Lands of Cantona - Session 7

After the elves told the group about a druid that might help to bring Larry back to life, they decided to  go and look for him. About half a day into the woods, Cesar the Aspirant begun to see druidic signals in the forest: a small shrine, trail boundary markings, bark etchings, and so on. They knew they were on the right path. Following the signs they arrived to a glade with a pond where a large brown bear surprised them. Afraid of its menacing growls they threw a ration hoping to calm the beast, but the bear ignored the offering. A whistling sound was heard and the bear retreated into the woods. A tall figure seemed to emerge right off the bark of a large tree. It was dressed in robes that looked like made of vines and leaves, with a long mossy hair and beard, and carrying a gnarly staff topped with some animal skull and antlers. 

"Who are you and why are you disturbing the peace of my grove?" he asked in a deep voice.

"We were exploring the Castle of the Mad Archmage and a our friend fell under the attack of a foul beast, a large spider. Can you help us?" they pleaded.

He approached and with the staff opened one of the coffers beside Larry's corpse.

"Hmmm... you ask for a big favor and this is of no use to me..." he said closing the coffer. "But... you may be useful..." he added pondering and pacing around. 

"What can we do for you, oh, most powerful..." Cesar started to say. "Silence apprentice!" roared the druid, annoyed by the insolent interruption of his thoughts.

"That place of twisted magic is like a deep callus that ruins the natural beauty of the land. I will help you, but I need your word that you will bring me the Horns of Sonn from the Catacombs. Do so and your debt will be satisfied." he sentenced. 

"How do we reach the Catacombs?" asked Ragnar the Elf. "Find the lizardmen tribe in the Dungeons and then go down from there." he answered. "I don't where in the Catacombs are the Horns, but I know who has them. A foul creature known as draugar, once human now a non-living thing that bring blights to fields and stock alike, is in possession of it." added the druid.

Some in the group recognized the name Sonn as a legendary druid-ranger of times long past.

"And remember, I will know if you don't keep your word. I can give life, but also take it, just like Mother Nature does, unemotionally." he warned the group. "Now, rest here and tomorrow I will send for you." he adds as he takes Larry's corpse away.

The night passed uneventfully and the growls of the brown bear waked up the group. They followed the bear to another clearing where they found Larry's corpse laying atop a flat stone raised from the forest floor by small stones. All around were small fires of scented woods, their smokes gathered on a cloud above the body. The druid intoned a chant and went around the stone putting out the fires. He then tapped Larry's forehead with the staff and his body turned into wisps of smoke that ascended towards the cloud. Then the cloud fell heavily on the flat stone and dissipated with a flash of light. A body appeared where Larry once lay, but it was not him. He awoke as if from a dream and hailed his companions as if nothing had happened. 

"Only return here with the Horns of Sonn." said the druid. The growling brown bear ushered them away.

With that, the group went back to the ruins of the castle, but not before they buried the five coffers of treasure. After entering the upper ruins they decided to follow a different route down and took a spiraling staircase in one of the towers. In the room where the stairs ended they found some large centipedes that were swiftly dispatched.  

They continued exploring down a corridor that led to a door and the corridor continued into the darkness. Ragnar the Elf heard some gruffy voices and laughs behind it but couldn't understand what they were saying. He kicked the door and found four dwarves that quickly went for their axes and crossbows. Before any blows were thrown they recognized them as part of the Blood Axe clan and apologized. They asked the dwarves about the Dungeons and the dwarves offered to reach that level through their domain on this level (Storage Rooms) for a 25% of the treasure found, or take their chances down the central shaft. The group bought a couple of shields from the dwarves and one guided them to the central stairs.

From there the party descended until they reached the end of the spiraling stairs that led to a pair of double doors. It opened to a dark and silent corridor that ran to left and right. They took it to the right and after about 60 paces there was a side corridor but they kept going. After another 60 paces a room with 3 exits and they kept going hugging the right wall. They found three rooms with giant beetles tending mushrooms that grew on the soil and dung covered floors. On the last room they found a door and when they tried to open it, the floor under their feet gave way throwing them down a sliding chute. They ended up sprawled on the floor of an empty room except for a couple of dwarven skeletons and an exit door. 

After making sure everyone was alright they went through the door. They found an empty room and niches, then a corridor that led to a closed door. Ragnar the Elf heard some skittering noises on the other side. When they opened it a giant scorpion attacked, and there were more behind it!

A battle for survival ensued with the party killing the first scorpion and managing to close the door, but Tak's the Ceric man-at-arms died poisoned by the scorpion's sting. The group improvised a rope after cutting a cloak and braiding it. That way they kept the door from opening too wide and fought only one scorpion at a time. Lucky strikes and sundered shields turned the battle on their favor, and they ended killing the beasts. In the room they found a chest with treasure and an opening that led to the corridor they found beyond the double doors. They had made a full circle.

They decided to go back to the room they ended after the trap and hole up there to rest.

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Lands of Cantona - Session 6

After the combat with the bandits the party heard noises and orders from the rooms beyond and got ready to keep fighting. Unknown to them the remaining bandits were springing a trap, taking advantage of the knowledge of the surface ruins layout, with some of them taking cover behind overturned tables while others quickly moved to catch the intruders from the rear.

