Against the Urd
4/11/1999
Prelude
Elsewhere in Ansalea
Your spells, elf, were of little value.
I still live.
Yes, but forty of my tribe are dead.
They were... unimportant
There will be a reckoning one day
Whispered: Yes, there will
Summary of the Adventure
The company, using the directions they were given by the Hill People headed North in hopes of finding the Urd lair. Along the way, they were attacked by a single Urd patrol. Realizing that with their existing wounds they would be no match for a serious threat, Androth suggested they find some cover and hole up for a few days.
Thus refreshed, they continued their trip to the Urd Stronghold. Arriving there, they found things would be difficult for them at best. The stronghold was, as expected, built into the side of a mountain. There was almost 300 yards between the players and the mountain with very little cover. There were also orcs camped outside the stronghold.
The group debated for a while and finally Androth's "plan" won out. Andi, Daran and Jameson held back while the remainder of the group marched forward to slay the orcs. As expected, the orcs came forward to join the battle. Jameson and Daran stayed about 100 yards back and Daran created an illusion of 10 elf bowman marching down to join them.
The illusion drew the attention of the Urd as they entered the battle, probably saving the lives of the remaining party members. The other group attacked the orcs in force, with Andi and the illusory bowmen laying some cover fire. Once the Urds took care of all the elves, they turned their attention on Andi.
The orcs were slain and Calidon, Bailock and Urbane smashed down the door to the Kobold warren. Ignoring his own safety, Androth readied his bow and began attacking the Urd who were still intent on killing Andi. Timing it perfectly, Daran felled two more of the Urd with his well-timed sleep spell. As Urbane, followed by Bailock climbed the wall to fight the Kobolds atop it, they were joined by Jameson, who scaled it by hand with ease.
While they tried to stop the Kobold archers from killing Androth, Androth and Andi finally finished the last of the Urd. Androth turned to go into the keep, just as a booming sound exploded over head. When the smoke cleared, Andi and Daran lay in the field, apparently killed with a lightning bolt.
Androth hastily loosed two arrows at their new attacker, but was foiled by the elf's protective magics. Urbane's spells proved just as effective and the elf obeyed Urbane's shouted command to "Die!". Taking advantage of this momentary break, Calidon and Androth retrieved their two dead companions. A quick investigation revealed that Andi still lived.
The elf, frustrated with his inability to kill them, loosed a second lighning bolt that destroyed part of the wall. As Bailock hurried down to attend the wounded Andi, Urbane sought to find a way to defeat the kobold's traps. Jameson found a flight of stairs which led up. Hoping they would take him to the elf, he followed them.
By the time the others realized he was gone, he had been taken prisoner. The elf demanded that the rest surrender lest their friend be killed, but the company proved less than cooperative, with only Andi announcing his surrender and stepping into the open. While the wizard pondered the best way to kill Jameson, Urbane leapt into action.
He cast a silence spell on a coin (copper no doubt!) and charged up after the elf. Calidon, Androth and Bailock were not far behind. Because of his silence spell, Urbane managed to surprise the elf and his companions. He drove the elf to the open window where he eventually fell. Andi shot at him with his bow, but his charms still held. Halfway down, he changed himself into a large black crow and winged south.
The Urd in the room were killed and while Bailock and Urbane tended the wounded, Androth watched the window and Calidon the door. Not too long after their arrival, they heard Gerbald calling from below, asking for a parlay. Andi shot at him with his bow, which provoked Gerbald into casting a hold spell on him. The rest of the group came down the stairs, ready for a trap and ready to kill Gerbald.
When they arrived, Gerbald offered them a truce. He and his tribe were suffering great loss for little gain. If the company agreed to give them safe conduct, they would head north, through the mountains to the Outlands. He also offered a map to the keep of the Master, a place called the Spire (or Tower) of Lies. He offered the life of their friend if they agreed to pursue the master. The company discussed it and accepted the truce.
That night, the company holed up in the Urd roost. There were two entries, one blocked with a table and the other too narrow for more than two kobolds at a time. In the morning, they tried to parlay with the kobolds, but when the kobolds insisted on 100 gold, the company balked. Instead, they opted to escape in broad daylight.
Daran's charms again proved effective and the sleeping Kobolds proved no threat. While the rest of the company moved on, Andi stayed behind, intent on killing every one of the six sleeping kobolds. This nearly proved his undoing as the whole of the Kobold clan emerged from their keep and began chasing him.
The rest of the company watched from the relative safety at the top of the rise. Luckily for Andi, Kobolds are not very fast on their feet and he stayed ahead of them. As the Kobolds closed on the group, Calidon, Bailock and Urbane pried a huge boulder loose and rolled it at them. The boulder, combined with many smaller rocks and some illusory help from Daran, killed many of the Kobolds and scattered the rest. Androth all but dragged Andi away as he once again sought to be sure no Kobolds survived.
The trip back through the lands of the Hill People was quiet, though they met a single patrol. The men of the patrol knew that they had helped a tribe to defeat the orcs and were looking for them. They suggested the company go in great haste, for there was need for their skills in the lowlands. While they were gone, fell beasts had attacked and lain siege to the city.
After four more harrowing days in the Hills, the company emerged from the forest to see dozens of campfires encircling the town of Ansalea.
In Character Moment of the Night
Brother Urbane: Warriors in plate mail, on a mountain, in a thunderstorm. Great idea Andi
Player Moment of the Night
Androth: How're you doing there Bailock?
Bailock: I'm still holding my own.
Mick: Well let go of it and start fightingDave: 13, no 16, wait 12, no 11
GM: Well, it is a lot harder if you don't actually read the dieGM: Daran is alive, but he's pale and weak.
Joe1: How is that different?
DM: Well, usually he's not pale.
Treasure Summary
Magic Book Daran Map to the Master's Androth
Experience Summary
Player Adventure Bonuses, penalties and what not Total Andivarai Shea 2,700 Inability to follow the plan -500; Surrendering +200 (demonstrated loyalty) 8,700 Androth 3,900 Hole up for a few days +500; Watch for them to circle back +200; Others safety first +200 15,950 Bailock 3,300 Healing spells +300 5,200 Brother Urbane 3,700 We should march at night +300; Roll the rock on 'em +300; Die! +100 15,900 Calidon 2,700 "Do we have a choice?" -500; Siege ladder +100; Covering fire +100 12,600 Daran 3,700 Good illusions +300; Undisclosed +500; Tekken -100 14,050 Jameson 2,500 Inability to follow the plan -500 6,500 Variances in experience points are due to good ideas, roleplaying and class abilities.
Gamemaster Comments
- Inability to follow the plan
- Should be clear, but it goes like this: if the group says "We're going to do X" and you really think they should do Y, then you need to
- Suggest Y to them and explain it
- Do X if they decide you're wrong
