Pipes, Pints, and Polyhedrons

Welldale

Why are there no other children? Why are they so afraid of the dark they won't even venture outside of their holes to see their closest neighbors? When was this town actually founded?

I made it a point to speak with Mayor Dibble again soon. Apparently the town has only been here 5 years and was originally named Welldale. Six months ago a pair of hobbits passed through town. While they were here another hobbit was killed in an accident when a Tree fell on him. When the two hobbits absconded from town with several valuables all future arrivals started calling the town "Dead Hobbit Run." There has been an agreement to put-off having children until the town was more settled, how they intend to continue having a town with such a policy is beyond me. DeeDee was apparently already on the way when they settled here.

When I asked about why no one went out after dark it is apparently a hold over from their travels North. As they came here they had run-ins with kobolds, an orc, and other natural predators like wolves. He confirmed that nothing has happened in town since they moved here, but Teddy did disappear near dusk when he went to the river. I now wondered where Pansy typically "communed" with nature, where she was the night the apple trees grew, and if she knew where Teddy typically went to draw water from the stream?

Pardue and I returned to Biff's burrow to collect Bruno, as he has a good rapport with Pansy. He was able to determine the answer to my questions. I'm wondering if we might not find another mossy patch in the orchard or near the stream where Teddy drew water. The orchard is close enough that Pansy's request for the tree's to grow could have been heard from the well, but the stream is a quarter mile away. We made the trek and found several spots where the hobbits had been gathering water lately. Valdrok was also able to find tracks of a creature he believed to be an ettercap. According to Valdrok it is a man sized, carnivorous monster with paralytic poison that commonly works with giant spiders, and is known to set traps. We spent some more time looking around for large game tracks to see if we could pinpoint how long this monster had been prowling about. Our best guess from the combination of tracks is about 4 weeks.

During the search we also came across humanoid remains the size of a hobbit. The bones had been clearly gnawed on. We surmised it was Teddy, and asked Bruno what hobbit customs were regarding the dead. He informed me that burial was common and suggested we contact Pansy to handle the details. It was getting quite late and we didn't want to run into the beast in the dark. We gathered some water, and Bruno led the way back to town looking out for any traps while I watched for signs of spider silk glistening in the fading light.

When we got back to town I immediately informed Dibble of the signs we had found near the creek and encouraged him to warn the townsfolk away from the stream. He agreed and braved the dark to inform everyone. Pansy was in the Orchard preparing to "commune" with nature. I withdrew to Biff's hold to attempt to make an item I have been pondering for sometime. I thought it might help Bruno, Valdrok, and Pardue since they were planning to guard Pansy overnight in the Orchard, Unfortunately my experiment failed! I must investigate the possibility further. For now I must rest and prepare for tomorrow.

I awoke and began studying my books. I prepared a special spell today as I intended to have DeeDee search for Puck, but my thoughts were interrupted by the shouting of a hobbit man. I informed the others of what was going on and soon discovered it was Pansy's husband shouting for Pansy. Apparently she had fled the house in the morning convinced she was changing into a monster. Valdrok was able to find her quickly, but she was no longer herself. She mid transformation into some kind of insectoid. As the transformation continued we could think of nothing to do for her. Her pain was clearly extreme, and eventually Pardue opted to put her out of her misery. It was a sobering act that made all of us question ourselves. We spent the day providing Pansy with burial and funeral. Afterward I approached Dibble and proposed using DeeDee to find Puck. I was hesitant and so was he, but he ultimately agreed. I promised that Bruno would shadow her and we would shadow Bruno so that we would be able to respond quickly if any trouble arose.

Ultimately DeeDee found nothing, but as we were watching her I began to feel and hear things. Valdrok was with me and swore up and down nothing was around. I could not shake the feeling and moved out into the open. Valdrok was certain nothing was around and, indeed, my feelings did not match the facts. I finally forced myself to ignore these feelings long enough to approach the well and send DeeDee home. I felt overwhelming dread that something would attack me from the well, but nothing was there. No matter where I turned the feeling morphed and moved. I asked Pardue to detect evil and resorted to giving Bruno a piggy back ride in an effort to calm my nerves that I would be attacked from behind.

