Session 78: Making of a Cripple Present: Tek Valorn, Fighter Lvl 2 (Chris) Malagven, Dark Elf Warlock/Sorcerer lvl 3 (Niko) Zeech, Aarakockra, Monk lvl 3 (Sam) Ivilion, Wood Elf, Ranger Lvl 1 (Hairy0tter) Nyx, Forest Gnome, Ranger Level 3 (Justine) So Gentlemen, you want to hear about this old leg of mine eh? Well, pull up a stool, grab me an ale, and open your ears, this one is a blinder!! 20 th of Quickern… Oh how I should have just stayed in bed this day…. yes, bed would have been a good fucking idea…. A good fucking idea indeed. Waking up I saw a nice sunrise, well, as nice as I was ever going to get here and thought to myself ‘You know what, today is going be a nice day’, Oh how I was sorely mistaken…. So there I was getting dressed and what do I do? I go stub my bloody grand toe on the wall, cursing the wall and rubbing my grand I wish I would never have to feel that again (Ivilion reaches down to what used to be his leg) a wish I should never have made. After recovering from my stubbing accident I proceed to go down stairs to get some food in the grand hall of the ‘Unicorn Inn’… which isn’t that great can I just point out. So Nyx yes, this little gnome I had seen around the place my first few days in the Unicorns had approached me asking if I would like to do a job? A Job!!! Why would I willingly go do a job but I though what the hell, she’s cute maybe see where this could go. She immediately introduced me to her pet Greysnarl who I had mistaken for her boyfriend before noticing a large wolf which seemed rather obedient and behaved. Turns out she is more interested in her wolf than anything else… We ended up heading into the ‘Tipsy Mermaid’ where I had to wait for her to catch up (Ivilion looks around saying ‘Fives and Twenties gentlemen, Fives and Twenties’) Gnomes hey? Shortly after Nyx’s arrival she waves over and says hi to a man I now know as ‘Tek Valorn’ I won’t go into details but his crossbows are deadly, He is not… I think he needs some spectacles, Anyway, he mentions a job to us about some island no one returned from, which I wasn’t even consulted on, but Nyx had decided we would join him anyway!! Not only had I been dragged to a drunken mermaid’s inn, I then had this bird fellow come up to me, who was a friend of the others, and say, ‘It’s rare for someone to be shorter than me’… the bloody audacity of him!! He’s lucky I didn’t just pop him one right there and then, but what would Nyx have said… didn’t want to make a bad impression now did I (Ivilion winks). Another guy came with us as well, friends with Tek I think, I didn’t get to know him very well, kept to himself at most. So everyone had arrived and without even sitting down for an ale we were already off and on our way to the boat…. I was pretty parched myself and was looking forward to a drink before we left, but no, no one thought to ask me what I wanted to do did they! Ignorance is what that is gentlemen. We got to this enormous boat named ‘Wind Weaver’ more like the bloody rock and row!! As we tried to dock the boat the man at the top of the what seemed like a rotten piece of fencing stopped Nyx, asking her what she thought she was doing bringing a wolf on-board the ship, and after a small conversation with the man me and Nyx had managed to convince him that her wolf was domesticated and was able to behave itself. During our travel we happened to see some humanoids in the water, Nyx, with her big heart had tried to talk to them with some humble greetings, yet they turned their back to her and left without even returning the gesture… they were lucky I didn’t have my bow to hand…. Poor Nyx must have been heartbroken. 21 st of Quickern… upon arrival at the Island, of which I don’t quite remember the name, I never actually asked what it was (Ivilion bursts out laughing), but I know that the camp was named Galv and that the weather was nice and warm, almost perfect one could describe it, we were greeted by a man who seemed to be in charge and again I never bothered to ask (Ivilion frowns), I probably should have though. Shortly after Tek came out with what he thought was a funny comment ‘Keep your pets in line’ to Nyx!!! ‘I don’t like being called pet’ I shouted at him and he scurried his way knowing that he was in the danger zone!! After a short while of conversation between the man that is in charge of the camp and Malagven, we had been informed that the actual island we were looking for, well at least we were meant to look for, was many miles South West of the camp across the waters at the edge of the island they had dropped us off at, how hard is it to get dropped off at the right island? (Ivilion pulls a confused face) So again we set straight off, after a whole day being on that boat I still don’t get a chance to have some ale!!! I could not believe it!! Gutted, I trudged along with them as they tried to sneak their way through the beautiful, peaceful serene forests that scaled the lands, I think I was second from the back if my mind is correct, probably the most dangerous position of a small party formation if you were to ask me! But I didn’t argue with the group, sometimes they just need to know someone is there to support them and is ready to take control if needed. During our travels we came across a small opening with some large trees potted around the edges and large rocks in the centre