Respite Run - Day 2

2 Mirtul, 1373 - late night
Tyr is with us. The orc leader led his troops down the next valley. Well, that’s what it sounded like. I can’t seem to see or hear anything. It’s dark and I am too far away. The rain is relentless I don’t know how everyone else is getting around. I’ve had to feel my way around in between the flashes of lighting. Thank Tyr that Corim and Slyl are crafty and stealthy enough to approach the filthy goblin and orc group and listen in. Their report was as I had hoped. Alyona is tied up in the temple with the spire and it’s just up the hill past the camp. The group that is left behind is not going to trouble us for long. I just need to get everyone into position so we can coordinate our efforts and keep things quiet. Suddenly I hear the sound of an arrow, then the familiar sound of weapon and armor dancing their epic dance. I charge into battle. “SO MUCH FOR SUBTLY!” I can’t believe the lack of discipline. We never really talked about tactics. I guess we will soon. Even in the dark, my sword finds its home in the hide of an orc. Now the battle will be swift and sure. Wait, just when I thought I could not see, I find myself in blackness. Some kind of magic has taken what little light was left. I saw something like this yesterday at the three torches. I hope those “adventurers” aren’t back. I’m going in blind and hoping for the best. The best happens, one more goblin down, I think. I decide to skirt the darkness. From the sounds I hear I think things are going well. Why are the rest of them are running right at me? I think they’re routing. I cut two of them down in one blow. May all my foes taste my blade so completely.

Kelestri is already on her way toward the spire where Alyona is held. I wonder, why is she so intense about her? There more to that story I think. We run to the temple spire. Something hurt Corim. The darkness is too much; I can’t see the entrance to the temple from here. I can tell that Leif can. I’ll wait to see what he does. Corim is saying something about a trap. I hope he doesn’t mean we are going into a trap. I see some figures at the entrance to the temple. If I’m fast they won’t know what hit them. I charge in, but a blast of magic hits me square in the chest. The attack only means I need to move in faster. A second blast finds me. I finally get close enough to attack and hit the skeleton. They look like the skeletons from the three torches, but this one took my best hit. I can’t seem to stop it. Its good thing Kelestri’s sword is ready. Why is it glowing green? It doesn’t matter now. She seems to drop them without much effort. I’m pleased to see such skill among my new associates. I see another skeleton and he looks like he’s going to blast me. I hit the dirt. Kelestri takes it out before it could cast. Eragon is on me with a healing potion. He starts to cradle my head and give me the potion. He a bit surprised as I grab it from him and drink. I wonder if he thought I was almost lost.

Everyone else is inside of the temple and I start to enter too. This looks like a temple to Mystra, but there are strange things here. I see Alyona is safe now. She is so grateful she even offers here healing potions to us. It’s a good thing Kelestri found her backpack. We need to get her home, but first we must know why these orcs and goblins are here and what plans they have for this temple. The alter has some ruins that Kelestri can read. As she spoke them a secret door opens under the slab Alyona was tied to. I bar the doors and lead everyone down, maybe there’s a way out that we can use. There are many cobwebs here, good this can only mean the orcs haven’t found this place. It’s a sanctuary and crypt with a portcullis. There are some useful items here, and some are magical. I hope there are some answers here for us. Kelestri is arguing with Eragon about a broach. Why must they be so petty? I see Kelestri is very stubborn. Kelestri is not acting very logical; she gave the broach to Alyona. There’s nothing left to see here. I hope some of these items we found will explain things. If not I hope they are useful. I’m glad no one wanted to loot the dead here they were all honorable and deserve to rest in peace. We need to get Alyona back to Respite Run.

We gathered up our findings and came out of the secret room into the magical darkness. I finally confirmed that Corim is responsible for this. I explain to him that it makes the battle harder for me and probably others and asked him to do something different with his talent. He seems agreeable. I open the barred door of the temple and head out. The rest of the group follows. There are some Orcs ahead. I charge in and attack. Everyone else follows and they are no match for us. We gather up the horses and head into Respite Run. The Three Torches is somewhat quiet as I run by trying to find Oolathana. It turns out she’s in The Three Torches. Leaf is on stage singing our praises and telling our tale. I think he is very entertaining but he embellishes a lot. Everyone is happy to see Alyona safe. We need to head out soon. Manyoaks is in danger and I think we can stop it. Alyona is insisting on coming with us, Bromar is staying with his wife and forge, and Eragon is not interested in leaving for Manyoaks. He has other pressing issues he has not shared with us. Alyona is a little young to plunge into danger, but Kelestri is keeping her safe. I can tell Bromar is temped to go with us, but he is committed to his obligations. He is honorable.

Animosus Level 2

Male Human Paladin of Tyr LV2 LG Medium Age 17 Born 1356 – Year of the Worm
Init: +5; Senses: Listen +5, Spot +1
Languages: Damaran (Dethek), Common (Thorass), Aglarondan, Dwarven, Elven, Orc
AC 21, Touch 11, Flat-Footed 20
HP 18 (2 HD) Immune: disease
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +3 Spd 20 ft.
Melee: Great Sword +6 (2D6+3/19-20)
Ranged: Composite Long Bow +4 (1d8/x3)
Combat Gear: Potion of Cure light Wounds
Base Atk +2, Grp +5 Atk Options: normal Invocations Known: n/a
Spell-Like Abilities: Aura of Good, Detect evil, Smite Evil 1/day, Lay on hands 4HP x 3, Divine Grace, Aura of Will 30' rad (armor)
Abilities: Str 12(16), Dex 12, Con 11, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 18(19) (with armor)
Feats: Improved Init, Weapon Focus (Great Sword),
Proficiency (Simple Weapons), Proficiency Armor (Heavy, Medium, Light)
Skills: Appraise 3, Balance 1, Bluff 4, Climb 1, Concentration 0, Craft (Armor) 3, Craft (Weapon) 3, Diplomacy 8, Disguise 4, Escape Artist 1, Forgery 3, Gather Information 4, Handle Animal 6, Heal 8, Hide 1, Intimidate 4, Jump 1, Knowledge (Religion) 7. Listen 5, Move Silently 1, Profession (Siege Engine) 2, Profession (Herbalist) 2, Ride 4, Search 3, Sense Motive 1, Spot 1, Survival 1, Swim 1, Use Rope 1
Possessions: Plate mail of Strength and Command, Great Sword, Composite Long Bow, 20 Masterwork Arrows, Holy Symbol (Tyr),
Tactics: Avoid a fight if reasonable. When it is not: evaluate the battle situation. Decide if it is suicide and if not have at it.
The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead.
Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion, and the discovery of a standard of judgment.

