Sat night online: 11th Eleint

The party rode back to Nesme shortly after daybreak. They stabled their horses at the 5 Gold Crowns for 5sp each then hastened over to the Council Building. When they demanded to see Jygil, the clerk informed them that she was in her chambers at the Temple of Waukeen and should not be disturbed, as it was her time for meditation.

As they left, heading towards the Temple, Milla spotted a man in a maroon cloak hurrying by. "Just like the man in my dream" she thought to herself. She followed him, accompanied by Nailo and Jakob while the others carried on to the Temple.
In the Temple Garacaius and Khor learned that Jygil's chambers were behind the altar to Waukeen, where only priests of that faith were allowed. She was not to be disturbed, "even if Khelben Blackstaff himself wanted an audience". When Khor persisted they were evicted from the Temple.

Milla's group followed the man down Temple alley but lost him in Ruby way. Where could he have gone? There was a nearby eatery The Table of Penem so they tried in there. Penem, the proprietor, took their breakfast order but denied seeing anyone meeting the description. The only customer, a halfling called Perch, whispered that he was lying and such a man had gone into the kitchen moments before they arrived. He also informed them that "the service is terrible and the food is even worse!"

Attempts to investigate the kitchen were thwarted by the Amnish chef who chased them from the building brandishing a meat cleaver, slightly wounding Perch and Nailo - but not before Nailo noticed something funny about the back wall of the kitchen.
With the arrival of the others from the Temple they all re-entered the Eatery. Garacaius stuck his head round the kitchen door reawakening the anger of the chef who came out. In the ensuing fracas, Penem slipped out of the eatery, Garacaius slipped into the kitchen and found a concealed door at the back, while Jakob slugged the chef unconcious with his sap.

They passed through the door with the help of the keys they found on the comatose chef. The long corridor beyond sloped downwards and contained black robes, wooden beads with a 'hand' medallion and a selection of outdoor clothes including the maroon cloak - which Garacaius put on, even though it showed no magic. Down the end of the corridor Jakob found and disarmed a tripwire. Listening at the door at the far end, Milla could hear chanting.
"Unless I'm mistaken" she said, "we've stumbled on a bunch of Baneites!"

50xp each to Nailo, Garacaius, Khor, Perch and Milla. 100xps to Jakob.


[This message has been edited by Erran (edited October 21, 2001).]

"Just as I've said! This eatery is not even an eatery! No, I certainly knew that, the food was worse 'an a goblin royal dinner.. (halfling goes into quick overview of several food products served by the establishment that wounded his pride and stomack) -- it just could not be an eatery. And they don't even serve ale. I'm more 'an willing to smite the evil inside there with my axe, but something tells me that I wouldn't be able to fare well alone."

The halfling was obviously excited at the possibility of a fine head-smashing. The wound made by the chef's cleaver did not seem to bother him much, and was ready to rush into battle, handling an axe of half his size with ease. His leathers, black on the first sight were in fact just dirty and stained in the dark blood of some goblinkin. An alert observer could notice that apart from the obvious axe, shorsword and a warhammer, the halfing also had a shortbow strapped behind his back under the greenish cloak, a dart in his boot and a dagger in each of his sleeves. Despite his impressive weaponry, he does not seem dangerous or agressive.


[This message has been edited by Skedaddle (edited October 21, 2001).]

ooc: Erran, I'm trying to reconcile my .cg3 with my printed sheet... my sheet shows Khor has 48 gp, 2 sp. Is that correct? I'm trying to figure out where I've spent my money from the 103 on the .cg3 -- how much was the horse (pony?) at Magrit's?

IC: Khor grunted. "Are we ready?" He glanced around at the others as he checked his battleaxe and unslung his shield.

