Chapter Five - Billy the Rat

Bursting through the thick wooden door to their right, Stelios and Janic see a rodent of unusual size looking to make their half-elf friend a quick meal.  Murleck having other plans, deftly lunges to his left, slashing the Dire rat's flank before rolling away.  "What took you?" snarks the Ranger as he recovers his footing and launches himself into a counter attack scoring several deep gouges into the rat's flesh.  Fierce screeches of pain and anger sound as if they are ripped from the rat's throat. Within seconds of the rat's violent screeching, the creak of rusty hinges from the door along the back wall sounds the arrival of a friend.... to the rat!

"Billy....? BILLY!!  INVADERS!!!!" cries a goblin bowman in a gravelly voice as he sees his pet rat bleeding profusely all over the stone floor.

"Is that the only word these guys know?!" gruffs the paladin as he joins the fray.


With that, a second door along the back wall swings open with violent force, three more goblin bowmen, arrows knocked and drawn rush headlong into the small chamber!   Stelios and Janic quickly account for their new odds, Murleck however never even looks up at the newly joined combatants, his focus purely trained on the rat that decided to make him dinner.  Six slices administered with the savagery of a butcher and the precision of a surgeon leave the rat a pile of chopped meat ready for tavern meat pies.

"NOOOO! BILLY!" wailed the archer, his attack fueled by new found rage he starts slinging arrows recklessly towards the group, several arrows scoring hits on both Murleck and Stelios.

Standing farthest from the melee, Janic weaves his hand in an simple but concentrated manner and fires his plasmic fire at the newly entered goblins, the bolt leaving a 1 foot hold in the lead sniper's chest.  The goblin's body falls to the ground, his knocked arrow clattering on the flooring stones harmlessly.  As the lead goblin crumples, Murleck takes an arrow hit in stride as he spins a few spans over slashing his twin blades with the chaotic frenzy of a dire wolverine.  The goblin archer falls, his blood spraying in a multitude of directions.

Meanwhile on the other side of the room, Stelios quickly snaps the arrow shaft off at the base, his blood flowing down from the puncture.  Looking up he sees another sniper and a second dire rat in the back room off to the left.

"You're mine!" he growls rushing towards his two enemies.

"STELIOS! Tread carefully in there, that carpet does not sit well with me!" Murleck calls out, seeing the dragonborn rushing headlong into the back room.

"Thanks elf" replies the tank as he flashes his falchion towards the archer.  Right before impact however, a sharp twang of pain from the arrow jolts through his sword arm, altering his ardent strike just enough for the sniper to dodge the blow. Angling for a powerful counterstrike the goblin goes to slash with his short sword.  Blade still half drawn from it's scabbard, a green flash darts past Stelios and explodes in the face of the minion... a charred ball of flesh and bone all that remains of the imp's head.  As the goblin falls lifelessly to the floor the dire rat rushes at Stelios gnashing and clawing.  Backing off a step or two into the previous room, Stelios resets his footing, regaining the strength in his sword arm.  With a quick shift to the left Stelios redoubles his attack with a vicious counter strike... blade biting deep into flesh, scoring bone.  The rat howls in agony, his gnashing mostly involuntary twitches from spasming nerves and muscle fibers.  The Tiefling seeing the creature in it's death throes, holds out it's hand and delivers one final magic missile.  When the smoke clears, the rat's body lay lifeless, fur and flesh still smoldering with smell like that of a roast gone horribly wrong. 

The band still tense with alertness scans the room for possible reinforcements.  When the realization that they have a moment's reprieve sets in, the clang of a sword skittering on stone titles fills the chamber.

"Damn that hurts!" growls Stel has he favors his arm.

"Well done men" chimes in the half-elf as he licks the remnants of his enemies blood from his blade.

