Shmadimaa's Bandits
Shmadimaa's Bandits was a hastily cobbled together adventure after a disaster fell upon the hapless Shmadimaa.
This adventure is very much based upon the Bandit Camp in Baldur's Gate (https://baldursgate.fandom.com/wiki/Bandit_Camp).
Illustrations by Tessa, age 8-9.
Background
After successfully completing The Kidnappings in Ikkur and celebrating Thimpashinash's birthday with his new friends in Deraheib, Shmadimaa returned home to Kdu. Late at night, when he was almost home, on the final leg of the journey he was ambushed by a pair of gnolls. Instead of fighting them off, he surrendered to them. The two gnolls took everything apart from his underwear and a handful of coppers, leaving Shmadimaa tied up in a ditch by the side of the rough track between Zeo and Kdu. He was eventually found and rescued by an elderly couple the following morning, who took him back to Kdu.
Shmadimaa tried to form a plan of what should come next. He wanted to get his gear back, including all the gold he made, so that he could complete his training to become a 4th level fighter. After a couple of visits to his friend Voldar Steelheart at the local smithy in Kdu and a lot of praying, nothing much happened. What could he do? It was a bad scene.
The result of the praying was in fact two characters were created, Ilyka and Sizzleplup. They were both evokers and fellow worshippers of Freya. A full party would be needed for what was in mind for the Bandit Camp so eventually a whole new party was created. All of the characters came from the towns and villages in the region south of The Qwarm. It seemed like a good opportunity to explore these towns and villages a little more.
Apparently a bandit problem had been plaguing the area, in that case. :)
Bands of human and demihuman bandits were bothering travellers on the roads regularly, robbing them, and sometimes worse. It was becoming something of an issue. Something had to be done to stop the robberies. That was where Shmadimaa and the others came in. It would mean Shmadimaa might be a bit late returning to Deraheib and his friends to see what their next adventure would be, but that could not be helped. Shmadimaa needed his gear back and he would need help to do it. And so it began.
Chapter 1 (11.10.2023) - It Begins!
15.04.1259 Sizzleplup needs to buy more mercury to be able to cast his Tenser's Floating Disc spell. He wants to travel to an alchemist's shop in Friüg to get some. At the edge of Taummoar where he lives, the town guards suggest he doesn't travel alone due to all the trouble on the roads. He waits at the edge of town to see if others will travel that way.
14.04.1259 Jigg, who lives in Aegoi, needs advice for breeding his ponies. In Zeo is an expert pony breeder he wants to see. He rides his stallion pony and the Darfurian guards at the edge of the village warn him that the roads might be dangerous. Not concerned, Jigg sets off on the road towards Taummoar.
After a while a bandit sees Jigg resting his pony and tries to rob him. Jigg defeats the bandit in combat, takes his gear, ties him up and takes him the rest of the way to Taommoar. The guard post is manned by a corporal and Private Smiglins, who takes Jigg to the Captain of the Guard in the village hall for his reward. The bandit is jailed and Jigg receives 25gp bounty for his troubles as well as the bandit's gear. He stays the night at an inn.
Chapter 2 (12.10.2023) - Quikatanique's Armory
14.04.1259 Quikatanique wants to set up an armory at his place in O'Pruudth. He tends to remain mostly undercover there, due to the amount of orcs in that area.
He decided to travel to Zeo. Upon leaving town he saw a couple of half orc guards in the tabards of Sarath, rather than the orange of Darfuria.
After being challenged by a bandit, he defeated the bandit with one blow and carried him to Taummoar, much as Jigg had done. After receiving his reward he spent the night at an inn.
Chapter 3 (13.10.2023) - Jigg, Quikatanique and Sizzleplup
15.04.1259 Jigg tends to wake up very early. He was up before the inn staff had started making breakfast so he went for a walk. He went to see the pny breeders at Stonehoof Stables and knocked on the door. When the blinds opened and an irritated man opened the window with shaving foam on his face and told Jigg to come back later, he returned to the inn for breakfast.
At breakfast Jigg met Quikatanique and they decided to travel together to Friüg. On the way, Jigg returned to the pony breeder who gave him some advice and prices.
As they are leaving town, they meet Sizzleplup, who has been waiting for about half an hour for somebody to accompany him on the road. They all travel together. After a while they meet and defeat a group of three hobgoblin bandits.
Chapter 4 (15.10.2023) - Bandits, Orcs and Zombies
15.04.1259 After investigating the wagon they release the man who was captured and tied by the hobgoblins. They also looted the bodies and piled them onto the pony for their reward when they reach Friüg.
Also on the way they defeated five orcs from The Qwarm. During the combat, Quikatanique dropped his sword, rolling consecutive 1s and Jigg gave him another longsword he had found on the bandits.
Sizzleplup managed to grab both of the last two orcs on an opposed STR roll when they tried to run away. Quikatanique stabbed one and killed it and Jigg winded the other and let it go after it promised to not rob anyone any more and gave them its spear.
Upon questioning, they just about managed to justify their actions in terms of ALN, so no points were lost, although it was close.
After looting the defeated orcs, the party continued the rest of the way to Friüg and were met by three Darfurian guards at the edge of the town. One of the guards told them the hobgoblin bandits slumped over the pony were members of a group called The Chill.
Once they had taken the bodies to the Captain of the Guard for their reward, they stayed overnight in an inn and the next day (16.04.1259) sold their excess weapons and armour. Quikatanique upgraded his armour from leather to splint.
Malthos from Saltmarsh needs a torc and a cauldron, as she is a Celtic druid. She decided to head to Idyai to buy a cauldron, and then continue on to Zeo to find a jewelcrafter to make her torc. She also wants a saddle for her horse.
As she travelled through the foggy marshes southeast of Saltmarsh, she met and defeated four zombies. After that, she mounted up to continue her journey.
Chapter 5 (16.10.2023) - Malthos and Gegelm Travel to Zeo
Malthos met and defeated a Black Talon bandit on the way to Idyai. She defeated him easily.
After arriving in Idyai, collecting her 25gp reward and staying the night at a very cheap inn, she avoided a parasitic infection. Next she bought a bronze cauldron for her druiding and a very good quality saddle.
Once Malthos sold the tigerseye gem she found in the small wooden lockbox that she had taken from the bandit, she literally bumped into Gegelm who was looking in through the window of the jeweller's shop. They decided to travel together to Zeo and set off.
The first leg of the journey was uneventful, other than a brief encounter with a small squad of a dozen soldiers. They slept in a tree and during the night Gegelm fell out, injuring himself slightly.
Setting off again from their tree, this time they were attacked by three more bandits, who were quckly dispatched. They let one of them go and took his belongings and arrived in Zeo to collect their reward.
They sold their spare armour and weapons and Gegelm was able to buy himself a suit of chainmail.
