Session/Game: Marches 3e #18 Date:
April 29, 2001
Campaign Date: Wap 29th—Vay 9th Imperial Year 469
Characters:
Kronin, dwarf, fighter-10/ dwarven defender-1,
LG Dave Hanley
Saurjack,
dwarf, warrior-1, N, hireling
Whitefire, human rogue-1/ wizard-9, CN Charles
Fleurie
Brother
Frankie, cleric level 5, LN, cohort
Louis
the herald, expert, level 1, N, follower
Sir Rannos, human fighter, level 10, CG, Bob LaForge
Melvin
of Stinktown, human, lackey, commoner-1, N, hireling
Ragnar, human rogue level 10, CG Shaun Sipple
Lady Adia Clearbreeze,
high-elf, aristocrat-1/sorcerer-6, NG, Andrew Smith
Hickey,
high-elf, warrior-1, CG, follower
Fell, high elf, warrior-1, CG, follower
Sir Ostler, human, cleric,
LN, level 8, Joe Fryar
Sarissa Lin, human, monk,
LN, level 7, Charles Tillinghast
Log:
Wap 29th
The
party entered White Chapel Abbey and had several discussions with Bishop
Dumbric. Sir Ostler handed over the
entire booty of the fight with the “Followers of the Suffering Dwarf” and in
return the bishop called for Sir Egbert, a visiting paladin of Sir Ostler’s
order, who handed him the Sword of Sir Malcolm the Old, a blade which was
revealed to be necessary for the downfall of Horgo, the Hell-bear. Sarissa expressed the desire to convert to
the light of Bor and the bishop instructed her to join the Green monks at her
convenience. The bishop made an attempt
to raise Dundarr from the dead, but his body was too thoroughly chewed for the
bishop’s power to revive. Kronin helped
nurse the broken Kurdich back to health, and Kurdich revealed to him the first
secrets of the dwarven defender.
Wap 30th
At mid-morning Count Edmund arrived with his knights and
horsemen and Sir Richard Stercorius, fresh from the victory at East Tower. The Count proposed to move his army against
the “Bloody Bear” Tribe while Whitefire and all his companions sought to
destroy Horgo the Hell-bear. As a
reward and incentive, Edmund granted Sir Rannos the vacant fief of West Tower
in exchange for the service of 1 knight, 10 footmen (60 days each per year) and
600 gp. The bishop and his clerks drew
up the necessary papers.
Vay 1st
The army and the adventurers advanced towards West
Tower. At about noon, Horgo the
Hell-bear, a fiendish half-fiend/half-dire bear with wings flew down and
gobbled up Count Edmund, causing the infantry to flee in terror and causing the
famous bard Horatio Falkenstein to suffer hosal befoulment. The party rushes over to where the knights
were gathered and found Sir Richard having a fit about the unmanly treachery of
the fleeing footmen. Various arguments
ensued which culminated in Sir Richard striking Sir Rannos and issuing a
challenge to a duel. Sir Richard took
the knights to hunt down the fleeing footmen over the objections of the party,
Sir Ostler even demanding that Sir Richard return within the hour.
The adventurers advanced towards West Tower and found
that Horgo was perched on top of the tower itself, while the tribe of Bugbears
were all about underneath. The party
decided to move up along the cliff side below the tower, hoping to avoid the
bugbears and lure Horgo out alone. In
this they were successful. Horgo
swooped down and slew Fell, the elf soldier, instantly and began to tear the
others up. Nevertheless, the crushing
blows of Rannos, Ostler and Kronin succeeded in killing the great bear at last. They were helped by Sarissa who leaped onto
the back of Horgo and removed its magic bear collar of deflection. The Hell-bear having been defeated, the
party attacked the bugbear tribe directly.
Sir Rannos killed the bugbear warlord. Sir Ostler immobilized one of
their sorcerers, and Sarissa climbed the gatehouse and slew the other. Whitefire and Adia’s fireballs weakened or
killed all of the ordinary bugbears.
Kronin was surrounded by 10 of the bugbear elite shock troops whom he
(along with the invisible back-stabbing Ragnar) killed.
Vay 2nd
The party, except for Kronin, Adia and Hickey, return to
the abbey after Ostler discovers by magic sending to the bishop that Sir
Richard has stolen a march and plans to name himself regent over the county in
the name of Count Edmund’s 5-year-old son Robert. When they arrive at the Abbey, they find the bodies of 4 footmen
hanging from a tree with placards saying “cowards” pinned to them. After long talk with Bishop Dumbric, they
decided to proceed to Center Tower and consult Louis the Herald, Whitefire’s follower
whom they had left there. They also
summon Kronin and Lady Adia to join them.
Vay 3rd
At Center Tower they have a long discussion. Sir Rannos is angered that he may not fight
Sir Richard in single combat, as Sir Richard is the regent and so Rannos’
nominal overlord. Whitefire and Rannos
consider renouncing their titles to their fiefdoms and leaving the county to
Sir Richard’s pleasure. Finally, they
realize, with advice from Louis, that Count Edmund’s wife, Countess Flavia,
could be considered a candidate for the regency in opposition to Sir Richard’s
claim. They decide to travel to Castle
Eagle and release young Robert and Countess Flavia from Sir Richard’s, dare I
say, clutches.
Vay 4th
Kronin and Adia arrive at Center tower where the rest are
resting and planning.
Vay 5th
The entire party rides to Castle Eagle and is received by
Sir Richard. He is on his best
behavior, because Sir Raynard, who controls a large force of men at East Tower,
is present. Sir Richard explains that
the Countess and Robert are too consumed with grief to have any visitors other
than Old Friar Larry. And they are
looked away in the citadel where no one may disturb them.
After questioning Old Friar Larry, the party decides that
they can easy rescue the countess, but it would be better to wait until
morning, after making a show of departure.
Vay 6th
Whitefire uses clairvoyance, invisibility, and dimension
door spells to gain access to the prisoners and teleport them to safety, whence
they all ride away quickly to Center Tower.
Vay 7th-8th
The countess raises her banner at Center Tower and loyal
forces begin to congregate.
Vay 9th
The countess, her forces, and the adventurers return to
Castle Eagle where the Countess demands that Sir Richard hand over the castle
and depart, or else face destruction.
He agrees and withdraws his troops from the castle. Once outside, Sir Rannos reminds the dastard
about their suspended duel. They fight
the duel on foot, but Sir Richard is soon reduced to pathetic pleadings for his
life, which Sir Rannos grants on condition of Sir Richard licking his boots.
The countess gladly grants Whitefire’s request to be knighted and for an increase in his territory to a 3 mile by 3 mile portion. Sir Rannos prepares to take up residence in West Tower.