"No, not bad at all" finishes Janic "Not bad at all.  I think we should halt our advance for a few hours and rest ourselves"

Nodding his head, Stelios looked over towards Janic... "I agree with the demon"

Murleck, giving his two companions a quick glance and nod, walks into the next room, his voice trailing off "Ok with me, but I wish to investigate these two rooms before we retire"

While Janic attended to magical wards of protection and Stelios found a quiet corner to meditate and offer his prayers of thanks and healing to his god Ilmater.  Murleck inspected the walls, ceilings and floor tiles as well as anything that decorated the rooms.  After a good hour of inspection which included the richly decorated red carpet with gold trimmings in the back room that gave him ill feelings... which was indeed trapped and would have give whomever stepped on the carpet a very deadly dose of toxin, Murleck returned to the main chamber.  Looking around he decided to inspect the large minotaur statue in the far corner one more time.  Looking the stone over head to toe, front to back he found nothing of interest.  Weariness setting in from his battle and his exhaustive search he placed his hand on the statue to support his weight for a moment.  When he lifted his hand he noticed tiny Davek print where blood still on his hand had smeared.  Quickly darting over to the closest fallen goblin he returned to the statue with more coagulated blood on his hand and began to smear it over the area.  Content that he'd uncovered all of the hidden text he studied it for a moment, trying to recall what he remembered of the dwarven script....

Davek script chiseled into the rear of the statue

"I have found something interesting back here, listen up... 'Seven days have passed and I am the only one who remains. I fear I will never escape to bring word of this place to my clan, to warn them of the danger. Something has driven Morgana mad, and I despair of ever learning what it was. You who find this must warn--'

"Warn who...?  There isn't any more of the message?" the Tielfing pondered to himself out loud.

"Nothing that I can find and I've searched the statue several times" Murleck replied.

"We'll worry about it in a couple hours!  Let's get some rest.  I'll take first watch" offered Stelios, rising from his mediation.

After one last check of weapons and armor and the application of salves and bandages, Janic and Murleck were soon fast asleep.  Stelios looked over at his companions while he worked a whetstone over his blade, honing it's edge when he suddenly stopped mid stroke, grinning like the cat that eat the canary.  Rising quickly and quietly, he slipped out of the room and quickly retraced his steps back to the healing pools and retrieved a goblet of water.  Then, dropping in a flaming hot coal from one of the braziers he returned and sneaked as best he could over to the half-elf biting back a snicker.  Placing the goblet next to the slumbering ranger he placed his hand into the warm water, the snickers slipping through his gritted teeth.....

Chapter Four - Stink eyes, stealth and the beardless dwarf!

"The goblin mage seemed to be interested in these braziers... perhaps they hold a secret or two" queries the half-elf, as he inspected the wrought iron flame carriers.  Finding nothing of value or interest, the frustrated Ranger kicked over the brazier closest to him "Junk! Nothing but junk!" he called angrily.  As the half-elf was expressing his frustration, the bowl of flame crashed accurately into the head and neck of his dragonborn ally burning him slightly.

"WATCH IT!" growls Stelios, giving Murleck the most odiferous of looks!

"Well there's nothing here!" Murleck retorts

"I'm not so sure about that...." the silent tiefling suddenly chimed in from near the large murky pool of water.

"What have you found mage?" the draconic paladin called over.

Waving a hand over the pool, the murk began to clear away and suddenly the pool of water materialized into the image of a room, much like the room the pool was located in.  There are men with swords in the room, a warriors lazy poise about them.  Also with the three men was a willowy wisp of a woman, her skin pale, her hair as white as egg shells.

"I think I just saw deeper into the temple... there are men working with these goblins" Janic confides to his comrades. "We must be extra cautious."

"No argument from me" the dragonborn replied, as he started for the room their crimson drake friend appeared from.  Inside, Stelios found two small basins with fresh clear water.  Upon inspection and recalling some of his religious training as a welp, the large dragon warrior decided to take a big gulp of the fresh water.  Immediately realizing he chose wisely, his body felt the restorative powers course through it.  "Guys, come here, have a drink of this" he called to his friends.  While his friends both got fresh flagons of water from the basin, Stelios filled his again and had taken it to the black warhorse still tethered in the other room.  The horse initially hesitant to take this gift eventually drops is instinctual wall of defense and drank from this flagon contently. After another quarter turn of the time dial, the team feeling restored and ready to move on, go back into the main antechamber.  Facing two doors, one on the far left, the other on the far right the three adventurers deliberated which passage to take.

