[Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

[Susano]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

No FMH this week' date=' or next. Players on vacation.[/quote']

 

*sigh*

 

We will be ending Shadows Angelus this weekend.

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

*sigh*

 

We will be ending Shadows Angelus this weekend.

 

Campaign winding down, or some less-happy reason?

[Susano]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Campaign winding down' date=' or some less-happy reason?[/quote']

 

We won last session. Saved the world. All it cost us was the Director of XSWAT, who sacrificed herself to power the seal that keeps evil out. Oh, and 800,000 dead when the demons rampaged for a while.

 

So as with all good anime series, things must come to a close.

 

Until the inevitable sequel, which my character so thoughtfully made possible.

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

That's better than "GM is moving to Pittsburg/got religion and can't play anymore/was crushed under a runaway bus."

[Susano]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

That's better than "GM is moving to Pittsburg/got religion and can't play anymore/was crushed under a runaway bus."

 

Well, yes. Or had a bunny lop off his head and steal his Quickening.

 

There is a new game planned, new GM, new setting. Fantasy time!

[Enforcer84]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Well, yes. Or had a bunny lop off his head and steal his Quickening.

 

There is a new game planned, new GM, new setting. Fantasy time!

Oohh, what setting?

[Susano]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Oohh' date=' what setting?[/quote']

 

The GM's own.

 

I have a URL somewhere.

[Enforcer84]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

The GM's own.

 

I have a URL somewhere.

PM me, I've thread jacked enough.

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

PM me' date=' I've thread jacked enough.[/quote']

 

Hey, that's not fair. You mention a new FH game in my thread, you'd damnwell better link to it! Or at least start a new thread to talk about it.

[Enforcer84]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Hey' date=' that's not fair. You mention a new FH game in [u']my[/u] thread, you'd damnwell better link to it! Or at least start a new thread to talk about it.

[Susano]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Here: http://www.asynjor.com/entertain/fantasy/index.html

[Enforcer84]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Here: http://www.asynjor.com/entertain/fantasy/index.html

Ah, like it.

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

OK, after a long hiatus, we're back to the Fearless Monster Hunters!

------------------------------

FMH Recap for June 9, 2007

The Fearless Monster Hunters stepped off the path that Angus showed them and onto the main road, finding themselves not more than a mile or two from Mount Olympia!

 

But as they approached the sacred mountain, they found themselves met by a group of armed guards. One of the guards had heard of the FMH, and after some questioning he let them through the roadblock. He told them that the temple was on a war footing, because there had been a lot of trouble in the area lately – all sorts of bizarre creatures, bandits, and worse, had been attacking villages in the area.

 

The guards escorted the heroes to the temple – a massive edifice carved into the side of the mountain. But instead of going inside, they went around back to a large smithy. There they met Cearbhallan, the high priest of this temple, Initiate of the Ninth Circle and one of the advisors of the Nine Druids (which is all a fancy way of saying, "This guy is a big deal.").

 

Cearbhallan was an older man with a short grey beard, huge burly arms and shoulders, a vice-like handshake, and soft friendly eyes. He didn't seem too surprised to see the FMH, and invited them to take a drink with him (after he cleaned himself off from the day's labors).

 

After the introductions were over, he asked to see the artifact. Without touching it, he examined it, then declared it evil and said that it must be destroyed. He knew of a ritual to destroy it, and he wanted to get started right away.

 

Kaira joined him and the other Druids in the temple. Justin, Trouble, and Chrissie stood just inside, watching the ritual. The Druids brought in a huge hammer and a giant anvil, and formed a circle around them. Cearbhallan stood in the center, holding the hammer above the anvil, where the symbol of Fannon's power had been placed. They all began chanting, and the air grew thick with power.

 

Soon, both the anvil and the hammer were glowing orange. Heat washed through the temple. The hammer and anvil grew hotter and hotter, now glowing red, now golden, and now pure white. At that moment, just for a second, a great darkness flowed through the temple, drowning out the light. The onlooking heroes thought they saw a pair of dark eyes staring at them. Then Cearbhallan hefted the hammer over his head and brought it down on the amulet. The ancient iron device shattered into a thousand pieces, and the spell was broken.

 

Though the whole thing only seemed to take minutes, when the heroes emerged from the temple they found that the whole day had passed them by, and it was already after dark.

 

Meanwhile, Castilla, Leth, and Illy wandered around the small town, hoping to find news of Illy's sister. Unfortunately, no one seemed to have seen her in these parts. Castilla found a tailor and asked to have some new clothes made (her old clothes still had Gorshem's stink in them). The tailor had great fun in taking her measurements.

 

While the Jill was at the tailor's, Illy and Leth found the captain of the local militia and asked about the recent attacks. He said that all the mountain villages within several days' ride had been attacked in the last six months or so. The primary culprits were bandits stealing food and supplies, but there were stories of other things as well – giants, monstrous animals, dark fae-like creatures, and things too horrible to describe. Even the town under Mount Olympia had been attacked (though the militia was able to drive the attackers off). The good news was, the attacks had slacked off in the last few weeks, and the last one he'd heard of was in a village a few days' ride to the south.

 

After talking with the militia, the three heroes retired back to the town tavern to wait for the others. Some hours later, the arrived. Cearbhallan and Kaira were exhausted and demanded food. They ate an enormous quantity, then, sated, the high druid looked over at the FMH.

 

"If Fannon (or someone who wants to carry on his legacy) has returned, this bodes ill for the land of Kalon. I will send messengers to the Great Druid to warn him. Can we count on you to help?"