Pardue didn't detect anything wrong with us, but he did spot something over near the ruins. I forced my self to walk that direction. I'm not sure I could have done it without Bruno protecting my back and the mental math problems I used to focus my mind. As we got closer Pardue said the source of evil vanished and re-appeared a little further to the West. As we moved in that direction the source vanished again and my mind began to ease. I set Bruno down and reached out to grab a small rock. Suddenly I was overcome with the feeling that my arm was an insectile pincer! The feeling passed, but I knew something bad was happening and I wasn't going to let what happened to Pansy happen to me. I cast continual light on the pebble to cast out the darkness and steady myself.

As we moved back towards the well Bruno touched my leg and I could swear it broke the bone. I screamed in pain and reached for my leg only to find it whole and the pain illusory. Pardue said the evil presence had reappeared to the north. We conferred amongst ourselves and Bruno agreed to circle through the village and see if he could get eyes on the creature. As time passed another vision overtook me and I knew this thing had to die now! I immediately charged in the direction that Pardue had indicated and threw the light stone in the general vicinity of where it should have been. I think the throw was off, but it did reveal a hideous insect like creature. I shrieked at the light and I took advantage of the time to cast another new spell. My conjured coins streaked from my palms to strike the creature. I could see it writhe in pain as it ran off into the darkness.

Pardue could still detect it and cast his own magics to fight it. Bruno and Valdrok also closed in. I was able to retrieve my stone and throw it almost exactly on target as I could see Pardue's spell attacking the creature.
for a second time the creature fell once the strong light fell upon it. I was able to cast a second set of missiles, and a sling stone from Pardue finally felled it for good. As it collapsed I could finally feel the existential dread fall away.

We inspected the creature and saw it had tattered hobbit clothes. I suspect we have found Biff, and I'm sure this is not the only one of these creatures nearby. For now I'll take some revenge by urinating on it and taking its head for a chamber-pot. As we decamped to return to our burrow Pardue revealed another source of evil coming from the well and he revealed that he was now feeling paranoid. It seems our nights work is far from done.

Sounds like an awesome session was had, great recounting.

Tunnel Rats

We quickly decided the well was how we had to chase after these things. Valdrok was our man to investigate first with his dark vision. He was able to spot an island that could be used as a landing as long as we were willing to get a little wet. We fetched him a log to help with buoyancy.

I was the second to descend, and I discovered Valdrok standing next to what I could only assume to be Puck! He is a magnificent creature of many hues and colors. I introduced myself and in my mind I could hear his reply. He did rebuke me for putting DeeDee in danger for which I immediately apologized. I explained it was not something I wanted to do, but deemed it necessary by the situation. Puck stated that he should not have left. Apparently he had been gone for the last 4 weeks, but DeeDee's calling and searching had brought him back. During that time the Meanlocks had moved in as well as the Ettercap. Puck had also stiffened one of our ropes with his magic, and he revealed to me that his magic was powered by gems. Of which he said he had a limited supply.

Puck revealed the identity of the meanlocks, that they were upstream to the west, and that there were 3 of them remaining. I took the chance to swim up stream from the island with another rope to anchor in a small inlet tunnel for the rest of the party. Along the way I asked Bruno to retrieve the two gems from our party chest incase we needed it.

Quickly everyone joined us and we made our way westward looking for an entrance to the meanlock burrows. The only entrance we found was stuffed with what I can only assume was waste. The stench was awful. We hand no way to dig out the small passage, but I though to ask Puck if he had any ability to help. He was able to widen the passage with magic. Thanks to Pucks digging, Valdroks sight, and my light, we were able to quickly locate the meanlocks in a dead end burrow. I dropped the light coin down on them and followed up with a quick color spray spell. The combination managed to knock two of the creatures out. The third and closest resisted but Valdrok was able to engage it. I quickly moved to eliminate one of the unconcious vermin while Valdrok, Puck, Pardue, and Iolo managed to dispatch the first. With those two dead Valdork was able to quickly dispatch the final one.

We quicly left the burrow, and when we returned to the island we found Puck, visible again, relaxing. Not only does the creature turn invisible when he moves, or as he wants to I assume, but he remains so even when attacking. I again expressed my gratitude for his help and stated that only the Ettercap remained to deal with. He informed me the Ettercap would now leave on his own, and he again stated he should never have left. He had made the hobbits too dependent upon him. I expressed that was true, but the only solution was to moderate his aid. Regardless that would be his choice.