the grass was wild but not overgrown and a bright green giving almost a glow as the breeze blows through the blades causing a sea of beauty, so quiet and peaceful, one could rest there for days without having a worry in the world. Then all of a sudden Malagven began claiming he saw something within a bush nearby and cast one of his dark spells at it hitting nothing but bush and earth after a little investigation it was found to be nothing, the wind maybe? But then as if out of nowhere this great hulking creature raised from the earth, as if the lands had just taken a shit, turns out it was an ‘Earth elemental’ and I tell you now, it smelt like it as well!! Straight away I decided we should show him we have the means to use force against him. Shortly after Malagven began speaking one of his many languages, something I had never heard before, if I was to describe it the sounded would be like a baby gurgling on its own saliva, then all of a sudden the monster sunk into the ground without any sign of direction it was moving!! It had disappeared!!! Me being a wise man decided to climb a large tree in case the monster decided it was going to attack us and just as I had expected the monster raised right next to Tek, attacking suddenly whilst the rest of us managed to get our quick shots off, it then burrowed back into the ground, but this time to come up right in front of the tree I had climbed earlier in the fight, preventing it from being able to reach me it swung wildly at the body of the tree and with each swing the tree began the creek and moan until eventually, it was not able to hold its own and began to fall, using my cunning and the grace of a cat, I pounced out of the tree doing a forward roll mid-air I manged to land safely next to the beast, during my jump I noticed that Zeech had foolishly got in the way of the falling tree and was lucky that it had just missed him by a few inches. Again it burrowed like a coward, but now we knew its trick and everyone got into position and prepared to unleash as soon as it un burrowed, I thought I would get some height advantage by climbing the large rock in the centre of the opening, only to find out that it was another elemental which was staring me in the face, and with great reaction, I punched the thing straight in the nose, with a small mumble which could only be heard to those nearby, It sunk back into the rock but not without giving me a sort thrust causing me to lose my grip, falling and hurting my ankle slightly, but nothing I couldn’t handle. During my heroics, single headedly fighting off another elemental, the other one un burrowed next to Nyx, missing its attacks against her quick manoeuvres, as if she had danced against its attacks all her life, it took another round of arrows and bolts, causing some damage to its outer shell it sunk back into the ground, this time I was ready for it to appear, unlike the other time it rose away from us, giving us a distance advantage we unleashed another flurry of arrows and bolts causing significant damage, the elemental seemed to be weak yet began to charge Zeech, missing him completely Malagven managed to unleash a fatal Eldritch Blast causing the hulking giant to crumble into small pieces of rock and soil, I went straight over and crushed it below my foot to ensure its end. Nyx being a wise Ranger she is, checked the local area for magical beings, detecting a dragon but no more elementals. A long arduous fight against an elemental had caused the group to become tiresome, hurt and in need of rest, Nyx being a great outlander went a searched for somewhere to set up camp for the night, she returned shortly after her departure from the opening and informed us of a small desert patch a little way into the forest or a cave in the other direction, a group decision was made to head towards the desert to seek safety for the coming night. During the approach Malagven had gotten there a few minutes earlier and was already erecting his tent, everyone had taken up a short sentry during the hours of the sun setting, and slowly we became to take our watches for the night. First Tek followed by Malagven then I took the last 2 watches. 22 nd of Quickern… During my time on watch it was peaceful and quiet with a slow warm breeze running through the bush I was using as cover for my watch, I looked up to notice the stars beginning to go dark by what could only be described as a giant fucking dragon, flying overhead in the sky, I would not have noticed if the stars had not been there to shine out its silhouette, I didn’t want to alert the others for now and had run over kicking out the fire which Malagven left burning through the night. Coming to the end of my watch I began to wake the others up one by one quietly whispering to them ‘There was a dragon that flew over her earlier, stay low and quiet, it could still be nearby’. As I had just finished waking everyone up this small pitiful raven flew into the small rocky opening we had pitched up in to rest and landed a few feet in front of me, the others say that it was what I saw during the night, they did not see it how could they know!! What I saw was huge, fierce, not this tiny little critter that perched before me. Trying to shew it away, it merely kept its distance seeming un-effected by my efforts to get it to leave. Nyx being her chirpy