Our Story So Far...

From the journal of Odak Orcsbane...

Mirtul 1 (may) 9^th year PR (present reckoning)

Our party met in a tavern a week’s ride from Haranshire in a town called NowhereVille. Over dinner at the Plucked Goose Inn we were approached by our first customer. A chubby wizard by the name of Gordrenn wanted us to deliver a chest of magical components to a colleague named Tauster in the village of Thurmaster in Haranshire. He told us to get help and would pay us 50gp for our trouble in a letter that must be signed by Tauster and redeemed by Squire Marlen in Thurmaster. He said that his regular couriers have recently left his service and by the way he talked to us its no wonder they left. My sister and I (Andrea, priestess of Tempus) were approached soon enough by two individuals of little repute, a warrior by the name of Paul and a mage of shady complexion named Merchi.

Mirtul 11 9^th year PR

After two uneventful weeks of travel we were beset upon today by a band of ruffians in guise of farmers. We dealt with them severely and left their bones to the scavengers. It would appear their intent to be a kidnapping but why they would want the mage is beyond me. Only our recent companion could possibly shed light on it.

Mirtul 13 9^th year PR

Our arrival in Milbourne, neighbor to Thurmaster was an interesting one. The town appears to be a backwater little place but the inhabitants don’t seem to mind. There are many different characters here. Most notably are Garyld the carpenter, a ranger of some stature, old Grizzler a yarn tellin’ dwarf, and Rastifer the "oddity store"keeper (beware his breath!). There is a stables, granary, smithy and a temple of Tyr.

To our dismay we found that all was not well in Milbourne. It would appear that our encounter with less savory type people is becoming quite a common occurrence. The innkeeper of the Baron of Mutton, Haldelar’s daughter has gone missing. She is a black haired girl in a blue cloak and wears a small ring with the letter J inscribed on it. A quick search of the area revealed no clues as to her whereabouts. She even left behind her spell components. Taking Haldelar’s leave we head with haste to Thurmaster as she is apparently Tauster’s apprentice.

Mirtul 17 9^th year PR

Thurmaster is quite the opposite from Milbourne. It is a rundown little town with little in the way of amenities. Tauster was quite relieved to get his package and signed the letter. He was also quite disturbed to find his apprentice missing. He offers us 10gp each to give a letter to Kuiper, apparently a habitant that dwells along the river between the two towns. We find that Kuiper is one of three rangers that look over Haranshire. He suggests that we search along Hog Brook and agrees to accompany us. No trace of her exists.

Mirtul 20 9^th year PR

We were beset by a pack of orcs today. Following a trail left by a boy turned bear we were attacked as dawn began to stir. The orcs had been chasing the boy as well. We killed the orcs without effort aided by the druid Oleanne and her wolves. The boy was found and returned safely home. We are bound to Milbourne to talk with Garyld over the recent events in the hope he will be able to suggest something.

Mirtul 29 9^th year PR

Garyld sent word to Shiraz the swanmay at Eelhold asking for information. We received barge escort duty from a local merchant to Thurmaster. There we spoke to Tauster of our progress. "Dark times indeed" he said. I can’t help but wonder if this is true.

Kythorn (june) 8 9^th year PR

We have been paid Darius Carman, owner of Milbourn and the lands about it, to take care of a mysterious problem that seems to be ruining farmland in the New Mire. It seems unnatural forces are flooding out the habitants of that area.

Kythorn 27 9^th year PR

A complicated plot has unfolded over the last two rides. The flooding was being caused by a magical ring gone awry owned by an undiscovered tribe of goblins. We successfully convinced the tribe to move to Eelhold were it would appear that a water elemental required supervision from Shiraz. The ring will be loaned out to Shiraz as the need arises. It should be noted however, that the designs on the ring are quite mysterious. A sage report reveals that it is of aquatic design.

Flamerule (july) 30 9^th year PR

Much has happened since my last Journal. We managed to persuade a group of bird people under Shiraz’s care to move to better climes as they were threatened constantly by humanoid attacks. We also went into the Great Rock Dale at much peril to ourselves to retrieve a magical column with healing properties and return it to the temple of Tyr on behalf of Lafayer priest of Tyr. During that time we wiped out an entire tribe of Hobgoblins but lost a faithful companion Jeff the Healer to hobgoblin arrows.

Eleasias (august) 10 9^th year PR

We have been made a victim of yet another kidnap attempt! On barge escort we were beset by a force of rogues lead by a dark man that flew away before we could catch him. It seemed to me that the rogues weren’t intent on killing our spell casters. We have finally met Count Palfrey patron of Thurmaster and surrounding lands. We found an interesting clue that suggests that there is an old keep somewhere deep in the Thornwood.