Chapter 6 (24.10.2023) - Lovers Reunited
16.04.1259 Ilyka climbed down the cliff near her home in Zeo using the steps to the beach. She had a big confufulation with twigs and sticks, and then a wooden board. She was trying to make a gift for her boyfriend Sizzleplup. In the end she decided it would be too awkward to carry it. She thought she would leave it at home and give it to him when he came to visit.
As she was leaving town to meet him in their secret hiding place in Friüg, in an alleyway between two buildings, she met Galinka, who was having an argument with a soldier at the town gate. He was reluctant to let Galinka travel alone, but with Ilyka as well he was OK to let them travel together.
By and by they encountered a bandit. Galinka used a Command spell and together the two girls robbed him, leaving him with only his pants, which they threw into the bushes. They found this tremendously funny.
When they arrived in Friüg, Ilyka and Sizzleplup were finally reunited in their special meeting place. Quikatanique and Jigg had come along with Sizzleplup as well. Everyone stayed at the inn again for another night and concluded their business, before heading to Zeo.
17.04.1259 At the town gate, a wounded soldier was being bandaged by Ona. Quikatanique cast a CLW and the soldiers were all delighted. Ona wished to travel with the others to Zeo and try to sort out the bandit problem.
As we left things, it was Ona, Galinka, Sizzleplup, Ilyka, Quikatanique and Jigg about to leave Friüg for Zeo. Shmadimaa is still in Kdu. Malthos and Gegelm are already in Zeo.
Chapter 7 (29.10.2023) - Shmadimaa Hears Some News
When Shmadimaa came out of his house he saw a man in shiny platemail on a white stallion accompanied by a female dwarf on a white pony riding quickly by. When he went to Voldar, they were there, in conversation with Voldar. They were discussing the bandit problem while Voldar fixed up some of their armour and weapons. This would have been 17th April 1259.
These two were Jalaha and Zimbi. Jalaha had to hurry back to Zeo but Zimbi agreed to accompany Shmadimaa on the journey to there. A pair of ne'er-do-well spies had been entrusted to take part in the mission, a guy drinking in The Old Warrior, Kdu's inn, called Feegly, and his odd companion, Boo.
After fetching Feegly and Boo from the tavern, the four of them set off towards Zeo. Feegly and Zimbi argued quite a lot and the party defeated a group of bandits while Boo was relieving himself in the trees.
They arrived in Zeo and heard the town crier announcing a meeting concerning the bandit activity in the town hall the next day. The party sold their excess gear and divided up the spoils, and stayed the night at an inn.
Chapter 8 (01.11.2023) - Six Defeat More Bandits
17.04.1259 The party leaving Friüg set off for Zeo with Ona and Quikatanique leading, the two evokers in the middle, and Galinka and Jigg (leading his pony Styric) at the rear.
Before long they encountered a group of seven Chill hobgoblins, including a leader. Ona and Quikatanique soon cut them down and Ilyka Enlarged the leader's helmet, incapacitating him, all while Jigg tied his pony to a tree that Sizzleplup hid behind.
When Ona fell unconscious from his wounds, Galinka Commanded one of the two hobgoblins to 'surrender!' and fended off the attacks of the others. After Ilyka had cast a magic missile, she ran and hid behind Sizzleplup, behind the tree near the pony.
The hobgoblins were defeated. Once the spoils were divided up following Jigg's various mostly unsuccessful attempts to pick pockets and Galinka had taken the hobgoblin leader's chain mail, they carried on, eventually finding a group of bandits who didn't see them as they rounded a bend in the road. The party sneaked back to prepare an attack.
Whilst Galinka was taking her armor off to be able to cast wizard spells, the bandits came around the corner, still laughing and joking, and threatened to rob the party. Quikatanique cast a Command of 'sleep!' on one of the bandits, who lay down to sleep, and then Galinka's proper Sleep spell kicked in.
Now that the bandits were all asleep, the party disarmed, robbed and tied up a bandit each, finally tying them all together in a big bunch and marching them back to Zeo for their reward. The party sold the excess gear they didn't need and stayed overnight at an inn, learning new spells and recovering back to full health.
Chapter 9 (02.11.2023) - Attacking the Camp
18.04.1259 The next day Jigg was up early as usual and went to find the pony breeder at Stonehoof Stables, who was not yet awake and a bit irritated by Jigg's early call. She told Jigg to come back later. When Jigg returned after breakfast, he was told that he would need to bring his ponies and pay 25gp/week/pony for stabling and treatments.
Malthos went to find the jewelcrafter (Iogen's Fine Jewelry) who could craft her Torc. Malthos would need an extra 1000gp for an emerald. She decided to return when she had enough gold.
Eventually everybody met at the Zeo town hall. There was an early group consisting of Jigg, Zimbi and some others, an on-time group consisting of the evokers and a few more, and Feegly and Boo turned up late, after the meeting had started.
Everyone was promised 50gp/lvl in advance and the same again upon completion of the task - to find out who was behind the bandit activity and put a stop to it, as well as finding Shmadimaa's stolen gear. Zimbi however would not be travelling with them after all. She was needed elsewhere.
The party was finally assembled. Hooray!
They planned to either follow some bandits back to their camp or pretend to join them and infiltrate their camp that way. They chose the latter and upon encountering some bandits said that they wanted to join their group. They proved to the bandits' leader Teven they were serious by robbing a man of his handful of coppers as he took a cart full of turnips to market in Zeo.
Just before reaching the camp, which was just off the road a couple of miles north of Zeo, the party defeated a pack of wild dogs. Then Teven took them into the actual bandit camp, just as Tazok was about to leave. He challenged the party's best fighter, Shmadimaa volunteering, to a dual which Tazok won easily. He agreed to let them join the camp.
Next everyone got a suit of leather armor with the Black Talon livery, except Boo, who got a Chill Hobgoblin set. After a lot of confufulation and menial tasks, with the party cleaning the latrines for the bandits and agreeing to go get meat for them, they finally cooked up a plan of attack.
Once the whole bandit camp had been explored, the party somehow managed to dodge all of the non-bandit encounters that remained in the area and tied the two horses (Jigg's and Malthos's) to a pair of trees at the south end of the map just by the road.
Starting at the far north east of the map near Tazok's big tent, the party split into two groups. The five longbow users - Shmadimaa, Ona, Quikatanique, Malthos and Gegelm all lined up and suddenly attacked the moaning curmudgeonly bandit there by surprise. As he fell, more came and those were also quickly felled.
One was taking cover in the store room and Ilyka Magic Missiled him. Quikatanicue used a Command spell of 'come!' to bring him out into the open and he was quickly finished. By now the other Black Talons were on the move and took up new positions from which they could attack.
Their leader, Torgosz Tenhammer, rounded the corner in his full plate armour and swinging a beautiful golden warhammer. He also had Shmadimaa's +1 shield. After he threatened the party, who were almost scared away, the archers started to attack and Feegly set Boo on Tenhammer. Shmadimaa became enraged upon recognising his shield in Tenhammer's hands!