 

The FMH assured him that they were indeed in this for the long haul, which pleased him. "Fannon (or whoever the impostor is) has now seen you, and knows who you are. The job will not be safe or easy. But the blood of your ancestors runs in your veins, and I am sure you will be up to the task."

 

The heroes asked if he had known the original FMH, and he said that he did, years ago. He asked if they knew the story of the Fearless Monster Hunters' last adventure, the story about why they all went their separate ways and never adventured again. This was a story that even Trouble and Chrissie had never heard – none of the original FMH had ever spoken of it.

 

"The Fearless Monster Hunters were famous throughout the Sylvan Gulf," Cearbhallan said. "They had been adventuring for years, exploring the coast of Kidbod, sailing along the Plains of Morjiim, hopping across the Island Nations, visiting Kalon, Pasion, and even the coast of Demoria. They fought many monsters and defeated many menaces – the Necromancer Olfillon, the Green Dragon of Illich, menaces fierce and deadly enough to turn even the bravest man's heart to pudding.

 

"But throughout their travels, one menace remained the same. They kept running into the members of a dark cult, who worshipped an ancient, forgotten goddess of the far north. This goddess, known as Djavuli, had been so wicked that her own kin caught her up, carried her to a deserted island, and buried her deep beneath the earth. The Northmen say her struggles against the chains that bind her cause earthquakes. They also say that should she ever escape, she will devour the sun and the moon, plunging the world into eternal darkness and destroying all life as we know it."

 

The priest stirred at the fire with a poker. "The Fearless Monster Hunters followed those cultists to this lost island, somewhere to the north, and stopped them. The details are unimportant; suffice it to say that their mighty ship the Endeavor was destroyed, and several of those great heroes died that day. You, Siegfried Thunderfoot," he said, pointing the poker at the Saurian, "were named after one of the men who was killed – a brave Northman who gave his life so that your Grandfather and the others might fight on. The Fearless Monster Hunters saved the world that day," he finished.

 

The heroes sat back to digest this new information. After a few moments of silence, Justin asked the Druid what he could tell them about Fannon. "Fannon hated the gods of the Druids more than anything," Cearbhallan said. "He swore that he would hurt them any way he could. But harming a god is a difficult matter, so he aimed his hatred at the thing the gods loved best – this island and her people. He would've destroyed the whole island – the whole world, if he could've – but he was finally stopped. Legend tells of a brave band of heroes who caused his enchanted castle to fall out of the sky, destroying his army and killing him, ending his threat forever."

 

"Where did this all happen?" Illy asked.

 

"Nobody knows exactly where," Cearbhallan replied with a shrug. "Wherever it was would be a desolate and unpopulated part of the island – probably in the southern part of the Mystic Mountains, where not many people live."

 

"What about the school that Fannon mentioned in his letter to Calavera and Corteo?" Kaira asked. "Does anyone know where that might be?"

 

Chrissie spoke up. "There are four likely targets. The first is Silverymoon, a Bardic College in the heart of Nekia. The second is the Library of the Royal Explorers' Society in the capital city of Nekia (lots of maps there). Third would be the Druids' Library in the capital of Kalon. Finally, there's the Sarlarka School of Magic on the coast of Morjiim."

 

"OK, so let's go over this," Leth said. "Fannon wants to destroy the world. The original FMH once stopped a goddess who wanted to destroy the world. Fannon is looking for a map. The original FMH once had a magical map that showed everywhere they've ever been. Could he be looking to free the goddess, complete the work of that cult?"

 

"But the map was destroyed along with the Endeavor," Trouble said.

 

"Supposedly," Kaira said. "Other parts of the Endeavor survived – the figurehead, for one. And if the map still exists, I'll bet the guy who once kept it knows where it is."

 

"Duncan," Chrissie said. "Who went back to Morjiim after the original FMH broke up..."

 

"So the question now is," Justin said, "do we head back north to our ship and sail to Morjiim, or do we continue south looking for Styggiad and Fannon?"

 

The heroes discussed their options for a while before finally deciding to go south few a few days to see if they could find any clues about Fannon's whereabouts. So the next morning, they headed out towards the south. About an hour's walk from the town, Illy spotted someone watching them – a beautiful white mare. "Hello Diamond," she said. "What do you want?" The horse tossed its head and ran around in a circle.

 

"I think she wants us to follow her," Leth suggested, so the heroes climbed up the hill, where they found their own horses all saddled and waiting for them. The FMH thanked Diamond and gave her an apple, then continued on their journey.

 

While pausing for a quick lunch, Angus showed up out of nowhere. "Did ye find what ye were lookin' for?" he asked.

 

"Yes and no," Justin replied. "We got rid of the artifact, but now we need to find a guy named Fannon."

 

Angus spat on the ground. "Don't say that name out loud!" he admonished. "'tis bad luck! Now why would ye want to go findin' him?"

 

"We think that's where my sister is," Illy said. "And we also think he's planning to destroy the world. Again."

 

"Nonsense!" Angus snorted. "He's been dead for a very long time. And once ye're dead (with few exceptions) you don't come back."

 

"Well, somebody who claims to be him is apparently gathering up an army of giants and ne'er-do-wells," Kaira said. "And we want to find him."

 

Angus was silent for a while, mulling something over in his mind. Finally, he said, "Well, if it's to Caer Fannon ye want to go, ye can use yer favor and I can show ye a path straight to there. But for the record, I think its madness and I wouldn't be goin' there myself. I've got a daughter to be lookin' after, and it'd be a damn pity for her to grow up an orphan."

 

TBC!

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

FMH Recap for June 23 2007

The FMH was faced with a choice – take up Angus on his offer to take them directly to Caer Fannon, or continue heading south to look on their own (or ask Angus to take them straight back to Port). They decided to head to the village and find out what happened there, and then make their decision based on that information.

