(G465 18/09/2021 via Roll20 - - AP(GM), JF, KT) WA90

 (G465 18/09/2021 via Roll20 -  - AP(GM), JF, KT) WA90

[And now back into the Underdark with Fenrir, Reinward, Veddic, Raz and their guides - Dinkledonk and Soledad.]

DAY 503(18th Flamerule)(july) cont ...

And so the above mentioned companions and the minotaur Ugelbe arrived at the dwarf fortress of Boatmurdered.

Fenrir and his friends were all welcome at the fortress, but the guards would not let the  minotaur in. They were directed to some disused chambers outside the fortress entrance.
'You cannae trust a minotaur, lad', warned the captain of the guard. 'They will always turn on you in the end.'

The rooms were dirty, but they made the best of it and camped their the night.


DAY 504(19th Flamerule)(july)

They breakfasted from the magical provisions box. Ugelbe ate a portion fit for five large men.

Reinward entered the fortress for the first time. He went through the complicated entrance full of traps and murder holes, and along the intricately carved halls to the 'market square' an elegantly vaulted chamber with a wonderful moziac on the floor.
It appeared that whenever a dwarf of the fortress was at a loose end they would take it upon themselves to further beutify their home.

As Ren traded with a dwarf called Humple the trader, two other dwarfs were bust carving a scene on a nearby wall with small hammers and chisels.

Humple drove hard bargains. He wasn't much interested in gems - the fortress was full of them - but items from the overworld were greatly treasured, particuarly animal furs and skins.

After a few hours the trading was all done and they went on their way. Ugelbe and  Dinkledonk new enough of the local area to get them onto the dark ways, an area of ancient underground roadways that ran underneath the other points of interest.

I have been here myself and they are impressive in their scale, and are a favourite road for many vagrant troglodytes, kobolds, derro, dwarves and the like. I think the must have been made by the old Drow civilisation that existed here once.

They made good progress, with the help of Soledad to keep an eye things as they went and made camp for the night in a small chamber off the main road.


DAY 505(20th Flamerule)(july)

After breafast they continued on their way. They encountered a group of goblins, a troglodyte hunting party and some kuo-toa, but they either wisely fled the approach
of the adventurers or were swifyl incinerated by an Eldritch Blast.

Towards evening time they reached the entrance to the Labyrinth below the City of Pools. Ugelbe led them expertly through the outer areas to where he suspected the entrance to the Lair of Queen Arachnia was.

Their first real challange came when they entered a chamber that had skeletons chained to the wall. Inside were five basalisks, that attacked as soon as they were aware of intruders into their lair. Ugelbe was at the front so he chopped up a few of them, while the others were killed by ranged attacks from behind.
No one was turned to stone. I once was - I would not recommend it.

Along a corridor they arrived at a set of two ajoined rooms. The first one contained a bunch of wraiths, led by a large Dread Wraith. Veddic manged to turn it, but the other wraiths came on and a confused melee insued.

Just as they were finishing off the wraiths a dozen or so skum (one of the varities of fish men you get down here) attacked from the other room. They were soon cut down though, and when Dinkledonk cast Glitterdust into the chamber they had come from the two Aboleths that were in there decided to sink down into the depths of their well rather than stand and fight.

(G464 11/09/2021 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, KT) LR44

 (G464 11/09/2021 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, KT) LR44

[Back to me, my family and friends, having a lovely time on Yacg'harr Island.]

DAY 545 (30th Eleasis) (August)

Oh, I should mention another thing that happened today. Part of the 'plan' I have for this island, is to 'gather the ships' here.

There is no problem with the Blue Nixie, this ship belongs to my wife Lavinia, and since she loves setting up colonies, this vessel and her crew are entirely at our disposal.

The Black Cat and the Sister - they are in Waterdeep, waiting for me to do something with them. Maybe tomorrow.

