Escalation of Forces

10/6

Fresh with reinforcements, the party heads back out to the mountains. They march along on the northern side of the ridge. [They pass a gnoll scouting party patrolling on the south ridge.] From the ridge, the party points out their objectives. They note the considerable deforestation along the river. [Ogres are now working away along the sides of the river. By reducing the tree cover, they hope to discourage ambushes in the area.] Jak asks Seth about her past and why she despises gnolls. “The first raid I remember, I was only a small girl. Our hamlet was on the outskirts of Palosen. The war between Aritur and Bendros took most of the men from our village. I heard people screaming as the howls came closer. My mother told me to hide inside the hen house. The screaming, the howls and snarls came closer. I didn’t come out for hours. When I did, there wasn't much left. The smoke still lingered over the mutilated bodies. I found my way to my aunt’s house after that. After that day, I knew someone had to do this. Someone had to fight back. I’ll kill as many as I can, as long as I can.”

Traveling through the woods north of the dam, the party hears a scouting party of 20 gnolls. Assuming it’s just another small group; they spread out and move up for a closer look. The gnolls spot them trying to sneak up and charge. A fierce battle ensues. All would have been lost if not for the foresight of buying some healing potions. Just about the entire party drop at some point, including the dragon. When it’s all over, Jak crushes all the heads. Martin bleeds out as the two priests check their fallen comrades. Squishy finds a brain to consume as the other strip the bodies of gear.

A gnoll patrol returns with most of the mangled and melted bodies they found. A dark cloaked figure parts the crowd and examines the condition of the remains. The smashed heads upsets him. “These wounds are strange. Some of them...look as if they were completely helpless. They injuries here are from a dragon attack; a young dragon.” The gnolls describe the dragon they gave Midel. They now suspect Midel is part of the party conducting these raids. They will not risk any more large patrols. The camps will be left too vulnerable if larger parties are sent out. Patrols will be sent out with the newly arrived trolls as trackers. The gnolls send runners to their allied tribes to attack Midel’s house and the valley below. This treachery will not go unpunished.

Migi has been pickpocketing his way through the bugbear camp. His lucrative bribes keep him above suspicion, for the most part. However, the arrival of three trolls forces him to flee from his routine espionage. Trolls are tough enough to ask for anything; and dumb enough to still rat you out. He wasn’t sure withdrawing was necessary until he heard the patrols talking. Trolls will accompany the scouts and sniff out any intruders in the area. The arrival of ogres to the camp has him equally concerned. Migi returns to his exterior scouting tactics, hiding just beyond the camp. He explains that he has to go check on the incoming supplies. At night he makes camp in a small cave. With enough caltrops and tripwires surrounding his makeshift refuge, maybe nobody will bother him there.

Midel demands an audience with Erol at his tower. Midel accuses him of breaking into his house and stealing a number of items, including a dragon. Erol professes that he knows nothing about any dragon. Furthermore, he has no reason to break into Midel’s house and steal anything he wouldn’t have any use for. Erol warns him of such wild accusations. Several guards died from something Midel was supposed to control, within his own house. Such reckless negligence could be…dangerous in the eyes of the local authorities.

The party returns to Forge Valley. Seth, Baron, and Crade are rewarded 50 gp each for their aid. [Baron reports back to the Temple of St Cuthbert. The priests there grow concerned that someone is indeed trying to raise the old temple. Since they haven’t gotten any news on the growing orc numbers to the west, they still won’t commit any clerics to the east.]

Danger Beneath the Waves

10/5

 

Jack and Squishy pool their knowledge. Undead will be a major problem within the temple. For the spell to be cast, black gems need to be placed in the eye sockets. They decide to remove the heads of all their foes as a precaution. Since undead don’t die, the temple may still have dangerous inhabitants. Squishy decides to investigate first hand. Solaera casts hide from undead on Squishy.

Squishy goes underwater and explores the hidden temple. He struggles opening the door, but manages to gain entry. The remains of several skeletons lie in the main chamber. [The main chamber remained impassable during the final battle. Erythnul’s defenders refused to give up the temple. Several skeletons and undead bodies have remained here.] The upstairs chamber is filled with stale air from several more decaying bodies. [The second floor was the last bastion for the remaining people trapped inside. The high priest was here when he met his fate.] Squishy briefly looks around and goes downstairs. After closely searching he finds some sort of glyph on the door. [The glyph of warding would have been one of the last spells cast in the temple to protect the inner sanctum. The spell is actually a simple illusion to dissuade trespassers that make it this far. The clerics were out of high level glyphs and could not cast them once the lower level started flooding. Instead, they used a clever illusion. A true glyph spell is undetectable by normal means.] Squishy decides to go back, unprepared to get past such a powerful spell. Squishy is most fortunate, considering the more powerful undead guardian still lies in the chamber beyond. The guardian loyally remains with the old relic fragment.