Ultimately it was decided to enter through the door on the left.  Upon entering the small room the muffled growls of a person or thing could be heard... and sure enough there was a stout dwarf who was curiously beardless, in the far corner, hogtied and gagged.  Fighting furiously against his bonds, he suddenly saw the newcomers.  A look of pleading filled his eyes... Stelios made a move towards the prisoner but before he could take even a third step... a shimmering light started to surround the beardless dwarf and a black void opens up beneath the prone warrior.  The dwarf suddenly began sinking into the blackness as if it were some kind of mire or swamp.  Stelios hesitated in his tracks, taken aback by the apparent magiks at work before him.  After a moment he regains his senses and moves towards the dwarf with a sense of urgency but those few moments of indecision and surprise prove to be too much and the dwarf sinks out of sight before Stel can reach him.

"What just happened mage? Where did he go??" remarks the Dragonborn

"The where I cannot say, but to the what... it seems that was some kind of portal spell, though I've never seen it's like before.  It may have been a trap that we triggered by entering this room.  Who can say?"


Murleck, hanging back to the rear of the group finally intones... "What say we head back and try those doors over there." as he gestures towards the door that was located to the right. "I can sneak in there and see what's what." Janic and Stelios look at each other with a hint of a grin and make a waving gesture towards the door "Go right ahead" they say in unison as they head back the way they came.

Sliding the door open with complete silence, the stealthy half-elf slips into the room.  Once inside, it takes him a matter of seconds to realize he is not alone, but also still undetected.  A giant dire rat is across the room, gnawing on some old bones.  Feeling he's still got stealth on his side, the ranger moves further into the room.  Three steps in, the dire rat's head perks up... the smell of the ranger and his recent battle hit his olfactory senses, causing it to spin around and hiss at his new found prey.

"Now that is the biggest rat I've ever seen..." crosses Murleck's mind.... "GUYS... GET IN HERE!" he then calls out as the dire rat lunges for him!

"Here we go again!" the tiefling and the dragonborn mutter in unison as they rush the door on the right.....

Chapter Three - A new band of Heroes

After returning to Fallcrest and getting some much needed rest, Janic begins his search for some assistance with his mission.  After several days with nothing to show for his efforts Janic finally found two adventurers drinking at an inn on the more unsavory side of town called Tharn's Keep.  Stelios, a dragonborn paladin who had the look of someone not keen on conversation and Murleck, a half-elf garbed in what could only be the gear of a ranger, had been sitting next to each other at the bar each eying the other while working on their mugs of ale. Janic, not seeing this interaction at all, interjected, cutting whatever tension may have been there and told his tale.  Much to Janic's surprise both Murleck and Stelios, their reasons their own, save their interest in a possible reward, decided to join Janic in his quest.

After a day of preparation, which meant restocking on supplies and having a few more pints of ale, the small band set off back to the goblin lair.  Upon arriving at the lair, they find the entrance way left surprisingly unguarded so the group makes their way into the first antechamber.  The team is immediately met by two goblin cutthroats.

"INVADERS!! INVADERS!!" the rear goblin shrieked as the fore goblin made ready to attack the new unwelcome visitors.

"Well, here we go" Stelios chided, his falchion at the ready.  Quickly surveying the room, the paladin notices a large black horse tethered to the far wall.

The goblins moved quickly to attack, slipping in and around the band slashing their short swords wherever they found an opening to strike.  Stelios, finding an opportunity for counter dealt heavy damage with an ardent strike of pious energy.  Murleck loosed arrow upon arrow at his targets while Janic stayed a few steps behind unleashing plasma blast energy.  With the melee fully engaged, the rear goblin continued to cry "INVADERS!!!  INVADERS!!!" which brought a swarthy looking goblin into the room.  This goblin looked different than the skirmishers currently engaged.  He wore loose robes and carried a large oaken staff.  Seeing the battle before him, the newcomer quickly started waving his staff in intricate patterns in the air.