"Now that the church of Bane is involved, " proclaimed Jakob, "it all makes perfect sense. "This eatery is a front for the evil works of Lady Alustriel. It's part of a national chain of illegal racketeering outlets, whose final aim is to consolidate power and wealth. They've already claimed victims - everyone from the gnomish race to the peasant classes have been caught out. Only the Alliance of the Undersized has seen through the scam, which is why Er-Cam, in cahoots with Lady Alustriel, is trying to reduce gnomes to the status of lawn-ornaments with a view to putting an end to the Alliance of the Undersized. " Jakob took a deep breath and fell back to the kitchen area "And if it's part of a global conspiracy, it could get very nasty..." (ooc, yes I used the generator in Whatnots. Also, if I don't turn up and Erran decides we need a rogue, then someone else is free to play my character - and if he dies my next one will implicate you in all conspiracy theories :D)

[This message has been edited by Ironbeard (edited October 23, 2001).]

Tues night online:

Jakob and Perch guarded the unconcious chef.
Garacaius cast Mage Armour on 3 of the party and Sarathien cast Bless, then Khor flung open the door and entered. Murals of Bane covered the walls and half a dozen worshippers knelt at benches. A priest was inviting the congregation to "give generously, for the lord Bane's time is at hand" a couple of orcs were taking the collection.
"Infidels! despoilers!" he cried on seeing Khor and he, and his 2 acolytes cast Protection from Good. Sarathien cast entangle causing vines to grow through the floor and trap the Baneites and the party - including those in the corridor!
Khor's strength let him tear free and fell an orc with a single mighty blow. The acolyte's attempt to revive the orc was wasted. Milla used her escape skill to wriggle free and she attacked the 2nd orc, stunning him with a karate chop. Nailo followed up with the coup de grace. Khor then fought the first acolyte, giving an axe blow and receiving a morningstar whack in return. Garacaius wriggled to the door and loosed off a magic missile and the acolyte went down under the combined assault. Milla and Nailo concentrated on the last acolyte until he too fell. Seconds later the vines withered and died and the protection spells wore off. The whole thing lasted but one minute.
Unhooding the terrified worshippers did not reveal any that looked like the man in Milla's dream. In the tumult the 3rd priest had escaped through a door to the north. This door was now locked and none of the chef's keys fitted.

OoC 300 xps each to Sarathien, Nailo, Milla, Khor and Garacaius. Oooh, is that a little cross next to Garacaius's portrait?
Leveling: either use the gen and get average hp or roll them live in the Medallion if you are feeling lucky.
Each Acolyte had a Chain shirt and Silver Morningstar. The orcs had scale + normal battleaxes. Total of 75gp in loose change, there are a pair of silver candlesticks and a blood encrusted chalice on the altar.
Khor's horse cost him 75gp.

Carry on posting!

[This message has been edited by Erran (edited October 24, 2001).]

As soon as the vines let go of Sarathien's arms, he hurries over to Khor's side and casts a Cure Light Wounds on the dwarf. Having this most pressing action out of the way, the elf take a second to survey the scene around him.

"I am terribly sorry my friends and companions, amin hiraetha, melloneamin. I made a grave misjudgment of both the size of this room and the effects of the spell. I ask you all to bear with me, I am still somewhat unused to these powers granted to me by my Lord."

"Seeing how we were still able to do away with our foes quite cleanly, I feel that we may have gotten some benefits of my some-what overenthusiastic vegetation after all."

"So let's hurry to see where that last Bainite went off to, anyone care to try at the lock or should we go fetch Jakob?"

Hearing Sarathien, Nailo's head perks up. "Yes, let me have a try at that door." Digging in his pack he pulls out a small satchel of tools, that mix from a piece of small wire to a pair of long pointy plyers.

Looking at all and giving a sly grin, "I will have this open in no time."

Sarathien's healing restored Khors strength and spirits (+ 5HP restored).
Nailo was as good as his word. Within a minute or so he had the door open. Peeking round he saw a short 10 ft corridor running W-E with a door at the end. Opposite him was another door with a small metal grill in it. The corridor seemed to be empty, except for the remnants of some vines withering into dust.