The Sea Wyvern is annoying though. I don't know what Nobby is up to!
Well, you may remember that the Wyvern belongs to three people - me, Nobby and Veddic.
Veddic hardly counts as he was given Shifty's share out of spite, but he's never said anything to my about his part ownership of the Wyvern. Maybe he's forgotten.

Anyway, I got word back from Nobby that she has now decided to settle at Farshore, that her and Urol are now married with a baby on the way (I'm astounded!).
And since she needs a constant supply of baby things she wants to keep the Sea Wyvern down there.

She is a big shot in Farshore (or so she says) and the Sea Wyvern is now the main supply route for the colony. This is news to me - and news to Lavinia too!
It's a Vanderboren colony after all, and since my wife knows nothing about it I wonder exactly what Nobby is up to down there!

I suppose we'll need to return to Farshore at some point, and we can find out what is going on with those pesky gnomes.

DAY 546 (1st Eleint) (September)

As part of the 'Island Plan' today I teleported to Waterdeep and went to see my brother Nissa.
He agreed to crew and provision my two ships Black Cat and Sister. I gave him 500 gold to cover the cost.

After that I went to see Corum at the OJB and had a sneaky visit with the two genies in the cellar. The less said about that the better, but I will just say it is still an amazing experience!

Myself and Dak had a late lunch, then went down to the dockside taverns to see what could be found out about the two other ships (the Reaper and the Black Mirror) that I had sworn revenge on, on behalf of the Sharptooth Clan.

You may remember that when I got hold of Tinker "Blackdeath" Snuggleton, captain of the Annubus (now the Black Cat), and before I ate his heart (its what the
Sharptooth's would have wanted) he told me that these two other ships had been part of the raid on Lost Refuge that had killed most of the afore-mentioned Sharptooth Clan.

I went in disguise, as a friendly sailor called Wee Jim McSeabeast. Dak went as Dak. We started in one of the Dockward taverns (the Dog's Overbite), a friendly  place, but they had no information.
While I talked to the landlord Dak chatted up a wench called Arran Ferry. He was trying to get her to come and work at his own tavern (that existed in no place other than his own addled head) that would soon put his mortal enemy Gyles Finchey out  of business.
'Put her name down in that book of yours,' he told me later as I updated my journal.
'Her name was Arran Ferry!'
I wonder if she gave him her real name?

Anyway, from there we went on to a rougher place that the landlord of the Dog thought we might have more luck at. We didn't but Dak tried to recruit another serving wench.
Her name was Ecix Mylne.

Tired of the docks, I suggested we tried the Singing Sword, the tavern across the market from the OJB.

There we fell in with a couple of piratical looking wenches, one was a fighter called Bethel and the other was a ranger called Wenga. They were from Thay.
We had a great evening, swapping stories of adventure and daring-do over several bottles of rum and many mugs of ale.
Dak even broke out some of his closely guarded supply of Jibby-Jibby.

Dak also tried some improvised comedy with his pet snake, but it was met with confused silence. I managed to recover the situation and keep the evening on track though.

They had heard of the ships we were interested in and over the course of the evening I learned that the Reaper was due in Starmantle in the next ten days and the Black Mirror would be in Waterdeep in the next twenty.

At the end of the night Dak went off with Wenga. The rest of the evening I have no memory of.

DAY 547 (2nd Eleint) (September)

I woke in a soft bed in one of the Singing Sword's best rooms. Bethel was awake already and eating a hearty breakfast. I groaned, what had I done last night?
My disguise was blown anyway, my Hat of Disguise lay on the floor with all my
other clothing.
Genies are one thing, but this was quite another. It was probably best I could not
recall anything past the fifth round of Jibby-Jibby.

I asked her what they planned to do next. They were on a quest, going up the north coast. I told her to get in touch if she needed help.

I dressed then went and gathered up Dak. Once I could stand him upright I teleported us back to the island.
'Not a word to anyone about what happened last night, right?' I hissed at him as we staggered into the barrow.

