Session 147: When Dark Clouds of Trouble Hang Over Us

Day 8 of Patchwall:

As Feno and Lhoss nursed the still weak Jack back to health, Niki cast Speak with Animals, in order to understand the meows of her weak feline friend. While still weak, Kyro, having some sympathy towards him, offered a chunk of the displacer meat, which he gobbled up in eager haste. While the rest of the party heard just meows between Niki and Jack, the normally feisty feline relayed to Niki what had recently befallen him. While on a patrol near the borders of the Dim Forest, he was attacked and ambushed by a large horde of undead. He retreated to warn the people of Orlane of this growing threat. Once he warned them, he went back on an exhibition to fight the undead horde but was instead ambushed by a group of necromancers. They attacked him and cut off his paw, (which incidentally was the same paw that had the ring of Jack that allowed him to talk without use of Speak with Animals) and leaving him for dead. Upon finding Niki and the rest of the group he implored them to head towards the town of Orlane, because it was in grave danger. Following his tale, a healing spell, and a full stomach, he promptly falls asleep in company of the party. The group rests for the evening and discuss/digest this new information. They decide to ride to town in a hurry. 

Day 9 of Patchwall:

The group awakens to heavy rain and mist, that continues throughout the day. The rain slows the group down quite a bit, as they and their horses have to slog through the mud and muck of the trail. The group enters the Dim Forest, which has become quiet due to the rain. 

The rain has made the forest cold, as the group ends their day, finding the good resting spot they used on the start of their journey. They cook and eat more displacer beast stew and settle down for the evening. As they prepare themselves for the evening, each member of the group is hit with a sense of uneasiness at the edge of their senses. Not knowing how to describe it to each other, they brush it off and rest for the evening before starting their hurried journey back to Orlane. 

Day 10 of Patchwall:

The skies clear up a bit for the party, but the trail is still muddy and hard to traverse. They arrive near the outskirts of Orlane in the early afternoon and quickly see an unsettling sight. As they travel closer to the familiar city, they see signs of a struggle: what appears to be crimson blood stains along the trail, patches of torn leather and cloth, along with broken metal, seemingly from a weapon or two. Feno kneels down to examine the cloth and leather and discovers that it bears a close resemblance to the clothing worn by the Grey Hawk Knights. The knights were quietly observed heading in this direction while the party was near the town of Wood's Edge a few days ago. Seeing the signs of this recent battle, Lhoss and the group ready themselves for potential conflict. As they march forward, both Lhoss and Feno notice smoke and haze billowing from a nearby farmland. As they continue marching closer, they see piles of bones from some undead, the corpses of slaughtered livestock, with nearby farms and houses found gutted and burned to the ground. As they near the actual town of Orlane, both Lhoss and Feno pick up on the sounds of battle occurring. Whatever happened in the farmlands is occurring in Orlane right this moment. They move quickly and arrive in town, only to see a clash between undead and their friend Alan Clayborne. Alan, along with his wife and a few knights from Grey Hawk are battling against, ghouls, zombies and skeletons. The group ties up their horses (as they are not cavalry fighters), they head and attack the undead horde, saving both Alan and his wife, but some knights fell in the battle. They then move towards Rayne's forest house and are intercepted by foul creatures known as shades. Niki using her Call Lightning spell last battle with great success, moves the thunderous cloud overhead and blasts two of the creatures out of existence.  Lhoss destroys one herself, using her spell Continual Light, but not before the creature does damage both Feno and Arnd. The group examines the dead body of Rayne and his familiar, Whiskers. After paying their briefest of respects, they move south near the bridge. As they get near the bridge, their collective anxiety reaches a fever pitch. Just past the bridge is the largest collection of undead that the heroes have ever seen. 

Amongst their ranks, is Nanor, and Derek, both villains who have troubled the party for many months, if not years. Nanor and his minions mock the party. The battle between good and evil draws near...

Session 146: The Journey Back to Orlane and Jack Brought Low

Feno, Arnd, Gnorcia, Niki, Lhoss, and Kyro spent the evening of Day 3 through Day 5 of Patchwall trekking back from the volcano with the meat and hides of three displacer beasts. The trip back to Woods Edge was smooth and uneventful. It was evening when they reached the gates of the city and were greeted by the city guards. The men asked the heroes how their adventure had gone and Lhoss excitedly declared that they had killed five displacer beasts and took no harm. This did not have the desired effect, as the guards seemed rather unimpressed. The tax man sidled up and declared that the cost to enter the city was one gold piece each. While this had been a successful mission to claim the hides of the displacer beasts, there has been precious little influx of cash as of late and quite a bit of spending! Gnorcia, full of cheek, decided to pick the pocket of the tax man. Unfortunately, a tax man is always aware of his gold and discovered the little gnome and raised a ruckus. Gnorcia slipped off into the night and climbed a tree to escape and make her bed for the night. Meanwhile, the rest of the group was treated with hostility and suspicion. Lhoss stepped forward to smooth over the situation, pointing out the impish and playful nature of gnomes. Her silver tongue won over both the guards and the tax man, but they were all still expected to pay the gold piece. The group called out for Gnorcia to come and join them in town, but she stayed outside, spending a miserable night in the rain.

