TimC

Re: [Campaign] The Fearless Monster Hunters Any chance of seeing the PC's sheets posted? Great Story!

Re: [Campaign] The Black Watch Any chance of seeing the PCs sheets posted? Great story!

Re: Any tips/resources for Turakian Age? Please Start up 5000 SE again (or any other TA game)! Tim

Re: New HERO Central game Funksaw, drop over at Hero Central and send me a message.

Inspired by the great GMs that have been letting me play in their games, I am taking my second swing at GMing. Turakian Adventures is up at Hero Central. Calling Karados the Lost....and other great PCs! Tim

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians The orcs attack an hour before dawn, throwing their full weight at the fortress gate. The battering is thunderous, but slow going. Suddenly, the chapel flow shakes and then collapses, spilling several wounded men into a cavern below. It seams the lord’s hidden passage is not the only one under the castle. A dozen blue-black skinned orcs emerge from the dust, rushing in all directions. They are headed to the inside of the gates as a huge armored orc leaps up next to the altar. He is joined by a familiar face, the pale necromancer from the pirate ship. A general melee breaks out with the wounded trying to help, and Robyn and Carnellus swinging candlesticks at the orcs as they go by. Most head for the castle gates, but the huge orc and four others start to attack all in the chapel. Tarik buries two javelins in the necromancer before she can get a word out. The woman falls backwards into the pit and disappears. The huge war leader takes a long swing with his bastard sword, cutting through Carnellus’ candlestick, army, and lopping his head. Another orc cuts Robyn down, but Tarik arrives to pull her to safety. Hem is caught against a wall and exchanges sword blows with an orc and even results to his magic wand. He is soon on his knees bleeding out, but Shia steps up and heals him. Ivanesky and Tarik engage the huge orc, trading massive wounds. Kkrun cuts down two orcs but the third runs hem through before the Erquiglt can kill the monster. The last enemy on its feet draws the full fury of the surviving members. Shia sets the orc aglow with her purple death magic and it slowly succumbs to the pain. It is too late to save the Hin mage, as Ivan dispatches the enemy wounded. Shia urges the others into action. Kkrun jumps into the pit and carries the unconscious enemy necromancer into the chapel. Ivan and Tarik push the alter over the pit to block it and the group moves to check on the battle outside. They find Lord Redwater and report after sending Robyn into the keep for protection. The guards have turned back another attack, leaving less than a hundred enemies streaming from the field. As mid-day approaches, the orcs start to flee the camp into the woods; their retreat hastens by the arrival of several dozen mounted men coming from the west. The supply ship alerted the area and the local lords have sent men to raise the siege. The next two days are sent resting and burying the dead. Lord Redwater heaps praise on the group for their aid in the defense and in saving his wife. He expresses his sorrow for Hemish’s death. Cavalry scouts have run down some of the orcs and they tell a tale of the mysterious human that counseled their leader, Surkrag. He came out of the far eastern marshes and convinced the orc war leader to seize the castle and take the Lady prisoner. This revelation makes the attack more than a simple sacking of a human fort. Redwater asks the group to pursue the human and offers all his help. Shia accepts but tells him they need time to recoup. They stay through the winter, recovering their strength and preparing for the battles ahead. Shiamoira spends much of her time interrogating her enemy counterpart and studying the magic tome Velgarond presented. Kkrun and Tarik train with the guards while Faris spends his days reconnoitering the woods. I am caught up!