 

After another day on the road, the heroes reached Cyr Irlas, a small mining village. Like Cyr Angael, the villagers had been were attacked (about a week ago) by a band of bandits, led by a huge, hairy, very smelly creature. The bandits took most of the villagers' supplies, but the bandits' leader was most interested in stealing every precious or semi-precious stone he could find. Once they had what they wanted, the thieves left, heading south. The villagers don’t who they were or what they wanted – they'd never seen them before, and pray to never see (or smell!) them again. Their biggest worry right now was that, since the bandits took all of their trade stones, they wouldn't be able to afford to buy supplies to get them through to the fall.

 

The heroes asked what the name of the big hairy stinkball was, and the villagers (with some prodding) said it was Gorshem. The FMH huddled together to discuss what they knew. Obviously, at least some of Gorshem's treasure had originally belonged to these simple miners. The heroes all emptied their pockets, each one donating a portion of their loot to help the villagers get back on their feet.

 

Needless to say, the simple folk were ecstatic to see the fruits of their labor returned, and to hear the good news that Gorshem was dead. They told the FMH that anytime they wanted to come back, they would have a home here in Cyr Irlas.

 

Now the question was, did the heroes try to follow the bandits' trail, or ask Angus for help. The heroes, not wanting to use up their last favor, headed southward. At first Leth was able to follow the remains of the bandits' trail, but he completely lost it after a day or so – not surprising, since it was a week cold, and this is the rainy season.

 

Frustrated, they called Angus. "So ye want me to show ye the way back up to Port, do ye?" he asked. No, they said. We want you to show us the way to Caer Fannon.

 

"Oh, ye don't want to go there," Angus cautioned. "Tis a dark and evil place. Ye're likely to meet yer deaths there. I'll take you back up to Port."

 

But the heroes were insistent, and eventually Angus agreed. He led them down a dark path (that wasn't there a minute ago!). The path led through a very narrow canyon. Here Angus paused. "Are ye sure ye want to go this way, laddies?" he asked, and they affirmed that yes, this was what they wanted. He sighed and shrugged. "If ye go out there dressed as ye are, ye'll stick out like a sore thumb. The folk ye'll meet there are a low sort, dirty and bedraggled, like the bandits ye fought in Cyr Angael. If ye follow this path to its endpoint, be careful."

 

The heroes took his words to heart and dirtied themselves up as best as they could, then they continued down the path. They found themselves alone, Angus having vanished once again. Eventually, the heroes came out in a low valley. They couldn't see much of anything, as the trees were thick enough to block line of sight, but they smelled smoke and the stink of large numbers of humanity. They immediately began formulating a plan, but before they could put their words into action, they heard voices approaching.

 

The heroes tried to hide. Leth, Shauvaughn, and Kaira disappeared into the underbrush but Justin, Trouble, Chrissie, Castilla, and Illy couldn't find any good spots before the people behind the voices showed up. It was a handful of grungy ne'er-do-wells. "Who are you?" the bandits demanded.

 

"Um…" Justin thought fast. "We're the advance party for Calavera and Corteo's group," he said. The others held their breaths, wondering if the guards would buy this story.

 

"Well it's about damn time you got here!" one of the bandits said. "Everyone has been waiting for you. Come with us and we'll show you to your campsite."

 

The heroes breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Those who had been spotted followed the guards down into the valley, a narrow strip of land covered with tents, pavilions, lean-tos, and other camp detritus. There must've been thousands of people here – and not just people, but other things as well: Giants, Trolls, Saurians, Hobgoblins, Fae creatures of every sort, even a few Ogres.

 

The guards led the heroes through this makeshift campsite up to the head of the valley, which was buried in what appeared at first glance to be a massive rockslide, but on closer inspection was really the ruins of an ancient, once-spectacular castle. It looked like part of the castle had been reassembled; there was a heavily-guarded stone keep right at the foot of the ruins.

 

The guards told the heroes that they could camp here, not far from the keep, and that they should go report their master's whereabouts immediately.

 

Justin headed over to the keep, where a large group of heavily-armed men confronted him. "What are you doing here, fool?" they said. "You know this area is off limits to everyone!"

 

"I was told to report," Justin said. "I'm with Calavera and Corteo's group."

 

At this, one of the guards rushed back to the keep, returning a moment later with a swarthy, pirate-like individual. "Tell the Admiral what you just told us!" the guard ordered.

 

"I'm with Calavera and Corteo's advance scouts," Justin lied. "They're about two or three days behind us. They sent us ahead to let the boss know they were on their way."

 

"Two or three days?" the Admiral shouted. "Intolerable! Did they not get the Master's letter? How dare they continue to make us wait!" The Admiral grabbed a bullwhip from one of his men. "Get out of my sight before I thrash you all!" he screamed. The heroes beat a hasty retreat back to the campsite.

 

It was at about this point that they noticed that Illy was no longer with the group. They looked around for a while, but then figured that she'd probably turned herself invisible to go scout around, and that she'd be back when she found something to report.

 

The FMH decided that their ruse had been believed, and that since Calavera and Corteo had sworn to never harm humanity again, they were pretty safe. So they thought they'd split up and try to find out anything they could about the army, its leaders, and its goals.

 

Castilla made a bee-line to the beer tent, where the presence of a beautiful, exotic woman caused fights to spontaneously break out all around. Avoiding the brawls, she found a good spot at the bar and began chatting up the barman. She learned that men had been gathering in the valley for a few weeks now, and that the army was more than ready to move but that they were waiting for the arrival of one of the Master's generals – a pair of Formorian brothers named Calavera and Corteo. She also learned that the men were growing very impatient, and it was getting harder and harder to keep order in the camp.

