Re: Kitau's War Journal
Road to Windfall (10/23)
First order of business when we returned to Fallcrest wasn't sleep, even as late as it was. By then the same thing was on everyone's mind: gold. Pokem was sitting outside Nentir Inn doing what he does best - drinking ale.
"What happened to you and Zack?!" I asked, "You disappeared just before we fought the dragon!"
"I had a ale emergency!" he said with a grin, raising his mug, "I had to get a refill! Can't speak for the winged lizard-man. Haven't seen him since the chief's room."
Ale emergency my nose! More like you ran out on the big fight! He chugged the rest of his drink and stood up.
"Time to go see the big man then?"
"I'll pass on the 'big man,'" said Whisper, "I joined this team for some giggles, and boy did I get my giggles! But fancy-pants meetings isn't my cup of tea. I've got more important business to attend to - sleep! Then tomorrow I'll be leaving town. It's been ice snowing ya!"
She entered the inn with a loud yawn. Guess I was wrong about gold being on her mind, she made no mention of getting a share of the spoils. Pokem joined the group and Callie led the way straight to Moonstone Keep's courtroom. Zack was escorted into the room by a medic while we waited.
"All rise for Lord Warden Faren Markelhay," the guard announced, "Lady Allande Markelhay, and High Septarch Nimozaran the Green."
Markelhay entered the room with his lovely wife and the creepy old wizard.
"Good to see you returned safely," Markelhay began when he took his seat, "Please make yourselves comfortable. I hear you had quite the adventure! Callie, tell me the short version. No pun intended."
Callie relayed a very concise summary and presented the chief's skull mask, one of the dragon's claws, and the draconic letter as proof of our deeds.
"Very impressive!" he answered with a smile, "You all exceed my expectations! Well done!"
He motioned to a guard who presented her with two sacks of gold.
"Your Excellency," Callie said, presenting the gems we found, "We found treasure in the Kobold's lair that probably belongs to the merchants that have been plundered recently."
The team practically jumped out of their seats, furious with her! The guards readied their weapons. I was about ready to burst out laughing!
"Probably," Markelhay answered calmly, folding his arms, "It's a shame there'd be no way to to know who the rightful owners are. Consider them an additional reward donated by the merchants for justly punishing their attackers. You've more than earned it. Have the treasurer exchange them for an equal value of gold so you can divide the spoils more easily."
The room relaxed a bit. I was relieved and disappointed at the same time. It would have been interesting to see how that showdown would have gone.
"Speaking of dividing spoils," Callie said, turning to Cross, "There's the matter of the gold you took from the dead warlock. It belongs to the team. As does the gold you vanished with, Pokem."
"The hell it does!" Cross objected, "That guy was my mark! Everything that was his is mine!"
"I'm a rogue," Pokem said, balancing his dagger on the tip of his finger, "I keeps what I loots!"
"Your Excellency?" Callie asked Markelhay.
"We split evenly!" I interrupted, "Or we split company!"
"Hey I was just kiddin!" Pokem answered with a smile, handing Callie a bag of gold.
Cross wasn't smiling, but he handed over the gold. I was surprised he chose to stay rather than return to his 'Lord Tavage' - if such a person even exists. I suppose this mercenary is at least wise enough to know more giggles, and more gold, is in the team's future.
Markelhay invited us to stay as his guests in the keep, and we accepted. While the gold was divided among us, Zack explained he had a dizzy spell after the fight with the Kobold Chief and had to rest. Callie was concerned for his health and asked him if there were any other symptoms.
"It's just something that happens sometimes after a tough battle," he said, looking away, "I don't want to talk about it."
The next morning, Markelhay treated us to breakfast and asked us to return for lunch. The team went to the smithy to collect the reward for the dragon hide.
"Teldorthan Goldcap at your service!" he greeted us.
"Didn't you tell us your name was Ironhews?" Pokem asked.
"Never mind that. Any news of the dragon hide?"
Callie laid the hide on his counter.
"News enough?" Bob asked.
The dwarf was overjoyed - after inspecting it for damage.
"By Moradin's Hammer!" he exclaimed, "If not for my responsibilities here I'd have flattened those nasty lizards myself! Well done, my friends! Your reward as promised!"
He handed over the gold which we divided. The team parted ways to enjoy the morning before returning to the Keep. Pokem and I stayed at the smithy to shop for gear. If I learned anything yesterday it's that hide armor doesn't stop dragon claws.
