RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to [A] Realms of High Adventure

22:15, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste.

Posted by DM PawnFor group archive 0
DM Pawn
GM, 931 posts
Thu 13 Dec 2018
at 11:42
  • msg #1

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

Departing Starsong Hill astride giant owls, the adventurers soar high above the lands below, trekking south to Thornwaste. First, they sweep over the dark tangle of bramble and pine of the Witchwood, but then later, several hours later, beyond the dark roll of woods, they spot several plumes of smoke on the horizon, in the settled lands of Elsir Vale!

Ahead, they spot The Dawn Way. Along its stretch, they see smoke rising from where they guess might be the towns of Nimon's Gap, Terrelton and...yes, even Drellin's Ferry!

Passing over the first, Nimon's Gap, they see a burned out husk of charred debris where the town once stood. There is no movement within the town and their wild elf guides do not linger too long to permit anything more than a cursory view of the ruin and devastation.

Later, they come up on Terrelton. It too is now little more than burned out buildings and debris, the Red Hand's trail of destruction utterly complete and without any regard for life or property. Smouldering fires burn here or there, but save for a few stray dogs picking through the debris, there are few signs of activity within the remnants of the small town.

The wild elves veer their winged mounts in a more southerly direction now, avoiding passing directly over Drellin's Ferry, but in the distance, the adventurers can see the same dark smoke rising from that town. For now, they can only speculate as to the fate of the town where their adventures began. If Terrelton or Nimon's Gap are any indication, the prospects are quite grim indeed.

Several hours pass as the adventurers fly over the vale's sparsely settled, southern reaches. Soon, they pass into the Thornwaste. The land is truly a maze of broken hills, briar-choked ravines, and thistle-clogged fissures. Viewing this terrain from overhead, if there's one thing the group can be thankful for, it is the benefit of passing through this inhospitable land astride a giant owl and not overland!

Their wild elf guides deftly navigate toward a mesa in the distance, eventually landing on a low hill a few hundred yards distant. The wild elves have been given strict instructions to offer transportation to and from the Ghostlord's lair, but are forbidden from entering the lair. Instead, the wild elve guides busy themselves by setting up camp atop the hill while the adventurers view what must certainly be the lair in the distance...

Rising from a low mesa is an intimidating sight. A massive lion of stone crouches, as if ready to pounce on a nearby hill. The cyclopean monolith is composed of a dull tawny stone. It looks to be about 240 feet in length, and the top of its maned head rises over eighty feet from the ground. There seems to be some sort of hollow between the lion's front paws, in the area bordered by its chest. Likewise, hints of a dark cave are apparent in its gaping maw.

It is now late afternoon, about 4 hours before sunset.
Eoni Daflin
Player, 741 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 24/24
Thu 13 Dec 2018
at 17:02
  • msg #2

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

"We should go in now," Eoni said, shouldering her pack.  "If he's not here, we'll need all the time we can to find him.

"If he's in there, I don't expect it will take us too long to find him.  Or for him to find us."


She reached up and touched the lighted tiara upon her head as she looked for the others to prepare themselves.

"Remember, we're not here to fight.  We're here to talk."

Valthur Ironhelm
Player, 641 posts
Dwarf 5
AC: 4(3*) | HP: 24/26
Fri 14 Dec 2018
at 05:06
  • msg #3

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

Valthur has little chance to inspect the devastation across the vale because his eyes are closed for a great deal of the trip. But even with his limited glances, his heart darkens at the ashen sites along the way.

Once on the ground, he stands awestruck by the gigantic stone lion until Eoni urges them on. Her call to head out comes far too soon, as far as he is concerned, but he also understands the urgency. With an inaudible "Moradin help us", the dwarf gathers his belongings and sets out after the Sister of Avandra.
Kane Taerix
Player, 229 posts
Halfling Hero
AC 1 (0) HP 20/22
Fri 14 Dec 2018
at 05:20
  • msg #4

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

"Right. Let's go talk to him. Her. It. Whatever...." Taerix stows his weapons and is ready to go on when the others are.
Sarah
Player, 533 posts
Thief
AC: 4 | HP: 21/21
Fri 14 Dec 2018
at 13:30
  • msg #5

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

Sarah looks positively glum as she trudges along.
DM Pawn
GM, 932 posts
Sat 15 Dec 2018
at 11:39
  • msg #6

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

The party approaches the massive stone lion on foot. Flanked by massive stone paws to the north and south, the adventurers see a hollow hidden in the shadow beneath the great stone head above. A worn stone path leads between the great paws to a low stone ramp. The ramp climbs up to an impressive archway leading into the lion's chest. Two basalt statues of skeletal lions stand facing each other on either side of the arch, as if passing judgment upon any who would travel between them.