Respite Run - Day 2

2 Mirtul, 1373
We continued the services for Unther Ravenhealm. So many of Unther’s friends arrived that all of the rooms at The Three Torches were full. They shared stories with everyone at the House of Tyr’s Hand. I was sad that I did not get to know Unther. Several of us carried his casket outside and down the street to the awaiting pyre. Suddenly without warning arrows pierced the air. They were aimed at Marina, Unther’s widow, and only luck prevented more than one arrow from striking her. I quickly attended to her wounds and while shielding her. I carried her into the House of Tyr’s Hand and used my holy gifts to heal her. Corim and Slyl ran to find where the arrows came from. Kelestri protected Aliona, Unther’s daughter by using herself to shield her. Corim and Slyl showed up with the thug and handed him off to Thormund the town constable. We then continued the procession to the pyre.
Inside the Three Torches we ate dinner and waited for the dusk. I tipped the scales of Tyr displayed in the Three Torches to show a return to balance. Bechier, a Cloak of Mumister, arrived with a letter giving him permission to search Marina’s home. Her home is a section of the Three Torches. We helped Marina send Bechier and his two cohorts on their way refusing to allow the search. We talked about why they wanted to search Marina’s home when Bromar showed up with a clue. A unburned page from Unther’s journal.
I decided to walk around the Three Torches to patrol and was attacked by a skeleton. I quickly destroyed it and ran inside to warn by group. As I entered I witnessed the group fighting several more skeletons. Leaf took care on one, as did Corim. I handled a couple myself. I then realized there was some noise in the part of the Three Torches that is Marina’s home. Kelistri, Slyl and Corim were fighting Bechier and company. I ran in and took Bechier down while taking the brunt of a nasty spell he was casting. Soon there was order again. We went to see Thormund and get an explanation. He was almost dead. Thormund was attacked by Bechier and forced to provide the document.
A Cleric of Kelemovor came to give a sermon and we lit the pyre. It burned well even in the rain that had fallen all day. It turns out that some magic was keeping the area dry and an air elemental was used to send the smoke strait up into the air like a pillar. As the pyre burned Kelistri realized that Aliona was missing.
The search was on Kelistri was extremely upset and was the first to run for Aliona’s room. Marina confirmed that she packed up her belonging and left. Aragon remembered that she spent a fair amount of time looking at a map and talking about adventure. At 15 years old this is a little inappropriate, especially alone. We procured horses from the stable. I hope they don’t mind, well return them later. We then headed north into the forest and ran into a goblin and some Worgs. We took them down hard, and realized there was one recently dead. Apparently we were on the right trail; the burns on the goblin corpse must be Aliona’s magical work. We traveled a little further and found an orc camp. The camp was occupied by eight rather drunk orcs. We were about to attack when the thunder of an army of orcs arrived. We listened and watched carefully. We discovered Aliona is held in a temple just up the hill. We also learned that there is more going on in theses woods than orcs plotting attacks.

Animosus Level 1

Male Human Paladin of Tyr LV1 LG Medium Age 17 Born 1356 – Year of the Worm
Init: +5; Senses: Listen +5, Spot +1
Languages: Damaran (Dethek), Common (Thorass), Aglarondan, Dwarven, Elven, Orc
AC 21, Touch 11, Flat-Footed 20
HP 10 (1 HD)Immune: disease
Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +3 Spd 20 ft.
Melee: Great Sword +3 (2D6+3/19-20)
Ranged: Composite Long Bow (1d8/x3)
Combat Gear: Potion of Cure light Wounds
Base Atk +1, Grp +2 Atk Options: normal Invocations Known: n/a
Spell-Like Abilities: Aura of Good, Detect evil, Smite Evil 1/day, Aura of Will 30' rad (armor)
Abilities: Str 12(16), Dex 12, Con 11, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 18(19) (with armor)
Feats: Improved Init, Weapon Focus (Great Sword),
Proficiency (Simple Weapons), Proficiency Armor (Heavy, Medium, Light)
Skills: Appraise 3, Balance 1, Bluff 4, Climb 1, Concentration 0, Craft (Armor) 3, Craft (Weapon) 3, Diplomacy 8, Disguise 4, Escape Artist 1, Forgery 3, Gather Information 4, Handle Animal 6, Heal 8, Hide 1, Intimidate 4, Jump 1, Knowledge (Religion) 7. Listen 5, Move Silently 1, Profession (Siege Engine) 2, Profession (Herbalist) 2, Ride 4, Search 3, Sense Motive 1, Spot 1, Survival 1, Swim 1, Use Rope 1
Possessions: Plate mail of Strength and Command, Great Sword, Composite Long Bow, 20 Masterwork Arrows, Holy Symbol (Tyr)
Tactics: Avoid a fight if reasonable. When it is not: evaluate the battle situation. Decide if it is suicide and if not have at it.
The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That's the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead.
Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion, and the discovery of a standard of judgment.