Balderdash The Ambivalent
Well rested
Amazing what a good long rest will do for a body.
Got some good practice with the cutlery today. It becomes clearer that the battle axe needs a set up but the hand axes are properly intonated. Something to add to the shopping list.
In addition to a weird stuffed eagle that came to life, and a bunch of annoying no-eye beasties, I killed three trolls in one fight! Which is to say, the same troll three times. Nice team-work with the lads today maintaining proper distance and a good mix of hand to hand and ranged attacks. And it's a good thing we prepared for more available fire power. (ha. I crack me up) And magic, of course.
I hope we're closing in on the other party. Would be nice to get them out of here and head home.
Kill it with fire.
I used to think I hated orcs. But at least they stay dead when you kill 'em. Trolls on the other hand are a pain in the arse. We're getting better at keeping fire handy but we are going to need to work on a way to be able to deal out fire damage at a distance or in combat.
And ice breath. WTF. I'd rather not do that again.
Hope we can get to the bottom of this missing party soon. I wonder what's up with the dudes in the forest?
Note to self redux: Get better armor...
Not dead yet.
That's it. That's the journal entry.
Start with a bang, end with a banshee
As near death experiences go, this one was just like that. Naturally, my brother dwarves are just as tough in death as we are in life, so it was no walk in the park meeting up with a horde of undead former Axeholm residents. We very nearly met our match when we found the sanctuary - got a few too many of the buggers all at once. I was knocked out and I hear tell that Oz and Tuath nearly didn't make it.
Fortunately, they were able to hold out and just as we were counting our fingers and toes and getting patched up, the whole bloody mountain shook. Not quite sure what's going on but we have a new party member to show for it, assuming Tuath doesn't shoot him for sport. Turns out the wizard Merland was part of Soloman's party that we ran into after the mine. He was in the entry way to the keep in a blast crater, out cold. After reviving him and a short interrogation, he helped us clear out the keep (maybe? Probably more to do) so we can finish this up and see what can be done about Soloman and his crew.
Killed a few flying annoyances and then ran into one nasty hag of a banshee up stairs. Took some doing and she scared the piss out of some of the guys, but we finally took her down.
Found a chest behind a fireplace and inside, some gauntlets and a helm that just happen to fit me! Looking forward to a little armor upgrade I've been needing, thanks to some dwarven handiwork! On we go.
Bears and giants and hobgoblins, oh my
Why did it have to be spiders?
But first, orcs. I do love ridding the world of orcs. It was nice of that party to drop in on our surveillance site to help us keep up the training regimen. I feel I was deprived of a couple of kills by the elf, but it's tough to complain after needing to be patched up in the middle of the fight. Thanks, Baric.
Having learned from our recent mine experience that a lack of preparation and scouting can be painful (what is WITH this itch on my neck???) we opted to scope out Axeholm for a bit to figure out of we were walking into a trap. Aside from the occasional hobgoblin troop, it turned into a bit of a wildlife watching bore, but it confirmed that Axeholm was quiet and unoccupied. Mostly.
After a pathetic attempt to raise a portcullis (I mean, why did we bother to get past dwarven defenses??? Har!) we did find a way in via a chimney up on the hillside (we'll need to address that vulnerability when we restore this place). Picked up a nice shield from the first room we entered. Didn't do me a damned bit of good against the giant spiders that dropped on us in the defense room above the entry way. I have to say, it was good to have the crossbow Baric gave me or I would have been trying to kill the spiders with dirty looks.
Soon enough, it was over and none of us much worse for the wear. Looking forward to exploring this place!
Who's dumb idea was this?
Well that was a close run thing. If the cleric weren't so good at fixing me up I'd be pissed I let him talk me into that near-death trap.
Stoked we got my brother dwarves out of a bad situation. Not sure I believe we'll get a share of the price for liberating the mine, but I'm not going to dwell on it.
In the end, I am going to have to remember the benefits of a torch in a fight.
And now Axeholm. I am really looking forward to checking out the dwarven handiwork! It's been a minute since I've been in familiar surroundings. Can't wait to clear the place out!
Adventure Haiku
Wererat on my ass
Should have bought better armor
What's that strange itch mean?
I prefer fighting orcs
Of all the unholy... what the hell was that?? I'd rather take on a hundred orcs than those undead looking ratmen who shrug off a battle axe like mosquito bites.
Next time we need a way to burn them out of there.
Also, made some coin bringing Fonzie back and Atabrah got another visit from the dragon, but she's ok.
