Session 163: Foray to the moat house

I (Morwenna) found myself in the village of Hommlet on the morning of Day 15 of Ready'reat. The local inn has good food and a mix of interesting characters. The first fellow who caught my eye was a large blonde guy who was trying to pet the dog curled up in front of the fire. I later learned his name was Grug. The animal growled at Grug and the bar maid asked him to leave the dog alone. He was undeterred, however, and fed the creature strips of dried meat in an attempt to win it over. Grug's efforts seemed to be paying off, time will tell though.

As I sat at the bar ordering breakfast and chatting with the barkeep, an elf approached me. I'm always excited to see another elf and was happy to speak to him. His name was Farro and he invited me to join his adventuring party. Farro mentioned that they were intending to visit the moat house. I was a little on guard about that because I didn't have any idea what goes on there. Was it a cult? Farro didn't have too many answers, but he gestured to a table where a third elf and a half elf were seated. What luck! If I joined up, we were sure to be the cleverest and quietest party to ever raid a dungeon! My mood was somewhat spoiled to learn that there was also a human, half-orc, and that giant barbarian, Grug in the group. I'm sure they have their uses. Regardless, I'm looking for adventure, and here were a group looking to head out today. So I joined and we headed out to this moat house.

The human, Contristo, had been to the moat house with his previous party who had mysteriously disappeared and were presumed dead. He guided us there with a mix of anticipation and dread. I walked alongside the elf Azra and found that we are both from Celene. I think she and I will be good friends! The half-orc, Zorla, kept mostly to herself. On the roadside, we saw the bones of some large herbivore. For reasons I can't articulate, I felt a little sad at the sight. Soon enough, we rounded a bend and saw a crumbling facade with a rickety drawbridge. Grug decided the bridge wouldn't hold his weight, so he ran and leapt the length of it (and actually cleared it!) while the rest of us walked over it one by one.

Inside, we explored a few rooms that Contristo explained he had already searched with his former compatriots, but we searched again for whatever reason. Grug came across a broad sword and added it to his pack. We stopped to eat lunch. Before leaving the inn, I followed the half-elf Opelle's example of purchasing a sandwich packed by the barkeep. It was good! As I looked at the others gnawing on dried fruit and meat, I made the mental note to try and bring fresh provisions as often as possible. I'm worth it!

Azra shuffled and dealt her tarot cards and placed an ominous one. I'm not familiar with the practice, but it caused a chill among the group. She mentioned that she felt something was below us. Grug, meanwhile, came across a scrap of a rug. Poor guy was so excited he leapt up and hit the ceiling, knocking down dust and rubble onto himself and Farro. Moving through the rooms, we encountered the skeletons of dead rats and some stairs that led down. With a feeling of dread, we descended...

The party noted a large smudge mark at the base of the stairs and a foul odor. There were large piles of trash that the group started to sort through when we noticed that Farro was not with us. Suddenly we heard the sound of doors opening and looked to the hallway to the south and saw a horrible sight: zombies! We still could not see Farro, but Contristo could see that the zombies were the reanimated corpses of his former comrades. What a gruesome spectacle! Suddenly, we could see that Farro had been hiding in the shadows and emerged to stab and kill one of the zombies. Opelle was terrified and immediately began retreating to the stairs. I attempted to call on Solonar to turn the undead from our presence, but in my terrified state, I could not connect with his spirit. One of the zombies hit Grug with a devastating blow and the entire party decided to retreat up the stairs. Contristo and Farro held the last position and Contristo poured some oil and went to light it as a fire-wall to guard our backs as we retreated. For one heart-stopping moment, the oil almost didn't ignite. Then it exploded in flame, catching two undead alight and killing one of them. Sickeningly, the rest did not stop where the flaming corpses lay. Instead they stepped over the moldering mounds and trudged their decaying bodies ever closer to us.

Session 162: An Odd Group Forms in Hommlet

It was day 14 of Ready’reat. Contristo was hanging out in the inn, where he had been for the past couple of weeks.

A strange, large, and incredibly tall figure with platinum blonde hair came into the inn and sat at a table, staring at Contristo, who eyed him sideways as he ate. The tall man then stood and approached Contristo, grinning, just as a group of elves came in.