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians The horde attacks again the next morning, but this time they are more cautious. The orcs take their time to mass under the walls and come on in multiple spots at once to overwhelm the defenders. Losses are high but the attacks are beaten back. Lord Redwater and Captain Ullerson are both wounded, and Toll has lost his hand to an orcish axe. With only two dozen men left in fighting shape, Redwater plans for a final stand. He orders the men to fall back to the keep and central tower if the wall is pierced. During the meeting at night, there is some good news. The supply ship is seen off the coast and warned with signal lights. Oeric asks the group to fetch the bolts from the ship that night and lets them in on a secret. He shows them a secret passage under the castle and has Carnellus guide them out. Oeric also tells them of his other plan. He wants the band to lead Lady Redwater to safety if the castle falls. He will stand and fight in the tower, but he wants his love to escape. He knows she will resist, but he makes them swear to get her out. As they row out towards the waiting ship, Kkrun spots two other boats approaching the ship ahead of them. Unable to alert the small crew by yelling over the blowing wind, Kkrun jumps off and speeds across the waves in his magic boots. Hem uses his Wizard’s Hand to ring the ships bell, and groggy sailors soon emerge. Caught between the armed crew and the magic wielding attackers, the two boats fill with orcish blood. They group loads up all three boats with supplies, and return before sunrise. Oeric is ecstatic at the success and gives his thanks. He is taken aback by Kkrun’s bravery and presents him with a token of appreciation. Rearmed, and with morale lifted, the defenders are ready for the morning assault. Faris’ defenses, and the full weight of the group’s magic and muscle power cause severe casualties. The defenders pour bolts into the massed attack in the center, and the base of the fort is a slaughter house. Cheering as the enemy retreats again, the Captain is amazed that none of his men were killed. He thinks less than two hundred of the enemy remains. Better still; the supply ship should relay word to send reinforcements in just a few days. The night passes quickly and they notice the orcs gathering their dead in the darkness. A few showers of bolts force them away after some time, but the behavior is very strange. The orcs have drawn up in one camp around the tent by the wood. There is a huge fire nearby and by the smell, the enemy is burning the dead. Shiamoira advises Lord Redwater that this is not the orc custom. Privately, she admits to Hemish that collecting the dead to rebuild an army is a necromancer’s trade. She also thinks there is a spy in the castle. How did the orcs know about the bolts on the supply ship? How did they know to assault the unblocked flanks with the strong orc war parties on the first day? What about the convenient death of the Taal and what of Ille’s involvement? To catch the spy, Hemish goes invisible before the council is over. When the group leaves, he stays to observe. Suddenly the closed door creaks open and Hem steps to pursue calling on the others. There is a wisp of wind and the shadows of a ghostly man can be seen. The apparition tries to flee, but Shia steps up and slaps it back against the wall with her ghost grip glove. Smiling, she throttles the ghost. Feeling pain in its ghostly form releases the spirit and it dissipates with a rush. Shiamoira has to explain that the glove gave her the insight to suspect what was happening, avoiding any talk of her own dark powers. Hem is excited to have helped and he is in awe of the beautiful wizard. Suspecting another attack, the defenders are exhausted by morning. They get a respite however as there is no advance. The orcs have constructed a battering ram and two huge shields during the day. A rider manages to slip through the orcs and brings word that a relief party will be at the river by nightfall on the next day. Redwater makes plans to hold out and pushes his men to ready the defenses and stay awake. Still fearful of losing the fort, he fully mans the walls and places the group at the chapel both to protect his wife, and as a reserve.

