DM Sir Carnifex's Events

[Sir_Carnifex]

Robbed!

North of Baldur's Gate the winds cut through the valley, making the long blades of grass wave. Dust flew up from the road and formed into swirling clouds, thus impeding visibility. These problems were something the small merchants caravan and its guards were quite used to by now. Making the trip through the Fields of the Dead was never easy, nor safe, but they had done it many times before. However, on this particular day, conditions were unusually bad. Still, they had made it past the walking dead and entered into the winding trail through the Troll Claw Hills.

One little merchant by the name of Abdul-Wakil Farid Haddad rode atop a wagon nervously watching around as the proceed up the path. As he watched (though he could hardly see through the dust clouds) there came shouts and the sound of many feet rushing down the hills from both sides of the road. Farid could see the forms of men swarming about and the merchant guards rush to meet them. Soon the air was filled with the clashing of swords as a desperate battle took place.

Farid wasted no time to make himself scarce and rushed for the nearest rock formation to hide. Gnomes have big feet, however, and one of these caught a rock as he rushed away. He fell headlong and hit his head upon a boulder lodged in the hillside. He vision went black.

A time later, though he not how long it was, he awoke and found himself alone with no trace of either the bandits or the caravan anywhere in sight. In despair, he began trudging by himself down the path. The only consolation was that he still had his large bag of his own supplies. Unfortunately for him, these also greatly impeded his movement.

After a time, he arrive at the Troll Claw Ford and, surprisingly, a person he knew! Here was help, he was sure. Fortune was not with him this day, however, as the person promptly extorted gold from him and then traveled on, leaving him in the hills alone once again.

Then again, not alone, for a group of adventurers stood inside a ring of wrecked buildings. They had set up several hasty fortifications against the trolls and had several supply wagons as well. The group was eager to allow Farid to come in with them after they found out who he was. . . and even more eager to relieve him of his goods, for they revealed themselves to be the same bandits who had raided his caravan.

Farid's eyes widened, his face paled, and he shook all over in fright, but his please for mercy were useless and the men held him as a prisoner even as they prepared to defend themselves through the night before leaving. The little merchant made a valiant attempt to sneak away that night, but failed. He sat down feeling miserable and waited until morning.

Morning came, and so did the trolls. The bandits rushed for from their camp to fight the hordes of green giants that set upon them. During the confusion, Farid slipped away and managed to make his way south where he encountered two wizards who agreed to help him regain his stolen goods.

Returning, they found the trolls had been defeated and the bandits still had their camp, but there was no trace of the stolen wagons anymore! Confused, the party did an investigation and finally found that the men had transferred the supplies to boats and shipped them to Scornubel.

Farid pleaded with the wizards to help him get his goods back or he would be ruined and they complied with his request. They made the long journey on foot to Scornubel and there met up with the group, a shady trade business, and through a mixture of intimidation and diplomacy, managed to gain back the little gnome's goods. Only partially satisfied with the result, they decided to leave while they were alive and booked passage on a ship back to Baldur's Gate.

Farid promised many discounts to his two companions, Garlamin and Elias.

* * *

Abdul-Wakil Farid Haddad
Elias Goodmane
Garlamin Stonestaff

[Sir_Carnifex]

Investigation of Ulcaster

The cards flew from the dealerss hand and landed in four not-so-neat piles. Each of the four picked up his hand and proceeded to scan them, though their attention was more upon conversation than the game at hand. They sat there awhile talking to each other and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of Feldepost's Inn. Several baskets of fresh bread sat in the middle of the table, and a few wine bottles as well.

Patrons of all sorts wandered in an out, sat down to have a drink, or just chatted with each other. One of the voices, gruff and low, was unmistakable, however, to those who frequent Feldepost's. Nobody could help but hear when Marl spoke, or rather, growled. Having had several drinks already never did anything to help him, either.

Marl was conversing with another customer about local happenings. In particular, they mentioned something about an expedition at the old Ulcaster School Ruins. People were there excavating or something. Marl clearly expressed that he didn't care what they did and really had no interest in it. However, one of those at the nearby table did have such an interest and his keen ears perked up as the conversation continued.

Excavators at Ulcaster? Kelddath Ormlyr, the mayor of Beregost, would have a fit over people disturbing that place! Arivain discussed it with his companions and they decided to see what could be done. While he went off to inform the Temple, the other three slipped out of the town and south to investigate. Arivain soon joined them as the Temple thought it to be more idle rumors coming from the tavern -- something they dealt with all too often.