Unfortunately for Boo, he took a fair bit of damage from some friendly fire due to Malthos and Quikatanique both rolling 1s followed by 17s. Feegly, who was hiding in shadows, had to remind Boo to attack Tenhammer, not the people who had shot him!
Luckily for the party, Boo then walloped Tenhammer with a natural 20, which hurt a lot, and Ilyka cast enlarge reverse on the trouser part of his plate armour, causing him to be quite severly disadvantaged.
Afterwards the fighters rushed in to weaken him with their swords, and Feegly finished him off with a natural 20 on a backstab. The first boss was defeated!
Meanwhile, more arrows from other bandits continued to fly. After a short bit of dithering the party realised the fight was not yet over. Feegly quickly crawled under the decking to take cover and hide in shadows. Boo was unable to follow him there due to being too large and became confused, although Malthos was able to calm him.
More arrows continued to miss the party with poor rolls from the bandits. Quikatanique rounded the building and was immediately face to face with a bandit who shot him at point blank range. Quikatanique was wounded but finished him with his sword.
Shmadimaa grabbed his old shield back from the fallen boss and ran to the bandit by the gazebo and finished him. This allowed Ona to find a better position further into the camp.
Jigg grabbed Tenhammer's lovely warhammer and managed to hide in shadows, rolling 07 on a 10% chance, and also ran to find where some of the arrows were being shot from. Quikatanique took a couple more arrow hits and was healed by himself, Galinka and Malthos.
Meanwhile, Gegelm and the two evokers looted the body of Tenhammer. Gegelm put on his full plate armor, making his armor class zero, and the evokers attempted to find out what the potions were as well as looting the money for the party.
Eventually all of the bandits directly involved in that particular combat were defeated, Feegly backstabbing the one shooting arrows on the decking. The party had run quite low on arrows. A small group of fighters and rogues sneaked around looting bodies while the others hid in tent #4. By now it is twilight.
Chapter 10 (29.12.2023) - The Battle Continues
18.04.1259 The arrows and some of the gear that had been looted were distributed. Jigg took a sip of a mysterious black potion and tried to get Feegly to try it as well, but he refused. Previously nobody else had liked it but it seemed to be OK for Jigg.
The party needed to come up with a plan to clear out the next part of the bandit camp. Several people contributed ideas and eventually Ilyka's plan was the one that was used.
Jigg and Feegly would sneak off to the hobgoblin area and cause a distraction by shaking a bush. The others would be ready to fire missiles from stealthy positions, some distance away.
Feegly told Boo that he should listen to Malthos, and after a confufulation which confused Boo, Malthos got the hang of it with Feegly's help. Feegly was also rather rude to Ona.
When Feegly and Jigg saw there were in fact at least seven hobgoblins, including their leader Ardenor Crush, Feegly had second thoughts about the whole plan. After overhearing that there were angry gnolls imprisoned in the cave, they decided to shake the bush and then run back the way they had come to their companions.
Once the bush was shaken and some shouting started and the hobgoblins began to move, the archers took their opportunity and felled two of the three hobgoblins they could see to start with. The remaining hobgoblins charged, apart from one who continued to search the bush.
A pair of gnolls and a flind also charged into the combat from a different position. The party set off another volley of missiles and Malthos ordered Boo to run in and attack Ardenor, clearly the leader, who was running towards them. The hobgoblins threw their spears and then it was a melee battle.
One of the spears hit Sizzleplup and he fell unconscious. Ilyka earned some special bonus XP for binding Sizzleplup's wounds, then kneeling beside him and holding his hand as he lay unconscious, letting her love flow into him while she prayed to her deity Freya.
With the extra help from the gnolls and flind, the party were more challenged than they had anticipated. Boo managed a hefty hit on Ardenor before Boo was felled by Ardenor himself and a gnoll, and Malthos also fell.
Meanwhile, the others were slowly cutting down the remaining enemies and with the party three people down, Jigg and Feegly returned. Jigg joined the combat when he saw Malthos had fallen, drawing the attention of those that defeated her. Feegly's bowshots were true and he ended Ardenor Crush.
By now the party were getting the upper hand and before long all of the enemies had been defeated. The injured members of the party were healed and Feegly was rather unhappy with Malthos for causing his pet Boo to become so injured. Unseen, the hobgoblin that was searching the bush sneaked off to find backup.
Chapter 11 (30.12.2023) - A Miracle! Freya Hears Ilyka's Prayer
18.04.1259 Next the party started to search the bodies of all the creatures they had just vanquished. Jigg took Ardenor's +1 Studded Leather and the Potion of Fire Giant Strength that was originally Shmadimaa's. But before they had finished looting the bodies, another wave of enemies attacked.
A gnoll, gnoll elite and gnoll slasher ran in to combat the party. They did not stand up for long and were soon defeated. The party continued looting the bodies. Ona stuck her head into tent 3. A bandit was fiddling with a chest. Ona withdrew her head. The bandit was not quick enough to see her.
Ona told the others and Jigg started creeping slowly to the tent. Meanwhile the others arranged themselves into a dungoen-type formation and they also started creeping very slowly towards the tent, looking rather exposed. Suddenly a voice shouted "Attack!"
Most of the party looked the wrong way and some bandits took their opportunity. A flind and a gnoll veteran ran towards the party's flank and the hobgoblin who had investigated the wiggling bush, along with the four bandits he had gathered from the stone circle area attacked as well.
The hobgoblin ran to join the melee and the bandits took up a position to fire arrows. The party didn't prepare too well for the combat, swapping weapons and swinging swords around in an unsuccessful attempt to look threatening as the enemies approached rapidly. The party lost reaction and the enemies attacked with their archers first.
Sizzleplup entered the melee and was first to fall. Ilyka quickly bound his wounds. A lot of 1s were rolled by the unfortunate party during the fight. Malthos accidently hit Boo a mighty blow which would have killed him had Malthos not used Luck Points to reduce the damage. Boo lay unconscious in the melee.
Another 1 came from Feegly, who shot Shmadimaa in the back of the arm. Ona rolled a succession of bad rolls, falling onto her longbow and snapping it in two. "Flump." she said miserably, holding up her piece of string in dismay with its two splintered sticks attached.
Galinka took off her chainmail after she had stabilised Boo and cast Sleep. It put all of the enemies in the melee to ground. However, the shooters were still shooting, despite several hits from the party. During this phase of the battle, something amazing happened.
As Ilyka kneeled beside Sizzleplup, holding his hand and willing her love into him whilst praying to Freya, her goddess heard her prayer - a 01 on d%! Ilyka prayed that Sizzleplup would soon be alright.
Suddenly it was as if the two of them were in a magical bubble of time, with silvery white ethereal dust flakes falling upon them. Sizzleplup's wounds healed, he was back to full health, Ilyka gained a point of WIS and the XP she gained from this instantly put her up to 2nd level, and just 14 XP from level 3.
At this point, the time bubble seemed to fade and while the two evokers were wondering what on earth just happened, Jigg, who had been hiding stealthily in the tent observing the bandit for the duration of the combat, stuck his head outside and sneaked up to the shooting bandits.