I was more than ready to be above ground again, and quickly made my departure. I will never understand dwarves' desire to live beneath the earth.

The next day after I had refreshed myself I found Puck had revealed himself to the hobbit villagers. I took the chance to speak with Diddle, and he asked me which way our group would be heading. I told him I didn't know yet, and that it would be up to the group. He asked if we would be willing to escort all the villagers South. Puck had told him to leave for the South because of a gathering orcish horde. I told him it would be possible, but we would need some kind of compensation. Valdrok made a noise that indicated he wanted to speak with me about that topic so I excused myself from Diddle saying that since he was a friend I would do my best to convince my companions.

Valdrok had the idea that these hobbits would be well suited for running an Inn for travelers. It's true they don't have many other skills, but their cooking is good and they have some skills in caring for an apple orchard. This made me think of Krytos and his freehold. After discussing it over some more we came up with the idea to escort the hobbits all the way to the freehold with the idea of having them setup an way-stop there. We would take a 25% ownership stake, 5% each, as our fee. Since we have a good relationship with Krytos, and he could use the extra hands I think this will work. It also gives Krytos the ability to host more travelers without letting them inside his walls.

I also spoke with Puck who was hanging around with DeeDee. I asked him about the Orc horde he had warned the villagers about. He said it was already greater than Ten Thousand warriors with more coming. He doesn't believe the treaty between Pitmerden and the Orcs will hold. This is because the horde is not united under a single orc chief, but an entity named "Fayton." When I asked about who or what Fayton is, Puck revealed him to be an older human man.

I informed Puck that we had come to an arrangement to escort the hobbits South to Krytos Freehold. Puck offered us a diamond now instead of taking an ownership stake, but I turned him down. The potential upside to owning a stake in a, potentially very, profitable inn and tavern are too much to pass up. Who knew the Dwarf had such a head for business ideas. Puck took my denial in stride and asked when we would be leaving. I told him it would take some time for the hobbits to gather their things and get things ready. They had no transport available beyond our own wagon so it was going to be a long slow journey. To make sure we had enough time to pack up essentials we wouldn't leave until the morning.

The following morning once everyone was gathered Puck, in a stunning display of magical prowess, created a wagon, draft animals, and some supplies for each hobbit family! I've only heard of such powers whispered about before, but I now I know it is fact. I must discover this secret! For now I will limit myself to making some more light stones to assist our journey. I have given the first one I made to Bruno as a gift. He saved my life once already, and I was only able to fight off the dread of the meanlocks through his agreement to guard my back. It is an inadequate token of gratitude, but one I hope he values nonetheless.

Thanks to Puck's magics we are able to travel swfitly, and he has agreed to stay with us as far as Pitmereden. Once there we will need to inform the Duke of the gathering Horde and the existence of Fayton. For now though we will guard against the dangers of the wilds while escorting the small folk to safer environs. I can only hope that we avoid encounters similar to that damn cat. The Ogre was preferreable.

Dead Hobbits Walking

We are on the road South. Returning the way we came, Hamaslati, will be the first town we cross. I've been successful in creating an item that alternates a light and darkness effect. It's not much larger than a sliver coin, so flipping it has quite interesting effects. I've also created two more light stones for use around our campsites. They should also help us in in traveling earlier and later in the day. It will hopefully help us shed a day or two off the total journey.

I'm now experimenting with creating a rod with a darkness effect on one end and a light effect on the other. My experiments have shown me that the overlapping area of the two spells is unaffected by the outer edges of the respective radii have either the darkness or light effect. Placing an orb on each end of a rod roughly an arm's span in length will allow me to selectively apply the most advantageous affect at will, while we remain unaffected. Creating an encasing for the rod that allows for easy access will be the hard part, for now I plan to wrap in leather and secure it to the wagon within easy reach of the driver.

The trip to Hamaslahti was uneventful. Hamaslahti itself had a very busy inn. Valdrok, Iolo, and Bruno opted to investigate. Pardue and I remained to keep the hobbits moving forward. Stopping here was the more comfortable option, but if we kept moving we might be able to shave a day off the journey to the City of Fire. Valdrok and Bruno determined from another adventuring company that the road ahead of us was clear and patrolled. We shouldn't have any trouble.