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians The firelight from the lighthouse illuminates the area around the high perched castle. The Redriver is visible to one side, a dense wood to the other, and the cliffs drop directly to the sea below. There are torch lights on the plain that stretches south, and the faint outlines of men can be seen in three large groups isolating the fort. Soon, one comes forward to within earshot of the battlements, revealing itself as a dark skinned orc. “In the name of Sunkrag, we claim this land as our own. You will be put to the sword as a sacrifice to Mordak.†The beast proclaims in heavily accented speech. It then strides away without a reply. The Lord’s watchmen report seeing several hundred in the warbands, possibly more hiding in the darkness. He posts double watches and retires with Captain Ullerson, and Toll to the meeting room on the second floor of the keep. The group joins them and listens in on the reports. The Captain has seventy-five men in the garrison, all well trained and well armed. He points out that they are critically short on bolts for the crossbows, having lost many in the flooded store room a week ago. Toll says they can hold out for some time with the food on hand, but they were expecting one more supply ship before winter fully takes hold. Robyn briefly joins them to report she has put the servants to work securing the interior, handing out supplies, and setting up the hospital in the chapel. The Lord vows to hold out, and takes advice from all. The Captain urges him to keep up the heavy watch at night, expecting the orcs to use the advantage of their dark-vision. Tarik offers to help make javelins from the limited supplies on hand, and Faris explains his mystic ability to create a tangle of thorns out of the ground. It is a long night as they keep an eye and ear for the expected attack. None comes and the sun soon rises on a bitterly cold, but sunny morn. All are tired when they can see the army before them. It looks like some five hundred warriors, a mix of orcs and goblins, have besieged the castle. A large tent is back near the wood, and there are scaling ladders distributed through the ranks. Soon, two formations of orcs advance on the flank towers, each one hundred strong. Redwater takes to the right of the battlements and Nar to the left, urging the others to reinforce the center against the two hundred goblins advancing under the whips of two huge trolls. Remembering the fight at the troll camp, all know it will be a bloody day. Many goblins are cut down by the defenders firing crossbow bolts into the packed mass as they struggle through Faris’ magic abatis. The horde places ladders to escalade, but their losses are heavy. Finally, one of the trolls bounds up the ladder, throwing a guardsman to his death below. The troll is soon joined by another as the adventurers go into action to repel the attack. Magic bolts, and purple beams, and javelins fill the air. Ivanesky soon crushes one trolls head but is knocked into a daze by the next. Kkrun and Faris push back the goblins as they gain the fort, but Tarik is soon out of the fight too. The defending men-at-arms take heavy losses as the troll tries to keep a foothold. Hem manages to destroy the last ladder when his powers give out. Shia is almost useless, her wounds apparently affecting her dreadful magic. It is only after the goblins are cleared, and Tarik and Ivan regain their senses that they can pin the troll in the corner. Ivanesky gets in devastating strike that gives the monster pause. It is just long enough for Faris to bury a druidic arrow in the creature’s neck. Ivan and Tarik toss the bodies over the edge while the others tend to the wounded. Faris tosses a pot of flaming oil over the side, alighting his brambles. Several wounded goblins scream in death within the flames as the few survivors flee the field. The defenders have held off all three attacks, but with heavy losses. Four are dead in the center and another so severely wounded as to be out of the fight for good. Seven others are dead and ten out of the fight. Hem and Faris help carry the wounded to the chapel for care, while Shia rests to help Ivan and Tarik with her cold healing. At the war council, the Captain things they killed one hundred orcs, and well over that in goblins. The enemy’s strength has been cut in half, but the defenders are out of bolts meaning the next attack will be more costly.

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians After the fights with the pirates, the water-borne journey to Eisburk is pleasantly uneventful. Ivanesky takes to his role as Captain with vigor, strutting around in his bicorn and sharkskin boots. The adventurers arrive within a week and put up in a small bay about two miles from the castle. The lighthouse spire is clearly seen standing tall on the cliffs above. The maps found in the captain’s room alerted the Hin sailor to the dangers of getting to close to the castle. There are several wrecks marked on the charts were others have tried to brave the shoals. It begins to snow lightly as the group puts ashore in a row boat, leaving the four hired hands to keep watch on the caravel. The march to the castle puts the group in good spirits as Shiamoira tests her legs. They arrive about noon and are greeted by the gate guards. Hemish presents the passports from Velgarond and Lord Dhiamus. Lord Sorlyn’s and Lord Fenton’s marks speed the party’s progress into the fortress, and bring the steward, Toll Bethel out with haste. The bald man greets everyone with a forced smile, taking in their motley composition and haggard appearance. He quickly dispatches servants to ready rooms, and he invites them in from the cold. Toll listens as Shiamoira describes the deeds of the past month, using her charm to keep the steward’s attention. He then excuses himself to inform Lord Redwater and invites all to dinner. His raised eyebrows cast some doubt on his sincerity about including a few of the odder members in attendance. They are led to the guestrooms, sharing two for the men, but Toll shows Shia to an elegant room and sends in two handmaidens to assist. After cleaning up and getting refreshed, they all gather in Shiamoira’s room. Tarik is amazed by the wealth in the simple guestroom, and Ivan grumbles about missing his hammock. It is soon time for dinner and they are escorted to the feast hall. There are a score of guards in attendance, and their raucous banter becomes a dim mumble when Shia enters, dressed in an exquisite gown sent to her by the lady of the land. All rise when Lord Oeric Redwater and his bride, Lady Robyn Redwater, enter. Shia notes the pretty woman is about her age, if a tad too lanky. The Lord and Lady make acquaintances and the feudal politics of Vestria are exposed. Lady Robyn is the daughter of Lord Agnor Sorlyn, and Maarten’s sister. Lord Redwater is the son of Lord Dhiamus’s brother, who once adventures with Velgaron. Even the valet, Carnellus Sorlyn is the son of a deceased cousin to the Lady. Captain Nar Ullerson introduces himself and takes his place next to Tarik. He is obviously interested in the large man’s fighting prowess. Noticeably absent is the priest of the castle. Oeric explains that Tall Ferosus died suddenly a week ago. Through dinner, Shia and Hem tell of all they have found of the necromantic cult and the apparent ties to the Lindsey family. They point out that the ties are not t either the Lady or Lord of that family directly, but they are shrouded in suspicion. The name of Ille Soresen brings Toll to the Lord’s side. He reminds him that Tall Ille visited a few months back, but left after a disagreement with Ferosus. The dinner is pleasant, the wine delicious and the fire burn with warmth to keep out the chill. Kkrun and Tarik are quiet through most of the meal, spending some time discussing the battles of the past with the Captain. Faris soaks in as much information as he can, straining to hear the guardsmen talk at the adjacent tables. He notes it is quite out of the ordinary for the guards to eat with the lord and thinks it is either an overbearing show of force, or true camaraderie between officer and fighter. Ivanesky eats his fill and that of three others, stuffing sot rolls into his pockets for later. Shiamoira politely answers questions about her exotic homeland, even steering personal questions to the same topic. Two guardsmen, perform some music after the meal, but are cut off when a watchman enters and speaks to the Captain. He whispers to the Lord, and they excuse themselves, but not before he motions the other guards out and sends Robyn away. Toll ushers the group to the ramparts a few minutes later to join the Lord.