After Jigg's crucial backstab and some more shots, the party managed to finish off the enemies. Galinka put her chainmail back on and the sleeping humanoids were tied up and taken into the tent. First however, four strong members of the party picked up Boo's unconscious body, one on each limb, and carried that into the tent as well.
The bandit in the tent was rather shocked and after a conversation, during which more members of the party came in, the bandit attacked. It only took a couple of rounds for him to be defeated and the party opened and looted the locked chest, giving the Cure Serious Wounds spells they found on a scroll to Shmadimaa and Boo.
Next the party decided to rest in the tent. They were tired and low on spells. The two evokers swapped spells from their spellbooks. By now Ilyka had earned the extra 14 XP she needed to hit third level, meaning she was able to memorise more spells. Also gaining levels during the session were Jigg as a thief (F1/T3) and Malthos as a fighter.
Before everyone went to sleep, Feegly told them a surreal bedtime story about a clockwork world.
"The Clockwork Dreamer": Once upon a time in a land far beyond the realms of imagination, there existed a city known as Mechanopia. In Mechanopia, time flowed like a river, and every citizen had a heart made of intricate clockwork gears. One fateful night, a dreamer named Orpheus discovered a hidden chamber deep within the city's catacombs. Inside, he found the Great Chronometer, a colossal clock with hands that stretched into eternity. Orpheus couldn't resist the temptation and touched the clock's face. As the clock's gears began to turn, reality itself unraveled. Orpheus found himself trapped within a surreal dreamscape where time had no meaning. He encountered creatures made of clockwork, each one whispering secrets of the universe. Orpheus searched for a way to escape, guided only by the enigmatic Ticker Tock, a sentient metronome. Together, they faced time-bending trials, solved riddles in reverse, and danced with shadows. In the end, Orpheus discovered the elusive "Infinite Second," a moment where time stopped entirely. With it, he shattered the dream, returned to Mechanopia, and shared tales of his surreal journey.
19.04.1259 Armed with new spells and each party member one hit point healthier, the party woke up very early having not slept very well. It was still dark outside.
First they looted the two locked chests outside the tent and then headed for the cave. A very new gate had been built across the entrance in the last few days. They managed to unlock it and found that there were gnolls asleep at the bottom of a 20 foot drop.
Malthos lowered Gegelm, the heaviest party member, down the cliff and Boo lowered Ona, Jigg, Shmadimaa and Quikatanique down all at the same time on ropes. They had taken two more ropes with them to tie up the gnolls as they slept.
Unfortunately, Boo let go of the four ropes he was holding and there was no easy climb back up for the party. "Oh, Boo!" groaned Feegly, head in hands. Everyone was a bit nurgulated and realised that a big fight was about to take place as the gnolls were stirring. The party started planning how to win the fight as Feegly and Galinka started securely tying the last two ropes the party owned to the gate so they could climb down, or help the others up.
Chapter 12 (31.12.2023) - The Most Unfortunate Of Deaths
19.04.1259 Surprisingly, instead of attacking the gnolls before they were fully awake, the party instead chose to wait by the wall, creeping inch by inch very slowly forwards. Quikatanique Commanded the leader to "Surrender!" and he threw down his weapon.
Suddenly, and dramatically, the first players ran in to melee, instead of using missile weapons or the plan they had devised. First Shmadimaa went in against a gnoll, rolled a 1, then 5. Nothing very bad. Then Ona ran in against the same gnoll and rolled a 1 followed by a 6. Again nothing very bad.
Quikatanique decided against hanging back and waiting to cast CLW if somebody needed one, and instead rushed in on the same gnoll. Quikatanique also rolled a 1! All three warriors had fumbled! This was followed by a 20, and another 20. With a double critical fumble, he had simply killed Ona with one almighty misplaced blow.
Even without the extra damage for the critical, that was still 26 damage. Ona would have been on -17. If somebody could heal Ona that round to keep her above -10 and she made a system shock roll, she could live.
Galinka jumped down the 20 foot drop, using all of her Luck Points to just manage to keep herself on 1 HP, and cast a CLW on Ona. Ona added three of her own luck points to it to raise her HP to -9. Then, needing 91% on the system shock roll, she rolled 96. With only 4 luck points remaining, she had missed it by 1 and died.
Quikatanique was in deep shock, and so was everyone else after such a remarkable and devastating sequence of terrible luck. By now Sizzleplup was down on the floor and was about to use his Potion of Firebreath when he realised he would burn several members of the party. He adjusted position and exhaled deeply.
All but two of the gnolls were burnt to cinders. The two that remained were dispatched by Malthos, Shmadimaa and Gegelm as Jigg continued to skirt around the walls trying unsuccessfully to hide in shadows. The party were able to take a breath and digest what had taken place.
Quikatanique was terribly upset by what had happened, and praying all the while to Corellon, he cared for Ona's body, closing her eyes and hiding her in a dark corner, covering her with her cloak. Galinka offered him some comfort and Feegly was pleased that the paladin was dead as "it saves me having to do it later."
Boo was sad though, and sat by her for a while as the others halfheartedly looted the gnolls. There was no treasure other than their arrmous and weapons, and Shmadimaa found his blue and purple scarf, slightly singed and rather filthy, that Garclax, the gnoll's leader, had been wearing as a bandana.
Once everyone had pulled themselves together, they went through the opening into the small part of the cave and were attacked by a colony of bats. Using a Speak With Animals spell, Malthos persuaded the bats to eat the freshly cooked gnolls instead of his friends and promised to leave the annoying new gate open for them.
Everybody climbed out of the cave, taking the ropes and the things they had found. Quikatanique took Ona's body. They decided to hide Ona in a chest in the storage area at the back of the camp by where they started their assault on the bandits.
After searching the area and opening the two locked chests, Quikatanique folded Ona up a bit so she would fit in the larger one and got Jigg to lock it again. Then they decided to take the chest into one of the tents they had already looted and leave Ona in there instead. A few goodies were handed out.
As everyone was making their way across the bandit camp, a pair of hobgoblins came running at them from where the ruins lay. They were quickly defeated and upon looting the bodies one was found to have a spear and the other a bow and some rather good looking arrows.
Feegly was curious, it didn't make sense why they ran and then attacked without using their missile weapons. He thought they were running away from something. Everyone went to look where they had come from, and sure enough, there were skeletons by the ruins!
Chapter 13 (02.03.2024) - Boo Is Scared Of Skeletons
19.04.1259 As the party approached to attack, so did the skeletons approach the party. Boo lost his nerve and pointed a shaky finger, wailing "Walking bones!" and he turned and ran. Feegly went after him calling his name, and Jigg ran off after both of them.
Ilyka Magic Missiled one of the skeletons and it fell. Another was felled by Malthos. Galinka brandished her holy symbol and turned the remaining ten. Quikatanique had never seen that done before and decided to remember to try it himself the next time.