"Can I interest ya in a good hammer?" Teldorthan asked, "If you can drive a nail you can kill an orc. You can drive a nail, can't you?"
Pokem instead asked to see the dwarf's selection of swords. Pokem and I both agreed - the sharper the better. Teldorthan was generous enough to let me trade in my old hide armor for full value toward the purchase of a brand new suit of chain mail.
When we returned to the Keep for lunch, the team shared that they had picked up some quests, both of which were in the direction of Winterhaven - a two day journey to the west by way of King's Road. Our host introduced us to a paladin who offered to help us on our quests. Markelhay then bid us safe a journey and we headed out of town. Along the way we were stopped by a woman.
"You're the heroes that slew the kobold chief, are you not?" she asked desperately, "I beg you! Please find my missing husband! His name is Douven Staul. A few weeks ago he discovered a map to a dragon's tomb near Winterhaven and set out to find it. I haven't heard from him since! I don't have much to offer as a reward..."
She held out a few silver and began to weep. Callie comforted her and told her to keep the money.
"Not even one gold?" Bob asked, "No thanks, lady."
"Don't be foolish!" M chided him, "Didn't you hear what she said?! Dragon's tomb? As in, could also have a dragon's hoard?!"
We promised her we'd do our best to find him and she thanked us profusely. It was a long journey, but again Callie made it bearable. We made good time and by sunset arrived at the crossroads of King's Road and the road to the ruins of Gardmore Abbey, well within the border of the Gardbury Downs. The next morning we figured we should arrive in Winterhaven by dinner time and set off again.
As we rounded the last bend in the road before Winterhaven, Callie stopped us.
"Look!" she said, pointing at the road in front of us.
There we saw the familiar footprints of Kobolds in the road. They looked fresh. Pokem sneaked forward while the rest of the team just walked on down the middle of the road in plain view like there was no reason for caution. Bob was the quickest of the group, and discovered that that's not always a good thing. Several kobolds rushed out from behind the boulders and attacked him!
The 5 minions threw javelins at him, only one of which missed. The dragonshields hung back waiting for the rest of our team to get in range. The slinger hurled a smoking pot which exploded in a fireball when it landed near Bob. M teleported on top of one of the boulders and held out his hands to incinerate our foes in a massive fireball... but all he conjured was a few embers.
"Magical fire is more reliable than flint, ya know," Cross taunted, "You should try it."
With a word, Callie healed most of Bob's many wounds. The paladin charged forward and challenged one of the minions swarming Bob as Pokem ran forward to position himself between him and the minion. The minion apparently didn't realize the danger and charged at the paladin. Pokem held his dagger to the minion's throat who's own momentum carried him forward - the razor sharp blade opening a fatal gash in his throat.
The minions near Bob jabbed at him with their spears he dodged them all. One threw a javelin up at M but it deflected off the boulder and came back down - right through another minion's skull! M fired back and missed. Zack charged a minion and hacked it's head off with a single swing of his axe. Callie healed the rest of Bob's wounds who stepped back and fired an arrow into a kobold minion's heart.
The slinger hurled a glue pot at Zack that stuck him to the ground. The two dragonshields charged in, attacking Zack and Pokem. Cross answered with an arrow through the throat of one of the dragonshields. I saw an opportunity and took advantage. I flashed my left sword at the dragonshield and cut down a minion with the other. The plot worked! The dragonshield focused it's attention on me!
"Pokem!" I shouted, "Flank! It's distracted."
The rogue took my advice and slipped behind the enemy lines, flanking both dragonshields! Bob rushed in and fired two arrows at the slinger who answered with a fire pot! M zapped at the slinger and missed. The paladin struck a heavy blow on a dragonshield while Pokem finished off the other with a deadly double attack. Cross fired another arrow, and the dragonshield staggered. Zack finished it off with a massive blast of his fire breath.
All that was left was the slinger. I charged in and sliced both low and high, deeply wounding it. M fired at it and missed. Bob, still on fire, fired another 2 arrows at the slinger, killing it. Bob dropped to the ground rolling around to put out the flames.
"Cleric!"
Callie cured him and we rested before heading off again. As predicted, we arrived at Winterhaven in time for dinner. Here's hoping the team learns to be more careful about ambushes.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:43, Fri 31 Oct 2008.