A furious battle for survival ensued, with the party fighting two fronts at the same time! In the end, the party prevailed and managed to not only defeat the bandits but to also find some treasure. Most ended gravely wounded and Cesar the druid unconscious, but stable (negative HP).

While some were dealing with the newfound treasure and taking care of Cesar, Larry decided to explore further on his own. The dices didn't favored him; a random encounter with a giant spider and a 1 on the surprise die. The surviving party, noticing that time was passing and he was not returning decided to go looking for him. Leaving the druid under the care of the hirelings, Ragnar the elven fighter and Tak the human cleric went searching for their missing companion. They found some of Larry's belongings on the courtyard and a some webs' remains. With that they went back inside and climbed some wooded stairs of dubious stability to the upper story that had its roof crumbled inside. Among the fallen rafters there were webs that they set on fire revealing a giant spider and some cocoons. They managed to kill the monster and rescue Larry's corpse. They decided to entrench in the treasure room to spend the night.

The next day Tak managed to cast Cure Light Wounds on Cesar (0 HP). Then, they made an inventory of the treasure, burnt the corpses of the dead bandits and also managed to built a makeshift cart, to carry the treasure and Larry's corpse back to town. They spent another night in the ruins and the following day, with Cesar now conscious after another Cure Light Wounds from Tak, they hide the armor and weapons among the ruins of the upper floor. Cesar casts Speak With Animals and Animal Friendship on 3 rats before starting their journey back. Outside of the Castle of the Mad Archmage ruins the come across a patrol of elves from the first level who are sad to know of Larry's demise, but speak of a hermit druid in the forests to the West that might be able to help them.

Keythong

KEYTHONG

 

Rare Heraldic Beast

Frequency: Very Rare

No. Appearing: 1-4

Armor Class: 4

Move: 18"

Hit Dice: 7

% in Lair: 20%

Treasure Type: C

No. of Attacks: 3

Damage/Attack: 1-6 / 1-6 / 2-8

Special Attacks: Pounce

Special Defenses: Surprise only on 1 in 6

Magic Resistance: Standard

Intelligence: Low (5-7)

Alignment: Neutral

Size: L (8' long)

Psionic Ability: Nil

Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

Level/XP Value: V / 525 + 8/hp

Description

The keythong is a rare heraldic beast closely related to the griffon. It possesses the head of a raptor, complete with hooked beak and pointed ears, neck, and massive taloned forelimbs, but the hindquarters of a great lion. Unlike the griffon, it is completely wingless. Keythongs are swift terrestrial predators inhabiting rocky highlands, lonely moors, and ancient borderlands where forgotten kingdoms once stood. Their heraldic significance often leads nobles to adopt them as symbols of vigilance and martial prowess.

Combat

A keythong attacks with two foreclaws and a powerful beak. If it charges at least 30 feet and hits with both claws, it gains an immediate beak attack at +2 to hit and inflicts double damage on the beak strike. This represents the creature hurling its prey to the ground and tearing into it. Also the target must save versus paralysis or be knocked prone and stunned for 1 round. Due to their avian forequarters and feline agility, keythongs may leap up to 9' from standing or 18' running. While leaping it has Maneuverability Class C. This allows it to turn 90 degrees per round, changing its pounce vector.

Special Defenses

A keythong's vigilance is legendary. It is surprised only on a roll of 1 on 1d6, regardless of terrain or lighting conditions. It has a 25% chance to detect invisible creatures within 30'. Invisible creatures do not gain their normal surprise benefits against a keythong.

Ecology

Though often mistaken for wingless griffons, keythongs are a distinct species. They hunt deer, mountain goats, and occasionally horses. Unlike griffons they rarely attack settlements unless provoked or starving. Their feathers, beaks, and talons are prized by heralds, wizards, and noble houses that bear the creature upon their coats of arms. Their eggs are highly priced, reaching values up to 10.000 go for the right buyer.

Training

Just like griffons and hippogriffs, keythongs can be trained with 4 months of intensive work. For carrying capacity purposes treat it as a Medium Warhorse (4,000/6,500 g.p. weight). Upkeep has a cost 200–400 g.p. per month for specialized feed and keepers

Erynnor Gilithrim

"Before learning the art of the shadows, Erynnor was a soldier of the realm. Under the colors of his clan, Gilithrim (meaning Star-Host in Sindarin), he trained in the tough discipline of the line and mastered both longsword and longbow. On the battlefield he realized that battles are often won before the first blow, in the shadows where secrets are kept. 

Seeking to bridge the gap between martial prowess and subtle cunning, he stepped away from the ranks. He traded the cumbersome heavy armor for the lighter leather and sought out the guild masters' advice. Under their gaze he learned to pick locks, disarm traps, and slip through the dark undetected. He didn't abandon his warrior roots but merged them. His fighter’s discipline steadied his hand when picking a lock under pressure, and his thief’s agility turned his swordplay unpredictable and deadly."

Erynnor of tne Gilithrim is an elven fighter/thief (Swordsman/Robber) for an OSRIC play-by-post game on Discord. We are playing UK4: When a Star Falls, a TSR UK module from 1984 by Graeme Morris.

The rest of the party so far are Don Tavanym, a human fighter, Eldrin Greenwood, an elven thief, Ark Lysemius, a human cleric, Friederich Flintstone, a dwarven fighter and Kojak, a human magic-user. 

STR 12, DEX 15, CON 10, INT 11, WIS 8, CHA 10