(G463 04/09/2021 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), KT, AD) HOM3

(G463 04/09/2021 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM), KT, AD) HOM3

[We return now to Hommlet, and the adventures of Griffolk Ethyn the Dragon-Shaman, Sparkledingle the Gnome Wizard, Fangorino the Barbarian and their latest holy friend - Alleyoop.]


DAY 2 (Summer 1377DR) cont ...

Stepping over the piles of zombie remains, the brave companions continued their exploration of the dungeon under the Moathouse. The next room they found was a torture chamber of some kind with a ladder on one column that lead down into a deep gloom.

They ignored it for the time being and moved on, exploring some of the other rooms. The next chamber of interest they came to contained a big ogre that rose from his pile of dusty furs and attacked them as they entered.

Sparkledingle put his Grease spell to good work again though, and the ungainly brute landed on his backside several times, making him an easy target for Griffolk and Fangorino.

Once the ogre was dead they explored some of the side chambers and found the ogre's 'larder'. It contained three human merchants and a gnome.

After some discussion they decided to head back to Hommlet, and when they arrived they deposited the four people they had rescued at the Inn of the Welcoming Wench. They were all from Goldenfields, and said they would make sure to send a reward back to Hommlet for them when they got back home.

The gnome merchant Popkin 'Topper' was sad as the ogre had eaten some of his friends. Sparkledingle tried to cheer him up, but failed.

Mr Pin, who spent most of his day at the Wench, was happy to settle their bar bill, he was not employing them at the moment, but seemed to have a ready supply of gold.
'It all goes on expenses,' he explained dryly.

They companions spent a few hours drinking in the tavern and during a spritly round of banter Sparkledingle used Prestidigitation to delibertly spill Fangorino's pint into his lap.

Fangorino went upstairs to dry off and bumped into Baroness Partik, the noblewoman he had argued with the night before. She was having no luck moving a long chest into her room as her servents were too feeble. Fangorino could not get into his own room as it was blocked by the chest.
'Well, you move it then, you huge oaf, you are certainly big enough!' she snarled at the  barbarian.
Fangorino snarled back, but all this did was make the servent quiver in terror and run away.
The barbarian sighed, the grabbed the chest and dragged it into her room. He noticed that their was a strong smell of earth coming from the box.

Meanwhile, downstairs, as Alleyoop and Sparkledingle talked over their adventures in high gnomish voices, Griffolk, who apparently had a sense of homour (of sorts!) arranged with the Innkeeper to have the 'item' (which he had named Kenneth for reasons that are  obscure to me) delivered to Alleyoop's cottage. I should also note he had filled the box with itching powder and labeled it "from Sparkledingle".

That evening, ever the galant, Sparkledingle walked Alleyoop home to her cottage tucked away in the woods north of Hommlet. The delivery boy had managed to drop off the box as the dire wolves had been off hunting.

Alleyoop picked up the box and examined it. She dropped it though, when she disturbed some of the itching powder. Curious, Sparkledingle cast Detect Magic on the box and detected an Enchantment on it.
"Step away from the box!" he squeaked in alarm.

In the end though, they decided to go and open the box. Inside was an large, long, object covered in metal studs. Alleyoop read the note, giggled and elbowed  Sparkledingle in the ribs.

The itching powder was annoying her though, so she soon dropped it, then hoofed the horrifying phallus into the bushes.
'I'll see you tomorrow then!' said Sparkledingle as he scampered off, his face flushed bright red.

Back at the Inn he confronted Griffolk, who freely admited to the jape.
'But what was it?' asked the innocent gnome.
Griffolk told him, and Sparkledingle went to his room for a restless night of disturbing dreams.

DAY 3 (Summer 1377DR)

While all the others had their breakfast Sparkledingle went back to the cottage and retrived "Kenneth". His intentions can only be guessed at.

After they had eaten, they went back to the Moathouse and returned to the area  where they had last been exploring.

Where the zombie remains were, there was now four gnolls, who were feasting on the bones. When the adventurers approached, they attacked, but were soon slain.