Eleasias 17 9^th year PR

We have been summoned to deal with Giants! Tyr help us!

Eleasias 28 9^th year PR

Some quick thinking by our mage brought about negotiations with a green dragon (yes a Dragon!) that not only saved our lives but rid us of the giants. The people of Thurmaster are quite proud of their newfound friends.

Alturiak (february) 20 10^th year PR

Training and such has brought us to the ending of winter. We are off to investigate another potential kidnapping. Pilgrims to Palfrey castle are long overdue.

Alturiak 22 10^th year PR

It seems that the priests have been abducted by the kidnappers and their bodyguard slain. I think it time to investigate this Broken Spire Keep. Perhaps we will find the kidnappers there.

Ches (march) 15 10^th year PR

Clever scouting, sleep spells, and a few tricks allowed us to take Broken Spire Keep. We found the Dark Man a priest of the vile death cult Myrkul with his zombie minions and rid Faerun of his influence. We also slew some of their ally Bloodskull orcs. Much treasure was found, almost at the cost of our mage’s life, as well as a key. What it opens I don’t know. As well we have found potions of domination with the same aquatic runes on them. Perhaps things will be a little quieter around here for a while.

Tarasack (april) 30 10^th year PR

The young priest Semheis has been kidnapped right out from under his own belfry! We are in pursuit. The trail seems to lead to the Garstone mines.

Mirtul 16 10^th year PR

We have rooted out the vile scum of Myrkul once and for all. The mines were full of them. Much treasure was found including a Wand of Frost! Another key has also been found. It seems that the mines continue on into the Underdark. Perhaps a use for the keys will be found down there.

Mirtul 25 10^th year PR

Orcs! The keys opened the door to a most excellent bout of orc bashing! The Bloodskull orcs are no more. A heated battle ensued our intrusion but eventually the orcs were vanquished. We have picked up a companion Snagger a valiant dwarf (related to Grizzler if you can believe it!). He revealed much of the kidnappers intent. It seems that they are collecting magic users and taking them deep into the Underdark for purposes unknown. Jelehna was taken below with the others! It would seem that our work here is not yet complete. We will pursue further tomorrow.

Mirtul 26 10^th year PR

Gnomes!

We have met a tribe of gnomes here in the underdark! They are known as Svirfneblin and are lead by a powerful priestess Carmeneren. She says that a greater evil lies behind the movements of the Bloodskull Orcs and that others such as us have come this way and perished horrible deaths. She seems disturbed that we wish to do the same and worries that we may stir up trouble that may in turn harm the gnomes. She is doubtful that we have the strength of character and physical skill to overcome the great dangers of the underdark. She proposes we return to the surface and equip ourselves for hardships, she has proposed a test to prove our worthiness. As if that were ever a doubt!

On second thought, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. It seems that we are to rid the gnomes of a rather large threat… TROLLS! There are TWO tribes of them on the loose and we have to mop them up. Then and only then will the gnomes lend a hand in our quest to find Jelena.

The battle is going poorly! We have yet to eliminate half of the vile beasts and we already have many injuries.

Thank Mielikki! Our friend has been raised. But at what cost? I dare not pen what I know.

After much hard work and hardships, we finally manage to rid the underdark of the trolls. We have also discovered a band of lizard like people living in the same cavern system. I guess we’ll leave them for now.

Carmeneren is suitably impressed with our accomplishments. She agrees to help us. She gave us a map and details concerning the dangers ahead. We find a curious passage that no one can travel down. Apparently it is a direct route to the City of the Glass Pool. Clever questioning by our mage reveals that there may be something wondrous beyond the great reptiles, what it is our new friends do not know. Crameneren recommends that we travel the main hall gathering experience along the way to the edge to the edge of the City and return to deal with the reptiles. Then we should be powerful enough to overcome the city. We have also been told to completely destroy the Diregund, Derro in common as they are mortal enemies of the gnomes. Without further ado, we depart to seek our fortunes further below.

We have just rooted out a bend of floating brains! These bizarre creatures built their hive in the middle of our cavern route. They have a mysterious paralyzing attack and the chieftain wielded mighty magic. We also encountered a mysterious howling wind. It creeps up suddenly, deafens your senses and chills you to the bone. Then it is no longer there as if there were nothing. I am concerned.

We tried the right fork and it was disastrous! Razor rock, narrow pathways with abysmal depths either side, and worm holes! We were nearly done in by a huge purple specimen over 50 feet long! We have also encountered new companions, a gnome and a cleric of Tyr! Time to return to the surface!