 

Castilla got a number of free drinks out of the deal, and an offer to join the Barman's gang if she ever got tired of her own group.

 

Trouble had seen a group of Saurians, so he went to try to find them and learn what their story was. At first, the lizard-men couldn't understand one another, but eventually a Saurian showed up who spoke Kalonese. Trouble put on his best "I'm an idiot" face (not too big a stretch for him!) and started asking questions. The Saurians were from the southern part of the isle, where they made their living by raiding human villages. Strangely, they weren't entirely sure why they were here – all they knew is that they had been called to come, and they came. They couldn't even say who called them; the best they could come up with was that maybe they dreamed it. It turned out that most of the bandits in the camp had similar stories – they couldn't say who called for them, all they knew is that they came.

 

Chrissie also wandered around, listening to people talk. She learned that the army was staging here before marching to the sea, where supposedly a fleet was waiting for them. This place was only meant to be a temporary campsite, and there are no villages or anything else within 100 miles or more of here.

 

Justin wandered around, trying to get a feel for how well-armed and prepared for battle the army was. He was sorely disappointed by the quality of the men. They were not an organized force by any means, made up mostly of small bands of bandits, thieves, highwaymen, and other low sorts. As far as he could tell, they had no organization, no centralized leadership, and no training to work as a coherent force. Against a disciplined force, this "army" would quickly fall to pieces.

 

Additionally, he learned that the army had gathered in order to attack a well-defended position somewhere (though no one knew what their target was). However, he noted that there didn't seem to be any siege engines anywhere to be found. An army of this caliber attacking a fortified position, without siege engines? Madness!

 

Justin was thinking about heading back to their campsite and letting the others know what he'd learned, when suddenly he was almost overwhelmed by a horrible smell. He turned around to see a small group of bandits entering the valley – led by an eight-foot-tall, hairy, ugly, stinking beast, with a glittering gemstone for an eye.

 

"But we burned you!" the paladin inadvertently blurted out, his good sense temporarily overwhelmed by the pungent stink. Luckily, no one seemed to have heard them, as most of the campers in the area were shouting and throwing rocks to try to keep Gorshem and his men downwind.

 

Justin hurried back to the campsite, where he broke the bad news. Castilla was beside herself. "How do you know it was really him?" she asked. "We killed him! How could he have survived?"

 

"I don't know," Justin replied. "But it was definitely him. No one else could smell like that. He did look a little blackened, but otherwise was no worse for the wear."

 

"He's not really from this world," Chrissie volunteered. "Maybe he has some kind of faerie power that… I don't know… lets him come back from the dead?"

 

"I need a drink," Castilla moaned, trying to forget the horrible night when she was in Gorshem's clutches. She headed back to the beer tent and tried to drown her memories.

 

Meanwhile, Leth, Kaira, and Shauvaughn were skulking in the woods and keeping an eye on the camp from the outside. The thing that struck Leth (grizzled veteran that he is) was that there were very few guards. A decent army would have patrols in the woods and a picket around the camp, but this one? Nothing, just a group that hung out near the narrow end of the canyon, where the heroes had come in.

 

This, in Leth's mind, indicated one of two things: Either the leadership of this organization was completely incompetent (and possibly even non-existent), or they were so assured of their safety here that they didn't think they needed guards. Kaira suggested that maybe this place was so secret that only those who had been invited here even knew of it. Shauvaughn suggested that the security was so lax that the three of them could probably just walk right into camp, and no one would challenge (or even notice!) their presence, but Leth didn't think that was a great idea.

 

Instead, the three of them set themselves up in a secluded area near that cliffs, where they could keep an eye on the whole valley without fear of being spotted.

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

This is a bluebook discussion betwixt myself and Illy, which went on via email between game sessions:

 

Illy and Styggiad

> "Two or three days?" the Admiral shouted. "Intolerable!

> Did they not get the Master's letter? How dare they

> continue to make us wait!" The Admiral grabbed a

> bullwhip from one of his men. "Get out of my sight

> before I thrash you all!" he screamed. The heroes

> beat a hasty retreat back to the campsite.

>

> It was at about this point that they noticed that Illy

> was no longer with the group. They looked around for

> a while, but then figured that she'd probably turned

> herself invisible to go scout around, and that she'd be

> back when she found something to report.

 

Styggiad:

As Illy and the others are hurrying back to their campsite, she feels a hand grab her shoulder. She spins around and finds herself staring into the familiar violet eyes of Styggiad, her sister. Before Illy has time to say anything, Styggiad drags her behinds some fallen rocks, out of sight of the rest of the camp.

 

"What in the name of the gods are you doing here, Illy?" she demands.

 

Illysandri:

Illy looks her over, her cold blue/grey eyes searching for the slightest signs of corruption, "Furiel says 'Hi'."

 

Styggiad:

Illy sees many things behind her sister's eyes -- surprise, anger, maybe even a little bit of fear, but none of the soulless corruption that had possessed their eldest sister.

 

"Furiel?" she asks. "You've seen her? Is she here?"

 

Illy:

Illy smiles, her usual sardonic haughtiness betraying a little bit of genuine relief. "Yes. And No. In that order." She looks around, "This may not be the best place to talk, perhaps you and I should go somewhere a little more private."

 

She looks over her sister for signs of malnutrition, injury or any magical influence (using a spell if necessary) including recent potion use, spells, or lingering effects of other lingering effects from recent exposure.