While the party were dithering around not sure what to do and a couple of heals were administered, they crept slowly forward and noticed another group of skeletons standing on the large stone behind the nearest of the ruins. The skeletons moved in to attack as a few of the party shot arrows.
After the first round in which a couple of skeletons were hit, but all with edges of blades rather than the flat side, all six were still standing. Galinka rolled a 1 and hit the corner of the ruins, chipping off a piece of stone. She apologised to the stone and admonished her mace. Ilyka stepped forward and cast Burning Hands, which destroyed all six skeletons.
At around this time the turning effect wore off and the other skeletons turned to attack the party once again. They were in two groups, one of four and one of six. Malthos cast Entangle on the six that were further away and they were all trapped.
By now Boo, Feegly and Jigg were returning to the group, Boo having found a bit of courage after reassurance from the others. He still couldn't look at the skeletons or take part in the battle and Feegly needed to try to stop him running off again.
During the melee, Sizzleplup and Malthos both fell below zero, although the other fighters managed to defeat the skeletons. Quikatanique rolled a 1 and then 19 but the dice were then kind and he merely tripped and fell over. After defeating the four skeletons, the two fallen party members were healed a little and could continue.
Nobody could decide how best to deal with the Entangled skeletons, so Feegly made sure Boo was looking the other way and fairly calm. Feegly asked Sizzleplup to borrow his cloak. Sizzleplup handed it over and Feegly stabbed a hole through it with a dagger and tore about a foot off the bottom of it. He handed the (now smaller) cloak back to Sizzleplup, who was horrified, dumbfounded, angry and confused.
Feegly showed the party how to make molotov cocktails, by ripping the cloth he had torn from Sizzleplup's cloak into smaller strips and stuffing them into oil flasks from his pack, setting light to the ends and throwing them at the skeletons. After a few were thrown, all the skeletons were burning and troubled the party no more. The smell of them cooking made Boo feel hungry and he was told not to eat the skeletons.
The party continued to explore the ruins and as they did so a group of six zombies lurched into view.
Malthos reached for his bow and scored a hit, Gegelm missed and Quikatanique brandished his holy symbol and turned the entire group of them. He had learned how to turn undead and was most chuffed with himself, even forgetting about the tragedy of Ona for a moment.
Chapter 14 (28.04.2024) - Bears in the Morning
19.04.1259 While the zombies were retreating, the party quickly had a look through their gear and spells to see what they had and what still needed to be done, and then they followed the undead figures as they lurched through the trees away from the ruins.
As they moved, to their left and behind them, a second group of zombies emerged. The party stopped to focus on them, Quikatanique turning two and Ilyka Webbing a few of them into place. There were a couple of missile shots and then the party got busy with oil bombs again, finishing off the webbed zombies with ease.
Once they had turned around to follow the original group of zombies, they saw that they had vanished. Everyone decided to go and look at the tents instead, but just then there came the most tremendous roaring and crunching and groaning from behind some trees and they went to investigate.
As they rounded a corner to a clearing, they could see by the light of the dawn that there was a rather one-sided battle going on between three brown bears and the zonbies that had been turned a little earlier. The bears made quick work of the zombies and the party rather fancied taking the bears' pelts for themselves.
When the fight between the zombies and the bears ended, Ilyka set off a Stinking Cloud spell and all three of the bears fell to puking and coughing. Malthos was getting her rations out and Jigg ran in, being the most likely to survive the effects of the cloud, with strict instructions not to slit the throat of the bear that had not been wounded by the zombies.
Jigg ran out of the cloud, unaffected, the deed done. Malthos began casting her Animal Friendship spell on the remaining bear and as luck would have it, the spell worked. While Malthos worked, the others backed off to a safe distance and rested and checked their equipment. The spell was finally done and Malthos had tamed herself a brown bear! She decided to name him Selizim.
With the sun now up and the promise of a beautiful warm spring day ahead, the party began to make their way back towards the tents. In a separate clearing they saw a group of gnolls bullying a hobgoblin. Galinka stepped forward to cast a Sleep spell and took an arrow to the stomach for her troubles before the spell went off.
With all of the enemies asleep, Jigg again acted as throat-slitter and then the bodies were looted. Malthos wanted to cut the gnolls up and feed them to her bear, but Galinka objected on grounds of respect for the dead, Feegly objected on grounds of loss of bounty, and Ilyka objected on grounds of it being disgusting.
Even though Jigg was also quite keen to feed a few body parts to the bear, in the end the deceased were dumped into the wagon with the rest of the defeated bandits so they could be taken back to town for their bounty. Everything had gone very well for the party so far.
There were only a few tents left to loot in the camp by now. The party made sure they had gathered everything from the tent nearest Tazok's. Jigg found a chest that had a false bottom and there he discovered a +1 ring of protection. Jigg had gained another thief level by now, making him F2/T4.
Sizzleplup wore the ring, putting him up to level two and improving his armor class from 11 to 10 at the same time (he is rather undexterous). Then the party made for tent 0, the one that cannot normally be entered.
Gegelm entered this tent alone and he found and fought the camp butcher, who was still hacking away at the cow. Gegelm fought the butcher, who wasn't able to land a hit on the big ranger, and there was a lot of missing. Gegelm actually managed to hit himself on a fumble, and rolled maximum damage, so used luck points to avoid knocking himself out and more to avoid a subsequent hit from the butcher.
Eventually Gegelm defeated the hobgoblin and returned to the party, who were wondering what was happening exactly by all the noises. There was nothing of worth in the tent aside the butcher's disgusting tools and apron, although parts of the cow was fed to Malthos's bear. Jigg managed to use his read languages skill to read a scroll they had found, and Ilyka used a spell to read another.
Once all the treasure around the tent had been gathered and given out, it was time for the party to move on once more, to try to finish up the bandit camp for good.
There are still two dead brown bears whose pelt would fetch a decent price at market if they could be removed. Galinka needs to put on her chain mail.
Chapter 15 (17.05.2024) - Jigg's New Pretty Necklace
19.04.1259 With not very much left of the bandit camp to explore, the party went to tent #1 after Galinka had donned her armor. They set up a marching order outside, two abreast bizzarely, with Malthos and her bear Selizim some way behind everybody else.
Quikatanique entered the tent. Its occupants, a flind, a gnoll and a gnoll veteran, were ready and waiting. They won reaction and managed to attack Quikatanique first, before anybody else entered the tent. Quikatanique had to use Luck Points to avoid falling unconscious as first a flind and then a gnoll both scored hits. The flind's hit impaired Quikatanique's ability to fight and he was glad of back-up when it arrived, shortly after.
He was joined in the tent by Gegelm, Galinka and Shmadimaa. Galinka used a healing proficiency on Quikatanique. Quikatanique managed a hit on the flind despite his handicap and Shmadimaa wounded the gnoll with his sword.