self, began trying to befriend the raven saying ‘HI’ and trying to feed it berries, how she was kind to that pest. Malagven began speaking words of many different languages until he came to speak what was Draconic to the raven. I don’t know exactly what that fucking raven was speaking to Malagven about but I can tell you now, it was not good!!! Not good at all!! Fucking bird!!! That bird was a fucking dragon I swear it!! (Ivilion looks around noticing he got a little carried away) But anyway, a few hours later of conversation between Malagven and the wretched raven, the raven flew off and sat on the high rise to the west and watched us closely, scrutinizing us, trying to learn about is, I do not trust that fucking BIRD!!!! Continuing South West through the forests of the island alongside more of its beautiful plants, trees and natural cropping, we happened to come across a desert, rather bluntly as well, as if someone drew a big line and said one side desert and the other forest! But even with this strange change of scenery, we continued our journey to the coast line. The desert is a very boring place nothing but open sand dunes, which gets everywhere! No matter how carefully you tread or try to close up the gaps in your clothing it gets in there! I fucking hate sand! And then to top it all off what happens to come our way? Only a fucking sandstorm!! Sand was EVERYWHERE!!! I still find sand when I shit from time to time!! So yea this sandstorm comes up to us out of nowhere and the others are talking about trying to outrun it!! Fools, they ended up listening to me and Nyx who were smart enough to huddle up and cover ourselves from the harshest of the storm. Shortly after the storm had hit us it diminished into a low warm breeze, noticing this I un huddled from my shelter and let the others know it had gone. Losing our bearings slightly Zeech the bird man offered to fly up and take a look at our surroundings, the sandstorm hadn’t only attacked us, it had moved us west a few miles!! Teleporting magical evil sandstorms!! I fucking hate sandstorms!! Zeech noticed there to be forests again further west and with the day coming close to an end we decided it would be a good idea to head there and seek shelter for the night. Travelling west we got to the edge of the desert, which again was if someone drew a line between them, only this time Tak did a little investigating around the edges of the desert, he found that under the top layer of sand was some more of a red sand, picking some up he soon noticed that the colouring was due to blood, I’m not entirely sure but I’d go as far as saying that the whole desert was evil!! I mean c’mon there is sand, blood-sand and magical fucking sandstorms!! We had noticed a small ruin just down the edge of the desert and like a bunch of curious children we went to investigate it, a large squire platform with a ball into which wasn’t even touching it, yet we got closer and decided to investigate it!! You are probably asking yourselves ‘why?’ right now? Because this group was full of mentals!! Apart from me anyways (Ivilion chuckles away to ease some tension). Malagven had noticed some runes around the artefact, I can’t quite remember what it was he said they meant, but I’m sure it was something like ‘Void be tree’ and ‘Kalamari sleeps here’. After a little more time there Nyx’s wolf Greysnarl was wandering around and happened to walk over the ring of runes surrounding the artefact, that’s when they all began to glow, so me being a smart guy decided I would get into some cover and prepare a sneak attack in case we were attacked, the other stood their wide eyes and jaws open letting sand in whilst they waited for whatever was happening!! And after some minutes of the runes glowing, a smallish black dragon appeared within the runes, Malagven again began speaking to this dragon in the same language as he spoke to the fucking bird! After a short conversation, the dragon began to speak in Low Valmari which seemed rather convenient. The dragon then went on to tell us that he is an ‘Avatar Void Dragon’ and he had been imprisoned within this artefact for around 4000 years! What kind of ‘Avatar’ dragon gets imprisoned (Ivilion smirks, shakes his head and giggles). At this point, it was Tek who decided to give away my tactical position by telling me to get out of my bush, and then Zeech asked me to come over!! Bloody fools!! So here I was climbing out of my fortified bush when the dragon asks if anyone would be able to get him out of the runes, I wasn’t too fond of the idea but the dragon had seemed to win the hearts of the group and I didn’t want to let Nyx down so I took my Hempen rope from the side of my backpack, threw one end into the circle and told the dragon to grab hold of it! Perching my feet solidly onto the rock in front of me I pulled with all my might and slowly but surely I single handily pulled the dragon from its prison!! Now who else can say they saved a dragon? Now the dragon was free, he turned to Malagven and asked if he would mind ‘sparring’ with the dragon, it had been a long time since the had used any of his powers and would like to see how strong he was now, Malagven hesitantly agreed and fired off one of his eldritch blasts which ended up bouncing off the dragon’s obsidian scales, the dragon then asked if he could return an attack