Everyone else booked fine rooms in the Two Cups Inn and rose early to a delicious breakfast. Feno ordered a double breakfast in order to bring a share out to Gnorcia. Lhoss inquired of the innkeeper, Gretchen, whether she would be willing to buy the displacer beast meat. She made a face and said that displacer beast meat is bitter and not favored, though she would buy some at a low cost to feed to her dogs. The party sold the bulk of the meat, but kept 10 pounds for their journey back to Orlane. Surely fresh meat would be better than rations on the road! Gretchen also directed them to a horse trader (honest, by her opinion) named Bill Ferney where they could outfit themselves for a quick return. 

Bill Ferney was an honest and industrious salesman. He informed the group of all the kit they would need beyond riding horses (and a pony for Gnorcia). With saddles, bridles, feed, and all the rest (along with some basic horsemanship instructions) the mounted Saviors of Orlane hit the road. Taking care to rest the horses often, the group still made good time. Kyro put his cooking skills (and a few magical seasoning skills from Gnorcia and Lhoss) to work to make the displacer beast meat palatable. It was... okay but not great. A little better than dry rations, though!

In the evening, the group heard the sound of approaching horses. They party hunkered down while Gnorcia and Lhoss snuck silently up to the road to spy the advancing group. They saw 12 horsemen in chain mail with the heraldry and livery of the Gran March. Not wanting to engage with the soldiers, the pair silently watched the procession move down the road in the same direction they were headed. It was a foreboding sight. Were they on the march toward Orlane? Or some other conflict?

The next morning, the group were all saddle sore, Kyro least of all, but the effects of a day of riding were evident. Lhoss led the weary travelers in some Zuoken stretches. A few were somewhat reluctant of engaging in a ritual of a deity not their own, but Lhoss and Gnorcia reassured them that there was no need for prayers or worship of Zuoken, it was just good physical exercise. To the surprise of all but Gnorcia and Lhoss, it was helpful in alleviating their soreness.

On the evening of Day 8 of Patchwall, the group was nearing Orlane when Feno and Lhoss spotted something on the trail ahead. It was a small creature... was that Jack? Lhoss and Feno dismounted and ran up to see it was indeed Jack, but he was lying, unmoving, on the trail. In a sickening discovery, the elves saw that Jack's paw had been severed and the Greater Ring of Jack was gone. Lhoss immediately bandaged the paw and Feno poured water into the cat's mouth. Feno then scooped Jack up and ran him back to Niki. Niki cast a healing spell on the animal which revived him somewhat. The poor beast looked up at his master and tried to speak, but all that came out was a plaintive "meow!"

Session 102: A Fur-ious Battle and an Amazing Discovery on Day 3 of Goodmonth

It was a bad situation for sure. Lhoss and I were battling undead Neb’Enakhet cats and rapidly losing to a furry of paw swipes and bites. Blood was spattering and fur flying everywhere but the rest of the party had been feared by the cats' awful attack screeches, dropping their weapons and running down the passageway, terrified. Suddenly, Chalkboi & Calbach appeared and immediately engaged in battle! We cheered as the cats found themselves outclawed with twice the number of opponents as they had been a moment before.

One of the cats attacking me turned to Calbach, giving me an opportunity to scratch it from behind with my dagger. I took it down and it gave a mournful howl as it fell. Two more turned and attacked Chalkboi, and one hit him with a claw attack. Alas, another two cats stayed in battle with Lhoss and her injuries were so bad that she quickly lay unconscious and bleeding on the ground. Another two cats attacked and hurt Calbach as well, but he swung and killed one of them, then turned and killed another that was attacking me. They both fell with mournful howls. I managed to turn and hit a feeble feline that was harassing me but somehow not doing any damage, destroying it.

As the battle continued, the cats hit all of us with many small swipes and bites, doing damage to everyone a little at a time. It was an awful fight and Chalkboi had to use Lay on Hands on himself at one point to keep from collapsing.