Beyond the 20-foot ramp, within the hollow between the lion's chest, a shadowy cavern of indeterminate depth can be seen.
Eoni Daflin
Player, 742 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 24/24
Sun 16 Dec 2018
at 00:07
  • msg #7

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

"We don't all need to go in," the Sister said, turning back to the others.  She looked to Marklin, carrying the chest, and reached out for it.  "I can take the chest in myself.  Everyone can wait for me here.  "

She looked back at their Tiri Kitor escort.  If anything went wrong inside, the others would have a chance to escape with them.

"This shouldn't take too long."
Marklin
NPC, 8 posts
Fighter
AC: 2 | HP: 10/19
Sun 16 Dec 2018
at 00:47
  • msg #8

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

"Nuh-uh," the fighter says. A few moments pass as he considers, "You sure about this? Going off into that thing, by yourself?"
Aldara
Player, 438 posts
Human Enchanter (M-U 5)
AC: 8 | HP 15/15
Sun 16 Dec 2018
at 07:38
  • msg #9

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

As they travelled, Aldara mulled over how she could have done things differently in life...such as going East, rather than West when her training was done.  While she disapproved and groaned earlier, the prospect of travelling with the others emboldened her.  Well, just a little bit.

When Eoni informs the others that she is willing to go herself, Aldara shakes her head.  A wizardly touch might be needed, after all!  "Ah... I could sort of shadow you, if you'd like.  That way, if my input or even incantations are needed, I'll be close at hand."  Her body language and facial expressions betray her intentions, which are actually fairly well-meaning!
This message was last edited by the player at 07:39, Sun 16 Dec 2018.
Sarah
Player, 534 posts
Thief
AC: 4 | HP: 21/21
Sun 16 Dec 2018
at 16:51
  • msg #10

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

Sarah shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the other.  Then, she repositions herself and cranes he neck so that she can see the entrance's opening.  Seemingly satisfied, she straightens; but, she doesn't say anything.
Eoni Daflin
Player, 743 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 24/24
Sun 16 Dec 2018
at 21:15
  • msg #11

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

"If this is going to work," Eoni said, "we can't use any deception.  This is about trust.  We have to be different than the ones that held this over him.

"So no invisibility,"
she concluded, nodding to Aldara.

She took a deep breath before continuing.  "This may go two ways.  He can be grateful or he might not.  If he's not, it may not matter how many of us go down."
Valthur Ironhelm
Player, 642 posts
Dwarf 5
AC: 4(3*) | HP: 24/26
Tue 18 Dec 2018
at 04:43
  • msg #12

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

Valthur weighs Eoni's words for a long while, then takes a step forward. "We've gone this far together, Eoni. I say we keep it that way. Plus you may need my dwarven knowledge of the underground to assist you through these passageways."
Kane Taerix
Player, 230 posts
Halfling Hero
AC 1 (0) HP 20/22
Tue 18 Dec 2018
at 06:26
  • msg #13

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

Taerix, like Sarah, remains silent, but nods at Valthur's words.
Eoni Daflin
Player, 744 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 24/24
Tue 18 Dec 2018
at 16:47
  • msg #14

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

"All right," the Sister said, torn between pride in their courage and fear for what was to come, "let's get this done.

"Valthur, lead the way."

DM Pawn
GM, 933 posts
Tue 18 Dec 2018
at 22:31
  • msg #15

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

Filing cautiously up the low ramp toward the archway in the hollow of the lion's chest, the party soon arrives at the mouth of a large chamber with rough-hewn walls and a domed ceiling rising 15 feet overhead. To the north, the adventurers see a large heaped mound of crushed nettles and briars, these arranged in some sort of nest. To the south lies a massive mound of bones. The chamber smells strangely musty and acrid.
Eoni Daflin
Player, 745 posts
Sister of Avandra
AC: 8 | HP: 24/24
Tue 18 Dec 2018
at 22:51
  • msg #16

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

"Valthur," Eoni whispered quietly, "do you see any other exits?"

This definitely wasn't what she'd expected to find.  This looked like an animal den.  A large predator by the size of the bone pile.  Sellyria had mentioned lions.

Where was it now?
Valthur Ironhelm
Player, 643 posts
Dwarf 5
AC: 4(3*) | HP: 24/26
Wed 19 Dec 2018
at 06:13
  • msg #17

Chapter 13: The Ghostlord of Thornwaste

"Humpgh," Valthur exhales with a bit of disappointment. "A lot more impressive on the outside than on the inside."

The dwarf examines the chamber for other exits, then approaches the briar nest with his axe at the ready.
Sign In