In the room where they had killed the ogre, they found three bugbears, cooking parts of the ogre over a fire. They also attacked, and were more dangerous, but after the two males were slain, the female surrendered.

Her name was Debbay and she was kean to make friends with the menfolk, offering  herself to them. No one was interested though, and she was escorted out of the  Moathouse and sent on her way.

The adventurers then returned to the shaft they had found earlier and cautiously climbed down the ladder into the darkness. At the bottom a small room lead to a larger burial chamber where they were attacked by ghouls.

Alleyoop turned them all and they fled into some tunnels at the back of the tomb. The tunnels were low and narrow and after trying to follow them for a while eventually they gave up.

Hoping that they would not see the ghouls again, they moved on further into the lower parts of the dungeon.

(G462 28/08/2021 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, KT) LR43

 (G462 28/08/2021 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, KT) LR43

[Yet more on the big pickle I had got myself into on Yacg'harr Island.]

DAY 537 (22nd Eleasis) (August) ...

I know that as I get older, or maybe as my Druidic powers have grown, I have less patience with people that get in my way.

Even so, in the morning though, I decided to give this old pirate captain we had taken into custody a chance to explain himself.

Disguised as an old lady I went to talk to him in the cave at the back of the barrow. There was nothing 'unusual' about him if you understand me. He had been a pirate, and now he was not. He had killed people, but not enough good or innocent people to turn his aura evil (or so Sylvia reported to me).
Lucky for him then!

As to the skulls he said:
'The skulls were part of a cargo of a ship we liberated back in the day.'
'Why did you keep them?' I asked.
'To stop them falling into the wrong hands,' he said truthfully.
(We were in a Zone of Truth, cast by Sylvia.)

At some point Dak barged in (not in disguise) and asked:
'Who is in charge of this island here?'
'Quite a few people,' shrugged the pirate. 'I have a degree of influence, the innkeeper,
some others...'
I was getting a clearer picture of the people on the island now. They were basically opportunists, who found it easier to trade with passing pirate ships than to defy them.
They largely grew their on food on the island, it was rich in a tropical bounty of fruit and vegetables, while the sea teamed with life, most of it being delicious - such as crab, turtle,  sea snails, fish by the net-full and all manner of plump migratory birds.
Sylvia, probably out of boredom as much as anything else, joined in the questioning.
'What about the origins of this island, how did it all get started?'
'Why yes, I do know how the island came to be a sort of pirate retirement village, but that's how it is. They put on a bit of a show when a pirate ship turns up, hang a few skeletons or whatever about the place. When it's just regular ships they just act normal.'

We also learned that the place we had been calling 'Pirate Town' was called Tumunzah and that the innkeeper's name was Gyles Finchey.

After all that, myself, Lavinia, Silvia and anyone else who felt like contributing, went over our plans again. I also used my magic to throw up an earthwork rampart around the barrow.

Later on I found Dak, back pestering the Captain with random questions. It made me think though, if he's never going to be in disguise I could pretend to be a half-orc too, to further confuse the matter!

Enter Bibblebak the Barbarian!

Anyway, time to turn in. I'm sick of sleeping in this Tomb. So is everyone.


DAY 538 (23rd Eleasis) (August)

Today we teleported Lavinia to Sassering to start organising masons for the keep we plan to build on the island.

Then me, Dak and Jiggles teleported the captain to Westgate and bunged him in a secure room in Fenrir's townhouse. (He wasn't home).

I paid Gelly 500 gold to watch him for a day or two. Hopefully this will baffle him as to who raided his house and why! The only weak link is Dak, but to be honest I've  given up thinking about it. He's a loose cannon, but part of all this nonsense whether I like it or not.

Anyway, he went shopping for more powerful gear while in Westgate and this gave me a few hours alone to relax in Fenrir's luxurious front room. The staff like me here, but I think it's because they think Lavinia is a 'real lady' and nothing to do with my own charms.

We teleported back in the evening. The last thing I did today was finish off the rampart around the barrow.