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians Kkrun decides against reason to take Shia back to town. He carries her across the water using the magic boots Velgaron gifted him. He reports to the Reeve but will only speak to the Lord after Shia has been healed. The village priest meets them at the manor and cast minor healing magic but the pretty mage still has two long scars across her chest. Kkrun then tells his tale of the attack and of finding the bodies in the hold. He fills in more information about the smuggling ring, careful to leave Ivanesky’s name out, and the Reeve sends men to arrest the two smugglers with the wagon. The Reeve takes another man and accompanies Kkrun and Shia back to the ship in another boat close to dark. Tarik destroys the makeshift steps after everyone is aboard, and they set watches for the night. Everyone else huddles in the cabin to escape the wind. Greshem the Reeve and his man Lem are on watch when they call the others on deck. A row boat touches down on the sandbar and five pirates spill out to attack. The pirates have to use grapples to climb aboard and the fight goes well for the defenders even with Lem knocked out of the battle. Just as it ends, the diversion is uncovered and another boat comes into contact on the far side. The first man over the edge is killed instantly and the panicking pirates try to shove off. Ivanesky jumps into the fleeing boat and kills another while forcing the rest to surrender. In total, five have been killed and five others taken prisoner. Kkrun and Tarik force the prisoners to bury the dead and then lock them in the hold. Under duress, the prisoners say that the first man killed coming off the second boat was the first mate. They also give up the location of the remaining pirates in a cave along the shore. The next day, Greshem leads the village militia in a surprise attack on the hideout and they slaughter a dozen of the bandits. A few are thought to escape, and there is no sign of the necromancer. They do liberate two captives from the pirates. The band is handsomely rewarded when they turn over a baron’s daughter and her handmaiden to the Lord. Ivanesky arranges for a half-dozen fishermen to sign on and crew the caravel and he organizes others to float the ship on the next high tide. Now with a safe mode of transport, the band can expect to reach Eisburk in a week. Next- Eisburk Castle