but Malagven implied he would surely not survive, Zeech butting in offered to take a hit for Malagven, the dragon agreed and used his powers to raise Zeech into the air and shake him about like a child with a doll, after releasing him Zeech was given some good berry by Nyx to help him get over the trauma of being helpless in the air. Once the dragon had finished with Zeech he quickly readied himself, said his thanks and goodbyes, turned and began to walk off towards the forest but tripping and stumbling as he did. (Ivilion laughs as he talks about the dragon tripping and stumbling) As this happened I had taken out one of my onions I had brought along with me and began to cut into it, reminding me of something from my child hood causing me to burst out in laughter!! The onion making my eyes water made it seem as though I was laughing at the dragon, furious about my reaction he threw me into the river nearby!! So there I was, wet, covered in what was now wet sand and I lost my fucking onion!! I fucking hate dragons!! So here I was climbing out of the river when Zeech of all people came walking up to me to push me back in, a quick sidestep and a tap on his back, Zeech was now in the river looking like a fool! And not only did he attempt to attack me he went and disturbed a couple of water elementals that were resting within the river!! Zeech strikes again!! (Ivilion shakes his head in disapproval). Everyone immediately began to fall back to keep some distance from them, One of them had got to me rather quickly after I released one of my arrows at it, Using my cunning and quick thinking I fell straight to the floor pretending to play dead to ward off its attacks, It worked for the best part until the creature stood on my leg, shattering it into tiny pieces (Ivilion looks down at his now metal peg leg) but did I scream in agony? Nope, I held it in and swallowed it down without giving fault to my deception. I heard the second monster came over shortly after to see what his comrade had done to me and I’m sure I heard what could only be described as them laughing, but I could not give my plan away! A few moments later they left going separate ways from what I could tell, Zeech managed to make his way over to me with a healing potion to ensure the break in my leg didn’t get any worse, and right he should, it was his fault he got us into this mess!! I had noticed that one of the elementals had gotten itself trapped in the same prison the dragon had gotten itself into, I managed to get myself onto my foot using my longbow which broke as I put some of my weight onto it, back on the floor and angry I sat up, took an arrow from my quiver and with fury I threw it at the elemental trapped within the runes, losing a leg wasn’t going to stop me from killing them!! Zeech straight after grabbed me from behind and dragged me from what seemed to him be the danger, even though I was totally safe, causing more damage to my leg. The other elemental had made its way to Tek who was now close enough that his crossbows could not miss, although I’m sure I saw him fire some of his bolts in completely the wrong direction, the rest hit home and it was easy to tell they did significant damage to the monster. I wasn’t able to make out who actually finished off the two elementals, all I know is that they did die. The party was now severely damaged and worn out, the sun was getting to its lowest and dark was upon us, we had to find shelter for the night or we would all surely die. Nyx again bravely went off by herself to find somewhere we could rest for the night, returning with directions to a cave, we hurried to make it there before nightfall, which was not easy seeing as I had to drag my limp leg behind me whilst using my shorts word as a fucking walking stick!! As we arrived Malagven and Nyx were there already setting up a barricade to protect us from the night, and that it did, taking the last watch nothing had happened through the night apart from Zeech snoring terribly, I’m surprised everyone else managed to sleep!!! I fucking hate snoring!! 23 rd of Quickern… Here it was a new day, and with it came a decision to either continue searching for this island or head back as some of our party members had gotten tired and wanted to return, not me though, oh no! I wanted to continue but the other insisted that we return to camp and report back what information we had gathered. Eventually, I agreed to return as I didn’t want to be a nuisance to Nyx. The only issue now was that it would take us days to return due to Zeech being injured, and well, you know, my leg being shattered an all. After a little thought, I got some rope and some provisions as well as using my longbow I crafted a pretty fine looking sled that we attached to Greysnarl to carry me back to camp, quite a smart idea if you ask me!! Now it was only Zeech who we had to worry about. Nyx found some magical berries and gave them to Zeech to help him heal his wounds slightly and then being told to pull his feather out his ass, we managed to make a swift journey back to camp within a day, arriving at camp Galv safe and sound!! But that’s enough of that story for today gentlemen, let’s leave the rest for another time eh? Hey, Johnson!! It’s your round of ale you tart!! Dont fucking ignore me Johnson!! Thats it im gonna fucking...... Ivilion Meliane