The elves included two grey elves, a half-elf, and a wood elf. They appeared to know each other and sat together.

The tall, blonde character introduced himself as Grug Coldsnap and asked if Contristo was an adventurer. He talked a lot. Contristo found him mildly entertaining.

Just then, a man calling himself Ben Oldham—and saying he was the father of Elmo—also approached Contristo, looking for information about where his son had vanished to and offering a reward for information or for his safe return.

Contristo shared that he was also anxious to find out what had happened to the entire party and readily agreed to Ben's request.

As Ben left, Grug enthusiastically invited Contristo to create another adventuring party with him. Contristo emphasized that his last party had gone missing and there was quite a commotion about it. It seems he had been interrogated extensively but found innocent of wrongdoing.

Grug seemed unconcerned and clapped Contristo on the back, nearly knocking him over.

As they talked, another strange figure entered the inn. She was taller than most human women and of an unusual complexion, with odd ears more like an elf, though much too tall to be a half-elf. She carried herself with the self-awareness of a fighter and sat alone at a table, ordering a simple meal.

Grug immediately turned his attention to the stranger and approached her boisterously, asking if she were a fighter and brandishing his broadsword in an oddly friendly manner, asking to see her broadsword as well.

She looked cornered but hesitantly shared that she was indeed a fighter, though she did not use a broadsword. Her name was Zorla. Grug enthusiastically invited her to join him and Contristo, who shrugged as she peered over at him. She said she would think about it.

Grug grinned and turned his attention to the elves, approaching their table and inviting them into his new adventuring party as well. They eyed him strangely and introduced themselves as: Azra, a cleric/magic user, not-Zofia (her name was unintelligible), Farro Eagerstar (who appeared to be a wood elf fighter of some kind), and Opelle Elenaril (the half elf).

Azra talked a lot and seemed very excited about joining the group. Really she just seemed excited in general about becoming an adventurer. Opelle went along quietly with the idea and the other elves nodded their agreement. Farro didn't say a word but ordered his food and ate while listening to Grug and Azra's conversation. Zorla seemed to be listening from the next table as well.

The innkeeper approached and asked if any of them would be needing rooms for the night. Opelle, Grug, Ferro, and Zorla engaged beds in the common room and the others took private rooms. Before they all retired for the night, Zorla begrudgingly agreed to join the group.

The next morning the group gathered at breakfast and decided to visit the trader before leaving town together to seek the other adventurers at the moathouse that Contristo had told them about.

Gremag, a tall, thin, sharp-featured trader with oddly-protruding eyes, greeted them with an oily manner, drywashing his hands and otherwise appearing too-friendly-to-be-trusted. He told the group about a man named Charles who was willing to hire out as a hireling for 1gold piece per day, provided they also give him armor and a weapon.

Contristo shrugged again when the others looked to him for advice on Charles, so they told Gremag they might consider it another day.

Grug was browsing and eating a sandwich. He told Gremag that he was very interested in rugs, but Gremag explained that they don’t stock rugs and the townsfolk usually buy such things from traveling traders who come through town. Grug nodded enthusiastically though no one could quite understand what he he was so excited about.

Azra bought a notebook, quill, and ink, then went out back and skipped around picking wildflowers.

Leaving the traders, the group decided to pay a visit to the village elder. Contristo led them to a manor house surrounded by an 8-foot-tall stone wall and Zorla approached and knocked on the heavy gate.

A young girl came out and Azra approached the gate to talk with her. The girl asked if the group had an appointment, which of course they did not. She explained that the village meeting was once a month on day 18 of Ready’reat, but the elder did not usually take walk-ins.

The group then returned to the inn, where Azra sat at a table and took out a deck of tarot cards. She turned over four cards: a Euryale, key, skull, and a fool. Grug watched each card with growing excitement and looked up at Azra for an explanation, seeming to think it was a gambling game. She smiled and told Grug that he won, making him even more excited.

Farro quietly stepped up next to Grug and nodded to Azra, who then put down a star, a jester, a fool, and an idiot. He, too, seemed to think that it was a gambling game and that he had won.

As Grug and Farro congratulated each other, Burne and Rufus entered the inn. Azra invited them to sit, asking in an overly-friendly way for information about the town and if there were any bandits in the area.