[This message has been edited by Erran (edited October 24, 2001).]

"I told you all I would take care of you..", giving a wink Nailo peers down the hallway. Seeing the door, "I don't like this one bit. Better be careful and stay behind me."

OOC: Nailo continues checking for traps down the hallway and on the door.

Still agitated from the fight Milla turns towards the hooded figures.
"You will repent this I tell you. Only suffering will come out of this unless you renounce The Black Lord."
Milla calms down a little and points to the nearest bench.
"You who renounce Bane by laying down the symbol here on the bench may leave in peace"
Milla watches every face carefully for the man from the vision. Seeing none that match she realises that the man must have got away.

Milla retrieves her crossbow (and underwear :)) approaches Nailo searching the newfound corridor.
"Is it clear? We should hurry, we may still have a chance to catch him"

ooc: Is it just me or did anyone else think that last session at times sounded a little like chess? "Orc moves to b5" ... ;)

Lol Milla! In that vein:
Thief (Nailo) from a2 to b2 Check! :D
- for traps. He finds a loose floorboard that would release a swinging blade. Succesfully disarms the trap. He hears a groaning from behind the first door (the one with the grill).

The ferocity of Khor and Milla's attacks caused some of the worshippers to appear to recant their belief in the power of Bane.

Sarathien follows close on Nailo's heels, standing in the doorway as the half-elf skillfully disarms the nasty trap.
As the ranger hears groaning from the door nearest him, he promptly puts his ear to the grill, trying to discern its source.


ooc: Alright, this is what I do best. :)
I'm no super-fighter, nor bad-ass tracker, but I'm one #¤%& of a listener! Come see Sarathien if you have anything to talk about! :D
(Listen 11)

Sarathien was able to squint through the grill into the 10ft x 10ft locked room - or cell beyond.
Inside, shackled and wearing only loincloths were a couple of dishevelled hobgoblins, lying on dirty straw. Every so often one of them let out a groan.

Updated map available! thx Baldak
http://people.ne.mediaone.net/frankmarianne/

[This message has been edited by Erran (edited October 26, 2001).]

Garacaius fought with great annoyance with the vines that were dying out. Once free of them, he followed the others closely, eager to get out of this unholy place. After cursing the spell one more time, he looked carefully at Sarathien who seemed to have heard something.

[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited October 25, 2001).]

A halfling walks in, a good piece of grilled meat in his one hand, an axe in the other. He observes the surroundings and frowns.
"Whoa. I just had to run to get some food and you crash the whole place without me. Not even a tad of revenge for my cutomer disappointments. No no no, that puts you in debt, you'll have to let me slice some of your mortal enemies!"

Jakob stands over the comatose form of the chef, weighing his sap in his hand. "Eh, doesn't look like this fellow's waking up for a while," he mutters, " wonder what the point of guarding him was. Come to think of it, the others have been gone a while, maybe we should go check on them - what d'you say Perch - Perch?" Jakob looks around, realising that Perch has been gone for some minutes at least, shrugs his shoulders and heads off down the corridor after the others. Eventually he catches up, notices Perch with the meat and grins. After a while he spots the trap that Nailo disarmed, his eyes widen and his face falls. However, Jakob quickly regains his composure and strolls over to the trap, making a big show of examining it and says, slightly louder than necessary "Tut-tut-tut, shoddy, shoddy..."

[This message has been edited by Ironbeard (edited October 25, 2001).]

ooc: actually, Khor has leveled too. :D He now has 1125 xp.

IC: Khor grimaced fiercely at Sarathien's report of hobgoblins. "Let them lie!" he hissed. "We've got better things to do. We need to make sure the Baneman is not on his way to do his deed!"

Milla looks undecided for a short moment, but finally makes up her mind of what's more urgent.
"I agree, lets hurry shall we. We can come back later and set those poor souls free."

