and arrange a trade of spells. Several students were interested in her spell selections, but only one had a spell she required (light). Once she copied the spell and the student had copied hers, she met with Portio at the Inn. She arranged to have Portio keep the room open for them at the inn by using an expense account (4.2 gp/week) starting when the current payment is due on the 25^th of Vatermont. Chow-Lin then returned to Radlebb Keep with a group of merchants.

Meanwhile, once Eric regained his health, he began training with Rathamandaris at the Holy Oak north of Radlebb Keep. He learned more of the Radlebb Wood and how to read the large stone calendar at the Holy Oak. He was also quizzed on animals and plants in the region. By the time his training was completed, Eric was a full-fledged Ovate and could cast spells of the second level. However, he owed the Druid a sum of 2,250 gp for his training. Rath covered the expenses but asked that he donate this amount as soon as possible.

Once the party returned to Radlebb Keep and their rooms at the Wolfsnarl Inn, they compared notes and also learned that the Black Eagle Barony had been causing trouble south of the Westron Road and that orc raids had increased along the road to the east. No further assaults had been made upon Radlebb Keep in the time since the adventurers returned from the orc lair. Rathamandaris referred to this period as the “calm before the storm.” The characters knew that they must return to the orc lair and somehow defeat not only the orc chieftain, breaking his power in this region, but also the chieftain’s assistant who the party theorizes is a shape-shifter. In addition, the manpower at the Keep is spread thin so the only soldiers who would return with them to the orc lair are Sub-Commander Maribor and Soldier Torino.