Migi spends the day walking around the camps making good with the grunting foot soldiers. He goes tent to tent making good with every mean face he comes across. Once the back is turned, however, Migi replenished his bribery funds. Meanwhile, nothing beats a small bet with the dice. “Remember, if the boss comes by, I wasn’t here. I want him to think I’m working, not slacking off with you guys.” [wink, wink]

Migi charismatically works his way around two of the camps. Why would anyone suspect someone so obvious who walks around so boldly? However, he keeps a low profile around the main camp. At least three people know how intrusive his presence is.

Then it hits him. Each of these camps is strictly segregated from each other. What would happen if the racial tension would rise, just a little? Tension is already high from the attacks along the river. How long could this alliance last when the fire brings it to a boil? “What do you mean you didn’t get the new weapons? Well, the gnolls need all the healing potions for the patrols currently. We’re still waiting for the next supply wagon to come in. The flock of mutton was supposed to be brought here, but the gnolls insisted that it be sent to their tribe to keep. Nothing I can do. Maybe I can make it up to you guys with something.”

Lastly, Migi wanders to investigate the goblin camp. What remains of the camp is surrounded by gnoll guards. No, nothing appeals more than throwing insults and a few rocks at captive goblins. Ah, the petty race of goblins. Of all the petty rivalries, gnomes have a fierce loathing of goblins. They have no love for bugbears either, but they aren’t at the mercy of an army. What to do? Oh, what to do? The goblins glare at him with disgust. “Well, I’m going to check on the work progress. Keep up the good work.” As if they had a chance. Hmmm…What if they did?

Migi makes his way to the river. It would be too difficult to slip a dagger into the camp. Slipping one onto one of the workers at the river would be much easier. Slipping a few upon them could cause quite a ruckus, and indirectly get rid of a few. HAHAHAHA! Wow. They’ve made a few improvements down here.

The party decides to go back to town. Along the way, they will attack the dam work crew again. They spot 2 gnolls, a gnoll archer, 6 bugbears, and 8 goblins along the cold causeway. Squishy slips into the lake and approaches the dam from underwater. Facing the dam, he uses his mind blast and the fight ensues. The gnoll guards are distracted allowing most of the goblins to escape. Migi sneaks into the fight. Ralph fires volley after volley at anything scurrying along the makeshift mine. Migi dives under a bugbear body before getting shot down. As the gnolls drop, the goblins make their escape. Migi throws up his arms telling them not to shoot. Jak immediately recognizes him, redirecting Ralph’s fletching. Migi explains not to worry about the goblins. The gnolls are now in charge at the camp now. He wants Jak to send a note back to the guards. Jak tells Migi to steal as many black gems as he can.

Party returns to town to sell equipment and recruit more help. Four decide to accompany them back into the mountains. They pick up Seth (Ranger 1) who has a hatred of gnolls, Baron (Cleric 1) representing the Temple of St. Cuthbert, Crade (Sorcerer 1) who thinks the job is worthy of elves, and Martin (Fighter 1) who needs the extra money. They leave in the morning. Squishy goes to the temple to buy some potions. The town doesn’t currently have water breathing potions in stock. Oddly, they're not in high demand in the mountains. Squishy commissions for some to be made. It will be three days before the water breathing potions are finished.

Progress of Whom and Where

Thus far, the party has been a nuisance to the dark unknown forces. As Grasnaz's tribe arrives, a new order commences. As the party gains higher levels, finding a challenge for them grows more difficult. This is the solution I found.

The gnoll encampment is 200 strong. Enough now occupy the camps to allow roaming patrols. The orcs have thus far been expendable troops. Bugbears and gnolls now guard their enslaved goblins and hobgoblins. Normally such creatures do not take slaves, but gnolls hate manual labor. Time is of the essence. Some force moves against the dark leaders here. There is a higher power that drives even them.

As the campaign continues, I can only hope that they vanquish these foes before I have to find even more powerful adversaries. Pitting them up against single powerful foes lacks a proper challenge. Swarm tactics are all I can work with for now.

Migi, the Master Spy

10/4

Migi knows the orcs and hobgoblins rarely work together. Tribal cultures have fierce territorial behavior. The Guild obviously wants its investment in the city protected from a major attack. But the old abandoned Temple of Erythnul, therein lays the curiosity. What could bring them together? Something of great value, no doubt. With a sack of gems the gnome makes his way cautiously back into the mountains. His trade as a master spy is not without merit.