"Yes Milla, or at least get some information from them. After that we can decide what to do with them", Sarathien says, a hint of steel touching his eyes.

"So let us move on, we cannot let the cleric get too far! Khila amin, ar'asca!"

Sarathien puts his ear to the far door, trying to discern if danger lies ahead.

Listening to the rest of the group, Nailo pipes up, "I agree, lets get after the Baneman. However, let me look at this door. There have been to many nasty traps."

OOC: I don't know if you want us to stay in this corridor until tomorrow, but if not Nailo will check for traps on the door and then unlock.

Khor looked somewhat disgusted at Milla's misdirected compassion, but said nothing. Instead he moved up beside Sarathien, readying his battleaxe in case anything should move through. Then he stopped and turned back towards the rest of the group.

"If one or two of you wants to question the gobs while we move on ahead and then catch up with us, maybe we could learn something useful."

OoC Yeah, let's not open the door til Sat eh? ;) Don't forget it's a 5ft corridor so single file.

On hearing Nailo mention having a look at the door, Jakob looks aghast. Forcing an air of false cameraderie, he offers his hand to Nailo. "So," he says, " You must be the fellow who disarmed that trap. I'm a trap finder too, pleased to meet you. Maybe we could - uh - learn from each other."

"I'll stay behind to do some interrogations, you go on ahead and yell if you need me."

Sarathien steps back to search the bodies of the slain acolytes for keys to the cell.

Sat night online - long.

The chef's key fitted the cell so Milla and Sarathien interrogated the hobgoblins. At first they were afraid that they were about to be sacrificed; when they realised that was not the case they grew more confident saying:
"When ebony skins Raise the Dark you all gonna die."

Meanwhile, Jakob opened the other door and Khor burst through to face an orc and a lemure - a Baatezu from Baator. Heronymus, the tattooed Baneite priest stopped burning papers and cast Bane down the corridor at the party. Khor smote the orc and Garacaius hit the lemure with his new improved magic missile. Heronymus followed up with
fear causing Jakob and Garacaius to flee the building.
Khor hacked the orc down while the priest struck him with a magic stone and the lemure clawed at his face. Perch burst in and attacked the blob like devil just as it was unsummoned in a cloud of sulphurous smoke.
Heronymus cast defensively as Khor advanced on him, managing to summon a second lemure. Khor and he were evenly matched and had the priest's smite struck things may have gone badly for the dwarf. Nailo entered the fray, attacking the lemure but although he hit he did no damage. Khor and Heronymus were both staggering (4HP) when Perch struck the killing blow with his mighty axe. Garacaius and Jakob recovered their wits and returned just in time to see the 2nd lemure become unsummoned.
As they searched the priest one of the snake tattoes came to life, biting Nailo. Lucky for him his constitution withstood the venom.
Khor chopped the asp in two. Garacaius took the black morningstar and Jakob the twisty dagger.

The partly burned papers revealed:

the chef's password for 10th - 20th Eleint is 'I hear the service is terrible here'

...the acolytes captured a couple of hobgoblins in the wilderness, they will make suitable sacrifices. They babble about Raising the Dark - how ironic that only I, General Zog and the Abbess Chloe know how that may be prevented...

...by killing Jygil and implicating Longtresses, Nesme will be plunged into civil war. I will take over the church in Bane's name and our Zhentarim allies will take over the trade....

Searching the room they found a secret door into a cupboard. While Jakob and Nailo squabbled over the chest they found there, Khor and Garacaius explored the tunnel beyond. It led to a stone secret door. Nailo removed the locking pin, opened it and looked beyond at the back of a tapestry. Peeping below he saw a pair of ankles.
Bursting out he surprised Jygil, wearing only her nightshift, at prayer in her bedchamber. She called the guards who disarmed and arrested the party on suspicion of attempted assasination. Things looked black when the guards found the twisty dagger in Jakobs pack. Jygil cast discern lies and asked Jakob how he had come by it? He answered truthfully that he had taken it from the body of the dead Baneite priest.
Jygil ordered them released, informing them that the dagger belonged to first speaker Tessarin 'Longtresses' Alaurun. She cast cure critical wounds on Khor and Circle of healing on everyone.
"Now return to the coucil chamber at 2pm" she asked, "when I have had time to study these papers and - er - get dressed!" she blushed.

