SESSION 144: In Search of the Big Bird
Riding out of Helix and into the predominantly oak dominated deciduous forest. Sasha was familiar with an ancient road that has largely become a game trail – it would expedite the first leg of the journey prior to crossing the mighty Blood River.
Where are we going you ask. Well, some days past while returning to Helix from that nasty tomb that was plundered for many months or years based on one's unit of measure, our hobo mob was attacked by a pair of rocs. One escaped and that put weevils in Ding-We's peg leg. With the complete of the tomb of tombs other sources of revenue were required. Our resident wizard was certain that a nest could be found and it would hold a mint. Now back to our previously scheduled exploration of the vast unknown...
Day 1 (Hexes 19.24 à 18.23) – Following the game trail a pleasant late summer day. Towards the end of the travelling day Sasha crossed path with a hunting pack of trolls. She lured them back to the horde and bloody melee went down. Hobos were victorious but took a bit of a beating. Dinger figured that there must be a loot filled lair somewhere near and elected to put together a raiding party to find it. And so we broke the party in half. One group hunting for trolls while the others set up camp and made sure the horses were protected. Sasha again taking lead the hunters plunged into the forest. It took a couple of hours but they did eventually approach the ‘lair’. Proximity was confirmed when we clashed with a troll patrol. Unfortunately we were slow to cover the sounds of combat and heard the alarm go off not far away from us. Ding-We took to the air to get eyes on the prize. It was more than a lair. We stood on the outskirts of a full blown Troll village sitting on a rather large domed mound. At least nine caves and some sort of ruin atop the mound with lots and lot of trolls either taking cover or preparing for war. Dinger wanted to nuke it but could not immediately understand the spatial limitations of his arsenal in respect to the layout of the village. His inner turmoil was quelled when he realized he was on the verge of losing the rest of the group as they made a hasty retreat and that the trolls also had spellcasters that were formulating a plan to nuke him. He was very close to becoming lost but reconnected in the nick of time. They returned to camp and hoped that the trolls would not find them during the fast approaching night. This was likely the first of many upcoming reminders that the wilderness is a dangerous place.
Day 2 (Hex 18.23) – It was cloudy this morning, rain was coming. Continuing on the game trail, we started the day riding hard to get past and beyond the influence of the troll village. After a couple of hours we let up as fatigue was evident and we didn’t really want to run our horses into the ground on our second day. Around midday the trail became very clean, perhaps too clean. The path glistened in the sunlight. Further examination showed that the trail and forest floor was not only free of debris but it was criss-crossed by pearlescent tracks approximately three feet in width. This confused our brain trust for a bit. Ding-We failed in generating any ideas but Raul mused – “This sure looks like a snail trail of unusual size, and if that is so this shiny stuff is abula and carries alchemical value”. “Value you say”, gribbled Ding-We. “Well lets mine this junk!” did the Ding-We proclaim. Dismounting and bringing forth the tools harvesting began. It was slow going. We were at it for a couple of hours when the creator appeared. Yup, it was a giant snail coming at us. It’s velocity afforded us some time. A quick pow-wow later the hobos agreed that giant slugs are a real bummer and should be avoided perhaps suggesting that a giant snail may also be a real bummer. Bimbles didn’t fully agree but he had forgotten poor Lenny’s slimy demise. The rest of the gang quickly mounted their horses and made a dash around the creature. Bimbles wasn’t going to do this alone and suite. We rode for another hour or so and then stopped for camp. The sky was turning black and rain was coming. Our group searched their bags and noticed that not a single one had made any plan for inclement weather. It was going to be a wet night.
Day 3 (Hex 18.23 à17.23) – Shaking off the evenings rain we pushed on albeit a little slow and stiff. At least the clouds had rained themselves out. A short while out from camp we came along a massive pine tree. Roosting far up in its branches was a bat of unusually huge size. Sasha observed it early and notified the group. Uncertain of the possibilities we slunk past with the bat none the wiser. Later in the day we came upon a roadside shrine and an associated campsite. Carla, always one seeking safety made a generous donation to whichever deity may be recipient of her sacrifice (1 FREE CRIT AVOIDANCE w/in 7 days). As she did this some of the other hobos investigated the campsite that was circled with stones once carved to resembled trees now well rounded from ages of weathering. Something was off. Blood splatters and drag marks going NE, somewhat fresh. We followed. A short distance later coming to a mounded clearing (aren’t they all?). Sasha was just sneaky enough to avoid a very large insect type abomination that exploded from the ground. It was an ankheg and it was hungry. The hobos had the jump on the nasty bug and gave it a good chopping. As it collapsed a passageway was revealed.
