Search for John

Scribe Notes

Summary

Adventure: Search for John
GM: William
Season: Spring 794 WK

Party

• “Lepto” Leptograpsis Variagatus, a Human Male Celestial Mage, played by David.
• Skorcha, an Orc Male Fire Mage, played by Zane.
• Tarn, a Human Male Ranger, played by Phil.
• Tharon Darksinger, a Human Male Necromancer, played by Craig.
• Thruk’jin Rumbleguts, a Dwarf Male Fighter, played by Paul.

Time on adventure

1 Jan to 16 Feb 1994 AP

Employer

Sharee, a witch

Mission

Find and recover John, a farmer, has been abducted by four humanoids described as “evil wizards”.

Original Scribe Notes

Media:Snsp9403.zip

Scribe Notes

On my honour as a scribe I promise that nothing in this document is a lie. Not all of it, however, may prove to be true.

Tharon Darksinger, party Scribe.

5 Jan 1594 The party, instructed to go to Room 13 (an auspicious start?), met with our employer, the witch Sharee, who was representing the peasant woman Sarah. Sarah’s husband, John, a farmer, has been abducted by four humanoids described as “evil wizards”. One week ago, these four individuals appeared in the air over the village of Turan (situated 10 leagues east of Seagate), cast several bolt-type spells, then chased and captured John. They disappeared through a black portal. The attackers are were dressed in black noble’s clothes. John is described as having blue eyes, average height & weight, aged 17 years, wearing work clothes. He was born on Beltane. We agreed to take on the mission, party treasure being one kitten (from Sarah) and rights to all loot found. I was designated Scribe, Lepto was designated Leader, Thruk’jin was designated Military Scientist. The party, after much discussion on where to sleep, split up and spent the night resting and preparing. 6 Jan Accompanied by Sarah and Sharee, we left Seagate at dawn, myself on horseback, the rest on foot. We arrived at the village of Turan around mid- afternoon. Discussions with various witnesses, most notably Graham the village headman, established the following: The four perpetrators, probably Humans, appeared in mid-air over the town around midday, threw various coloured bolts of magic, landed and ran after John (seemingly specifically him). They then departed through a black portal. They were wearing noble’s clothing, bearing crests of a golden crown over two crossed swords. We examined the impact areas of the bolts, and found that the following spells had impacted there: Blackfire (a Dark Celestial spell) rank 16, and Bolt of Energy (a E&E spell) rank 12. We also knew that a black portal indicates planar travel. We obtained from Sarah an item of John’s, a knife, the better to magically track him, and also to identify ourselves when we encounter him. We also obtained the party treasure, one kitten, promptly named Slobba. We spent a quiet night in Graham’s house. 7 Jan We left Turan and returned to Seagate, without Sarah or Sharee, but with the kitten in the custody of S-Korcha (who has been firmly instructed that if he eats the kitten then he will regret it). Search-for-John 2 In Seagate we continued our examination and confirmed the spells listed above. Further research on our part and on the part of others at the guild indicated that the perps were from the plane of Jalmaria. This plane has been encountered by the Guild twice in the past.

• About 6 months ago an Elf by the name of Felicity turned into the dead wife of an Elf from Jalmaria. For further information we need to contact Y

(played by Jaqui Smith).

• About 2 weeks ago an adventurer from Jalmaria hired the services of a party of guild members as a guide. Lepto was part of this group.