Chain shirt on Baneite priest. Garacaius has the black morningstar. Jakob has contents of chest - 3 potion bottles and 255gp. Jygil kept the dagger.

400 xps each to Perch, Garacaius and Jakob
500 xps each to Khor and Nailo.

Since no-one spotted that Table of Penem = Temple of Bane the Easter egg bonus goes unclaimed. :)


[This message has been edited by Erran (edited October 28, 2001).]

After having questioned the hobgoblins Milla returns to the main room. She starts to collect and bundle together the various armour and weaponry they had found on the two orcs and the two acolytes. She also gathers the goldcoins found on the bodies. She decides to leave the chalice and makes a mental note to tell one of the local priests that a consecration would be in order here.

The companions returns and tells Milla and Sarathien what happened further in.
Milla listen with some unease.
"You should have called out for Sarathien and me. I'm glad you managed to get the priest, but that snake thing really makes my skin crawl.
So what do we do now?
How about going back to the inn and take stock of the situation."

Milla grabs one end of the bundle of armor with an obvious invitation to anyone else wanting to help her with heavy package.

"By the way, is anyone in need of chainmails or scale mails? Otherwise we'll just make a stop at Udos getting rid of these..."

Edit: No prob Jakob, just trying to tie up loose ends.


[This message has been edited by Zorac (edited October 29, 2001).]

Garacaius walks next to Milla and lends a hand with the armors.
"Hi Milla, we are supposed to attend a summoned meeting at 2pm, in the meanwhile we might as well sell all this stuff and buy new gear if we need it, unless anyone have a final request for a suit of armor. Now, who are willing to carry the weapons?"

[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited October 29, 2001).]

The human sized chain shirts are too big for Perch, but Ugo will trade two of them for a single halfling sized chain shirt.
Other prices on request. :)

Ooc: sorry Milla, but I took the candlesticks in the live session.
While the rest of the party are gathering up the loot, jakob divides out the money from the chest to the tune of 36GP each, making a mental note to give the remainder to beggars on the street. He then pulls the candlesticks out of his bag and examines them, to see if they have any markings which could get him in trouble if he tries to sell them, and attempts to appraise them. To Garacaius, he says, "Say, you know a thing or two about magic, any chance you could identify the potions I found?".

[This message has been edited by Ironbeard (edited October 29, 2001).]

Garacaius looks at Jakob with a tired look on the face, but at the mentioning of magical items a spark ignites the interest of his eyes.
"Magical you say? I might be able to help you, but I am currently too tired, later perhaps. You could try to get an alchemist to take a look at the potions if such is around town. I'll be interested to take a closer look at them though, but later."

[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited October 29, 2001).]

Perch soon reappeared, in a bright mood, obviously just from the meal. As he did not want to deepen himself in the intrigue and mystery, and he did not see a chance for a fight, the halfling stated:
"Well well, this place is cleansed of bad food and service. My service here is done. If you have more of a good fight in sight, I'll be in the cheapest eatery on the street, mayhap there will be more temples of Bane there?"
With these words, Perch hopped out of the room.

Khor shook his head at the odd little halfling. As they made their way back through the secret passages and out of the eatery, he made sure all the weapons and armor were gathered up, shouldering the largest part of the load himself. Since Jygil had healed him, he was feeling much better, and ready once again to face whatever fate sent his way.

OOC: Table of Penem, heh. :rolleyes: So, Khor is now 36 gp richer, plus whatever armor and weapons he's carrying... did he give the medallion to Jygil? I can't remember...