Then Niki came running back! It appeared that the fear from the meowlers' cries had worn off our compatriots. She tried to jump over a cat to get to Lhoss, but could neither kick it nor get past it. Jack was clinging to her back, fur bristling, and growling at everything. Kyro came running back and also couldn’t get past the cats, but bared Big Stabby and destroyed the creature instead. Emboldened by their return, I stood tall like a cat's tail and cried, “With great vengeance!” finishing off the cat next to me.

Niki then scrambled to heal Lhoss before she bled out and Calbach stepped up to destroy the last undead cat. As it fell, Jack jumped off of Niki’s shoulder and ran to the door of the room where the Neb’Enakhet had come from, sniffing around excitedly. Kyro and Calbach both followed and peeked in, and Kyro bravely went in to look at the fresco on the south wall, which turned out to be a disturbing mural of mummy cats worshipping Narul. They wanted none of that and came right back out, but Jack wandered in alone and began sniffing and pawing at a spot on the flagstone.

Curious, Niki followed him and discovered the stone was loose. She motioned to Calbach, who pried it open, revealing a bottle of golden-yellow liquid with flecks and a beautiful electrum ring. Gasping in excitement, Niki took out the ring and discovered it had two ghostly-green eyes staring back at her. She immediately cast Detect Magic on it, saying, “Draíocht a bhrath!” and found it was definitely magical.

Jack had been pacing back and forth in front of Niki, his tail twitching with excitement, but he suddenly stopped in front of her, made an excited howling meow, and put his paw out tentatively toward the ring. Niki slid the ring onto his paw and it fit as if it had been made for him! Jack turned and ran from the room, vanished down the hallway, then came running back, leaping from wall to wall in a sort of cat parkour move before skidding to a halt at Niki's feet.

Her eyes wide with excitement, Niki breathlessly inquired, "Hey there, little one! What have you been up to?"

"Meow, meow!" he said. "I've been exploring my new magical abilities!"

Everyone gasped and shouted in amazement. Jack could talk! That ring had to be the Lesser Ring of Jack that Niki had been searching for since she joined our adventuring party!

"Magical abilities?" Niki raised her eyebrows, looking both excited and terrified. "What do you mean?"

"Meow, meow, meow! I can do all sorts of amazing things now! I can teleport from one place to another in the blink of an eye, I can make objects float in the air with a flick of my paw, and I can even read your mind!" Jack lifted one paw, made a small gesture, and Calbach started floating a few inches off the ground!

"Wow, that's incredible!" Niki said. "How did you get these magical powers?"

"Meow, meow! I put on the Lesser Ring of Jack. Now, I go on the hunt!" Jack went to a small hole at the base of the wall, swiped, and caught a mouse, which he presented to Niki.

"That's amazing, little one! You must be the most talented cat in the world now." Niki gently stuffed the mouse into her pocket. It was still wriggling.

"Meow, meow! I certainly feel like it. But don't worry, I'll still cuddle up with you on the couch like always. Being magical hasn't changed my love for you." Jack then teleported out into the hallway and back again with another mouse in his mouth, then reappeared in the backpack, looking very pleased.

After a minute, Calbach slowly lowered back to the ground. We all stood still, gaping, until Kyro decided to speak to Jack, asking him, “Do you like me?” It was the question we had all often wondered and Jack immediately responded with a loud request for some food. Kyro pulled some lamb jerky out of his pack and handed it to the cat, who blinked twice to reveal a pouch around his neck, inserted the jerky, and began purring.

Jack then disappeared from the backpack and reappeared on Armatzi’s shoulder, saying, “How are you, priest of Saint Cuthbert?”

Wary of the new and strange antics of this cat, Armatzi paused before answering, then cautiously said, "Hello there, Jack. I hear you've been using your magical abilities to help people in need. That's very commendable."

"Meow, meow! Yes, I've been doing my best to make the world a better place. It's what any responsible cat would do with magical powers."

"I agree, Jack. It's important to use our abilities for good and to help those who can't help themselves," Armatzi continued. "That's one of the core principles of St. Cuthbert's teachings."

Jack walked back and forth across Armatzi's shoulders. "Meow, meow! I've heard of St. Cuthbert before. A powerful and wise god, so they say. Have you ever met him?"

Armatzi chuckled. "Well, not exactly. St. Cuthbert is a deity, so I can't meet him in the same way I would meet a mortal being. But I have felt his presence and guidance in my life, and I strive to follow his teachings every day."