Sneaking around the outskirts of an orc camp is difficult. No simpler is it to approach a camp of goblins or hobgoblins. Their vision can pierce the darkness much more effectively than humans, or even gnomes. Luckily, orcs also have a passion for destructive bonfires. The blazes illuminate the camps quite well for any onlookers foolish enough to snoop. From the overlook of the ridge he sees three fires.

Migi scurries through the woods to the first encampment. Hobgoblins and goblins wander through the flickering light. Most look tired from a long day’s labor. Nothing appears too unusual about the camp. The chiefs yell from somewhere beyond the Migi’s prying eyes. The goblins seem uneasy about something though. It must be a weak alliance that brings them all here. Mistrust lingers always in such a confederacy. All it needs is a little push in the right spot.

Migi creeps further east to the next encampment. Bugbears!? Migi peers over a rock. What in Bernman’s Plane are they doing here, too? Bugbears are just as fierce as these other two races. Ah, there! A few orcs are in the camp as well. How strange. These monstrous folk barely get along with each other. What are they all doing here? There’s only one way of finding out.

Migi crawls closer to his aggressive quarry. Common scouts know the value of stealth and invisibility. Migi has devoted a great deal of study to such skills. But to master his trade, he also took extensive time to studying linguistics. Migi realized long ago that knowing what was going on is just as important when he gets close enough.

As dusk settles atop the ridges, the bugbears gather to the fire pit. Three figures emerge from the chaos. A lurching figure with gnarled hands in black robes trails in the back. His features hide under a tattered hood. The second walks tall in a darkened set of banded mail. He brandishes a morningstar as he scans the growing crowd. The third leads the other two from a large tent near the lakeside. As he raises his hand, stillness falls over the celebration.  The symbol of Erythnul, the god of slaughter, adorns his robes. He hails the faithful that have gathered. "The joining of tribes will bring great riches as our enemies fall."

Snap! Twigs behind Migi give testimony to something approaching the camp. It’s a lot of something. Crouching at the edge of camp, Migi slowly turns his head. The glittering light dances off the leaves. Then shadows give way to shining eyes hovering high off the ground. A dozen appear. No, two. Three dozen at least as low snarls mix with the rustling leaves. Gnolls: the 9-foot tall barbarians resembling a humanoid hyena. Ahead of the pack are two bugbears. Migi forces the lump back down his throat. If it weren’t for the bugbears, Migi might have been caught in the middle of a raiding party.

One bugbear approaches the camp. Migi watches as he stops short of the crowd. He circles his club in the air. The leader stops in his speech for a moment, and then makes a distinctive nod with a grimace. They’re expected. Migi makes his move. He’s so close to the camp that he stands up and waves to the new guests. The gnolls spot him as he boldly strolls towards them. “Excellent job, comrades.” He stands firm, hands on hips, surveying from side to side. “A most excellent job. You are just in time. The master is very pleased.”
“Who you, small one?” came the gruff voice. He was muffled, holding back from his typical animal fury.
Migi pulls out two gems. “I,” staring into the bugbear’s dark furry face, “am the one who pays you.” He opens his palm to the large beast. “I’m the paymaster. Didn’t they tell you we would make it worth your while coming here?” By now, three gnolls have advanced to gaze upon the tiny stones held in his small hand. Migi turns his hand over and waits for his gift to be accepted. He doesn’t wait long. “And tell me if you guys need anything. I’ll see what I can do about getting it.”
The second bugbear returns. “They ready. We are…” he stops and looks at Migi. He looks back at the bugbear, pointing to the midget with a snarl.
“Ah, the other loyal servant returns. You’ve done us well. The master also wishes to reward you,” digging back into his pouch, “for your service.” It’s amazing how far you can go with a smile and the right attitude.

The gnolls move into the camp, followed by Migi. Who would notice such a small character amongst such a large congregation? From the back he overhears the commotion. “I told you I would deliver your enemies to you, Grasnaz. Now let us see how the great Gruumsh favors our band of warriors!” A feral war cry let out followed by the clash of metal on metal. Within seconds, it ended. The single band orcs were few in numbers. The gnolls closed into camp from all sides. Hundreds of the smelly animals, drooling for orc flesh to rend. Migi stood amidst the mayhem, arms crossed. He returns glances here and there with a swift nod.

The priest praises the gruesome sight. "It’s a true tribute to Erythnul. Now it is time for them to resurrect the olden ways. The temple that was buried, we will raise again. The work on the damn must be completed soon. Let us ensure that the others know who the greater god is. Go now and ensure their servitude. The world will fear us again!” A group of gnolls and bugbears take off for the goblin encampment. Migi mingles a little. He makes sure he knows where all the chiefs’ tents are. He informs the bugbears that he will be around for any equipment needs. Then he slips off into the night to make his own base of operations.