They could see the ruins off in the distance as the clambered up a steep cliff to get a view. Sure enough, there were signs of activity going on there. Men were bustling about working and they could see some armed figures as well. It was decided to use an up front approach to find out more, so the four cautiously approached the camp and made inquiries.

As they neared, they noticed several stone caskets had been dragged out of the ruins and that the men had a couple wagons and much equipment around. The amount of guards was more than that of any mere caravan.

Two of the four adventurers, Arivain and Valerius, plied the guard with questions, even bribing him to let them speak to the man in charge. The greedy guard only needed to eye the coin for a few seconds before he agreed. Soon they were speaking to a large man, but after quite some time, they still had gotten no real information from him. The group thought for a time of trying to forcibly preventing further intrusion into the ruins, but then thought better of it. Instead, two of them made a camp atop the cliffs and waited to see what happened. The others returned to Candlekeep.

Day break came, and with it, the sound of a wagons rattling up the rugged path. Below the cliffs, the group made their way away from Ulcaster with a couple of wagons and at least fifteen guards and workers. They headed up the path, then turned south on the road towards Amn, eventually disappearing from sight.

The two decided to check out the ruins where the camp had once been for clues. It took them several searches, but they found that the three sarcophagi had not been taken with the large group, but rather, dragged back inside the ruins. They intended to wait for a time, then venture inside, but a swarm of wyverns spoiled their plans, and they decided it was for the best to return to Beregost and get aid.

The Temple was finally convinced something was going on, and they sent many Dawn Knights to investigate. Arivain and Valerius followed along, but eventually left, still wondering what was really happening inside.

* * *

PCs Involved:

Arivain
Valerius
Isabella Villarme
(and a forgotten name!)

[Sir_Carnifex]

Tolerance is Treason!

News spread quickly throughout Baldur's Gate and the surrounding lands that a lone drow had been caught by farmers. Evidently he had been hiding himself in the farmlands, though for reasons unknown, when he was cornered. Shortly thereafter, the mob had him tied to a stone pedestal with wooden planks underneath him. One of the locals held a torch and stood ready to burn the evil being.

At this time, a large crowd began to gather to inquire what was going on. The majority, when finding the cause of the ruckus, urged the farmers on with the yells about evil drow and executing them. However, two individuals attempted to stop the whole thing, probably at great risk to their own lives.

Just as the torch was about to be thrown onto the wood pile, the Flaming Fist arrived. The leader of the patrol, after assessing the situation, approved the execution and stepped back to watch. The torch was tossed on amid the jeers of the crowd and the drow began to burn.

Instantly one man jumped forward, trying to put out the flames, but the Flaming Fist stepped forward to stop him, and as they did so, another bystand thrust his own sword through the drow, thus quickly ending its life.

The one threat had been dealt with, but the mere presence of a drow so close to the city left the commoner and adventurers alike wondering if there were more that had not been caught...

[Sir_Carnifex]

A Monumental Task

Rumor came to Baldur's Gate that a small camp of Amnish soldiers was seen just on the outskirts of Beregost recently. Just what exactly they were doing wasn't know, at least to those who were telling the story, but there was some word of using Beregost for supplies for a giant-fighting army.

Several adventurers heard the commoners speaking. One of them was highly suspicious of Amn and wanted to see for herself what they were up to. Rumors of their intentions were not enough to satisfy her curiosity. And so, with a few others, she make the long journey down the Trade Way and came to Beregost at the beginning of dusk.

Sure enough, just as had been reported, there was a small camp south of town and a dozen or more soldiers resting beneath large tents. The soldiers refused to speak with anyone who was not a representative of Beregost or Baldur's Gate and turned the adventurers away.

Still not satisfied, the group first questioned the local news and gossip master -- the town crier. After hearing what he knew of the situation, they then spoke to the mayor of Beregost, Kelddath Ormlyr, who confirmed that the soldiers were there to clear the giants away from Nashkel and that Beregost was assisting the best it could.

Even the words of the mayor, however, did not set to rest the suspicions of the party leader. She still had to see for herself and marched straight south to investigate. There they found the main Amnish army, still a distance from Beregost. Everything they had heard proved to be true, and they spent the day retrieving to bodies of Amnish soldiers to return them to camp.

Even as the three left the hills, the giants and soldiers were fighting a great battle far to the East.