Burne said that bandits didn't come to town as such, then told her about the other adventurers and the moathouse. He explained that the moathouse had been ruled by the demoness of spiders, and how a force of people went to lay siege to it and destroyed the demoness. He said there was now a rumor that some unknown being or creatures—something—was in the moathouse.

He also suggested there could be a reward for more information about what newly-possessed the moathouse, and told Azra that he could teach her about spells and lore. He then proceeded to sell her a treatise on the fall of the temple of elemental evil, for the price of 10 gold, to be written and completed in two days.

The group's attention turned to Furnock, who had appeared at another table, playing poker, and seemed to be winning more often than not. Two traveling merchants were playing and drinking with him, generally enjoying themselves even when they lost.

Contristo pointed out someone else playing with them—Charles. Farro approached the group and asked to join a game. Charles stepped out of the next game and watched instead as Farro won the hand.

Grug also joined and continued playing after all the others pulled out, ultimately gambling away all of his gold and his handaxe. Grug claimed the handaxe wasn’t that special, but he seemed oddly shaken up about it anyway.

Furnock bowed deeply to Grug and the others, then closed the game for the night.

Session 161: It's Game Over Man! It's Game Over

 Patchwall Day 27

The Merchant Group of Hommlet has been informed that the group that escorted them safely to the city, has recently fallen in battle in the moat house ruins outside of the village proper. What little information we do know about them, we present to the public for a proper tribute for their commendable, albeit sometimes questionable actions. The departed members are as follows:

• Tylendal Adamant -
  
  
  
  
  With worry over his missing twin sister, Tatania, he began a life of adventure, determined to find out what became of her. He headed towards the area she was last heard of, hoping to get some experience under his belt in order to mount an effective rescue.
  
  
• Maeve -
  
  
  
  
  Maeve grew up in a traveling circus known as the Five Tents until tragedy struck. One night they were attacked by giants and many of the circus performers were slain. Maeve, her sister, and her sister's fiancé survived fortunately. The trio set out to leave the circus life behind, but Maeve couldn't quite leave the adventuring behind.
  
  
• Lucius Hopewind -
  
  
  
  
  
  Lucius grew up seeing the good in those around him, whether it was a lowly animal or half elf. He took it upon himself to defend those can't defend themselves and heal those that need it. He became a cleric to serve both those needs. His companion dog, Rufio, perished by his side. He was with him at the very end. 
  
  
• Francis - 
   
  
  
  Growing up as a misunderstood, orphan half-elf, Francis often had to steal to survive. He would often hear the music of the traveling minstrels and that would bring him comfort. Music, whether he heard it, or hummed it, often brought him great comfort. When he was able to save up enough money, he purchased a flute and learned the bardic training. He became a proper bard. 
  
  
• Emberia Ravendream -
  
  
  
  
  Little is known about the wood elf fighter. It is said that Emberia had a distaste for magic users, and usually kept to herself as often as she could. 
  
  
• Eris -
  
  
  
  
  Unfortunately, our records seem to be missing on this party member. What we do have on Eris was she was pretty effective with illusion magic, and thought the rest of the party members were carpenters trying to overthrow the town of Hommlett in some grand conspiracy. Upon further investigation, some journal entries of hers have been discovered. What journal entries we do have, she made to-do lists, with the apparent goal of self-improvement. So that is something. 

So, as you can see citizens of Hommlet, while no doubt flawed, these fine people layed down their lives in an effort to make this town a little better, and a little safer for all of us. 

           -Merchant Group of Hommlett

Session 160 Bunnies, Snakes, and Rats, Oh my!

Session 160 (Homlett) Day 27

Dear Diary 💖

Elmo decides to play tour guide and drag us around the “town” to kill some time before the vendors open.  Granted, “town” is a very generous word for this place.  Elmo points out this church of St. Cuthbert and that it’s a new faith.  There’s also this old faith that’s run by some guy who lives in the woods.  I bet he knows the Robin Hood knock-off.  Speaking of which, I met a guy at the inn who had similar clothes if I remember correctly?

