Greetings. Welcome to the first session of /mlpol/'s first running of the classic third edition d&d campaign Red Hand Of Doom.
On this adventure, our heroes, currently three strong, will encounter dozens of trials that will test their strength, cunning, and friendship as they face an army of goblins.
If you'd like to join, there's still room for more in the party. Don't be shy to ask.
Our story begins in Elsir Vale, with our three heroes on the road to the town of Drellin’s Ferry. The three are seasoned adventurers, and exated heroes to boot. Having fought many battles together before, they are confident in their strength. Legend has it of a vast treasure in the Vault of Vraath Keep, hidden deep in the Witchwood; our heroes, have journeyed all this way to seize the vault for their own.
Despite that, they all have their own motivations to travel to Drellin's Ferry:
Sir Whiskers, a cunning and charismatic Tibbet Jester, is travelling to meet up with an old friend of his: Princess Princess Bagel Jennifurr Fluffykinz the fourth. He hasn't met his old friend since he was a kitten, and he's eager to meet with her again. She has arranged to meet up with him in Drellin's Ferry, and to accompany him on his adventure.
Sir Brozal, a mighty Orc Crusader of Pelor, has received a mission from a high-ranking Cleric of his order has received a powerful vision of war descending on Elsir Vale under the banner of a clawed red hand, and has sent Brolaz to the far reaches of Elsir Vale to avert impending disaster... Brozal isn't exactly sure if the vision was real, or if his master just wanted to get rid of him for the year, but he never turns down a good crusade.
Brother Chad, a wise and powerful Druid, has chosen to accompany his companions on their hunt for the lost treasure in the Witchwood. Sir Whiskers requested his aid because Chad is the most experienced woodsman he knows. Chad is wary of this region, for he's heard that it is ruled by a fierce and territorial Druid, but he embarks upon this jouney nonetheless, the secrets of the Witchwood too tempting to ignore.
...So tempting that he seems to have drifted off somewhere with his horse; probably fucking it again or something. Stupid hippie.
And so, let's begin:
>The afternoon sun beats down on you; the air is hot and still. The sparsely settled lands of Elsir Vale are starting to grow monotonous, with a seemingly endless line of dusty flyspecks of towns. The town of Drellin’s Ferry lies a few miles ahead of you. It’s a settlement hard on the borders of the Witchwood, and the best place from which to begin exploring the nearby forest.
This is the part where the players ask obvious questions that I thoughtlessly ignored in the first post, as well as implore about their surroundings.
[Read more] 1972 replies and 85 files omitted.
>>137041Yes, the party was given free stay at the inn.
You should all be there, unless Brozal insists on sleeping outside again...
>>137042Well, if right outside the inn counts as a safe place, then Aral would totally just meditate next to Brozal. Firstly because he's the only one of the party so far he had conversed with and found enough common ground to trust him - oddly enough - secondly because he is the kind of forest elf that would probably find the wind more comforting than the walls.
Stay fully awake a few hours later than the party, just sitting studying his new scroll, then get out of trance a few hours earlier to prepare his daily spells. That is the general plan.
We will be playing tomorrow morning.
Hopefully with a full party this time.
Okay, to get this clear, how long did you guys want to rest? You were all given free stay at the inn.
It's 3-4 PM in game time. You have time to do shopping (*cough* horses *cough*) and info-gathering, but if you go back on the trail, you're going to start facing layers of exhaustion (you've all been up for thirteen hours), which may get you killed.
Or at least that's what Jorr says. You guys are free to do as you please.
The city council remains unconvinced to evacuate for now. Norro Wiston appears to trust you, but some charisma checks are going to need to be rolled to help him convince the council with only this much info/tension.
Brozal will ride a horse and begrudgingly agrees to a long rest. He’ll sleep in an alleyway or something. He’s also donating 120 platinum, 1.2k gold, and 2.5k silver to the temple of Pelor.
Brozal will beg for food after donating his money.
>>137303Brother Derny gasps as the blue orc, with a dozen arrows still sticking out of his back, marches into the church and dumps and enormous bag of gold and platinum on the floor.
"What the..?! Oh, it's you again." The middle aged human says, looking the Orc up and down
"What on Pelor's blessed earth happened to you?"
Okay, so Brozal donated his gold.
Chad bought another horse
Jorr is getting shitfaced drunk at the tavern.
Norro Wiston doesn't bother the party for the rest of the day.
END OF DAY FOUR
Okay, everyone went to bed early.
When do you guys want to get up?
You can also rest for as many days as you wish. Would you like to stay in town?
>>137308It would be nice to explore the town.
>>137309That's fine.
Is there anything in particular you're looking for?
>>137309>>137310You have a few hours before dusk, but you could explore much more the next day.
We need to get our asses in gear instead of fucking around in a town.
>>137311>>137312I think i want to go back to the druid grove first and give the guy a thanks before i head out.
This might be my last time in the town so i want give him a goodbye. >>137313Alright I’m cool with that.
>>137313The young Half-Elf is glad to see you as you arrive
or perhaps moreso, glad to see Misty"Chad. It's good to see you again. How was your journey."
Then his eyes narrow, as he peers at the wounds in Misty's flank
"Rather rough, I suppose... What happened?"
>>137315"Long story short we ran into a couple of green gooks."
>>137316"Green gooks, you say? Any red ones?"
I feel like we should waste as little time as possible so we have as much wiggle room as possible.
We can stay for two days.
>>137320"Damn savages.." The half-elf mutters
"It looks like you took quite a few nasty hits."
>>137321"Ah a good wash will cleanse them, not too big of a deal as all wounds eventually heal through cleansing."
Okay, the party has elected to rest for two days.
Aral spends a day copying a spell into his book.
Anybody have actions they want to have the next day? Anything they want to buy?
>>137319Aral checks up the next with the Captain to see if she can spare some resources or soldiers for our mission to ride out and slow the goblins down. They had a conversation a few days ago that would suggest she might.
>>137324(assuming this was on day 4)
"Just what exactly are ye planning to do?" Captain Sorana asks
>>137326"Head out North. Buy your town time."
>>137327"I suppose we could spare a few men... How many do you need?"
>>137328"We need to travel quick. As many as can ride with us. I can support one more with a conjured mount."
“These goblins need to show up already.”
Okay, Day 5 passes
Brozal now has a horse.
DAY SIX BEGIN
Okay, I'm assuming the party leaves at 6.
With a heavy horse, you could get to skull gorge in a bit over a day.
You guys travel for about four hours, getting just past the river.
Aral, you can make a spot check.
I’m giving my wand of minor vigor to Chad. It has 49 charges left.
>>137331Okay, Aral rolled a 21.
Aral notices some shapes lurking 60 ft ahead of the party.
Surprise round evaded. Everyone roll initiative.
Okay, Aral, Brozal, Chad, ???
Aral, you're up.
>>137338Aral cast Haste on the party and dismounts.
Dismounting horse and doing total defense.
Aral cast Haste on the party.
He has made out 7 spider-like shapes 60 ft in front of the party.
Brozal's turn.
Okay, Brozal's turn, he just did what he could.
Chad's turn.
Should i make a spot check?
Sure, I'll let you make one as a free action.
Aral as pointed out 7 spider-like shapes 60 ft ahead on either side of the road.
>>137342You can dismount Misty as a move action, and wildshape as a standard action.
>>137344Yep. Those are some big nasty spiders. They look like they're about to charge.
John, meanwhile, is trotting down the dawn way.
Chad, what else do you want to do with your turn?