 

Styggiad:

Styggiad leads her sister up one side of the canyon, through a tangled maze of fallen rock, until they are further away from the camp. Illy takes that opportunity to check her sister over and discovers no traces of magical influence. She is dirty and unkempt and has dark circles under her eyes, but is otherwise no worse for wear. She is dressed like one of Calavera/Corteo's knights, wearing slightly worn chainmail and leather, carrying a spear and a sword, wrapped in a weathered and much-patched dark gray cloak.

 

When they stop, Styggiad turns and puts her hands on Illy's shoulders. For a moment, Illy thinks her sister is going to hug her, but instead Styggiad says, "Illy, what on earth are you doing here?"

 

Illy:

"Ostensibly? Looking for you." Illy relaxes a bit after her thorough examination of her sister. "Do you know what happened to Furiel? Did you ever find her?"

 

Illy smirks slightly, "Besides, as the only 'non-hero' in the family, I thought I would see what the attraction was. Decided to pick up a 'ragtag band of adventurers' to 'fight evil' or 'seek fame and fortune' or some such nonsense. It's the only thing these days that is keeping me sane." She stops and looks at her sister plaintively, "I pretty much know what you are doing here, how goes it?"

 

Styggiad:

"No, I haven't found Furiel yet. I heard that she'd be here, but… you said you'd seen her? Where? How is she?"

 

Styggiad pauses and looks over her sister. "Wait. You, adventuring? That's stupid, Illy," she snorts. "You're no adventurer. You barely even know which end of a spear is the dangerous one. You're going to get yourself killed!"

 

Illy:

Illy puts her hands on her hips and looks blankly at her sister, "Me? You don't say. Luckily I am smarter and have better tools than most of the backwater superstitious yokels we have yet to encounter." Illy leans back against a nearby rock, "Unfortunately, with every single one of my adventuring sisters getting themselves in over their head, a whacked out wild mage living in *my* head, and Mom and wassisname's FMH reputations on the line, doesn't seem like I have much choice."

 

She stops, obviously reigning in her rant, "Oh, Furiel is fine. She was infested by that F-word guy with an ancient artifact (now destroyed) and tried to kill me but with Necrodoodle up there pulling the strings she wasn't able to outthink me so I just cut her puppet strings and sent her home with a rich lonely guy with a penchant for demon-chicks."

 

Styggiad:

Styggiad ponders for a moment, trying to parse what Illy just told her, then says, "So Furiel is safe back home? That is a relief." Then she turns to look in Illy's eyes. "Illy, this isn't really you. That… that… human inside your head has been inspiring you to do these things. You're no Fearless Monster Hunter. You've been lucky so far, but eventually it's going to get you killed." She sighs and smiles wanly. "Thank the gods I found you when I did. Now tell me," she says, changing the subject. "Who are those people you were with?"

 

Illy:

"They are other inheritors of the FMH mantle. Couldn't tell you really what connection they have. The Lizard is the grandson of Thunderfoot. Castilla, the Demon, keeps talking about her uncle. The rest I am not sure. They are here to fight F-Man, save you, become famous, get rich, and stab people.... in order of priority." Illy shrugs and sighs, "As for my place here... I am trying to prove there is a new magic, Science, but that doesn't always work out the way I intend. I spend a great deal of effort trying to keep myself and the others alive, and only occasionally have I been forced to hurt people." At this last statement, she twitches her neck and for a moment a smile creep across her face. Not the delicate face of an elf, but her lips almost seem human. She quickly shakes her head and looks back at Stygiad. "I never was cut out for this adventuring bit... but it seems to satisfy some....need."

 

Styggiad:

Styggiad laughs at this. "Well, you needn't worry about that anymore, Illy. I'm here now, and I'll get you home safe and sound. But first, I'm going to have to organize those friends of yours. We need to hit Fannon quickly, before he has the chance to make his move."

 

Illy:

Illy sighs and rolls her eyes, "IF only it were that simple. There are two major flaws in your plan: First, my friends are the least organized adventurers you have ever met; and second, I can't go home. Between Mom looking to me to carry on the FMH mantle and this guy in my head who doesn't even let me have a moment's peace because apparently he wasn't very pleased with his early retirement, if I were to go home now I would never hear the end of it. Besides, I am here to save you, and until you are officially saved, a.k.a. not here anymore, I still have work to do."

 

Styggiad:

Styggiad looks at her dear sister with pity in her eyes. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry, Illy. *You've* come to rescue *me*. That human has really done a number to your head." She shakes her head sadly. "No matter. When we get you home, we'll work on finding a cure. In the meantime, I'm not too worried about your friends being disorganized. I've dealt with adventuring companies before. Why don't you introduce me to them?"

 

Illy:

Illy stops and thinks for a moment, "Um, Yeah, a cure. Not sure it works that way, but okay, moving on. Before I introduce you to my friends, keep a few things in mind... they are very... umm... straightforward. Tactics and planning are not their strong suit. Previous encounters involved plans as complex as "attack them" and when that didn't work, "attack them later." Beyond that, they will try to get you in on some headlong rush plan, that's *if* the lizard doesn't do that anyway while we are talking. That and the lizard already tried to beat up Furiel once, if he has the slightest inkling you are not in complete control, he will try to club you and I will have to react drastically to protect you and him."

 

"Other than that, what do you plan to say to them?"

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Fearless Monster Hunters Recap for June 30, 2007

While the heroes were discussing their next move, Illy came back into camp, bringing with her a stranger. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet my sister Styggiad."

 

There wasn't much family resemblance between Illy and her sister. Styggiad was tall, with pale gray skin, platinum blonde hair, and bright violet eyes. She was dressed in well-worn chainmail and leather, covered by a much-patched traveling cloak. She carried a spear and wore a longsword at her belt. "Illy tells me you're here to take on Fannon," she said. "I have a plan..."