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians After a good night’s sleep, the mercenaries ready in the dark and row out with the morning tide. They approach the shoal and land quietly in the muck. The group shakes out to investigate the damages hulk when suddenly a half dozen infernal skeletons armed with cutlasses come into view on deck. The group storms the makeshift steps that lead from the gunwhale to the sand and the battle lasts only a minute before the skeletons are destroyed. As they catch their breath, a cabin door burst open and four pirates pour out to launch a savage attack with bows and axes. Shia is greiviusly wounded by a double axe strike from a huge barbarian that sends her pitching over the side, bleeding out in the sand. The counterattack against the pirates is quick, with all four pirates killed in just a few seconds. Faris jumps over the side into the surf and wades over to staunch Shia’s bleeding. She is alive but unconscious. The ship’s crew is not finished however. Two more figures emerge just as the band starts to search the ship. A short, swarthy man comes out swinging at Ivanesky, but the Halfling takes the man’s leg off at the knee with a strike of his pick. From the adjacent cabin, a thin, pale woman emerges and casts an unholy spell to chill Tarik to the core. He tries to strike her down but them nimble spellcaster dives overboard and disappears beneath the waves. They then carry Shia onboard and Kkrun stays at her side while the others secure the ship. The eerie green lights that had hung over the ship slowly fade and the hull mysteriously becomes whole as the illusion dissipates. Ivan and Hem lead the search below decks and then set about preparing defenses. In the hold, they discover several score of long crates. Tarik busts one open to reveal a decaying body. Chocking on the stink, he gets Ivan to help him dump it overboard. While they do, Hemish notices that it is the same kind of banded crate that the men had loaded on the wagon in town and that Ivanesky had in his boat. The group confronts him and he comes clean. The smuggler admits he was paid to move some of the crates but he insists he did not know what was inside. Hem’s search of the ship’s cabin turns up papers that the now legless captain confirms belonged to the necromancer that went over the side. Inspired by several of Ivanesky’s kicks to his stump, the captain explains that he transported the bodies for a cult known as the Unearthing Rite. He says he always dealt with the woman, Ohra, but knows she answered to someone named Fallon. Ivan presses the prisoner about the ship and asks where the rest of the crew went. Captain Ingrel regains his composure and passes out under the interrogation. The group sets watch for the night while continuing to search. Ivanesky reminds them that he promised them a ship and starts referring to himself as The Captain and ranting about landlubbers. con't

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians Saltham The next stop is Kestrel, a small trading town where the river gets deep enough to accept sizable boats. Faris arranges passage on a small boat to take them to the coast. The swift boat’s owner, a crazy Halfling named Ivanesky, accepts the groups offer of protection in lieu of coin. They make steady progress along the slow current, not stopping at any of the small towns and hamlets along the way. The burly Halfling captain looks more like a Dwarf, a far cry from Hemish’s stature. At Berbank on the coast, things change. The busy port town is bustling with activity as merchants prepare for the final trips of the season and the weather is noticeably colder. Just after the group disembarks at dockside, a few tough looking men come down the gangway and confront Ivanesky at the boat. The Halfling grabs his bag and hurries off behind the party. Jest minutes later, a dozen guardsmen in mail and carrying halberds rush down the dock and confront the thugs. A short battle ensues, resulting in four dead men and the guards starting to tear the boat apart. Ivanesky scurries off into the crowded streets soon joined by the others that don’t want to be connected to whatever just went down. Shia directs the band to a tavern and inn to rest for the night. A mighty storm blows in during the darkness and continues the net day. Unable to find a ship willing to sail, the group seems stuck in town until Ivanesky shows up and offers to lead them to a small town East of Berbank were they can catch a boat. The storm worsens and convinces the group to take his offer. They leave in a chilling gale along the coast road. They spend the next several days slogging through the muddy road and trying to keep the biting wind out. On the fifth day, the storm finally breaks as the group arrives in Saltham only to find the town in mourning. The local gossip turns up three interesting things. Four days ago, a mysterious ship ran aground on a sandbank in the storm. Villagers sent to help the stricken crew were scared away by undead horrors on the errie ship. The next day, a shepherd went missing and then the day after that, the lord’s only son turned up dead in the mill pond. The motley band’s arrival out of the savage storm brings about much suspicion and the local Reeve confronts them at the small tavern on the village green. Shia quietly comforts his fears with tales of their past few weeks and by showing them the documents from Velgaron. Ivanesky finds out that none of the fishermen will sail while the ghostship is marooned on the bar. Wanting to get to Eisburk quickly, Shia agrees to investigate the ship for the Reeve. While headed back to the inn from the dock, Ivanesky wanders over to see two men he recognizes. They are hauling a huge wagon loaded with banded crates out of town. Ivan pockets a small bag from one of the men and brushes off all questions about them from the others. He does tell them that he has a boat ready for the morning. con't