Butterscotch Ranch
Once we got back to the village and got paid, we learned that Adabrah and her windmill were attacked by the elusive white dragon. Elusive because there’s still no one who has seen it. After the cleric got her healed up a bit, she took us out to look at the windmill and it was clear to me that much of the damage was due to a dragon’s frost breath, so I’m convinced. We organized some repairs and created an escape path should this particular lightning ever strike again in the same place.
As we were wrapping up the renovations, we got word of an orc attack at Butterscotch ranch. Some retired sheriff named Alfonz Calzone or something. We’ll call him Fonzie. Heard it was urgent (and a good 100GP reward) so we packed up and lit out as fast as we could. After a healthy debate, of course.
As we got close to the ranch, we saw smoke and scattered bodies from a fight. I got all tingly with anticipation of killing some more orcs! After a bit of scouting we determined that the orcs were in the farmhouse and we agreed to storm the house. Oz got to the front door first and I went in right behind him. Got into the main room on the first floor and it was open season on orcs! I took out a couple before getting wailed on by one of them with a freakin’ halberd! Holy shit those hurt. Fortunately we had a moment for the cleric to patch us up after the first wave and then headed up stairs.
Oz got himself in a bit of trouble so I ran down the hall to help him out. Took out one of the orcs in the room which left the biggest of the bunch so I thought I would try that new disarming move I just learned. It worked! But the bastard grabbed Oz and took him tumbling down the nearest stairs. I took a look down the hall and it seemed like Baric and Tuath had things kind of under control, so I followed Oz and his new boyfriend down the stairs. Gave him a good whack and got a punch in return. Missed him with the short sword by finished him off with the Hand Axe of Doom!
And as suddenly as it started, battle was over. Found Fonzie down stairs and figured I would take a moment to patch up and jot this down.
A good day to die. Twice.
After 4 days of mind-numbing walking watching Tuath pick our way through the forest, I was beginning to think I was never going to fight anything again.
But it turned out it was a good day to die. Twice. But, I got better.
We found the logging camp deserted. Something had completely torn the place apart. As carefully as we tried to be, my comrade Oz managed to wake up an Ankheg who came sprouting out of the bloody ground. And in a bad mood to boot. Finally! Some action!
I was too far for the battle axe so I threw the hand axes and landed two solid hits. Got the bastard’s attention, that’s for sure. He let loose with an acid attack that got my attention in return. But we soon dispatched the first one – about the time that Oz tripped over himself and summoned a SECOND one. And that one took me out with a second attack. If not for Baldric, I’d have been done for. So I was back in the fight when a third beast popped up.
Where do these damned things come from???
I waded back in and pretty soon we finished off #3. Tried to be real quiet for a while after that, to be sure. Once quite we broke off to heal up and … Holy hell what is that ranger doing?? Carving up bits of the beasts to do… what?? Oy.
In the morning we went back into the camp and sniffed around some more. Whole lotta nothing until we opened up the main house and another Ankheg popped in for a cup of tea and a scone. He won’t be making that mistake again.
We found the brother holed up in the office of the main house. Terrified and happy to see us. Told us the whole story of the camp getting attacked. So we unloaded the provisions, got him to sign for delivery, and headed back to collect the 100 gold. Good trip.
Just in Time
Note to self: Avoid travelling alone in the wee hours just because you think you can make it to the next town. Next time find a good spot to bed down that isn't crawling with Orcs.
After mustering out, I'm looking for a new venture. Maybe work on filling the coffers a bit. Heard there was a bit of trouble near Sestone so thought maybe I would see if I could find someone interested in my particular skills. Thought I could make some time by travelling by dark, but ran into a band of Orcs. Hate to admit, but more than I could handle, though I'm sure I took down a couple before I had to retreat.
I spotted the signs of Dwarven construction and headed for that on a dead run, but they were gaining on me. And then I spotted some light and movement inside and began to hope I might find help - or I'd be a really unwelcome guest training a pack of orcs. But what choice did I have?
Almost made it in but got hit from behind just outside. Managed to shake off that one and get through the door and found several intrepid adventurers inside ready to help fend off the fiends.
Reminds me of the time my men and I were pinned down back home by 100 orcs and nearly succumbed to being overrun but we taught them a lesson that day! But I digress.
I saw a fellow dwarf, I now know is Ottoz, and my spirits lifted immediately. I knew we would get through this. I made it through the door and turned to face the horde. Immediately got hit by a javelin – so, maybe next time, clear the line of fire, perhaps?
The fight was furious but short. Oz, Baric the Cleric, and I met them hand to hand while my new Ranger comrades rained death from behind. Were it not for Baric tending my early hits, it would have been a different battle and in the end, it was we who needed to bring him back from the brink.
As we rest, I look forward to getting to know these fine warriors in the days ahead.
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