"Meow, meow. That sounds very inspiring, Armatzi. I too strive to be a good cat and help those in need. Maybe we can work together on a project sometime?"

"Absolutely, Jack. It would be an honor to work alongside a cat with such a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world."

Jack then stopped and squinted a moment before sticking the mouse in Armatzi’s ear, and said, “I smell tasty beef! Give it to me!”

Armatzi sighed, took the mouse out of his ear, and handed Jack some beef jerky, which he immediately stowed away in his pouch. Jack then reprimanded Armatzi for not wanting the mouse, saying it was a gift.

Anxious to join in the new conversation with the suddenly-talkative feline, Lhoss turned to Jack and said, "Hello Jack, how are you today?"

"Meow, meow! I'm doing great, Lhoss. I've been practicing my magic and exploring the world around me.”

"That's wonderful to hear, Jack," she answered. "I must say, I've been impressed by your magical abilities. You're a very clever cat!"

"Meow, meow! Thank you, Lhoss. I try my best to use my intelligence and quick thinking to solve problems and help others."

"It shows, Jack. Your ability to think on your feet and come up with creative solutions is truly remarkable. I've seen you use your magic to help people in ways that I wouldn't have even thought of." Lhoss reached out and flicked Armatzi's ear and he winced away from her.

"Meow, meow! I'm glad I can be of service. And I must say, I've learned a lot from you as well. Your knowledge and wisdom are an inspiration to me."

Lhoss bowed and continued, "That's very kind of you to say, Jack. I believe we make a great team - your cleverness and my experience complement each other well. Together, we can accomplish great things."

"Meow, meow! I couldn't agree more, Lhoss. Let's continue to use our skills and abilities to make the world a better place."

Quick to catch on, Calbach then approached Jack and said, "Hey there, Jack. I've been watching you use your magic and help people. You're quite impressive." Clearly the cat loved praise.

"Meow, meow! Thank you, Calbach. It's always good to hear positive feedback."

"I have to admit, at first I was skeptical of a cat having magical powers. But you've proven yourself to be quite capable."

"Meow, meow! I'm glad I could change your mind. I've always believed that animals can be just as capable as humans, if given the chance."

"I have to agree with you there, Jack. And I appreciate how you've used your abilities for good. It's not always easy to resist the temptation to use magic for personal gain."

Jack arched his back and stretched. "Meow, meow! I understand what you mean. But I believe that with great power comes great responsibility. It's important to use our abilities to help others, not just ourselves."

"I couldn't have said it better myself, Jack. You're a wise and responsible cat. I'm glad to have you as a friend."

"Meow, meow! And I'm glad to have you as a friend too, Calbach. You're a skilled ranger and a true ally. Together, we can accomplish great things."

All this talk of doing good and accomplishing great things made me wonder if Jack had any mischief left in him after putting on that ring. I slowly approached him and began to communicate telepathically , staring deep into his eyes.

Just then we began to hear unnatural sounds coming from the south and it spooked us all terribly. I broke off the telepathic conversation with Jack as Niki and Armatzi scrambled to heal everyone and we ran from the tomb into the marsh. We exited the marsh into a warm summer rain, jogging back through the muck to the trail to the Dim Forest. Everything felt better after the rain washed off the grime and dirt from our day’s adventures. We finally left the Dim Forest and returned to Orlane.

We arrived at the inn hungry but refreshed. Florin approached and greeted us warmly, offering Mutton Stew as the day’s house specialty. It looked and smelled amazing. We all ordered the stew and Jack ordered two bowls, shocking the innkeeper.

“Is that a talking cat?” he gasped.

“Why yes, I am a talking cat. My name is Jack Cat.”

Jack sat up straight and requested the inn's best room, which happened to be my room. I told Jack that he was welcome to share the room with me and he replied that he would be taking the bed and I could sleep on the floor!

Just then our meal arrived and Lhoss noticed that the elves were also there for dinner. They invited Lhoss, Niki, and me to join them. Jack strolled over and immediately curled up between the elves, purring himself to sleep.

Everyone was laughing and talking about the talking cat when suddenly Zraith appeared and began to speak to Armatzi, apologizing deeply for not being with him to go to the Barrowmaze. She appeared to have a large fish in her beak.

“I am greatly ashamed at my behavior,” she said, looking up at him with big, pleading eyes.

“It’s ok,” Armatzi said, “Just try to do better.”

Zraith bowed deeply, took the fish from her beak, and solemnly handed it to Armatzi. “I’ve brought you a large Bass,” she said.

Armatzi nodded his head at her and accepted it, then called to Florin, sending the fish off to the kitchen to be cooked.