Mon Jun 20, 2005 6:31 pm  
Greyhacking WG4: The Party Wants To Die

art XII.

-------- From Last Report --------

Having a prisoner to interrogate and torture, the party learns of the evacuation two weeks ago. "Shucks" they need to chase after them, because of the Priest the Witches from B5 quested them to capture, including the purpose of the idol. (Which, if they don't stop, ends the multiverse.)

-------- Last Week --------

The Party is at a breaking point, having finished N1.

There is now only remaining original Party Quested to go after the Cleric of Tharizdun and his accursed idol. The rest of the party has just learned of the Cleric's evil plan to bring the idol to the Forgotten Temple and bring this dead god back to life. They also think it is a good idea to stop the Cleric.

Meanwhile, since it's along the way...

The Party decides to go back to Nevond Nevnend to spend their hard earned cash. It is an uneventful trip upon arrival. They make a few inquiries about the Cleric with nothing substantial except some Pilgrims passed this way to the West a few weeks back.

They knew by a minor divination that the Cleric had to make it to the other side of Iuz's empire to reach his destination, they decide to take a major shortcut. Knowing that the Stonefist's Hold on the former capital of the Duchy depended upon income they decide to recruit a Stonehold Mage willing to teleport them all to the City of Greyhawk for a "fee*". Presuming of course, the Mage had been there. (Any Mage worth his salt would have attended the Grey College at least once.)

Badda-bing, badda-boom. The Soldiers of Stonehold will be well paid for a year. Next stop, Greyhawk.

Arriving at the Grey College's teleport station (complete with Custom's Agents and Greyhawk tourism brochures,) they arrive and pay their duties.

Since they feel they're now ahead of the Cleric they decide to go through Hackmaster's "leveling-up" procedure, and spend more cash, except of course, the Berserker. Meanwhile, the Berserker alleviates his urges in the Arena. The highest level-to prospect was going from 3rd to 4th mage, so there was a four-week wait.

Meanwhile, having access to University of Magical Arts during leveling-up (having a recommendation based on the 1st Teleport Mage,) the Mage Student researches the whereabouts of the Forgotten Temple by seeking Sage advice.

Upon leveling-up, they contract out another Mage to Teleport them to the temple. Also, since this is a relatively "unknown" location the buy "50% Success-Rate Teleport Insurance policies"* for an extra 10%. The Mage being of sufficiently high level to avoid a major error and of enough interest to accompany the party.

* "50% Sucess-Rate Teleport Insurance" consisting mainly of personalized "Feather Fall" scrolls (for those who can read.)

Penniless, but well-spent. The under-leveled party finds itself on the roof of the Forgotten Temple.

-------- This Week --------

This turned out to be a Hack and Slash session played within a couple of hours. Introduce a new Character here, a Water Elementalist whom I decided to make the Assistant of the contract Teleport mage. The mage who recently turned diabetic, requires frequent attendance by his Assistant.

Scouting out the roof, the party finds the entrance by the simple expedient of looking over the edges.

First of all, the Jim the Gnome volunteers to check out the entrance. He is informed of two pair sentries awaiting inside due to infravision. (He is not told they see him also in broad daylight.) Scaling the low wall, no small feat for a gnome he checks for traps. Finding none on the outside he attempts to do the same on the inside entrance walls (or was it secret doors?

Knowing full well there are sentries near the entrance, he moves along the entrance looking for something (Secret Doors or Traps, I forget which.) He is then accosted by the sentries and their backups behind the entryway. Having one sole gnome as a target, they strike to subdue.

Upon hearing the din of battle below, the rest of the party attempts to join in. Thanos, Berserker Half-Ogre that he is, leaps from his perch on the roof and charges in. The remainder of the party rush down the ramp by normal means. The contract Mage stays on the roof, knowing he is just "the ride back."

Jim gets a crit from of the subduers* while Thanos makes significant headway. Then the Gnoll archers make their appearance, firing away. Then the first set of 12 Norker reinforcements arrive and do a taunting dance 10 feet inside the entrance. Meanwhile Thanos continues to cut down those attempting to subdue Jim the Gnome.

About this time the rest of the party arrives and a few make some desultory spells against those inside.

* Norkers, they have not met this type of creature before.

On the last initiative phase, Thanos makes a leap towards the taunting Norkers and Gnoll archers. This was the time I was just about to launch the net trap so Thanos leapt clear but Jim and newly arrived Sable did not. Montague the newly minted 4th level mage, made his save and Draden the Wuss, stayed just outside the entrance.

The store was closing at this time, will continue next session.

Session ends.

---------- Notes ----------

Party Update cast of Characters:

Thanos: Level 2 Berserker Half-Ogre, munchkinized. He once was level 3 but got level drained back to 1 and has now raised back to level 2. He now can't raise due to dishonor.

Sable: Level 3rd level Cleric of Iuz, sidekick of Thanos.

Montague: Level 4

Jim: Level 2 Gnome Thief

Draden: 2nd Level Half-Elf Thief

Some new 1st Level Water Elementalist, (can't find sheet just now.)

--

Tracy Johnson
Justin Thyme Productions
http://hp3000.empireclassic.com/
BT








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