 

The heroes listened as she outlined her idea. She arrived here a few days ago after hooking up with a minor bandit chieftain. She convinced him that she was an outlaw and he took her into his group. She's been trying to get close to the castle, but it's heavily guarded. So instead, she began scouring the hills behind the castle, hoping to find a back door. She found one yesterday, and was intending to investigate it further tonight, after the camp was asleep. Now that she had some backup, she wanted to explore it and, with any luck, use it as a back door into the keep.

 

While Styggiad was talking, the heroes heard someone approaching their camp. It was the Admiral, who wanted to confirm that Calavera and Corteo were only a couple of days away. Justin told him that the Formorians were indeed close. So reassured, the Admiral ordered them to prepare to move. He wanted the army to be on the road by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Calavera and Corteo's group would accompany him at the front of the army.

 

The heroes immediately began packing their gear – not in preparation to move with the army, but instead to go up into the hills with Styggiad and explore her "back door." But while they were packing, they smelled a horrible stench.

 

It was Gorshem. The giant strode up to the keep, demanding to speak with the boss. "There are heroes about!" he shouted.

 

That was all the incentive the Fearless Monster Hunters needed. Without a moment's hesitation, they grabbed their stuff and left the camp under cover of darkness. They headed up a steep slope, and then carefully clambered down into the rubble of the ruined castle where soon they discovered a deep hole going straight down. "There's a crevasse at the bottom," Styggiad explained. "I've only explored up it a little way, but there is fresh air, and it goes in the general direction of the keep."

 

The heroes climbed down the hole and squeezed through the crevasse, clambering up and down narrow passages and tight tunnels for an hour. The cave was dark and wet, with water constantly dripping through the roof and echoing off the tumbled stone walls. Footing was uncertain and shifting. The heroes felt the weight of thousands of tons of unstable stone creaking and shifting above them.

 

Finally, they entered a large chamber. A narrow ledge went around a deep, dark pit, so deep that their torches could not illuminate the bottom. One at a time, they edged along the ledge. At one point, Shauvaughn lost her footing and stumbled, dropping her torch into the pit. It fell forty or fifty feet before it crashed into a pile of skulls and bones – scores, probably hundreds of bodies lie below them. With a shudder, the heroes moved on.

 

Eventually, they came into a large, finished chamber. The collapse of the castle had left this place more-or-less intact. They followed the wide, broad passage down a massive set of stairs until they came to a door guarded by two giant stone statues.

 

Castilla immediately went to check the door. She was certain it was trapped, but decided to risk it and pick the lock. As soon as her lockpicks were in the keyhole, the two statues began to move, coming at her with a vengeance!

 

Justin heroicly threw himself in front of one of the animated statues to protect his ex-girlfriend, and took a massive, painful hit for his trouble. Trouble charged one of the statues, and nearly got his face chopped off! Chrissie, panicking, used a spell to force the statue away from her friends, buying them a moment of time. Illy took the opportunity to cause the floor under that statue to collapse, trapping it in a twenty-foot-deep pit.

 

Meanwhile, Styggiad and Leth were facing off the other one, using "wolf-pack" tactics to keep it busy. Once the first statue was dealt with, the other heroes were free to take the second statue out at their leisure.

 

Once the two statues were rubble, Castilla resumed picking the lock. It was difficult but not impossible for a Jill of her talent, and soon the heroes were pushing open the heavy door. Inside, they saw an enormous chair, and sleeping in it was an enormous man – easily as big as Calavera & Corteo, but not ugly at all (rather, quite handsome!).

 

The heroes quietly shut the door and wondered what to do next. "Maybe it's Fannon!" someone suggested. "We could kill him while he's still asleep!"

 

"Then again, maybe it's not – we don’t want to kill an innocent!" others protested.

 

The heroes opted to try to talk with the giant (but also to prepare themselves just in case he was hostile). Castilla went in first. "Hello?" she said.

 

The giant opened his eyes and looked at her. "Have you come to torture me further?" he asked. "Tell your master I still have nothing to say to him."

 

"We haven't come to torture you," Castilla said. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

 

He looked her over carefully. "No, you aren't one of Fannon's turnkeys, are you?" he said. "My name is Aed. I am of the Carraig Daoine – the Stone People. I am being held prisoner here against my will by the monster Fannon. Who are you?"

 

"We're the Fearless Monster Hunters," Castilla said.

 

"The Fearless Monster Hunters?" Aed asked. "But that was decades ago!"

 

"We're Version 2.0," she explained. "Our parents were the originals; we've taken up the mantle. Why is Fannon keeping you prisoner?"

 

"Because I came here to oppose him," Aed said. "Just before the new year dawned, I came to the valley to end his evil before it could go too far. I was ambushed and taken prisoner. I have been here ever since, trapped in the darkness, with only my jailers and torturers as sometime companions."

 

Castilla went to him and picked the locks of his manacles, for which he was grateful. "If you intend to fight the Fannon," he said. "Then I would be honored to fight by your side. Though I am not a warrior like some of my brethren, I have some magical talents taught to me by the Gods themselves."

 

Chrissie took the others aside and explained to them who the Carraig Daoine are. "The Carraig Daoine are good Giants, unlike their deformed cousins the Formorians. Legends say the Carriag Daoine are master craftsmen and powerful spell-casters, and they're known to sometimes help heroes. Sometimes they act as teachers, training them esoteric martial arts or amazing feats of magic. Other times they create artifacts of great power with which to equip the heroes.