Sylvia had resurrected some people form the town today. She is in disguise and staying at the inn, but I met her in secret for an update.


DAY 539 (24th Eleasis) (August)

What a lovely place this island is, I must admit, when you are not skulking around in an evil king's barrow. It is teaming with live, a lovely warm climate, kept cool by a bracing sea breeze.

Sylvia resurrected more people from the town. I've started building small 'druid houses' using Wood and Stone Shape. They are only big enough for a bed and a desk, but anything is better than another night in the barrow.

Out of boredom, in the evening we filtered back to the pub. Today I went as a a half-elf called Bongo the Magnificent!

I doubt we are fooling many people, they know we are from the barrow, but at least they will be confused about our numbers and what we all actually look like.  Except for Dak of course, they are all well acquainted with him now.


DAY 540 (25th Eleasis) (August)

Today Sylvia finished the resurrections and I picked her up via teleportation spell, in disguise as a Cleric of Illmater. She reported that all had gone well.

Today I also returned to Westgate, picked up the pirate captain and brought him back to the island. All in disguise as Bibblebak the Barbarian.
I sent him off with dire warnings - that he should keep a low profile and his mouth shut.

I built another 'druid house' today.


DAY 541 (26th Eleasis) (August)

Lovely as this island is, it can be a bit boring loafing about all day. Once I've built my daily 'druid house' I've not much else to do. Everyone else is the same.

Sylvia is constantly nagging me, but mainly about the state of her hair and how she needs a good bath. The sea is pure and clean, but apparently the salt water gives her split ends.

So, we've organised a pub rota. Everyone gets a day there. As long as someone is guarding the barrow it should be ok.

Tonight I went as Mysterious Mickey, the random man!


DAY 542 (27th Eleasis) (August)

Built another small house - it only takes minutes, then spent some time swimming in the sea and lying on the beach. I could get used to a life like this.

Went to the pub later in the evening for a good meal and a few drinks.

DAY 543 (28th Eleasis) (August)

Another relaxing day. No word from Lavinia, but I'm sure she's doing fine. She said it would take about a week to organise the masons, and I'm sure she's enjoying being in her own house for a while.

DAY 544 (29th Eleasis) (August)

Today we got a message from Lavinia and I teleported back to Sasserine to pick her up.

She has organised a squad of masons. The keep that we have designed will take them six to eight weeks apparently. It will cost extra as they have to sail to the island, but even so, since we have a fortune hidden away in the portals, it's not a problem.

The other thing that happened today was that Dak tried to buy the inn from Gyles. It did not go well.

I was there (as Mysterious Mickey) and witnessed the whole thing. Firstly he had an argument with the innkeeper as Dak was already barred.

As voices were raised the half-orc grabbed the man over the bar and threatened him. Gyles tapped him on the shoulder, with his finger or something magical, I'm not sure and Dak seemed to shiver and seize up. He shook it off though and stepped back.

He then put a bag of 3000 gold on the counter.
'How much for the Inn?' demanded Dak.
The innkeeper then started to mix various spirits in a silver tankaard (some sort of island punch  I think), saying. 'If you want to talk business, then lets have a drink.'

Dak grunted, took the drink and quaffed it down. It was heavily poisoned though, of course, and the colour drained from the half-orc and he stood stock still, paralysed.

Whatever the landlord was planning after that, we'll never know, as by then I was on my feet and beside Dak. I grabbed his arm and teleported him back to the barrow.

I guess I can't go back there as 'Mysterious Mickey' any more then.


DAY 545 (30th Eleasis) (August)

A weary Sylvia used her magic to Restore Dak's health back to normal this morning.

'Oh well,' he sighed, looking at the kettle on the campfire. 'Cup of tea anyone?'

'Nah,' I teased him. 'We are all going to the pub. You can stand guard since you're not welcome there!'

In the end though, I felt sorry for the big oaf and teleported him to Sasserine so he could invest in a Hat of Disguise.

