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.
1970 replies and 81 files omitted.
Okay, combat encounter imminent. Join me in the server so that this doesn't take hours.
>>138929With that check, you at least know that this monster is called a "Chimera", white variety.
Jorr grabs his bow. Captain Soranna rushes outside.
The monster is some 300 ft away from the tavern, breathing it's chaos down on the townsfolk.
Pic related is the monster.
>>138932It's the thing that fucked Applejack.
>>138933The lingering scent of apples and maresweat confirms that it is.
Hamfist Henry raises his arms into the air in celebration and climbs on top of the chimera’s body. He then motions for his companions to step up onto the bodily pedestal with him. “Never forget our names. Hamfist Henry, Jorr, Aral, and Chad!” He yells into the crowd of adoring fans while blood dribbles down his face and out of cracks in his armor.
Hamfist Henry is basking in the adoration of the crowd while smiling. “For thirty years, I’ve been dead. Today I am alive again.”
>>138935....
Okay, that thing went down faster than i expected.
All three heads are shot squarely, their eyes glassing over as the beast collapses.
As the Chimera dies, it seems almost confused, as if dumbfounded how it could have been defeated so quickly.
The townsfolk cheer, clapping in celebration and thanks.
....
*rolls some dice*
e_e
The monster was apparently paid generously for its work. It drops a truly absurd amount of treasure:
>Golden Pearl Statuette (of a Unicorn) wreathed in Continual Flame>Golden jewelry worth 500 gp>Iron Armband>Blue Star Sapphire>lapis lazuli >>138938Hamfist Henry will take the golden jewelry and wear it. He also checks out the iron armband.
Hamfist Henry is flexing and posing dramatically for the crowd while standing atop the dead chimera in an attempt to make them cheer louder. Rolled a 16 on tumble.
>>138938Chad, with a passive Nature check, is able to notice that the unicorn statue is an Idol of Eponna.
>>138941Everyone claps.
The remaining townsfolk toss some silver coins.
Gain 10 sp
Okay. Aral is skinning a Chimera. That will take him the rest of the day, with Jorr's help.
Brother Derny, who has still not evacuated, comes over and congratulates Henry, and heals him 30 HP with his spell slots.
He also heals Aral back to full health.
I'm going to skip ahead to the evening.
>>138943I'm gonna take the statue.
Okay, later that evening.
Speaker Wiston assembles the party, the town mostly evacuating at this point, caravans leaving.
The town of Drellin’s Ferry is empty. Houses stare vacantly out at silent roads. The sun has just vanished behind the formidable scar on the horizon that is the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. Speaker Wiston takes a deep breath and wipes tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. “It seems we’re about out of time,” he says. “We’d best be going now if we want to keep ahead of the worg riders.”
Captain Soranna nods to you. “You’ve already done us good, heroes. Without your warning, we’d have all been asleep in our beds when the horde arrived on our stoops. You’ve saved many lives today. For that you have my thanks. But I am afraid your work may not be done yet. There’s nothing to stop the Red Hand before they reach the walls of Brindol.”
Henry takes out his bottle of rum that he's been nursing for the past few hours and glugs down a gulp. "Is this Jorr guy a mercenary? Does he get paid?" Henry asks while stumbling in the general direction of Aral and Chad.
>>138946Jorr was being paid 10 gp a day.
>>138943"He is. He does." Aral takes 70 gp and hands it to Jorr.
>>138947>>138948Henry finishes his bottle and tucks it away. "He's useful and I'd like to keep him around." The drunken homeless man says while handing 50 more GP and a bottle of rum to Jorr.
>>138945"Let's get moving then before we become dog food."
"We appreciate your thanks, are we following you?"
>>138948>>138950Jorr accepts the payment and tips his hat.
"It's been a pleasure to work with ye'." The roguish woodsman says
>>138950"Unless ye plan to stay in the Witchwood for a long while longer, i think we'd best part ways here." The woodsman says, scratching his head
"These are my woods. I've been fighting my little one-man war for as long as I can remember, and I'm not about to call it quits. The savages may have won this battle, but it'll take more than a few thousand goblins to drive me out."
To sum up day nine:
>Hamfist introduced
>Hear about blockade on Rhest Trail
>Wiston mentions Cromar might be in trouble
>interrupted by Chimera attack
>chimera btfo'd
>treasure
>town evacuates
>Jorr wants to stay in the Witchwood
>Now Speaker Wiston and Soranna are talking
>>138952"The woods aren't going anywhere. If you come with us and kill goblins by our side, we're stronger and we can drive them out of the region completely."
>>138953>>138955Hmmmmmmm, let me check my notes on this."Eh, I'll think about it..." The woodsman grumbles
Wiston clears his throat.
Who had the healing belt? I might need it with all the damage I've taken/will surely take in the future.
>>138957I think Brozal had it if i remember.
>>138957"Check Chad's bag." Jorr says
>>138955"Could give you a raise and pay in advance, if money is needed."
Little pause.
"Might not be any woods left, not as they are, if we don't act against the Red Hand together."
>>138960Henry checks Chad's bag, removes the healing belt, and dons it. "Thanks!"
>>138962"I doubt it would fit around my barrel belly so i hope you have fun with your new belt and slap some bitches with it for me."
>>138959>>138963I repossessed some of Whisker's equipment and put it in Chad's bag
Hmmmmmmmm... what to do...
...
You hear the sounds of howling, shouting, and multiple screams in the direction of the caravans.
"Eh? One more fight innit' then?" Jorr says with a slight smile, grabbing his bow.
>>138965Well that's convenient, i wouldn't really be able to use the healing belt if i''m in wild shape, right?
Henry sits down wherever a suitable and decent seat can be found. “How should we approach this next battle?” He ponders aloud.
>>138965>>138968Should i cast Owl's Wisdom on Aral?
>>138965>>138965*on the East Bank
A commotion in the street outside sounds out in the night.
“Run! Run! Goblins are attacking the east bank!” someone cries.
From your window, you can see bright flames leaping up from houses and buildings by the road and hear the faint roar and crackle of distant flames.
Speaker Wiston sounds the alarm. Captain Soranna runs over to the old Toll house to muster some guards.
Aral, with his low-light vision, can see several goblin raiders have arrived to harass the caravan as they leave. Several of them appear to be riding worgs, more appearing over the hills.
Goblinoids rain flaming arrows down on the fleeing peasants.
Henry scratches his chin while watching the commotion. “Is running right in really a good idea?”
You're only a hundred feet away from the source of the commotion when you spot a trio of goblin worg riders dashing down the street, whooping and shaking their bows in the air. A powerful hell hound bounds alongside them.
Henry will use all three charges of the healing belt to heal himself. He heals 18 damage and is now at 73 HP.
>Goblins when they thought they were going to have a nice easy raid picking on defenseless villagers but face PC instead
(courtesy of Ham's player)
Well, that was going well, until it didn't.