We ask for more info about all of this, and Elmo says he’ll trade news for treasure.  I would feel bad about giving him financial support for his drinking habit, but it’s hard to find good fighters these days.  He seems to have some sort of mutual understanding with the bartender, which I find rather odd.  If information is as valuable as gold in this town, I should start bribing the bartender.  I bet he has overheard some interesting things from drunks.

Elmo must have had a bunny attack him when he was younger because he has some serious emotions to process about bunnies.  The fluff ball must’ve climbed out of the nine hells themselves and demanded his soul for him to be like this.  Despite everything, he has channeled his trauma into art.  It’s just a shame that the art really isn’t that good.  If you’re going to have emotional outbursts like that, you might as well make a profit off of them.  Maybe someone will buy them if he becomes one of those “tortured artists”?  I think the vendors talked about a gnome or someone riding a giant rabbit at one point.  Maybe I’ll have him chase Elmo around for a little bit.  New business idea:  profit off of Elmo’s childhood trauma of bunnies.

For some reason, someone thought it was a good idea to go visit some cabinet makers.  I think they knew that there were some carpenters in our group?  Our carpenters are just very interested in doors, but to be fair, cabinets are just mini doors if you really think about it.  If they did know that we had carpenters in our group, I’m glad they decided to keep it civil.  I doubt committing arson to a shop that’s somewhat close to a church is a good look.  When I die, a bunny may drag my soul to hell.

Anyways, the bard asked to have a snake painted on his flute, but he decided against it due to it taking too much time.  He should’ve casted an illusion on his flute to have a snake on it.  A snake illusion would work quite well against rabbits.

Elmo takes us to the brewer for an excuse to day drink, which I’m fine with because it’s never a bad idea to have some liquid courage before heading into danger.  Then, we sell some stones, a dagger, a chain, and an ivory box for a decent amount of coin to a guy with two hellhounds.  They probably chased the bunnies out of hell, and now they’re domesticated.

We go to the traders, and they don’t have a single book on the town’s history or on some of these faiths.  I don’t like the traders, but maybe that’s because I just tend to not like people in general.  I also don’t trust the majority of the people that we’ve met so far.  For example, we tossed one of our hostages to a wizard, and we haven’t heard anything about what happened with that yet.  The wizard, BURNE, seems a little too eager for information.  I wonder if he changed his name when this whole elemental nonsense happened just to fit the aesthetic.  I’ll investigate and have a chat with him soon.

If Elmo keeps whistling during these little strolls to the moathouse, I might poison his ale at some point.  Actually, I’m sure his liver is so strong that it’ll process any poison without a problem.  He tries to talk to the mule at one point, but the mule is even annoyed by the whistling.

We get to the moathouse, and we investigate some noises upstairs because that’s a thing we’ve been doing now I guess.  An adventurer's lifespan would be significantly longer if they just ignored some noises here and there.  Low and behold, rats spill out of the hallway.  I cast an illusion of a giant snake, and the only name I could think of was “Steve.”  This choice will haunt me for eons to come.  Maeve is still drunk from earlier apparently and throws an ax at Elmo.  It was hilarious.  She can handle weapons, but not her liquor.

We kill the rats and find a flask of oil.  I’m surprised Elmo didn’t immediately start chugging the flask, but he was able to find the restraint.  We find a set of stairs, so I send Steve down them.  I don’t trust the structural integrity of this building.  Everything seems fine at first, but then Rufio starts growling and barking at something.  We decide to take the subtle and tactical approach by throwing a lit molotov cocktail, and two large slime balls fall from the ceiling.  They immediately burn, and the place smells even worse than before.  As if we haven’t made enough poor choices today, we go downstairs…

Session 159: Is that... Deeb?

It's halfway through Day 26 of Patchwall and our troop is feeling battle-worn after our encounter with the lizard and ticks. Lucius first floats the idea of returning to Homlet because he's low on healing spells and another encounter with a dangerous creature could be disastrous. Elmo chimes in that there are three good reasons to head back and they are: ale, ale, and dinner. Can't argue with that.