The next round a few more of the party entered the tent. Jigg jumped into the fight and finished off the flind with an almighty wallop from his hammer. Malthos told Selizim to "Stay!" outside and she entered the tent, finishing off the gnoll. Gegelm defeated the gnoll veteran on his own with two hits from his double-handed sword.
When they looted the bodies, Jigg managed to sneak the flind's valuable pearl necklace away without anybody else noticing, as well as a few coins. He put on the necklace when attention was elsewhere and did up his leathers so that nobody would see his prize, feeling mighty pleased with himself.
Chapter 16 (18.05.2024) - The Spluttering Paladin
19.04.1259 Jigg didn't check for traps on a chest in the tent and was pricked by a poison needle, although luckily he was OK. When the chest had been opened the party found more coins and a clerical scroll which Quikatanique was able to decipher. It included a Raise Dead as well as every kind of healing spell! Excited, Quikatanique wanted to fetch and raise Ona. Feegly thought this was a terrible idea.
Quikatanique went around healing the people in need. Unfortunately when he tried to read the Cure Serious Wounds from the scroll, he rolled 99% and accidentally cast Cause Critical Wounds on himself instead. Galinka quickly gave him a healing proficiency and he regained consciousness, on 1 hit point.
Checking around outside the tent they found a locked crate in which were a few more coins and a couple of potions. One was a sky blue Potion of Heroism, which nobody claimed, and the other some Oil of Fiery Burning, which Gegelm took.
The only smaller tent remaining was the one where Tersus the stock boy was hiding in terror. The party entered and Tersus agreed to help them, and submitted to being tied up in return for his life being spared. The party searched the tent and placed the crates of Chill and Black Talon armor on their wagon.
Another chest was successfully opened by Jigg and inside were more coins, a longsword and a shortsword. Malthos cast Detect Magic and both swords were revealed to be magical, +1 swords in fact. Quikatanique claimed the +1 longsword but nobody seemed too interested in the magical shortsword. It also seemed that Jigg had managed somehow to stash a collection of magical arrows, which the others thought should be given out to the people who were actually able to use them.
Also apparently magical was one bottle on the shelf behind the stock boy's counter. This was an oddly heavy potion, which Shmadimaa tried a sip of. He failed his save vs. spell and drank the whole vial, and became Feebleminded. As the helpless halforc lay on the floor, Tersus was questioned and, terrified, said it should probably wear off in a while.
Several of the party decided to go and fetch Ona. Quikatanique, Malthos and her bear Selizim, Galinka, Jigg and Gegelm would go and fetch Ona's body from the chest and the others would stay in the tent. Feegly directed Boo to watch Tersus and while the evokers held Shmadimaa still, Feegly used the opportunity to shave off Shmadimaa's left eyebrow.
When the group fetching Ona from tent #5 were on their way back, they heard the sound of several rapidly approaching hooves. The group quickly went into the nearest tent, #4, to hide. After putting Ona's body in a barrel, everybody except Malthos's bear also hid in barrels.
A few moments later, the tent opened and some bandits came in. "Blimey, a bear!" cried one and they fell back. Selizim charged and the party could hear a fierce fight going on outside the tent! Quickly the party climbed out of their barrels and joined the bear. Soon all of the bandits were defeated, Jigg finishing one with a mighty hit that did double damage.
Quikatanique made friends with one of the horses that the bandits had ridden in on and decided the best thing would probably be to leave all six of them tied securely until after the camp was done and dusted. Once the bandits' bodies had been looted, and the corpse of Ona recovered from the barrel in the tent where it had been hidden, the away group returned to the others in the stockboy's tent.
Sizzleplup immediately told everyone that Feegly had shaved one of Shmadimaa's eyebrows off. Feegly was very unimpressed at his blabbering. Quikatanique prepared Ona for the Raise Dead and nothing went wrong this time. He cast the spell successfully and Ona coughed and spluttered back to life, wondering what on earth had happened to her.
The party were going to rest and a few more people had gained levels by now as well. After Ona had been filled in and had fallen asleep, the evokers shared their spellbooks again so that Sizzleplup could learn some second level spells. Watches were assigned and Ilyka told everyone a bedtime story about a golden gryffon.
20.04.1259 It was around sunrise when the party awoke. Various people had watched Tersus as well as the entrance to the tent during their rest, but nothing had happened. Some fresh healing spells were cast and by now everyone was pretty close to full health. The party had a good look through their inventory and gave out the items that had not yet been claimed by anyone.
Once everybody was ready, the party again stepped outside and started the day by searching all around the tent they had just rested in. They freed the wolf trapped in the stockade, who gladly fled away into the woods, and opened a chest in which there was another +1 longsword and another +1 shortsword, as well as some money.
Now it was time to loot the area around the main tent. Jigg and Feegly between them managed to open all of the chests around the main tent, both on the ground and on the decking, and all of the items were collected. The only item from the latest loot that the party couldn't figure out was the Wand of Fear.
One of the chests proved to be a touch tricky. Jigg managed to disarm the trap, an exploding box, and took the box right out. He shook it and a few of the others backed off and told him not to, it was an exploding box after all! Jigg wanted to look on the inside, but it was closed with no obvious way of opening it.
For some peculiar reason best known to himself, Jigg decided to take the exploding box trap behind a tree to try to open it. Bashing it with his fists did no good, so he took out his hammer to try to bash it open with that. Rolling a natural 17 to hit, the box exploded, causing a loud band and making a small hole in the ground, as well as doing 5d6 damage to the foolish Jigg himself for his troubles.
Feegly came to see what on earth was going on and found Jigg crouching behind the tree over the hole that had been blown in the ground by the explosion. Feegly assumed that Jigg was relieving himself and left him to it at once. He told the others that bang was because Jigg had such bad flatulence he had blown a whole in the ground. As the box was blown to pieces, which were scattered over an area of several yards, Jigg never did find out what was in the box.
Chapter 17 (19.05.2024) - Selizim Creates Havoc
20.04.1259 By now there were only two more chests to unlock, both up on the decking. When that was done and the whole party had given everything out that they could, and healed everybody (such as the slightly singed and frazzled looking Jigg) as much as they could with all of the remaining spells, it was time to finally enter the great tent.
Raemon smirked as the party entered. He and his friends had been waiting. At last he would be able to finish off the pesky party that had devastated his camp. He, along with Brikt, Venkt and Hakt were all ready for the fight that was to follow. Hakt stood at the rear, ready to unleash a volley of arrows. Raemon was centre, with Venkt to his left and the mage, Britik, to the right.
After a few unfriendly words from both sides, Raemon gave the order to attack, but the party were ready as well, despite having forgotten to buff themselves up for the fight. The party won reaction by one, rolling 4 to the bandits' 5.
Malthos drew first blood on Raemon, Shmadimaa hit Britik and so did Ilyka with a magic missile. Sizzleplup cast a Shield and Hakt, fortunately for the party, fell victim to Galinka's Sleep spell.