Later that day, we went back to the inn. I decided to go as 'Gerard the Tall.' Dak decided to go as a light-footed half-elf female. I doubt we fooled many people, especially Dak, as a half-elf wench that burps, farts, scratches her arse and smells of armour polish.

Well anyway, suspecting and proving are two different things, and as we kept to ourselves and paid well we were left alone.

I've noticed though, how easy it is for me to tell who is who, out of Sylvia, Jiggles, Molly and Dak, however they are disguised, just by their voices and mannerisms. Sylvia always smells of that perfume she wears, its a dead giveaway.

But when the pub is busy, noisy and drenched in the smell of stale beer, no one seems to notice or care - just as well for us!

(G461 21/08/2021 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, KT) WA89

 
(G461 21/08/2021 via Roll20 - AP(GM), JF, KT) WA89

[And now back into the Underdark with Fenrir, Reinward, Veddic, Raz and their guides - Dinkledonk and Soledad.]


DAY 503(18th Flamerule)(july)

It was late in the morning when Fenrir and the others realised that Reinward was missing. When they went to his room and saw the collapsed floor they were somewhat at a loss as to what possible trouble the young man could have gotten himself into.

As they ate a quick breakfast and checked over their equipment, like the prodigal son, Reinward appeared at the door of the inn, disheveled and dark-eyed.

The mindflayers had already left the Eightways Inn, but Lugg Dwarfslicer, the Tannaruk was still there and a big Minotaur was also in the common room, minding his own business.

'So,' asked Dinkledonk of Fenrir. 'What's the plan, chief?'

Fenrir decided to see what news he could find about the local area first and went to talk to the Inn's other patrons.

Lugg, being demon touched, was greatly impressed by Fenrir, the powerful warlock that he was, and was happy to help in any way. He didn't know much that was useful to Fenrir though.

The minotaur was named Ugelbe, and although he appeared to be half-mad, Fenrir's charm still worked on him. They talked for a while and it appeared that Ugelbe, until recently, had been working in the labyrinth below the City of Pools. As this was where they were headed, Fenrir decided to try and get the minotaur's help.
'I have heard... of a thing called a beach..' said Ugelbe. 'Is this a nice thing? I've never been to the Overworld. All I do is work and the air gets sicker each day. The horns on my head get thicker each day. I said to myself, why be in the maze each day? Go to the beach instead...'
'Right, right,' interrupted Fenrir. 'You guide us through the maze and we'll take you to the beach, ok?' The minotaur agreed.

Fenrir then consulted the Doomsday Clock that Random had given him. It showed 12 minutes to midnight. He returned to the others and they went over their plans. It was decided that they would head to the Dwarf Fortress of Boatmurdered first, as it was not too far away, and they might get more advice and help.

They set off from the Eightways around lunchtime and were making good progress along the ancient drow halls when they heard something up ahead.

Reinward, as the parties most soft-stepped individual cautiously went forward to investigate. He saw a dark clad figure run into a side passage, and he followed it. The others came along behind him. The passage lead to two small chambers.

Suddenly there was howling from the main hall and a horde of Vampire Spawn rushed in towards them!

Reinward tried to avert his eyes from their gaze, he'd been under the power of vampires enough in the past to know he didn't fancy it again, but he was soon surrounded and backed into a corner.

Veddic was soon on hand though and a powerful Turn Undead blasted a good portion of the Spawn into ashes and dust. More charged in, and behind them came actual vampires, including two they had encountered before, in the dungeon below Blackthorn's mansion, Lara and Bloodwurst.

The remained of the battle was short, but intense. Ugelbe charged down the hall, sending chunks of Vampire Spawn flying, and the others, on the back foot to begin with, soon turned the tide as Veddic destroyed more and more of the Spawn.

Lara and Bloodwurst turned and fled, taking someone they had called 'Pastry' with them, the poor man being pulled along on a leash. A powerful vampire cleric covered the vampires retreat and while he soon dispatched, by the time they had reached the main hall again, the other vampires were nowhere to be seen.