On the fifth day of the first month (Judge) in the year 5548, three adventurers set out from the homestead of Tienarth Raiders. Merder, the halfling druid, was the only one to have met Tienarth and the rest of the legendary crew. He happened to come down from his usual abode in the mountains near Tosasth to visit the homestead with his dog. There the met an admitted assassin calling himself Mahr and a fellow halfling calling himself Joai.
In a most annoying and particular way, Joai spelled out his name, J-O-A-I, and then continued on to explain he was formerly a slave but now made his living as a thief. Most any comment he made was punctuated with a shrill giggle that after a few times hearing evoked groans in those hearing it. All around, he was an undesirable character, yet the other two tolerated him, perhaps out of a sense of perverse amusement.
They wandered the foothills for two days, finding nothing. During the second night (1/6), Jaoi heard a group of orcs approaching as he stood watch. (Hex 1211.) He nudged his companions awake as twelve orcs entered camp. They announced loudly that they intended to eat the two halflings. One of the orcs asked, “what about the bats that were chasing us?” The reply was, “eating halfling is worth the risk.” At that, the three companions dashed off in three directions, Merder atop his riding dog. The orcs split up, two chasing each of them. Two more stayed in camp while four other turned and watched for bats.
The orcs, dressed in rags, held simple clubs high, ready to strike if they had the chance. As Joai ran, he spotted a tree up which he climbed and hid himself deftly, as a halfling is wont to do. Merder’s dog galloped faster than the orcs could run, but the wee druid soon spun around to face his attackers. Mahr dove into bushes but was seen by the orcs who closed in on him. Each of adventurers faced two orcs. They were determined to slay them and perhaps the others.
Joai, from a hidden vantage, hurled a rock that cracked the skull of one of the orcs by surprise, sending him reeling into unconsciousness. Merder, though suffering a blow from an orc’s club, viciously slew his two attackers with the help of his dog. Then, he listened for where his companions were fighting. He joined Joai just as the second orc was killed by a rock. Meanwhile, Mahr was stabbing orcs.
Presently, two more figures arrived at the camp. It was Anau, a scout who was tracking the orcs all day. With him was Jobiacama, a halfling warrior. They both loosed arrows at the orcs waiting by the campfire. The first orc died, and the second, injured, panicked and ran towards his comrades who chased Mahr. Merder and Joai connected with Mahr as he slew this orc.
Now Anau and Jobiacama sent arrows at the orcs who watched the dark sky for bats. They began to flee but just then were caught by the three giant bats seen plunging from the sky. The adventurers huddled in camp and listened to the screams of the orcs. They waited for some time, hearing the bats feed and then eventually flap their giant, leathery wings as they left.
The bodies of the orcs were searched. Mahr took 34 sp and 22 ep from two orcs. Merder took 18 sp and 14 ep from another two. Joai busied himself collecting coins from the rest, totalling 53 sp and 46 ep. They rested for the balance of the night and left camp in the morning.
The next day (1/7), they made a loop through the mountains and came to the road leading to Milltown (Hex 1011). At the end of the day, they met four goblins, four of which died swiftly by arrows. The fourth charged Merder in a rage. The dog grabbed hold of the monster and Merder stabbed him to death. The goblins carried 24 ep among them. The party camped that night and endured no surprises.
In the morning (1/8), they continued a search of the surrounding area and came upon a clearing where they saw giant bats circling over standing stones. Counting seven of the bats, they turned away, moving north (Hex 1010). They camped overnight without trouble.
After breakfast (1/9), they searched the area and came upon a gnoll sleeping under a tree. Mahr carefully crept up, blade in hand. As he brought the blade down, the gnoll awoke and twisted away from the assassination attempt. Merder, thinking quickly, cast a spell of entanglement that held both the gnoll and Mahr in place. Anua stuck the gnoll with an arrow, and it died. Mahr pulled 13 sp and 8 gp from the gnolls bag. The area was just a bit safer with the gnoll dead, and it gave them hope of finding a more extensive gnoll encampment.
The searched for the rest of the day and found nothing. In the morning (1/10), Anau picked up tracks from where they’d killed the gnoll the day before. They lead south for some miles, eventually leading to sparse ruins (Hex 1012). Among the crumbling foundations, they spied a hole with stairs leading underground. The ground was covered in many bootprints. They retreated some distance and watch the hole. Just as the sun began to set in the west, a group of five gnolls arrived, one bigger than the others.
Just as the gnolls approached the hole, Merder once again produced a patch of entangling vines. The gnolls struggled to escape. As they severed one vine, another reached up to snag them. The party began a volley arrows at the gnolls who struggled to move into the hole for cover. In the end, only the largest of the gnolls made his out out of the patch of vines and disappeared into the hole. Moments later, they heard stone grinding. As they approached the hole, they saw a stone slab sealing it.
Having located what seemed to be a gnoll encampment but thwarted from making an assault, the party mutually agreed to return to St. Orlan for a short period of rest. Along the road, the journey was quick. They spied a fight between giant flies and a swarm of smaller insects. They hurried on as to avoid confrontation. It seemed likely they’d return to the gnoll hideout after a few days of rest and planning.
End Notes
- Days
- 1/5 Searching
- 1/6 Attacked by orcs at night in Hex 1211
- 1/7 Killed goblins in Hex 1011
- 1/8 Found a clearing with standing stones and giant bats in Hex 1011
- 1/9 Killed a sleeping gnoll in Hex 1010
- 1/10 Found tracks leading to ruins in Hex 1012, killed gnolls, returned home
- Treasure
- 34 sp and 22 ep taken from orcs by Mahr
- 53 sp and 46 ep taken from orcs by Joai
- 18 sp and 14 ep taken from orcs by Merder
- 13 sp and 8 ep taken from sleeping gnoll by Mahr
- 24 ep taken from goblins (unsure by who)
- Combat 715 xp
- 12 Orcs 300 xp
- 4 Goblins 40 xp
- 5 Gnolls 375 xp
- Characters 130 xp each (5.5 shares)
- Anau (bow, tracks) 146 xp
- Joai (agile, unnoticed, outdoors, lucky, surprise) 137 xp
- Jobiacama (outdoors, fight) 133 xp
- Mahr 143 xp
- Merder and dog (outdoors, lucky) 133 xp
- Hexes
- 1211 – not pacified
- 1011 – pacified to D10
- 1010 – pacified to D10
- 1012 – ruins and possible gnoll hideout