 

"Though the Formorians and the Carraig Daoine are cousins of a sort," Chrissie continued, "they hate one another dearly and would kill each other were they not bound by powerful oaths not to harm members of their own race. Both types of Giant are seldom seen, usually only in the most remote forests and inaccessible mountains. Most folk think that they are a dying race."

 

With their new friend, the heroes set about looking for a way out, but were unable to find one – this chamber was completely sealed. Kaira summoned an Earth Elemental to swim through the rock and find an exit for them, and soon he came back, telling her that there was a tunnel on the other side of a rockfall.

 

She had him dig a tunnel (with a little help from Illy's magic), and before long the heroes were climbing a massive staircase upwards. They found themselves in a large circular room – the base of the Keep! Some searching revealed another stairwell going up, and cautiously they began climbing. At the top of the stairs, they came to a landing and a massive door.

 

Castilla went over to the door to check it, but then they all heard a voice from the other side: "You've spent all this time and effort getting here, heroes," it said. "Aren't you going to come in?"

 

TBC!

 

[OddHat]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

I just get a kick out of a villain named "Fannon". I need to introduce a cosmic entity named Retcon.

[Enforcer84]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Patrick Fannon?

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

I just get a kick out of a villain named "Fannon". I need to introduce a cosmic entity named Retcon.

 

You know, that association never once occured to me. But now that you mention it, in the future I can say, "Yeah, he was the major villain for a year-long campaign, but that whole Fannon thing isn't actually part of the cannonical history of Temoris."

[OddHat]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

You know' date=' that association never once occured to me. But now that you mention it, in the future I can say, "Yeah, he was the major villain for a year-long campaign, but that whole Fannon thing isn't actually part of the cannonical history of Temoris." [/quote']

 

Certainly not since the visitation of the enigmatic being known only as Retcon.

 

Always fun to read your stuff, Bill. Makes me wish I could get my group to meet more than once a month.

[Enforcer84]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

Certainly not since the visitation of the enigmatic being known only as Retcon.

 

Always fun to read your stuff, Bill. Makes me wish I could get my group to meet more than once a month.

When I win the lottery you guys tell me where you all want to live and I'll build us a compound.

[OddHat]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

When I win the lottery you guys tell me where you all want to live and I'll build us a compound.

 

I'm so there.

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

When I win the lottery you guys tell me where you all want to live and I'll build us a compound.

 

Shouldn't this go in Hermit's "Form your own Evil Cult" thread?

[Enforcer84]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

I see us more as a Chaotic Good Cult with Neutral Tendencies.

[teh bunneh]

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters

 

FMH Recap for July 21, 2007

Finally back in their home port of Areian, the heroes took a few days to rest and relax. Illy met up with all of her sisters, who had come down to the city to wait for her. The group of them got into a massive argument about what they should do next; finally it was decided that Styggiad should join up with the FMH, just to "Keep Illy out of trouble."

 

Leth began having strange and disturbing dreams. In one of them, he was in the middle of a cold plain, surrounded by thick mist. He heard someone approaching, and was startled to see his uncle Slan Deldorian, of the original Fearless Monster Hunters. Uncle Slan was dressed in full battle gear, his face was deathly pale and his eyes half-closed. Blood poured down from multiple wounds, and he dragged his axe listlessly behind him. He looked up at Leth, and gasped out, "The map! Do you have the map?" Then Leth woke up in a cold sweat.

 

The doughty Dwarf took this strange omen to Justin, who thought that the FMH should probably travel south to the Sarlarka School of Magic and see if anyone there knew anything about the magic map the original FMH is rumored to have owned.

 

They asked Hob if he knew anything about the map, and he told them that the legends were true – the FMH owned a magical map that charted their course across the known world – but that it had been destroyed when the Endeavor went down. Hob didn't really know much else about the map, except that Duncan, a mighty wizard, was its keeper, and that he had retired to Sarlarka after the FMH's final adventure.

 

The trip across the Sylvan Gulf was fair enough, and soon the heroes arrived at the Sarlarka School of Magic on the northern coast of Morjiim. It was a forbidding structure, silhouetted on a cliff high above the sea, towers and imposing walls surrounding it. At the door, the heroes were greeted by Headmaster Grimmer, who enthusiastically welcomed them (knowing the reputation of their parents).

 

The Headmaster led them up to his office, followed by a line of black-robed and hooded servants. The place was cool and dark, in stark contrast to the blazing heat outside. It was also very quiet. The Headmaster apologized for "All the excitement," but he explained that the Annual Challenge was to begin tomorrow, and the students are all quite worked up about it. He invited the heroes to stay and watch the games if they wished -- he said that the winner of the Challenge almost always goes on to do great things.

 

Finally, Duncan arrived. He was very old and has retired from both adventuring and teaching, but he still lives here as a sort of Professor Emeritus. The heroes asked about the map, and he told them that he still had it – or at least, part of it. He took them to his office to see it.

 

On the way there, the heroes finally saw the students – some studying, some talking, some playing, all of them looking very excited – and all of them very surprised to see the heroes.

 

Up in his office, Duncan pulled down the map (with a little help from Trouble). It looked like an ordinary map of the Sylvan Gulf, drawn with great skill but otherwise ordinary. It was in bad shape – it was torn completely in half, part of it missing, and it looked like it had suffered some water damage. "But it's enchanted, you see," Duncan said. "You only need part of the map to use it." He spoke a few words, and suddenly the image drawn on the map changed – it was like they were rapidly zooming in to part of it. After a moment, the image cleared and showed a close-up view of the Sarlarka School.

 

"This map shows every place the Fearless Monster Hunters ever roamed," Duncan said. "Simply speak an incantation, and it will show you any place you ask. It can show you the course we took, treacherous shoals, everything!"

