| The Biscuits | Dollin - Druid 6th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/1st (PC) |
| Locale | East of Diamond Lake |
| Date | 4th day of Richfest, 585 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | afternoon |
The road east of Diamond Lake was hard packed and the miles went by quickly, which was fortunate since the weather was, in the words of Nicola, "damn hot".
A patrol of the Greyhawk Militia left town just before the Biscuits. The military regulars quickly out-paced the adventuring party and were over the horizon by mid-morning.
Of course, that wasn't saying much since the horizon in question was contained within the eastern portion of the Cairn Hills. The road wound a bit, taking the easiest path between the various rises and valleys.
| Nicola | What about you, Yodavan, do you know of any mysteries in this area? |
| Yodavan | I have heard stories of the Great Barrows, hmmm? Perhaps Gimar is more qualified to tell, however. |
| Gimar | Oh, are the Great Barrows near here? Sure, I've heard those stories. |
| Rheaphlyndar | Well it's a long ride, Gimar, let's have it. |
| Gimar | What I've heard is that the Great Barrows are within the Cairn Hills, but they are much newer than those ancient burial mounds. I've also heard rumours of great buried ships that sail the sky and stars, the so-called "spelljamming" ships. But the most reliable information, as I understand it, is that the Great Barrows are the burial sights of hill giant chieftans. |
| Dollin | So there's hill giants in this area? |
| Gimar | If our greenish friend is right. Woe to them if they tangle with us, though. |
| Little John | Here here! |
Shortly after lunch, the biscuits came to a fork in the road. Wed indicated that his map showed the southern branch leading to Blackwall Keep, a garrison of the Greyhawk Militia charged with keeping an eye on the Mistmarsh.
| The Biscuits | Dollin - Druid 6th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/1st (PC) |
| Locale | On the Urnst Trail |
| Date | 5th day of Richfest, 585 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | midday |
The biscuits camp for the night went unmolested. In the morning they continued east down the road, and the sky showed hints of rainclouds. In fact, they had seen no other travellers on the great Urnst Trail since the previous afternoon when a potseller's wagon ambled by.
About midday they spied a great copse of trees south of the road.
| Dollin | There's water over there for sure. |
| Gimar | I don't think the horses need it, but you would be the best judge of that, Dollin. |
| Dollin | No, I agree with you, I was just commenting on how green those trees are in this weather. |
| Nicola | Good point. |
| Wed | It's probably one of those streams running down into the Mistmarsh. There are so many I didn't mark most of them on my map. |
| Jaron | One thing I know, where there's water, there's . . . |
| Rheaphlyndar | (charging west on the road) Monsters! |
| Gimar | (readying his axe) What kind? |
| Rheaphlyndar | (slowing his mount) Some sort of many-headed dragon. |
| Jaron | (knowingly) Hydra. |
The paladin drew his longsword, knowing it would do more damage than the broadsword Scather. Dollin readied the lightning spear, knowing he could probably do more damage with his bow if not for Little John's quarterstaff, which attracted all missiles. Gimar had already hopped to the ground and waited grimly, his battleaxe held ready. Rheaphlyndar leapt from his mount and headed for high ground, hoping all of the hydra's many eyes would not see him as he tried to maneuver behind the beast. Nicola readied her mace, Yodavan stayed back with the horses, and Wed also stood back, a thoughtful expression on his face.
The twelve-headed thirty-foot long monstrosity charged over the rise with unnerving speed, and the battle was joined.