We are in pretty good spirits on our expedited walk back to town (thanks to our competent guide) when Emberia catches sight of a familiar face. Deeb! Our former compatriot peeks out from behind a bush and asks "found anything today?"  He seems to be feeling out his decision to leave the group. Francis produces a goblin skull as if it's something to be valued, but Deeb just rolls his eyes. Eris mentions our haul of 33 copper pieces (which, is not much, but it's not nothing!). Nobody brings up the sundry other items we've found. Perhaps it's because their value isn't as tangible. Deeb decides he will join us on our walk. I ask him what ever happened to those two adventurers he was planning to join up with. He has no clue what I'm talking about. Maybe it really was all just a dream.

Back at the Welcome Wench, Francis and Elmo are drinking ale (what else?) and Elmo is telling Francis that his collection of skulls is a little pedestrian. Collecting common woodland creature parts (like a snake skull -- even if it is a giant one) will make people believe you are common. What he needs is something legendary! The rest of us order dinner and Burne the wizard walks in. I go over to talk to him and relay the information we have gathered so far about the moat house. He rewards our group with five silver pieces each with a promise of more for additional information or evidence of bandits of the Temple of Elemental Evil. 

Most of us turn in for the night, but Eris and Francis linger in the dining hall. Eris meets and chats with a fellow named Zert. He's a mercenary for hire whose usually quarry is guarding caravans, but he has some time until the next one rolls out. Zert is intrigued by the moat house and the prospect of finding treasure there. He offers himself as a hireling for tomorrow's excursion, but Eris demurs and says she will need to get permission from the entire group. Francis, meanwhile, chats with the druid Jaroo. He knows Burne and is also interested in whatever intel he can gather about the moat house. Jaroo entices Francis to indulge in some "nature's punch" (which is just water) and a plate of delicious mixed nuts. What a wholesome guy! Certainly his motives are pure and he is to be trusted! After this thrilling nightcap, the last two of the party retire.

It's the morning of Day 27 and the party straggles back into the dining hall where we hear of Eris' offer to extend our party by one. Tylendal and I are happy to put another beefy body between us and danger, but Contristo and Lucius are loath to split the pot any further. So with no hard feelings, we tell Zert his services are not needed. Instead of heading straight out, we plan to visit some shops this morning.

Session 158: Ruined Ruins and a Reptile Rumble

 Day 26 of Patchwall

After my morning prayers and mediation, I headed to enjoy a filling breakfast the inn had cooked up for us. It was quite delicious. When I sat down to enjoy the meal, I absent-mindedly sat down next down to Burne, the mage in charge of half the town it seems. Any who, he wanted to all about the day's previous adventures in the moathouse. He mentioned that nobody had been there in a hot minute and was quite interested in what the group encountered while there. I of course told him about the giant spider attacking Maeve, the large snake attacking the group, and some large tracks that were discovered, possibly by a humanoid creature. Since none in the party were rangers, we couldn't make heads or tails of the tracks. Burne thanked me for the information that I could provide and mentioned possible rewards for further information: if we brought scalps or other things of value from the suspected bandits that call the moathouse home. He said that the moathouse was once a base of operations for an evil cleric who worshipped a demoness name Loth, and this evil cleric was a member of this bandit gang. 

Following this chat the group chatted up the new hireling, that is free with his ale cups, named Elmo. He demanded a battleaxe before he will join the party, and oddly enough the party agrees. Emberia went to the local trader and purchased one, but not before apparently being hassled by the shop keeper about how the previous hireling Charles was treated. When the elven fighter delivers the axe, Elmo took off, apparently to get ready for the adventure. Constristo and I went to the traders. He needed some glasses bottles or vials I think, and I wanted to kill time. The shop keeper wanted some additional answers from me and Constristo, and we tried to answer them as best we could about the group's treatment of Charles. I think he accepted our answers a little more than Emberia's. We headed back to the group when Constristo got what he needed from the shop. The group is met by Elmo who is ready to go: fully clad in chain mail armor and battleaxe in tow. 