While they were inside a "fancy as shit" carriage rolled into town. There was no heraldry, but it was clearly a noble. There was a driver and a guard riding on the outside. The driver helped an old noble exit the carriage near the inn. He is gaunt and walked with cane. Aside from his presence there at all nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I returned to shepherding my charges.

Valdrok, also informed of the party he got the information from. They are apparently sponsored by the noble and are head west over the mountains. I doubt anything good will come of it. More than likely they'll return with some god awful thing I'll have to destroy in the near future.

Our journey to the City of Fire was uneventful. I was able to successfully create my rod of light and darkness, and I can see now a three dimensional cross with darkness stones on the cardinals and a light stone in the center should create an empty sphere of darkness that could shield us from all sides. It will and excellent improvement. For now I will turn my efforts to a shielded lantern powered by a stone. I've spoken with Valdrok about it and he is quite interested in the idea.

Puck has decided to leave us, the roads here are well patrolled and the hobbits should be safe. After passing our warning of the horde through the guards to the City of Fire, they informed Valdrok that he should be very careful in Pitmerden. Apparently Duke Gatlin has been assassinated, and by a dwarf! We all find that highly dubious, but I don't personally find it impossible. Though it stinks more of the politics of Thyasia to me. Stoking racial tensions seems to be a trick they would play.

We decided that only Iolo, Pardue, and I should be the only ones to enter Pitmerden based on the latest news and our last visit. The three of us made a trip on horse back to Pitmerden. Elvivian is apparently in charge these days, and was not available at his house. I wrote him a message detailing the threat of the Orc horde, and proceeded to restock supplies from the markets. The next morning we returned to the City of Fire and our friends.

The following morning we departed for Lockinge. We should have plenty of settlements between here and Krytos going forward. Our future stops should be Far Water, Garen's Well, Clare View Pointe, Blackdown Stronghold, Teglis Keep, and then the free holds. As we move South we hear rumors that Elvivien is pulling troops away from the East and the Orc and back to Pitmerden. I sense hard days ahead.

At Clare View Point we visited Valdrok's home! His wife, Fromis, cooked us all an excellent meal. Valdrok and Fromis exchanged news and made contingency plans. I withdrew after dinner to give the couple privacy, and to keep an eye on our hobbits while continuing my research.

As we approached Blackdown Stronghold, we found another settlement similar to the City of Fire. It seems almost everything is inside the mountian, though an impressive inn and some warehouses were to be found on the surface. My latest creation is a staff like object. About half way up the staff is a stone of darkness, as well as at the top of the staff. Between the two is a stone of continual light. On slightly offset crossbeams are 4 more stones of darkness. The result will hopefully be a sphere of darkness at roughly 60 ft, but no obfuscation inside the sphere.

My final construction allowed for the crossbars to be quickly removed for storage and it was clear the result was what I was after. An eggshell of darkness should be quite useful and several situations. The ability to selectively open holes in the eggshell is also helpful.

While I was working on the Eggshell, Valdrok perused the markets. He found two books written in Takkeronian. On named The Songs of Hollow Reach, I had him purchase for me. The second we agreed to exchange our gold bar for the cash to acquire once Valdrok told us of the drawing of Kal-Sik-Fal on the cover. Upon seeing it I saw it was titled, The Binding of Kal-Sik-Fal. I'm sure this book will just rock me to sleep in the near future.

The next day we departed and arrived at Teglis Keep. It was clear the keep was operating on a skeleton crew. We left another of the letters I've been writing warning about the Orcs. I hope someone will pay attention to it. For now, I'm beginning to wonder if Elvivien isn't working against the greater good. We camped outside the walls, and the next day we departed for Krytos freehold. We should arrive in 3 more days, and I have two new books to read.

As we passed through the northern most freehold that had been destroyed we noticed that no one had come out to take care of the dead and destruction we reported on our way northward. Disappointed we stopped and realzied that it was now too late to do anything for the deceased. Pardue began a payer as it was all we could do. Immediately a sinkhole in the center of the destroyed freehold opened up and shook the ground! We can't go down now as we need to ensure the safety of the small folk. For now we continue on to Krytos. We will return to investigate this soon.