* [*] John Quarterstaff :16-|4+4|:7: miss 4 [1-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:9: hit, 1d12+4=16, lopping off a head 10 [7-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:18: hit, 1d12+4=11, lopping off a head 11 [2+9] Hydra head :9-|-2|:2: misses Jaron 11 [4+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:9: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=12, lopping off a head 12 [3+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:4: misses 12 [3+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:12: hit, 1d10=8 points to Gimar 12 [8-2+6] Dollin Spear of Lightning :18-|4|:5: miss 13 [6+7] Nicola Mace :18-|4+2|:16: hit, (max) 17, smashing a head 15 [6+9] Hydra head :9-|5|:11: hit, 1d10 = 3 points to Nicola 15 [6+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:6: miss 17 [10+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:13: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=17, lopping off a head 17 [8+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:6: miss 18 [9+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:3: miss 18 [9+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:4: miss
| Gimar | Keep it up, people. Little John, go for the heads! |
| Jaron | Wed, we need some fire over here! |
| Wed | Hmmm, isn't that the Lernaean hydra he's thinking of? |
| Yodavan | Fire we must make! Hurry, hurry! |
* [*] John Quarterstaff :16-|4+4|:13: hit, 1d6+4=7 to one head 4 [1-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:8: miss 7 [4-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:18: hit, 1d12+4=7 to one head 9 [2+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:3: miss 10 [1+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:5: miss 10 [3+7] Nicola Mace :18-|4+2|:12: hit, (max) 17, smashing a head 11 [2+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:10: hit, 1d10=10 to Little John 11 [2+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:17: hit, 1d10=3 to Little John 14 [5+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:5: miss 14 [7+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:9: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=15, lopping off a head 17 [8+9] Hydra head :9-|-2|:17: hit, 1d10=3 to Jaron 19 [10+9] Hydra head :9-|-2|:5: miss
Dollin, Wed, and Yodavan moved forward and began applying fire to the writhing stumps and severed heads.
| Little John | Shouldn't we hit the body now? |
| Gimar | Stay on target! |
* [*] John Quarterstaff :16-|4+4|:18: hit, 1d6+4=10, smashing one head 5 [2-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:10: hit, 1d12+4=13, lopping off one head 10 [1+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:12: hit, 1d10=10 to Little John 11 [2+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:19: hit, 1d10=1 to Gimar 12 [5+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:8: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=14, lopping off a head 14 [5+9] Hydra head :9-|-2|:9: miss 16 [9+7] Nicola Mace :18-|4+2|:18: hit, (max) 17, smashing a head 17 [10+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:6: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=10, lopping off a head
| Rheaphlyndar | I have a brilliant, beyond brilliant, idea. Dollin, care to ride with me? |
| Dollin | Right with ya, 'cuz. |
Dollin and Rheaphlyndar headed off the direction the hydra came from, seeking the lair. Nicola and Jaron and Yodavan tended to the wounded, and the rest of the hydra's massive body was burned.
| Jaron | Hey, Nicola, nice hits with that mace. I think you took out a quarter of the heads. |
| Nicola | And it's about time, too. |
The druid and rogue returned to the smell of burning meat with a small chest carried between them.
| Gimar | Now how did the hydra carry that? |
| Rheaphlyndar | It looks like the hydra moved in on another lair. |
| Dollin | We couldn't find any trace of the former occupant, but we did find this. |
| Nicola | Did you open it yet? |
| Rheaphlyndar | Nope, but I did check it for traps. I'll just need to work the lock . . . |
The rogue sprung the lock easily, but it took a sword edge to pry open the old chest, probably because of the rusted hinges. Contained within were a small mound of gold and silver coins, along with a flask and a small metal-tipped rod.
| The Biscuits | Dollin - Druid 6th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/1st (PC) |
| Locale | Fort Leman |
| Date | 6th day of Richfest, 585 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | late afternoon |
Near the end of Richfest the Biscuits reached Fort Leman. This was one of the "spinal garrisons" which marked the old border of the Domain of Greyhawk.
| Jaron | (riding up to the main gate) Ho, there. |
| Militiaman | Welcome travellers. Headed east to the Duchy of Urnst or south to Fort Gellner? |
| Jaron | East to the Duchy and beyond. What news? |
| Militiaman | Hill giants spotted to the northwest, and rumours of harpies to the southwest. Nothing brewing here, though. |
| Jaron | Good thing we're headed northeast. |
| Militiaman | Care to join us for a meal? |
| Jaron | I believe our party would be delighted. |
| Militiaman | Good, the stables are just to the left inside the gate. |
While the rest of the Biscuits ate in the small dining hall, Wed retired to the room early with a small plate of meats and cheeses. He then made ready to cast the identification spell which would leave him exhausted for the evening. Yodavan came with him, to watch and learn.
| Normal Text | Character's words or descriptive text if part of a paragraph |
| Italic Text | Character's thoughts or actions if surrounded by parenthesis |
| Bold Text | Character is shouting. |
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