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians My first PC death! Agustus took a massive hit to the chest that killed him with one strike. I underestimated the trolls, and I rolled some variables to effect my original plan of attack. I gave a "good", "great", and "bad" case for how the plan would work...I rolled for "bad". So...the trolls were awake, armed, and ready. Isued the druids to save them, and add a new PC (Faris). I am light on front line fighters, so I may add another PC later. I gave some magic items out to check out some more of the HERO rules. Hmmmm, who killed Eaton Marsh? Any gueses?

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians As Agustus falls, a forth troll comes into view a few dozen yards away. Seeing it, Shia calls for the group to retreat down the forest path. They disengage, but are hard pressed to stay ahead of the large creatures and their massive strides. Hem sprints to keep up, shouting to the others that he can not see Agustus. Kkrun yells that he s dead, and pulls the Hin by his shirtsleeves. Shia throws up a wall of bones behind them but the trolls smash through it with ease. They have closed to only a few yards when a man steps out from the undergrowth waving his hands frantically. A thick fog billows in seconds and the man calls on the group to follow him. He runs down the path and leads them up another hillock. The trolls were delayed for a minute, but can now be heard advancing once again. Just as the lead troll comes into sight fifty feet away, a bolt of lightning crashes from the sky. The monster shrieks as more bolts come crashing down. The mysterious stranger casts another spell and the undergrowth explodes into a thorny mass. Two trolls emerge from the woods to continue the pursuit, bashing their way through the briars with screams of pain and anger. Hem remembers the flasks of alchemical fire he took from Anton, and he passes them to Tarik. Tarik throws the flasks as the trolls are about to clear the magic defenses, scoring direct hits. The troll flesh begins to burn and they wail in agony, tumbling back into the thorns. Shia urges the group forward in a counter attack, and they fall on the thrashing trolls with spell and sword. The fires start to go out when a steady rain begins to fall. Another, much older man comes out of the woods to join the roughed up band. The first man introduces himself as Faris and tends to Tarik’s wounds. The other, Merkel, explains that he and his student had been harrying the trolls all night and were preparing to attack the camp when the group arrived. The druid says he knows Velgaron and that they go back for years. He leads the group back along the trail, past two charred troll bodies. They find Agustus’s body where he had fallen, and take time to bury him on the hill before ransacking the camp. Merkel says he thinks the troll raiders were a rogue band out of the mountains that had just moved into the area. Faris leads the party back to Velgaron’s tower after giving Merkel’s apologies. Evidently, the druid had a falling out with the mage over some old friends. Velgaron meets them all warmly and expresses his sorrow for Agustus’ death. He is obviously pained and sends his apprentices to ready rooms for the night. Faris hands over a letter to the wizard which he shares with the others. Merkel’s note expresses the concerns of the bishop of the Abbey about the dealings of one of its former priests. It outlines Ille’s ties to the Lindsey family but makes no direct connections to the count or countess. Velgaron is distraught with the news and begs the group to investigate things further. He charges them to trace Ille’s movements and report back. In payment, he bings out more magical items to equip the group. The important task at hand and the mage’s guilt combine to make the advance very generous. Faris returns after the group has rested and healed for a few days. He guides them through the woods on a long day’s march to return to Sorlyn. Shia, Kkrun and Hem gain access to the Lord under Velgaron’s passport. The Lord provides no information, but does authorize them access to the Countess Lindsey in the prison. The trio join Tarik and Faris at the Hand of Doom, only to find Eaton Marsh playing cards at a table. Faris breaks up a scuffle before weapons or magic fly, and Hem disappears again. The rest leave to see the countess. Eaton’s body is found in the back alley the next morning. No one misses him as his brother is set to hang in a week. The Countess is evasive and confrontational when Shia questions her. The pair dual verbally for a few hours until the warden ushers them out. Hem has more luck by filling Randolfo with spirits to find out more about Ille. It seems the thug came down river from the coast about a month ago asking lots of questions. He wanted a magic key that Randolfo and his friends had discovered a long time ago. In a drunken stupor, Randolfo gave up the key’s location. Embarrassed, the mage tries to make amends by telling Hem that he thinks Ille mentioned he had been at Eisburk Castle, a fort on the coast at the Red River.