8 Jan After ritual purification we advanced through a portal created by Guild Rune Mages to Jalmaria. We were accompanied only by S-Korcha’s kitten Slobba, and my horse DreamShadow. We arrived without incident in a forest comprised of oak and elm that appeared similar to any English forest. There was one sun in the sky and the atmosphere seemed normal. We headed north (for lack of a better direction), encountering no trails other than those of small animals. We did encounter an animal trap of the spring jaw variety, around tech level 2 or 3, which we passed without incident. Camp that night was highlighted only by S-Korcha’s attempts to light a fire (his 9th such attempt actually produced a result), and we retired to bed after setting watches. We were awakened on Lepto’s watch by a scream of terror from Lepto. Upon awakening I saw a creature resembling a gibbering mouther enveloping S-Korcha’s body. Lepto was cowering under his blanket, Thruk’jin and Tarn were running off into the forest gibbering in terror, S-Korcha seemed unconscious, leaving me the only one to act. Let the record show I do not approve of the cowardice in the face of the enemy shown by three of our party members. I attempted to enspell and to melee the creature, but was enveloped also. By the time the remaining three party members had returned both S-Korcha and I were well enveloped, but unharmed save from the possibility of asphyxiation. There being no sign of S-Korcha’s kitten, and there being no signs of the tracks that the creature (over 1 ton in weight) should have left, S-Korcha (now free) put forward the theory that this was the kitten somehow transformed. He tested the theory by putting out a saucer of milk (over the objections of the rest of the party who wanted to hit it with flaming brands - save myself who was unconscious underneath seven hexes of gibbering terror!). The creature left me, slithered over to the milk and ate the milk and the saucer. Further investigation seemed to show that the creature was harmless, so the party retired, leaving it curled around S-Korcha, dribbling quietly. 9 Jan We awoke to find no sign of the gibbering mouther, only the kitten sleeping happily on S-Korcha’s chest. (Following records taken by Tarn. I claim no responsibility for their possible inaccuracy.) We turned west and travelled through the forest. Toward evening the forest ended and we came across a village. We entered the village and were treated very kindly by the inhabitants, especially the village witch, who gave several members of the party amulets of protection bearing a device of a Wiccan wheel. 10 Jan We followed a river south-west and came across the castle of Baron Ormand. We requested and obtained an audience with him. He was less than impressed with us and sent us away. We travelled south, and met a bard who told us about a standing stone circle called the Giants Dance. We travelled there to investigate the site. At the Giants Dance Slobba transmogrified and caused trouble with the, superstitious, local peasants. Search-for-John 3 Sara, the witch of the local village, was predisposed to help, until Lepto attacked her with a magically Bound hawk. In the ensuing fight Lepto was captured by Sara, and the rest of us fled. Note: somewhere in here we were told about the powers of evil, and the names of the most powerful figures (Patton and Logrin). We were also warned not to speak these names aloud. (I again take over record-keeping.) Lepto was held prisoner and threatened with being burnt for a witch. We put together a rescue plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a cunning plan with a tail on it (which looks pretty silly really). Looking for resources I attempted a Detect Undead on the Giants Dance. I found one undead about 30? under the mound. A Greater Undead. I chose to let it rest. Plan: I would ride in and be a distraction, Thruk’jin (still Unseen) would sneak in and rescue Lepto in the confusion. Tarn and S-Korcha would hide in bushes nearby to provide support if needed. The plan’s execution went really well. In the confusion Lepto escaped, without the aid of Thruk’jin (who got waylaid in the cornfield by a couple of peasants). The only casualty was my horse, Dreamshadow, ensorcelled by the witch. Sadly I abandoned her, vowing to return. That night we camped near the Giants Dance. On Lepto’s watch we encountered serious opposition. Several ratmen, several tentacled creatures only loosely described as hounds, and one tentacled Calamar attacked us. After a long and furious battle we slew all but the Calamar, but succumbed to its magic ability. We awoke in a torture chamber somewhere dark and grim. We were “interviewed” by several Calamar who maintained, despite our frequent cries “we’re plebs!”, that we were ultra-powerful beings come to the plane, beings who were able to mask our auras and those of our items, and who had a demon as a minor familiar (apparently Slobba had been playing). Two weeks later they finally believed what we had been telling them all along, that we were plebs. Disgusted, they cursed us with a Geas to travel to the city of Slynest and deliver a message to the powers of good to the effect of “you’re all pussies, don’t mess with the evil guys - they’re all-powerful”, and let us on our way. They also mentioned something about a prophecy that seemed to indicate that we were some fabled individuals. Like all prophecies it required much poetic license to apply to us, so we ignored it. The only good news we had in two weeks was that they had razed the village and retrieved our items, including my horse and Lepto’s possessions. 24 Jan (or thereabouts) We travelled from the Calamar’s castle to some nameless village, where we were made very unwelcome. Despite our grievous injuries we travelled on and camped by the side of the road. 25 Jan Morning brought the fact that some members of the party had thrown off the Calamars’ Geas, and other members of the party had caught a very violent cold. We travelled to the town of Codark and spent the night in luxurious surroundings. Comfortable beds, clean sheets, good food, warmth, and lack of danger all combined to give a good, healing night’s rest. 26 Jan We travelled south from Codark, towards the border to the Evil Lands, through which we had to travel to reach Slynest (as some members of the party were still Geased and therefore unable to stop for the rest and healing we all needed). Close to the border we were assaulted by a band of mounted, armed men claiming to be the Baron’s troops. Tarn and Lepto escaped, Unseen, the rest of us were captured. The soldiers, led by an obnoxious individual by the name of Sergeant John, forcibly took us (back) to the castle of Baron Ormand. Search-for-John 4 Baron Ormand was, to say the least, not happy to see us again. His reaction to the news from Sgt John that we were an “invasion” was as swift as it was amusing. He demoted Sergeant John to Private John and kicked us out of his barony. 27 Jan We were escorted from the town by mounted guards, encountering Tarn hitch-hiking near the edge of town, and encountering Lepto serving as a guard for a merchant caravan a little further on. We picked up Tarn and extracted Lepto from service, and were left at the border by the guards. We camped a short way on. That night, on S-Korcha’s watch, S-Korcha noticed a figure walking at speed along the road. S-Korcha spoke with the individual, and let it continue unmolested. S-Korcha told the rest of us that the individual was the witch who had captured Lepto and my horse, and that she was walking very rapidly and swearing a lot. My suggestion that we chase her and exact retribution was not taken up by the rest of the party who felt (correctly, in hindsight) that a good night’s sleep was worth more than beating some witch up, especially since her village had already been razed by the Calamar! 28 Jan We travelled throughout the day and again camped by the side of the road. 29 Jan We reached the town of Slangasi and obtained rooms for the night. 30 Jan We signed on as mercenaries guarding a caravan of arms that was to be taken to Slynest. We had no reason to go to Slynest, since all had shaken of the Calamar’s compulsion, we signed on because the arms were going there to be blessed by John the Destroyer, an Alusian. We had a feeling that this was our John. We spent the rest of the day variously healing, resting and practising. 31 Jan Same as yesterday: healing, resting and practising. 1 Feb In the morning, before the caravan was to leave, the rest of the party visited the Temple of the healing-”god” Bryrafort, to participate in a regular ceremony. I dislike temples and the propaganda of priests, and see no reason to frequent either, so I spent the time sitting in the sun watching Slobba playing in the road (tough cat!). The party reported that the “deity” Bryrafort’s image was that of an justice-motif Elf holding scales balancing an Elf male with a spear and a robed Human female. They inspected the auras of items on the altar, and came back with the following:

• Spear, living aura, owner is Moeg-Khelek.
• Wand, living aura, Investment magic.
• Altar, living aura, not sentient.
• Priest, short-lived sentient, highest ranked spell is Necromancy Special Counterspell.

(Note: most priestly-invested items have a living aura). We found out that Moeg-Khelek was (is?) an Alusian Elf who came to this plane about 8000 years ago and soundly defeated in battle the forces of evil, the final battle occurring in the Chaos Mountains (a place we are due to travel over in the next few days). Thruk’jin advanced the following ideas: Moeg-Khelek was an Alusian, he came here and kicked butt. John was an Alusian, he came here and now they are calling him John the Destroyer. We are Alusians, people have been reading our auras and running for cover. There seems to be some connection between Alusians and power here. This leads to several ideas. The first, that Alusians are powerful, seems to be negated by the fact that we have no especially powerful abilities. The second, and the one I favour, is that some power is doing a big propaganda play. Search-for-John 5 John, unless he was hiding power, was a nobody on Alusia - a farmer. Moeg-Khelek was, on the other hand, a powerful individual on Alusia, active in the Drow Wars. We, as novice adventurers, fall somewhere in the middle. We plan to investigate this idea further. The caravan left Slangasi and travelled towards Slynest, camping on the side of the road. 2 Feb We continued on and again made camp in the wilderness.