What do we have here?
ROLECALL
Carla the Green Matriarch of TMB (C8) 143492 xp +10% <200001> CRT 1d12/III
Scars: permanent loss left index finger and scarring on arm
Bimbles the Patriarch of GSS (C8) 186732 xp +5% <200001> CRT 1d12/III
Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed arm
Hobo Steve the Superhero (F8) 183663 xp +5% <240,001> CRT 1d24/V
Brain Damaged: reduced mental capacity (tough night on the town)
Rahgnar the Dwarven Champion (D7) 141500 xp <140001> CRT 1d16/IV
Serious wound: permanent loss of an eye (-1 to missile fire)
Critical Wound: disembowelled less able to process poison (-1 penalty)
Raul the Voyager (MD8) 165759 xp +10% <240000> CRT 1d12/III
Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -4,
Removed one of his own nostrils.
Ding-We the Peg-Legged Sorcerer (W9) 381509 xp +10% <470001> CRT 1d10/I
Critical Wound: Left leg obliterated, runs at ½ rate (peg required)
Bunny the Thief! (T9) 213295 xp <280001> +10% CRT 1d20/II
Light wound: permanent loss of pinky finger, off hand
Ramrod the Cloned Magsman (T8) 89318 xp +5% <160001> CRT 1d20/II
Serious wound: Bad Back (-1 stone CC)
Scars: Neurological damage to hip, noticeable limp
Missing six teeth talks with a lisp
The Henchmen
Saffron the Mad Fairy Queen of Mad Ribbits (FY7) 150805 xp <200001> CRT 1d10/III
Moderate wound: Scar on abdomen
Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed guts
Sloth the Bopper (L7) 135460 xp +10% <178800> CRT 1d20/IV or 1d6/G (vs. s, m)
Mental Illness: Mummy-a-phobic
Nara the Nearly Naked Purple Swami Girl (P7) 74841 xp +5% <125000> CRT 1d6/I
Biff Bartley the Half-Orc Blackguard (HO7) 70286 <120000> +5% CRT 1d12/II
Sasha Plasha the Warden (R7) 75261 xp +10% <100000> CRT 1d10/III
‘BOB’ the Deadly Shade (N7) 59275 <90000> +5% CRT 1d16/II
Felix Ignatius Hemlock the previously Skeletal Sleuth (I7) 42208 <80001> +5% CRT 1d16/II
Mason the Canon of Yrrrg. (C6) 40211 <50001> CRT 1d10/III
Yasser Imaphat the Djinn (D4) 30372 <32501> CRT 1d6/II
Gurn Hammerhand the Dwarven Swordsman (D3)
Wendul the Thaumaturgist (W5)
RESERVES
Charles in Charge the Myrmidon (F6) 45913 <64000> +10% CRT 1d16/IV
REMAINING RECUPERATION: 14 DAYS
Critical Wound: Punctured lung (-2 CON)
Mostly DEAD. (-1 CON)
Boris the Dwarven Lord (D9) 319718 xp +10% <400001> CRT 1d20/IV
REMAINING RECUPERATION: 19 DAYS
Serious wound: permanent loss of CHA -3, carved up face
Lasting injury: -1 STR, mashed arm
Wound: Bad leg (-5’ MV)
Multiple Injuries: lost 20 teeth, drools a lot CHA -1
Serious Injury: -2 INT
Elapsed Campaign Time
324 days at beginning of session (also applies to recuperation)
Join us for session One-Hundred-and-Forty-Five when we ask the questions:
This wilderness seems very variable how is that fair?
What was up with that giant snail?
How does a troll village exist within 10 miles of Helix? (Welcome to the wilds.. Assholes!)
Could Bimbles beat a giant snail?
Tale of the Tape
Nothing yet, wait for it.
KILLS
Trolls (10) 9800
Ankheg 980
LOOT
Zippy the Pinhead
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