 

"Where did you come by such a thing?" Leth asked, amazed. "Did you make it?"

 

"Me? Oh good heavens no," Duncan laughed. "We found it on one of our earliest adventures. We defeated Al Qatar, the Pirate King, in the waters off his secret island base. We found the map among his treasures. I have no idea who may have created it."

 

"Is it difficult to use?" Illy asked.

 

"No," Duncan assured her. "Looking at the details of the map is easy. You just repeat one of several incantations (depending on what you'd like the map to do), and then say where it is you want it to show. Adding new details is a little trickier, but not too hard."

 

At about that moment, Duncan's door burst open and three young children rushed in – a dark-haired boy, a red-headed boy, and a tow-headed girl. "Father!" the dark-haired boy shouted. "There are strangers in the castle, and... oh my god, there they are!" The three children immediately dropped into defensive postures.

 

Duncan laughed. "Yes, son, these are the children of my old friends, the Fearless Monster Hunters. No need to be alarmed. Now scurry along, I'll speak with you about it later."

 

Reluctantly, the children filed out. Duncan noted the odd looks the others were giving him, and he chuckled. "That's my boy, Duncan Junior. You could call it a May-December relationship, his mother and I. She was my teaching assistant. She left here years ago, when Duncan was still very young, and I've been doing my best to raise him myself. He's quite the troublemaker," Duncan the Elder sighs. "I can hardly keep up with the boy, at my age. He's got his head full of stories, and wants to be a great adventurer himself someday, just like his old man. But he's got to learn that it's not all fun and games – it's dangerous work, as you all know."

 

Duncan invited the heroes to sit at the Faculty table at dinnertime. It was a formal affair, with Headmaster Grimmer giving the students a long speech about how the Annual Challenge would test their limits, teach them new things – and great things would be expected of the winner of the Challenge.

 

While eating, the heroes were introduced to the rest of the faculty at the school. First they met Lord Twilight, the Groundskeeper, who with his small staff cares for the defense and upkeep of the school. He and his people are always robed in black and hooded, and move around silently and unobtrusively – hardly noticed by the staff and students.

 

Next they were introduced to Elissa Fairchilde, a beautiful White Elf, who cares for and teaches the younger students. She has been with the school for many generations, having been trained here herself. She seemed very proper and sweet, but she gave both Sir Justin and Castilla an almost predatory look.

 

Next, Duncan introduced them to Thyrza Muqtaa, an elementalist from Morjiim. He was a swarthy man with an unfriendly scowl who teaches the middle-year students, but before the heroes could learn more, he interrupted Duncan. "They don't need my life's story, you daft old fool!"

 

A bit friendlier was Avery Baldred, a Conjurer who also teaches the middle-year students. He was the opposite of Thyrza – friendly, jovial, and quick with a joke.

 

Dinner was going well, but about halfway through, word went out: "There's a Troll loose in one of the lower chambers!" The faculty immediately moved to get the kids to safety. During the confusion, Lord Twilight asked if the heroes wouldn’t mind accompanying his men down into the dungeons to smoke the Troll out.

 

The heroes readily agreed, but Chrissie was nervous. "Trolls are some of the most dangerous creatures on the face of the planet!" she said. "They're fearless, nearly impossible to kill, and have ravenous appetites – they eat anything they can find. They have jagged teeth, massive claws, and great strength — but by far the worst thing about them is their ability to regenerate any hurt, nearly instantly!"

 

"Trolls are slimy, water-dwelling critters," Leth volunteered. "A little fire will put the fear in him!"

 

"That's an urban myth," Trouble said. "Trolls live everywhere, even in the desert. They aren't afraid of fire."

 

Thus forewarned, the heroes followed Lord Twilight's people into the dungeons. The black-robed servants fanned out, disappearing down side-passages in the hopes of flushing the creature, while the heroes went cautiously up the middle. After a few moments, they heard shouting and roaring. They hurried towards the sound and found a pitched battle... of a sort.

 

Young Duncan and his two friends had disguised themselves as servants and had engaged the Troll. Though they were putting up a noble effort, their puny spells were doing more to confuse and enrage the Troll than anything else.

 

Trouble, seeing the kids in danger, rushed in to engage the beast. Leth, Justin, and Styggiad were right on his heels. Illy cast a spell to make the Troll loose its balance. Castilla jumped bravely into the forefront and stabbed the creature's eye out with her tail-spike. The monster was savage in its ferocity, viciously tearing into Styggiad, Trouble, and Castilla. Trouble, shaking the blood out of his eyes, leapt straight up and smashed open the Troll's head – a blow that would kill any lesser beast, but only stunning the troll momentarily. Justin, working as a team with Leth, tripped the monster while his Dwarven companion stove the beast's head completely in.

 

That seemed to take most of the fight out of it, though even with such hideous wounds it still seemed to want to get back up. But Lord Twilight's black-robed men rushed into the room, carrying large buckets full of stinking acid, and they dumped it on the still-recovering monster. Soon, all that was left was a black, smoking goo.

 

Sometime during the fight, the three kids fled from the room and disappeared. Lord Twilight himself showed up shortly thereafter, asking if everyone was all right. They reassured him that they were, told him about the children, and then headed back up to their suite to recover. The servants brought up some wine and cheese for a light evening snack, while everyone took a shower to wash the Troll blood off.

 

When Justin came out of the shower, he found Miss Elissa Fairchilde waiting for him in his room. She expressed concern for his health and safety, admired his bravery, and then dragged him into bed. Yowza.

 

What fate would await the heroes tomorrow morning, at the Annual Challenge? Tune in next week to find out!