* * *

[Sir_Carnifex]

The Last Tune of Doolin

The wind blew gently through the air. Several birds chirped. The little gnome whistled.

A quaint little fellow, a gnome by the name of Doolin Flandlehorn, was in the company of several others and headed south past the Temple of Bhaal (which no doubt frightened the poor fellow) when the group heard the clomping of horse hooves. They all looked up to see a cloud of dust and two wagons hurtling their way. They all dove off the road just in time as the wagons flew past them and north up the road.

Several of them made exclamations, but only one noticed the lack of people aboard the wagons. That one, a cleric of Ilmater, immediately realized what that could mean. The caravan must have been ambushed along the way, or something like that, to explain why spooked horses pulled riderless wagons.

She and the rest decided to rush south and hope to find the owners. They hurried along the road, all the while carefully scanning for tracks and evidence. They continued to move south.

As they arrived at the cliffs north of Beregost, they came upon yet another wagon, but this one crashed against a tree on the hillside. Beside it lay two corpses, both wearing the garb of Calimshan. The two had been brutally cut by an edged blade, likely a scimitar.

Questions flew around as the group, now larger with the addition of a couple passers-by, pondered the situation. Who did this? What were they after? Why were the goods - expensive silks - still inside the cart? It seemed that almost with one accord, the whole party agreed on one possibility - drow!

The idea that they might have to face such, especially in the gathering dark, unnerved the group to some extent, but they decided that somebody had to search out the perpetrators. So, with the casting of a few light spells, the proceeded. Whoever had done the deed made not much of an attempt to cover his tracks, and those tracks clearly led east to some old mining gear and a shaft.

Most of the adventurers looked around cautiously, checking all cover twice to be sure nothing lurked behind it. There was one, however, who was a little more curious than cautious, and that one was Doolin. He poked his head down a mine shaft to see what was below, and at that time, an arm shot out, grabbed him, and yanked him down. He fell, screaming, and landed with a thud somewhere below.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Quickly the others rushed over and looked down to see a dark figure sliding down the rope. A quick tug from him and the rope followed after. Abby Winters and Caskia rushed in after him, but to their consternation, their quarry had blocked the other side with stones. They could hear Doolin screaming for help from the other side even as they kicked at the stones to dislodge them. The others above called down to hear what was wrong.

In a few minutes, the two broke the stones loose and emerged out into some ruins. Opposite the room, a fearful Doolin was being held by a slim figure dressed in a turban. The figure pressed a curved blade into his throat, threatening to permanently silence his cries for help.

Abby and Caskia stood still for a moment, and then they tried to speak with the figure. Diplomacy did not work, for he said he would either kill them or the gnome unless they were to leave. He pulled the blade tighter. Doolin sobbed uncontrollably and pleaded for his life, "Please! I-I don't waaant to die!!!"

Abby spoke with the other woman and then took a step forward to heal Doolin, but the drow (for it was noticeable once they approached closer) made a quick movement and sliced off the head of the unfortunate Doolin. Caskia yelled at him and chased after him. The drow escaped with the head after he caused a darkness to envelop him, but not until Caskia has scored a couple of blows to him. The remainder of the party hurried down the shaft just after this and they joined in a hunt for the drow.

It was not hard to follow the bloody trail that was left behind, so the group quickly found the drow once again and cornered him next to a gaping hole in the floor. There he lay severely wounded and unable to move any longer. The head, he told them with a sly grin, he had dropped down the hole. A quick shove from one of the party sent the drow down the hole as well where he landed with a splash.

"Seadin, NO!" One of the group yelled! "Now you let him get away!"

Most of them agreed there was now nothing to be done but follow and hope for the best.

*Splash!*

*Sploosh!*

*Splish!*

*Splash!*

Four of them descended into the underground river while the heavily-armored ones looked for an alternate route out. Those who had jumped in were swept by the current until they tumbled out an opening behind the Beregost Falls. The others found an exit from the mine and soon joined them there, where all of them did a long search for the drow and the gnome's head. The drow they found dead and stuck on a rock under the surface, but try as they might, they could not find Doolin's head.

Dispirited, the group dispersed.

Poor Doolin has whistled his last tune.

* * *

Sorry for the dull story. I rushed it (as usual!).

PCs involved:

Abby Winters
Caskia
Tuk - Tugluk (?)
Doolin Flandlehorn
Seadin Aleros
Keshari Bleth
Thadrin
(forgot the other)

[Laurk]

Thank a bunch for the event, I really enjoyed the PnP style RP. Look forward to more.