What the bandits were not ready for, however, was Malthos's bear, Selizim. Seeing Malthos in combat with the warrior Raemon, it launched an unbelievable series of blows at Venkt. Both paws hit, one critically, and it used its bonus hug for two paw hits, as well as rolling a second critical hit for its bite. Venkt was wiped out before having the chance to do anything at all!
Although Raemon and Britik manage to land hits, the leaders of the bandits were rattled, having lost half of their number in the first moments of the fight.
On the next round the bandits won reaction and landed more hits, but they were already outnumbered and Selizim turned on the sleeping Hakt and begin to devour him alive as he slept.
Ilyka's Burning Hands spell managed not to set the tent on fire. Sizzleplup's was accurate as well. Gegelm managed to land a hit on Raemon.
The next round the party won reaction and what remained of Hakt was very dead. Ona finished Britik off with her sword and Jigg finished Raemon off with his hammer.
Selizim was in full blood frenzy mode by now. Having finished off the hobgoblin leader, he turned on the nearest party member, who was Gegelm.
"Don't hurt him!" cried Malthos.
Quikatanique, who could speak with woodland mammals, unslung his pack to find his rations.
"Get out of there!" cried Ilyka, seeing what was happening, and everyone made for the exit, rather to the surprise of Feegly and Boo, who had been waiting outside for a good moment to enter the battle. Everybody apart from Gegelm, Quikatanique and Malthos left the tent.
Whilst Malthos and Quikatanique tried to gain control of the bear, Malthos scattering handfuls of dried meat across the floor, Gegelm continued to protect them and himself as best he could, parrying the blows of the great animal with his double handed sword and a taking a couple of hits in the process.
After a few rounds, the bear's bloodlust subsided. It calmed and accepted some of the rations from Malthos. Quikatanique tried to speak with it to calm the great animal. When Selizim was calm enough at last, Malthos led him outside. Everyone had stayed back to avoid being close to the bear and now they re-entered the tent to survey the scene.
Suddenly they realised - the bandit camp had been routed and they were victorious!
"That... thing... is nothing but a menace," muttered Feegly darkly, indicating the great brown bear. Feegly had not seen Selizim's extraordinary destruction of the bandit leaders from where he had lurked with Boo outside the tent.
The party began searched the big tent. They found various items and stashes of coins before they turned their attention to the big chest.
Neither of the thieves noticed the fire trap and set it off. It was the first damage that Feegly had sustained in the entire adventure.
With the chest unlocked, they found there were two books on the top of the stash of goodies - a Manual of Bodily Health, which Malthos took (CON of 6!), and another tome, in which was written inside the front cover: "Venkt's Spellbook - hands off." Underneath these two enormous books were a pair of leather gauntlets, which Jigg put on and refused to take off.
Feegly suggested that Ona should count the gold. Perhaps he realised that paladins did have a use after all.
There were a pair of scrolls, one clerical and one druidic, that went to Quikatanique and Malthos respectively. Then it was time to search the bodies and loot them, while Ona continued to count the coins from the chest.
Once all of that was done, the two wagons that the party had found at the camp were loaded up. By now everybody was feeling relieved and a little celebratory. Five of them chose a horse from the six that the bandits had brought the evening before. Quikatanique had already chosen his. All of the dead bandits were loaded onto one wagon along with the Chill and Black Talon armor from the stock room, and the party and the treasure were loaded onto the other.
One of the bandits was still living - Tersus, the young hobgoblin stockboy. Ona took pity on him and offered him shelter with her. He had not done any of the robbing and looting and other bad stuff, just handed out armor to the other bandits. She felt he did not deserve to go to jail being a young boy, so hid him in a barrel on the wagon with the party.
After Jigg had retrieved his pony and Malthos's horse, a marching order was arranged. Ona would lead on her new horse, followed by the wagon of people and treasure, pulled by another new horse and Malthos's horse. Two more horses were tied behind the front wagon, then came Jigg on Styric leading the wagon full of dead bandits, which was hauled by the two remaining horses. Malthos walked at the back with Selizim.
As the party approached Zeo, there was another ddebate regarding Selizim. They couldn't exactly take him into the town and it was impossible to think of a sensible way that he could remain in the party. Eventually, Galinka suggested to Malthos that he should just be set free.
Malthos, rather sadly, agreed that it was for the best. After she and Quikatanique had spoekn with Selizim, who promised to remember Malthos, he was set free and galloped back to the woods where he came from. Malthos was a little sad and climbed aboard the wagon where Galinka comforted her.
As the party reached Zeo, Ona hailed the guards at the edge of the town. When asked what they were doing, Ona told them they were returning all of the bandits they had defeated and that they didn't need to look in the barrel. This made the guard curious - he wanted to look in the barrel! But Ona convinced him the group had been using it as a toilet for the journey and he left it alone and went to investigate the second wagon.
When he saw the pile of bandits - 55 dead bodies in all - his eyes nearly fell out of his head! "Here, Sarge, come and look at this!" cried the soldier, and the sergeant in the guard hut came out to have a look. Upon lifting the flap of the wagon and seeing all of the defeated bandits, he was just as flabberghasted. He even recognised some of the leaders.
"I need to have me a stiff drink," he declared, and after he returned from the guard hut a minute or two later he said that he would personally escort the wagons to the captain at the town hall. "Is that Chill and Black Talon armor? My, haven't you done well!" said the sergeant when he saw the open crates.
The captain was just as delighted and congratulated the party on their incredible bravery. He started making arrangements for a civic ceremony and celebration to take place the next day. Soldiers started to unload all of the bodies and the captain began to calculate the bounty the party would be paid. Raemon and Tenhammer were the most valuable. All together then party collected 3675gp in bounty.
21.04.1259 The next day, after spending the night at The Fox and Thicket, all paid for by the town council, a civic ceremony and celebration is held. Each member of the party is presented with a gold medal "For Bravery and Services to the Town of Zeo" and dated 21.04.1259. The celebrations continue for the rest of the day.
22.04.1259 On the following day, Gegelm, Ona, Quikatanique, Sizzleplup and Ilyka all have headaches following their celebration. They leave town, Boo still shining his medal, and Feegly very surprised to have even been given one. They plan to visit Zarakhan in Deraheib. Feegly wants to disguise himself and Boo, just in case. The journey to Idyai passes without incident.
23.04.1259 With everybody feeling better from their hangovers, the party deicde to continue, but first Ona takes seven of the jewels they looted and sells them at Eckelfoda's Gems in Idyai for 500gp, instead of the 700gp they were were worth. Eckelfoda is delighted and immediately displays them in her shop window for 120gp each.
Feegly is frustrated by Ona's naivety. "You got burned," he growled. Ona was confused and Feegly suggested that Jigg try doing some more of the selling, probably in Deraheib where they might be able to get better deals.
Quikatanique had been busy as well, sorting out all of the potential items the party had looted to start the armory he had been dreaming of. Galinka offered to Identify Jigg's weird black potion, and told him to give Ona 100gp to buy a pearl from Eckelfoda. The jeweller was delighted to see the paladin back in her shop again so soon and sold happily her a pearl for 100gp, which was probably worth less.
