Play Report: Ambushed! (Stormguard Session 16)

We left the party sleeping soundly after a successful Devil hunt. The party is

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 6
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human Fighter henchman, Level 3
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 6
  • Mickey Heron, Human Padfoot henchman, Level 3
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Berserker, Level 6
• Matchitihew: Half-Lizardfolk, Half-Ospryte Cleric, Level 6

While Mickey is on watch, some of the party members are awakened by a sound, some by a whistle, some by a crackle of energy, and still others by the thud of a Mickey falling to the ground. Benquil opens his eyes and sees Mickey lying with an arrow in his back. Lamila jumps up, using her skills learned among the High Plain orc trackers to see where the arrow came from. She rushes that way with Hilbrent and Don falling behind her haste booted speed. Benquil taps Mickey with an encharged healing staff, but he doesn’t awaken. He charges after the others. Match, meanwhile, flies up over the rock, landing on the seaward side and drawing a summoning circle in the sand.

Play Report: To Catch a Devil (Session 15)

The players are marching South, hunting the devil Match summoned to punish the Osprytes of his homeland, but lost control of. The party is:

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 5
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human Soldier henchman, Level 3
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 5
  • Mickey Heron, Human Padfoot henchman, Level 3
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Fighter, Level 5
• Matchitihew: Half-Lizardfolk, Half-Ospryte Cleric, Level 5

As they set out, they have no idea how far South the devil may be. They aren’t entirely sure that Match’s vision was of the present, or even true, but as they walk their eyes are on the sky and ocean. On the second day, looking down the coast, Hilbrent sees a whirlwind ahead far off in the distance. They know it is the Shedu, a powerful weather devil, but can’t be sure if the Shedu is over land or sea.

Play Report: The Destroyed Village (Session 14)

Having completed their business in the goblin city of Ratrinken, the adventurers determine to depart in search of the devil Match came to Stormguard pursuing. He has heard a rumor of a destroyed town to the South. The party is:

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 5
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human Soldier henchman, Level 2
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 5
  • Mickey Heron, Human Padfoot henchman, Level 2
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Fighter, Level 5
• Matchitihew: Half-Lizardfolk, Half-Ospryte Cleric, Level 5

After a few days of travel in the caves, Benquil comes to a gate across the tunnel. He sees no guards at the gate and finds it unlocked. He quietly moves through the gate but hears resounding footsteps down the right side of the fork beyond it. He goes back to inform the others of the enemy ahead.

Play Report: Among the Goblins (Session 13)

Our curious adventurers now know where to go to find more of the Sarpin crystals and learn how they can be employed. Despite concerns about how to get into the goblin city without having to fight the entire population, they proceed through the dark tunnels, following the tracks of goblin wagons as best their feeble lantern allows. The party is:

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 5
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human Soldier henchman, Level 2
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 5
  • Mickey Heron, Human Padfoot henchman, Level 2
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Fighter, Level 5
• Matchitihew: Half-Lizardfolk, Half-Ospryte Cleric, Level 5

Early into their second 8 hour trek, Benquil (using his infrared vision to go ahead of the light) stops at a fork to let them catch him up and it becomes apparent they have entered a higher traffic area. Though both directions show signs of passage and the wagon ruts are not to be seen, they choose the wider path and proceed.

Play Report: Into the Caves (Stormguard Sessions 10-12)

Having finally captured Warqua and turned him over to the elves (who occupied the manor at dawn), the remaining party members have resolved to go deeper into the mountain pursuing more of the purple crystals.

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 4
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 2
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 4
  • Mickey Heron, Human sailor (padfoot) henchman, Level 2
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Fighter, Level 4
• Matchitihew: Half-Lizardfolk, Half-Ospryte Cleric, Level 4

Once down in the caverns, they realize that their lantern only has a few hours of oil left. They send Benquil and Mickey up to the store rooms where they find a large bottle of lantern oil to take with them into the caverns. The estimated that the half gallon of oil would last about 150 hours.

Play Report: Mopping Up (Stormguard Session 9)

When we last left the party, they had sent a Pishacha to defeat Warqua and were preparing to interrogate their prisoner. The party is:

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 4 (Fire Spellbook)
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 2
• Talia Stormborne: Human Cleric of Vardor, Level 4 (Healing Spellbook)
  • Irion Brightear, Halfling Musician henchman, Level 0
  • Dwight Montgomery, Human sailor (soldier) follower, Level 2
  • Elba Seron, Human herbalist follower, Level 0
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 4
  • Mickey Heron, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 2
• Algaeir Ashbow: Human Druid, Level 4 (Tracking and Archery)
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Fighter, Level 4

The interrogation begins with Benquil mixing up a rudimentary truth serum from some of the poisons he’s gathered. With a generous dose administered, the rough man becomes compliant and responsive to questions. He calls himself Velish.