Ugo seemed surprised to see them:
"Back so soon eh? What have you got for Ugo today? By the way, brother Khor, I've completed the Dwarven Waraxe you ordered. Nice job, even if I say so myself."

Milla decides to keep one of the silver morningstars for practise purpose. She shows the other one to Ugo.
"Is this morningstar special in any way because it seems to be made of silver. Is that better? and is it worth anything?"


Ooc help me out here, does anyone want any armour or should we just sell it?

ooc edit: mace/morningstar they all look the same to me :)

[This message has been edited by Zorac (edited October 30, 2001).]

Ugo examines the morningstars carefully. "Not made of silver, too soft. But they have been silvered. I'll give you 20 gp each for'em. Some folks favour silvered weapons when facing were-critters, Daggers and swords are more usual, but why not morningstars? Then again, they may have just been ceremonial."

Garacaius sets down the set of armours in front of Ugo: "How much would you give for these sets of armour Ugo?"

Garacaius then looks to Milla and shrugs "If Perch wants an armor, he have to make one out of hamburgers now."

[This message has been edited by Lokken (edited October 30, 2001).]

"Hmmm, let's see, 3 sets of scale, rather smelly, give you 75gp for them. These are nice though, 3 chain shirts - 160gp. So that's 235gp altogether." Ugo smiled. Since this bunch arrived in Nesme, trade had certainly picked up.

Khor's eyes lit up at the mention of the waraxe. "So soon! Ah, let me see her... how much do I owe you now?"

"28gp and she's all yours, Khor my friend. Careful with the blade, you could split a whisker with it." Ugo proudly proclaimed.

"And one of the morningstars, that should be 255gp", Milla hands over the wares to Ugo.

Milla accepts the money and splits them between her companions.
"Here you go", handing over 47gp to each (holding on to Perchs share til next she sees him).

ooc we are 7 right now, right?

Sarathien sits waiting outside Ugo's store, basking in the noon sunlight. It feels good just to sit and relax for a while, enjoying the simple pleasures nature provides.

As the others come out of the shop, Sarathien jumps up, stretches his arms and puts on a wide smile.

"Friends, I have an idea I would like to share with you. It is my intention, should you like the idea, to present it to Jygil and get some help with its implementation. But please, let us keep moving to avoid anyone overhearing."


"So this is what I have been thinking: This story about the dhaerow and Raising the Dark has me really worried, and I suppose you too. We all know the drow are terrible foes and I believe we must stop them at all costs.
But we are lacking information, all we have to go on is a map and the name of a lesser contact, and we need more.

Now it just happens that we may have a tool to possibly gain some more clues. I am thinking about the two hobgoblins that we left with Jygil's guardsmen. They clearly know something about this, though I think not as much as we would want them to. Even if we could get them to tell everything they know, it may not be enough.

So here is my idea: What if we "allow" the hobgoblins to escape? We could arrange it so the guards pretend to try and kill them, while in fact they only strike them unconcious. We could dump the "carcasses" outside the city limits, then wait for the pair to revive and follow them when they head off.
Two hobgoblins in such a sorry state as those two should not be able to harm anyone, and we can keep an eye on them from a distance to make absolutely sure. Hopefully they will lead us to someone or someplace that will allow us some more insight to this whole matter.

So what say you melloneamin, do you like what you hear me say, is this a course you think we should pursue?"

Sarathien suddenly stops walking and looks around at his friends expectantly.

Garacaius looks at Sarathien with an interested look: "Yes, that might be possible, though one thing troubles me. In the document it stated that they captured the hobgoblins in the wilderness. Personally I don't think they know anything at all, except being confused and probably stunned all the way to their cells. They're probably just someone brought in to be killed with no knowledge of what is going on, though a questioning would reveal this, true."

"Well, they did hint that they know something. They tried to threaten me and Milla that we would be sorry when the 'ebony skins raise the dark'. I know it is a long shot, but right now it is the best we have to go on"

continued under: The Nun's Tale