Re: Campaign Log: The Redwater Guardians Velgaron The pleasant trip to Velgaron’s tower is shaken when a scream rises from the woods up the trail. Tarik whips the oxen forward before anyone can react. More screams echo in the woods as the lumbering wagon rounds a bend to unveil two large creatures clawing at a small hillside. A pair of slaughtered horses is on the road, and the screams originate from a crevice in the hill. The closest troll turns and hurls a massive club at the wagon, catching an ox on the head. As the beast of burden collapses, the rolling wagon bounces over the carcass to a sudden stop. Odo flies head over heels and lays unconscious along the side of the trail. Tarik rises in his seat and launches a javelin that catches the troll in the arm while Kkrun and Agustus jump off and approach. Hem and Shia start to cast but the surviving ox tries to break away, sending both spilling into the wagon bed. One troll advances while the other continues to rip chunks of earth from the hill. Tarik fires another pair of javelins and then rushes off to attack the troll by the hill when he sees two women are trapped in the crevice. Agustus and Kkrun land several strikes on a troll, dodging the beast’s massive claws. Kkrun is a bit too slow and is sent sprawling, blood running out of his mouth. This gives Agustus a chance to land two swift blows in the troll’s chest and it slowly slumps to the ground. Meanwhile, Tarik has lured the other away from the crevice while Hem goes invisible and sneaks up on it from behind. The little one plunges his magic sword into the trolls back and it dies instantly. Tarik leads the two Elven women from the crevice while Shia tends to Kkrun and Agustus sets Odo and Josep to getting the wagon back in order. The Elves swarm on Hem, kissing him and praising his bravery. They explain that they are sisters studying under Velgaron’s tutelage. They introduce themselves as Isara and Ocelin and promise rich rewards if they will be escorted back to the tower. The trip is slow with only one ox, and the men take to walking. Agusts questions the women about their tribe, always suspicious of Elves since the ambush that cost him his scalp. Shia scolds them all and directs them to focus on the woods to avoid another ambush. The group arrives at the modest tower a few hours later to find a very worried wizard. Velgaron is deeply thankful for the girls’ safe return and he tongue lashes the Elves for their recklessness. The wizard explains that he found a group of trolls encamped a few miles north about a week ago. Thinking they would move along, he left them alone. Now angry that his land has been invaded, he asks Agustus to chase the trolls away. Mindful of the generous magical gifts the wizard has already provided for saving the girls, the group accepts. Velgaron also promises to research the magic key and check his notes about his meeting with Ille. After resting the night, and being entertained by the Elven women, the group heads out on foot using a map the mage provided. Josep and Odo accompany them on Shia’s payroll after being better armed and armored at the tower. The band approaches the troll camp from the far side of a hill, moving along an overgrown game trail. They expect to catch the trolls resting during the day based on Velgaron’s information. At the rock strewn hill, they shake out n loose order and start to climb but are surprised to see an armed troll headed straight towards them. Their cover broken, Agustus rushes to engage before the troll can alert the others but it is too late. It bellows the alarm and another huge greenskin crests the hill. Tarik unleashes his flurry of javelins while Kkrun rushes to meet the second one. Agustsus slashes at the first, cursing when he sees a third running in from the makeshift camp at the base of the hill. The brothers fire their new crossbows but can not score any hits. Shia’s magic hammers one causing it obvious pain and Tarik moves in for the kill while Hem hovers invisible at the edge of the battle. Tarik lands one jab, but is knocked back before he can finish the beast. Badly wounded, he staggers back behind the crossbowmen to recover. The triumphant, but wounded troll advances to finish him off when Hem strikes out of thin air. The troll staggers, but does not fall. Hem dives into the bushes for safety as the brothers continue to fire. Kkrun has soaked up several minor wounds as he delays the third troll, but he gives ground after he sees Agustus take a savage blow that scatters blood in all directions dropping him motionless in the dirt. more to follow...