All the same, the spell worked, and Jigg now knew he owned a Potion of Perception. Galinka said that she would be unable to cast another Identify spell that day as she would need rest and another pearl. Once everybody was ready to board the wagon, complete with Tersus the hobgoblin hiding in his barrel again, everybody set off once more towards Saltmarsh.
With all of the money given out, most of the party had levelled up by now and would require training. They decided that after visiting Zarakhan, everybody would return home and train and see what lay in store for them next.
Chapter 18 (20.05.2024) - Did You Have to Say That?
23.04.1259 The two wagons, seven horses, pony and eleven adventurers arrived in Saltmarsh without any incidents. They stayed the night at Frankie's. Frankie welcomed the party into his inn personally. When one of them mentioned that they had wiped out the bandit camp, Frankie told them that he quite often had adventurers stay at his inn and pointed out the rusty old weaving machine outside that had belonged to Kaino.
24.04.1259 In the morning, as the party were assembling themselves, Ilyka asked Galinka to identify the wand she had. Galinka agreed, so Ilyka went off to buy a pearl and when she came back Galinka cast another Identify spell. Her spell told her the command word was "Quiver!", the item had 33 charges and the red end was where the beam came from, but no more information was forthcoming.
Ilyka shouted to the company, who were largely assembled by now, that nobody should say the word for "the thing that archers put their arrows in."
"What, a quiver?" yelled back Feegly as he settled himself on a bench with his bedroll in the rear wagon, trying to make himself as comfortable as possible before their journey began.
Of course, this set the wand off and a conical beam shimmered from the red business end of the wand in the direction Ilyka was holding it. Shmadimaa, Ona and Ona's horse all failed their saves, shrieked and bolted. The two horses in front of the first wagon made their saves and were unaffected. Ona rode off on her terrified horse as fast as possible northwest towards Seiga, and was soon out of sight. Shmadimaa screamed, leapt right out of the wagon, and sprinted off southwest into the backstreets and alleyways of Saltmarsh.
"Did you see what you just did, Feegly?" shouted a frustrated Ilyka from the front wagon.
"No, I've got my eyes closed!" shouted back Feegly from the back wagon, without opening his eyes. He was feeling mighty fine.
"Look what you've done!" continued Ilyka. "Why did you have to say that word?!"
Feegly, who had more of a hunch than a complete idea of what she was on about, remained lying in the wagon, his eyes closed, smiling contentedly. "What, quiver?" he shouted back again.
At this precise moment, Ilyka was holding the wand vertically and the only person the beam hit was herself. She failed her save, shrieked and leapt out of the wagon, dropping the wand as she fled eastwards, towards the other end of Saltmarsh on the way towards the hill and the actual marshes themselves.
Sizzleplup was alarmed to see Ilyka run off, although not actually Feared. He jumped down from the wagon and ran after her. "Look what you've done!" he cried crossly, as he chased Ilyka past the front entrance of Frankie's and back down the street to the east.
"Can't see a thing," murmered Feegly contentedly, without moving or opening his eyes. "Thankfully," he added.
One of the stable boys, who worked at Frankie's and had helped the party assemble themselves for their journey, looked at his mate and nodded towards the fleeing magic users. He shook his head as they both stood and watched two inept evokers with poor DEX scores (6 and 8) flapping and running away down the street in a way that trained sprinters do not.
"A right pair of weirdos," agreed the stable boy's mate, and they returned to their work.
During the lull in proceedings, Frankie came out to wish the party a safe journey. He beckoned to Jigg, who was sitting on his calm pony Styric, and the creature took a few steps towards the entrance so Jigg could talk to him.
"See that house up there on the clifftop, there in the distance?" said Frankie, pointing.
Jigg squinted. "Yeah, I see it."
"Some right strange goings-on there lately. If you come back this way, you might fancy finding out what it's all about."
And with that, he bade Jigg a friendly farewell and returned to his inn.
After everybody who had been affected by the wand had calmed down and returned, red-faced, panting, and a little sweaty, the procession reassembled itself and trundled off for Seiga, arriving there in the early evening without further incident. Everybody stayed the night at The Dolphin's Pony.
25.04.1259 The following morning, Gegelm asked Galinka to idenify his longbow. She agreed and the big ranger hurried off to find a pearl. Galinka told him of its properties - the Longbow of Marksmanship, a weapon which is +2 to hit and damage and confers a -3 AC bonus on the wielder when it is in use. Gegelm was very pleased with his new weapon!
Feegly asked if anyone wanted to go with him to sell any of the leftover gems and jewelry that nobody desired to keep for themselves. Ona said that she would go and was happy to sell everything for only half of what it was worth, but Feegly was very much against this idea. Quikatanique offered to go with Feegly, and as he planned to set up his own armory, and Feegly agreed.
Once all of the rest of the unwanted gear had been sold and distributed, and the money from the characters who wanted to keep some bling from the treasure stash had been divided, the group boarded the 3pm ferry to Deraheib. Styric was not keen on the idea and needed considerable persuasion, but eventually everybody alighted in Deraheib harbor. The crossing had been a little choppy.
Shmadimaa led the procession through the city to Zarakhan's tower at the far western edge. The journey took over an hour and the city was full of bustle. Some of the characters were fascinated to see it, but Feegly hid in the rear wagon and told Boo not to look out the flap. He didn't wish to be recognised.
The party passed through Zarakhan's gate and secured the wagons and horses in the front yard while Shmadimaa knocked at the door. The sound of heavy footsteps approached and the door creaked open. Before them stood Zarakhan's Unseen Servant, holding a large jar of white powder, which it was taking a pinch of at a time and sprinkling over itself so it could in fact be seen.
"Yes?" boomed the voice of the servant.
"Please tell Zarakhan that Shmadimaa and some friends are here to see him," said Shmadimaa.
"Very well," replied the servant. "Wait here."
The door creaked closed again and the footsteps begin much as before, this time becoming quieter.
After a few moments, the party hear a kind of wet 'phut' sound and the door creaks open once again.
Zarakhan is standing there. "Very pleased to see you all again," he beams, then stops and looks at the unfamiliar faces. "Oh... I was expecting to see a different group of friends. Never mind, what can I do for you?" His beam returns.
Shmadimaa begins the tale of what has happened. Zarakhan asks him to pause and invites everybody in.
When everyone is comfortable in Zarakhan's tower, after sufficient furniture and refreshment has been conjured to fulfill their needs, Shmadimaa finishes the whole tale. Zarakhan seems happy to have hear it and identifies the remaining mystery items.
Then Kooxiel comes in, fully robed all in black, and seems to acknowledge Shmadimaa.
"What on earth is... THAT?!" exclaims Feegly, indicating the strange black figure.
Unimpressed, Kooxiel cloaks herself in Darkness and glides back out of the room.
Finally, Zarakhan teleports everybody back home, telling them that he would like to see them all again when they have finished their training and are ready.