The Pishacha Infiltration

The between session action as a summoned Pishacha enters the manor in search of Warqua Youngblood:

The wolf-like brute misfit stalks up to the fortress on the mountain face. The gate is open and he sees no guards on the walls.

Perhaps the occupants expect the heavy—and clearly magical—rain to deter any attack? That hideous mortal undersold the ease of attacking this place, though I suppose he did mention dead soldiers on multiple floors. Now to guarantee I can eat those soldiers.

Play Report: Evidence (Stormguard Session 8)

Our players have found the goblins of which they were sent to seek evidence. They can hear the chattering of more goblins speaking their crude tongue further down. They decide to confront them immediately rather than carry back the news. The party is:

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 4
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 1
• Talia Stormborne: Human Cleric of Vardor, Level 4
  • Irion Brightear, Halfling Musician henchman, Level 0
  • Dwight Montgomery, Human sailor (soldier) follower, Level 1
  • Elba Seron, Human herbalist follower, Level 0
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 4
  • Mickey Heron, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 1
• Algaeir Ashbow: Human Druid, Level 4 (Tracking and Archery)
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Fighter, Level 4
• Matchitehew: Half-Lizardfolk, Half-Ospryte Cleric of Talitew, Level 4

They advance quickly until their lantern light falls on a group of eight goblins mustering in the tunnels. As they come on, arrows fly, striking Lamila in the front as she charges. Benquil, Algaeir, and Dwight fire back, but their arrows are mostly are mostly stopped by enemy shields, which cover well the small goblins. Matchitehew begins summoning, calling upon a messenger devil and guaranteeing a lesser devil or imp to be sure it would fit within the circle formed by his wings. Don hangs back to keep his light on both Match and the enemy while Mickey stays beside Benquil, guarding he and Talia. Hilbrent too hangs back, guarding the rear, where another, unexplored tunnel extends into darkness.

Play Report: Jail Break (Stormguard Session 7)

We left our players in the midst of battle, with spells appearing in their ranks and enemies mustering at the end of the hallway. They’ve managed to rejoin the girls and are now looking to fight their way to the dungeons and get the prisoners out of there. The party is:

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 3
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 1
• Talia Stormborne: Human Cleric of Vardor, Level 3
  • Irion Brightear, Halfling Musician henchman, Level 0
  • Dwight Montgomery, Human sailor (soldier) follower, Level 1
  • Elba Seron, Human herbalist follower, Level 0
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 3
  • Mickey Heron, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 1
• Algaeir Ashbow: Human Druid, Level 3 (Tracking and Archery)
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Fighter, Level 3
• Matchitehew: Half-Lizardfolk, Half-Ospryte Cleric of Talitew, Level 3

Seeing the soldiers mustering at the end of the hall, Lamila charges, almost reaching them at a sprint. On of the soldiers swings a sword at her and she takes the hit, using the opening to cleave him in two. Another stabs a spear at her and she grabs it, breaking off the head in one hand.

Play Report: The Vardor Summer Home (Stormguard Session 6)

Our adventurers have escaped the swamp. On the morrow, they journey with the elven rangers to the Vardor fortress, labeled a summer home for their ambassadors to the elves. The party is:

• Hilbrent Firebrand: Human Magic-user, Level 3 (Fire Spellbook)
  • Don “Juan” Ashe, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 1
• Talia Stormborne: Human Cleric of Vardor, Level 3 (Healing Spellbook)
  • Irion Brightear, Halfling Musician henchman, Level 0
  • Dwight Montgomery, Human sailor (soldier) follower, Level 1
  • Elba Seron, Human herbalist follower, Level 0
• Benquil Barrison Del’Armgo: Half-Drow Thief, Level 3
  • Mickey Heron, Human sailor (soldier) henchman, Level 1
• Algaeir Ashbow: Human Druid, Level 3 (Tracking and Archery)
• Lamila Umdril: Half-Orc, Half-Elf Fighter, Level 3

On noon of the second day, they reach the base of the mountain, from which they can see the Vardor fortress at the top of a winding path and stair. They decide to take all of their henchmen and followers along, sneaking toward the fortress with Benquil at the front.