Elmo is one heck of a guide. He guides us in more efficient paths we wouldn't have thought to take, and we make it to the moathouse in record time. When we enter into the ancient den of evil, Elmo takes notice of the footprints and comments that they are less than a week old. He points out the different prints: some belong to the party last time they adventured here, other prints belong to other humanoids, and some belong to a gnoll. He decides (with group consensus) that it would be best to sweep the tracks as well as those of tracks we leave behind. We show him the various areas we have explored, and upon seeing the headless corpse of the snake, he comments and takes offense. He says something to the effect of respecting natures creatures, and then puts the body of the creature in the moat. I don't know about you, but I respect something until it tries to eat me, then all bets are off. The group does a bit more exploring and Emberia finds a pouch of broken glass, Maeve finds a leather ball, and Eris finds a pair of ugly green boots. She uses her cantrip and dyes them black, and immediately puts them on. She is a weird one for putting on garbage boots without checking them first. Tylendale finds a bottle of reddish hue liquid which may or may not be a container of blood. The group entered a room with a few wooden chests. When Emberia gets close to one of the chests, a creature bursted up from its hiding place and attacked Emberia. It is a giant lizard. 

Constristo, trying to show off I think throws some daggers at it, and misses it wildly. Maeve missed in her thrown attack as well. The lizard, who initially saw Emberia, attacked her, but she easily dodged out of the way. Tylendale hit it with his staff, and that made it mad. The party tries to hit it, but most miss their attacks. The lizard does bite Emberia, but I ended up healing her right back. After several more misses Elmo strikes and kills the creature. The lizard was guarding a light crossbow and bolts, and a scale mail tunic. Constristo graps the tunic and Tylendale grabs the crossbow and bolts to sell in town. Maeve heals Tylendale (he had been hit by a few of the party's darks) with one of her healing potions. 

Emberia leads us to a room that looks kind of like an old kitchen. When she enters, a large tick-like creature attacks and attaches itself to her face. She tried to clear it off with her sword, but the angle was too awkward, and she is unable to do so. The rest of the party are unable to figure out how to attack or remove it without hurting Emberia. Elmo finally just rips it off and throws it against the wall, killing it. In the commotion, another tick showed up to attack the party and attacked and knocked out Tylendale. The party takes turns attacking the creature, but I finished it off squishing it with my staff. 

Session 157

 Day 25

Dear Diary,

We went back to the moathouse today.  It was the same moathouse where I was like super heroic and killed that giant spider.   There’s this guy that keeps following us for some reason.  He really doesn’t do anything other than just huff and grumble.  If he actually killed anything, then maybe he would be useful.  Granted, I’m not even sure why I’m with these people in the first place.  I joined for like one job, and now I’m doing this other thing with them.  It’s one of those things where I wasn’t planning on being here for long, so it would just kinda be too awkward to back out now.  I’m not even sure if I was actually invited to be honest.  I just heard there was money, and I decided to follow that sweet sound of gold clinking together in a pouch.

Anyways, some of the people were really into the doors.  Not sure if they’re just carpenters or what, but they seriously examined every door and random details within the rooms.  I think I’m following a group of aggressive carpenters.  I bet they want to kick out those vendors from Hommlett, so that they can take their business and become a monopoly.  I don’t know how businesses work, but I’m guessing we’ll be fighting the vendors soon.

At one point, I nearly died.  There were some bats that flew by and nearly took my head off.  After that scare, we were met with this giant snake.  That guy who was following us did nothing of course, while we did all of the hard work.  I think his name is Milk?  I casted Spook on the snake, and one of the carpenters killed the snake while it was fleeing to the water.  He decided to go for a swim as if giant frogs weren’t in the water the day before, but he lived I guess.

We finally got back to town, and a drunk guy comes in and starts asking for people to pay for his drinks.  He offered to help us with this whole moathouse thing, and a part of me died a little because I was hoping we weren’t returning to that place.  The giant creatures were annoying but fine.  The place just smelled like mold.  I’m sure this drunk guy’s aim will be a lot better than Milk.

One of the carpenters talks to Milk, and Milk loses his mind and storms out.  I’m pretty sure the chainmail was a rental, and I think he thought he was going to be able to keep it?  Not sure.  Doesn’t really matter now because we have the town drunkard.  Just a silly little group of several carpenters, a birthday clown who was probably fired from their previous gig, a band nerd with an alarming amount of skulls in their collection, a town drunkard, and yours truly. 💙

To-Do List:

• Figure out how business works
• Find out how many skulls in a collection is considered an alarming amount