"Watch out, I think we have a hexer on our hands!" Janic yelled to his companions.  Just then from a door to the right leapt forth a crimson scaled drake.  The drake immediately locked onto a target, charging towards Murleck snapping it's fierce jaws but thus far missing his prey.  The battle raged for what seemed like hours, but was in fact only minutes, the goblins and their draconic ally clearly having the upper hand.  Stelios was the first to shed blood as goblin warriors continued to find openings.  Janic took wounds almost as quickly and was bleeding badly soon after while Murleck was having some very inopportune sighting issues with his bow.  The goblin Hexer unleashed a vexing spell into the scrum, affecting the party's ability to see their enemies clearly.  Things were not going well... but then Stelios begun to turned the tide with a mighty blow to one of the goblin warriors, rending his body, causing massive amounts of blood to spill.  Janic unleashed a powerful wall of searing flame behind Stel's attack, the same goblin caught in the eternal flames, it's blood boiling until it burst from his body like a swollen tomato.  Blood splatter drenched the drake, which sent in into a wild frenzy it's wild thrashing and bites missing their intended targets.  Murleck, taking advantage of the moment buried two arrows deep into the drakes skull, far more blood than a being should have within came pouring from the dead creatures head and body, painting the floor tiles crimson.  As the two creatures fell, the numbers had shifted in favor of the crew, but with two already sustaining bad wounds, the fight was far from won.

Janic lured the remaining goblin swordsman into his eternal fire causing the goblin to strike violently at the tiefling mage while sustaining heavy burns across it's body... burns that proved to much for the goblin to take as the flames engulfed and consumed him.

As the remaining swordsman was being roasted on a spit, Stelios and Murleck turned their attention on the Hexer who was now backing away.  Clearly out numbered, the hexer continued to weave arcane powers directed at the "invaders".  Several hexes struck Stel cleanly, causing his already open wounds to bleed worse.

"I got this guy" says Stel through gritted teeth.

Moving in for an ardent strike against the Hexer, Stel calls forth the divine strength of his god Ilmater, but the Hexer seeing the power surge through the dragonborn dodged at the last possible minute.

"AARRRRR! Dammit!" roared Stel, punching the stone wall next to him in furious anger.

As soon as Stel's massive fist moved from the deep impression in the stone, cracks spidering out from the center, he hears the resounding "THOK. THOK" sound as two arrows embeded themselves deep into the crater, Murleck's bow trained on the Hexer but missing it's mark by inches.  The Hexer seeing his good fortune, shifts away and doubles his arcane efforts.

"DIE INVADERS!!!!" cries the goblin mage, hands and staff weaving intricate patterns at break neck speeds.

Just then another blinding cloud engulfs the band, making it difficult to see and causing painful needle like pain throughout their bodies.

 "We need to end this!" one of them calls through the mist

Suddenly the deadly cloud is illuminated as a plasmic blast of energy streaks past Stel and Murleck and strikes the hexer in the chest!  With the aide of this illumination, Stelios swings his blade and scores a direct hit on the hexer, the mage screaming in pain!  Sudden flashes of quicksiver slice the air and just as quickly as the scream had started it suddenly stopped... a headless Goblin hexer falling to the tile, his blood spraying into the air almost looking multicolored in the mist, Murleck Oakstone's two blades dripping with blood as he stands over the body of the fallen mage.   Looking down at his kill, the half-elf licks a little of the blood off of his fouled blade.

"I think that's all of them" wheezes Janic from the other side of the room.

The 3 adventures, winded and in pain, sit where they were standing, catching their breath and tending to their wounds.  After a few minutes, the magical mist dissipates and the three can see each other clearly.   Grinning at their fortune and silently acknowledging the fact that this is going to be a little more difficult than they had planned on, they being to explore the newly vacated rooms.....

Chapter Two - Lair of the Necromancer...

Having found the goblin's lair with relative ease thanks to the map and instructing given to him by his newly found goblin friend, Janic arrives at this cave's entrance.  Closing on the lair as quietly as he can muster, he uses some of his arcane powers to make the goblins on watch believe they heard something from deeper within the cave.  Roused by this new noise some of the goblins check the back of the cave, while one goblin, slightly brighter than the other's questions this noise and focuses his attention on the mouth of the cave.

