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 83 files omitted.
>>134396"I say we check the sword's value and abilites first," Whiskers offers. "Perhaps it might hint at an ability we can use for this raid."
>>134397"Well, You could go ahead and give your cut to Brother Derny."
>>134399I'd really like you all to stay together, yes.
>>134400Brozal will give five-hundred gold to Brother Derny and insist that the gold is evenly distributed among the homeless and poor of the hamlet. He will also ask that Brother Derny use a portion of the five-hundred gold to buy soup and clean water for the homeless and poor.
>>134396>>134397>>134399"I will take the weaponry to the smith then we part with half of the money and give the rest to the poor like Bro suggested we do."
>>134401"Well then Whiskers, do you want to come with me to the forgery?"
>>134403The cat nods, comfortable on Misty's back as he lays down again to calm his nerves slightly.
>>134402One step at a time please.
I've heard several locations brought up:
>Morlin’s Smithy>The House of Sertieren the Wise> The Old Bridge InnActually, I'd like everyone to roll an untrained knoledge (local) check to see what they know about this town walking into it.
Whiskers, you can roll Gather Information if your mod is higher.
I rolled a zero on knowledge(local).
>>134405what is the dice roll or that? (1d20something)
Okay, first the Smithy...
Alright, before you stands what looks like a typical smithy on the side of the hill, with a small cottage not far behind it.
You see an old dwarf hammering on some piece of metal up front. Sparks fly off of the anvil as he gurgles an unintelligible song.
>>1344071d20+2 for you.
I'd also like you to roll Nature, which would be 1d20+11
>>134412So chad he matches the charisma character perfectly.
>>134410Okay, you're able to discern all of the mundane and magical services you would be able to find in this town. You know that you'd be able to find minor magical items if you went looking. Several items within your price range are available.
Furthermore, you have heard rumors of a mysterious "disappearing cat" near the Old Bridge Inn. You think your friend might be near.
>>134411As territorial as any druid, you quickly pick up wind of The Old Ones: A small clearing in the woods on the west bank of the Elsir holds an old circle of small menhirs known as “the Old Ones” by the townsfolk. The circle has long served as a druidic sacred place, and the druid Avarthel now tends the Old Ones.
Oh, and there's a few horses for sale in both the local stables in town. Misty snorts indignantly as one winks at you as you pass by.
>>134414>>134409Awesome.
Whiskers pats the horse owning human on his back, trying to point him at the blacksmith first. He didn't want those nasty dogs bullying him anytime soon.
>>134414I will wait until after the battle then when i return to the town i will meet with the fellow druid.
I give Misty a reassuring head pat.
>>134415We make our way towards the dwarf.
Okay guys, I'm going to have to step away soon. I'm burnt, and I'm going to eat dinner in a little bit.
Right now, it's early in the afternoon. The party has time to run
Recalculating my course of action, I don't think I actually want to roleplay every shopkeeper. Just ask for what's available and I'll tell you guys what's for sale.
If you guys want to finish the session this evening, I would like to get to the end of day one tonight so we can begin day 2 next weekend.
>>134418I'll get you there. Just give me a bit to go get a drink.
Since you're in the server, I could also RP that part during the week. I don't intend to start day 2 until next session.
>>134417Kitty want some AoE damage dealers and know if sword has power that might be useful.
After that, he may go to the Inn and meet cat lady.
>>134417What does the dwarf have to sell and does he say anything about the swords?
>>134417I can keep going until i am forced to stop.
>>134422Okay, pardon me for being a faggot, but I'm going to spend half an hour eating dinner. Then I can revisit this with a fresh mind.
Okay, for the sake of convenience, I'll point out that either Chad or Whiskers could have used Detect Magic and a spellcraft check to try to identify the weapons. Both the shortswords and the armor have magical auras: faint evocation on the shortswords and faint abjuration on the armor. You can logically assess that they are each +1 weapons/armor, with no other special powers.
You know that all three of them are dwarvencraft in quality. You know this because the dwarf running the smithy says he crafted them himself.
He has a battleaxe, a longsword, a heavy steel shield, a breastplate, and a chainshirt. All of similar quality (+1). He says he'd be willing to barter either of the swords for any of the weapons, and the banded mail for either set of armor or the shield. You can also buy any of these normally at market price.
>>134425Oh yes, there's also 50 arrows for sale, which he insists are magical.
>>134425Whisker doesn't see anything that interests his current need for AoE damage dealing, so he waits for Chad to see if anything would interest him.
He casts a cursory Detect Magic on the arrows to pass the time and confirm the dwarf's proclamations.
Are there any bargain bin wands with a verbal activation thingy?
>>134425>>134427I see nothing that i need, i will give the weapons to the troops and Soranna in the morning.
>>134428Wands that are almost dead are fine too
>>134427"Do you want to go meet that princess now Whiskers? Or can we go meet Avarthel? (the other druid)
>>134431Whiskers' ears spike as he stood up, but tries to remain cool. "If it's on the path to the druid, we can definitely save time going there."
I might be settling in for some sleep here in an hour or two
>>134428No.
The armor looks good though. It looks like it would fit you.
[insert shopkeeper roleplay here]
"I have just the scroll for you." the Wizard says.
"Fireball. That'll be 375 gold."
>>134430No wands.
Scrolls are on sale at the temple and the Wizard's house.
Both mages offer low-level spellcasting services.
>>134431Sounds like the Old Ones have some low-level potions on sale.
Just saying, you guys only have a few hours until the evening.
>>134432>>134434"Then let us begin our march towards the princess and meet Avarthel after"
>>134435I'm going to let you go to the temple while the rest of their party does their stuff.
You sure you don't want that +1 Banded mail?
>>134434>>134436"It can wait," Whiskers retorts, starting to take stock of time "we must prepare for the fight first."
With that being said, he asks the potion-seller for any sort of potions to fling at enemies in order to cause damage.
I'd definitely take that scroll of Fireball, but I'm unsure it's for me. >>134439Meow definitely takes two Fireball scrolls for himself before asking for any other elemental area of effect attacks.
>>134440"Nothing in stock now, but I could have you a scroll with three charges of burning hands by tomorrow morning if you pay up front. That would be 75 gold." The wizard replies
There is only one Fireball scroll
"... I could have one by tomorrow. I would have to pull an all-nighter, but If you're helping lady Soranna I would be happy to oblige." The old mage says
Small black feline leaps up on the desk and walks across the receipt pad.
"Mittens! No!" The old wizards reees
"Pardon my familiar..."
>"Oooooh, would you look at what we've got here.."
The black cat says in it's eldritch feline voice, staring at him with its glowing yellow eyes.
Also I want the new banded mail to look exactly like my current suit since my armor is uniquely customized
>>134443It means +1 more AC than your normal banded mail, and a chance to sell your old suit.