Laurk (Abby)

[Sir_Carnifex]

Along Came a Dragon

Brandt was no experienced adventurer, that much was obvious by the look of him. When he marched out from Baldur's Gate, across the great bridge, and southward into the unknown wild lands, he looked every bit new to his profession. His sword looked like he had bought the cheapest used one available at some scroungy weapons dealer in town. His armor was ill-fit, though there was not a ding in it, not by a weapon anyway.

So when Brandt came back to the farmlands with a small dragon on a leash following along behind him, it would have been a shock to any who had seen him walk out. However, none of those were present. Instead were just a few performers sitting around by the campfire chatting when Brandt cheerily walked up to them informing them he had found the "cutest creature" and needed to find someone to take care of it.

Naturally intrigued by what he said (or didn't say), the group agreed to see what this thing was. The three of them, soon joined by a halfling, traveled along the river bank and Brandt soon brought the tiny dragon to them. Pooky, he called it.

Needless to say, some of the group were visibly worried about the presence of a black dragon, even one so small and seemingly helpless, in the near vicinity of the gate. Still, it was evident that Brandy had no idea what he had really caught, even after they had explained to him. Seeing no other course of action, one of the group bought the wyrmling from Brandt.

The new adventurer, happy that he had found a home for his temporary pet, plus elated at the coin, left the dragon in their care and left them.

Not long after he was gone, the new owner drew his sword and put an end to Pooky's life.

* * *

Alignment shifts for some.
500 XP for those there originally.

[Sir_Carnifex]

The Goblin Trap

The five adventurers gathered excitedly outside the door to the underground ruins north of Beregost. They had traveled quite some distance to arrive there and fought off bands of goblins, including a few that rode ferocious wolf-like creatures called Worgs. Now they were at the beginning of perhaps a bigger adventure, with more peril... and more rewards.

Slowly they pushed the creaking door open to reveal an ancient room. Once it must have been a grand entry way, but now it was filled with clutter, broken bits of furniture, scattered odds and ends, crushed stone, and a sagging ceiling. A bit of light slipped through a crack in the roof to add a mysterious glow to the hall. The party stepped inside and peered around, unsure what to expect.

And that is just what they did come upon. They stood there with weapons drawn, but the goblins did not charge them, or even draw any of their crude weaponry. Instead, the ugly creatures bowed down before the party, singing praises in their harsh tongue. Their actions dumbfounded the group, who were unsure what to make of it. Never before had they found docile goblins, or ones that would actually stoop to worship them. We're they being viewed as gods of some sort?

It wasn't without some consternation that the five cautiously crept through the ruins, but everywhere they went, they met with the same reaction. A couple of them reveled in glory, believing that they were viewed as great, another couple warned the others to be wary of a trap. Still, they continued on until they reached the end of the vast halls. A great door stood before them, just waiting to be opened.

They barged inside to find three goblins. These, however, did not bow like the others did. One spat out in his crude tongue that the group had two minutes to leave. Two minutes to make their way all the way out, through traps and piled rubble, or they would be slaughtered. He then cast a spell and vanished.

The five tumbled over each other to reach the exit, making haste to beat the time limit that was set. Through several halls they rushed and only met small resistance until they came upon a closed door. Upon opening it, a swarm of shrieking goblins fell upon them and in the background, a shaman of some kind turned into a bear and charged.

The fighting was fierce, but the adventurers soon knew it was almost hopeless to fight. One realized there was no point fighting and fled. Even though four fell that day, he flew from the battle and slipped outdoors to ponder how he could save his comrades. He stood there regaining his breath and thinking out a plan.

The man slowly crept back to the door. He could hear a sniffing coming from the other side, and then suddenly, the bear lunged through the door, splintering the wood. The adventurer jumped back and watched as the giant animal got its neck stuck inside the door and wrestled furiously to free itself. Taking his chance, the man swiftly struck the bear in the eye, causing it to jump back, shifting back into goblin form. It ran away with a volley of arrows chasing it.

Quickly, before his enemy would return, the man sprinted inside and found his four fallen companions. He looked in dismay as he realized each one was dead and he was unable to carry them all out. He began dragging on body just as a another person walked up. Together they retrieved the bodies and had them raised at a temple.

* * *

Forgive the little bit of poetic license I took to change a few things. I'll leave out names so nobody gets embarrassed.

[Sir_Carnifex]

Closed.