"Who's there??" the goblin calls out.

Just then it sees the movement of Janic as he is attempting stealth.  "Get him!!" The goblin shouts commanding his fellow guards!

Arrows start to fly as Janic realizes he's been found out and quickly takes cover behind a stone outcropping.  Returning plasma blast fire he manages to score several hits and take out some of the guard crew while taking an arrow in the shoulder himself. 

"INVADERS!" the goblin commander shouts back into the depths of the cave.

Suddenly a rush of reinforcements bursts into Janic's view.  Realizing he's outmanned and outgunned, he decides to make a tactical retreat and seek assistance back at Fallcrest.  Slipping back the way he came while ducking and dodging arrow fire while returning missile blasts of his own he gets back to the main road.  The goblins put forth a chase but soon give up realizing they've done their duty and repelled the invader....

Chapter One - A Chest and a Rider...

Janic Archon, sat silently as the wagon cart rolled slowly on it's way to Fallcrest.  It had been a quiet journey thus far and the day was looking to be more of the same when a loud "thok" hit the wagon post beside his head.  Just then a band of goblins burst from the underbrush surrounding the wagon.  Looking for an easy snatch and grab, the goblins were lackadaisical in their attack.  Not expecting resistance from a mere merchant, the goblins were caught unawares as the mage warrior lashed out with his plasma blasts taking out 2 and leaving the 3rd badly burned and wounded. Just as his last bolt struck his assailants Janic noticed a rider on a black steed off on a distant hill, clearly observing the melee.  When the encounter was over, the rider reared on his horse and took off down the other side of the hill.  Distracted by this mysterious rider, a 4th goblin makes off through the trees. 

"Noo! They stole it!" cries Traevus the merchant, turning to Janic...

"You... you were incredible in that fight!  You probably saved my life.  But I need your help again.  The goblins stole something from the back of my wagon, something precious.  I need you to get it back.

Listening to Traevus' plea, Janic agrees to help. "What did they steal?" Janic asks.

"It's a small wooden box with a lock, but I ask you, please do not look inside if you find it" Traevus replies, blushing slightly "It's contents are very personal.  I will gladly pay you a reward of 30 gold pieces.  Thank you!"

Janic after checking on his new "client" and chauffeur, went over the last goblin still drawing breath.  Eyes fluttering open, he sees the mage and starts to scramble away in fear. "Be at ease, I will not cause you any more harm, why did you attack us?" Janic asks... The goblin being won over by Janic easy nature stops his frantic attempts at escape and confides in him.

"We serve a human wizard named Maraleth.  We live with him in an ancient, buried temple hidden in the caves to the south-west. Maraleth was the rider you saw." the goblin spills having to stop and gulp for air. "Kurrash, our troop leader, told us to raid this merchant wagon.  He told us where and when the wagon would pass on the road.  We were ordered to steal a small box from the back of the wagon." the goblin finishes, clearly too tired from his chatting to speak any longer.  Seeing this goblin is severely wounded, Janic makes good on his promise of friendship and does what he can to heal the goblin's wounds.  The goblin looks up with his renewed strength, a sparkle in his eye.  "Thank you stranger.  The lair you seek can be found here" the goblin says as he draws a map in the dirt.....

Character Building

We're going to be using the Standard Array:

Assign the following numbers to the 6 ability scores:

16, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10

Strength
Constitution
Dexterity
Wisdom
Intelligence
Charisma

Once everyone has created their characters I'm going to run them
through the character creator app, which creates power cards and such.

If you have questions and don't have the Players Handbook (PHB), just ask. :)  

If any of you guys want to come by my house one weekend to create characters and go have some Five Guys, that would be cool too. :)

Enter the Keep...

So I'm getting everything ready for our gaming, and I read about several DM's and gaming groups using blogs to keep the party informed and in touch in-between sessions.  So I thought, let's give it a whirl. :) 

We can use this as a place to share ideas, log the adventure, you guys can create a page for your character with there background and history and new powers and feats you learn and gain along the way as well as enhance the game with your characters thoughts on in-game events and such.

If it doesn't work out, we'll go back to using email. :)