[javan]

Sat May 05 13:41:23 GMT-4

EfU Roleplaying Session One

Starring:...........................As:
Cloudbringer.................Ygraine Chockspurr
Garnet Falcondance.......Lilisa
Javan..........................Benny Alesman
Robertthebard..............Tinade Fermana

Prologue

“Focus,” Benny thought to himself, “You gotta stay focused!”

Benny Alesman could pick up new skills quickly but he would not stay with them very long. He kept drifting from one thing to another. Time spent with a “group of treasure seekers” from the city of Lusken taught him how to get past locks and traps. A retreat to Neverwinter Woods taught him combat and wilderness survival skills like how to handle animals. In Baldur’s Gate a friendly bard taught him how to encourage his friends and make his enemies feel worthless. Benny moved from place to place and from job to job, always learning something else: how to move silently and sneak attack someone; how to identify a valuable object and get the best price for it; how to identify what spell someone is casting; how to move through a battle field (or barroom brawl) without drawing attention to himself; and so on…. He was a true Jack-of-all-trades but Master of None.

Ready to move on again, Benny sold most of his possessions and headed to the place where loot was rumoured to be simply lying around just for the taking- UNDERMOUNTAIN!

Getting off the boat in Waterdeep, Benny was worried about his dwindling savings. He needed to join an adventuring company, to gain money, soon. Thus he set out to correct his financial condition immediately. “The nearest tavern should provide me with leads to an adventure, serving wenches to impress and ale to drink” He thought. “Well, not necessarily in that order…” Benny entered the Yawning Portal Inn.

Breezing past a pair of forward courtesans, Benny headed for the main counter. “Why are these ladies so aggressive?” he wondered. “They are good looking enough I suppose, they should not want for repeat customers. Hmmm, a puzzle for another time I guess…”

The middle-aged man behind the counter warmly greeted Benny.

Durnan: “Well met, my friend! I am Durnan, the Inn Keeper here at the Yawning Portal! Would you like to see our shop?”

Benny Alesman: “Sure Durnan!”

Benny picked out a shortsword and shield, an amulet that provided protection against blows and finally a rod infused with a cleric’s divine magic. The rod would return life even to those whose wounds ordinary bandages could not recover.

Durnan advised Benny that a small group of adventurers had just left the Inn. An armourer and a weapon maker have shops to the south, head in that direction he suggested.


First Encounters


Heading south Benny came upon two women and a bear inspecting a sewer grate. One lady had the bearing and clothing of a mage while the other lady, an elf, was carrying a longbow.

The elf was saying “… smelly down there, but I sense great riches, ... or maybe I'm just drunk from that ale.”

“I vote for the ale!” replied the mage.

Benny Alesman: “Well met, friends.”

The bear shifted form and dissolved into a third lady wearing green armour. “Warm winds and hello.” She introduced herself as Lilisa.

“Why hello there. Pleased to meet you.” Said the mage, Ygraine Chockspurr.

The elf, Tinade Fermana, asked “Where to, now?”

Benny Alesman: “I am looking for an armoury.”

Tinade Fermana: “this way then”

They came into Hearthstone’s Armoury and Shields shop with a larger-than-life statue of an armoured figure out in front.

Gilain Hearthstone: “Wha'da ya want? Looking to buy me Armors or Shields?”

Benny Alesman: “Yes, Show me what you have in stock!”

The quality of the merchandise was high with prices to match. Benny looked longingly at the Hearthstone Archer’s Belt. With multiple magical enhancements it had a price tag of almost 200,000 gold pieces. “I have not made that much money in my entire life” thought Benny, “But, perhaps, someday…”

Benny settled for the cheapest set of scalemail armour and a larger shield.

Benny Alesman: “Well, I have spent as much as I can afford (leaving the usual reserve for the purchase of ale).”

Lilisa, meanwhile, had purchased new armour and was having it dyed a light green.

As they exited the armoury, Tinade Fermana had to leave for an errand.

Ygraine Chockspurr: “Is there a seller of magics nearby? Bah, rain...” The sky had darkened and rain was beginning to fall.

Benny Alesman: “Where shall we explore today?”

The words were barely out of his mouth when two dark figures crept out of an alleyway to the east. Ygraine fell under a rapid series of blows from one of the thieves. Benny barely managed to get in the first swing on the second thief.

The thieves were wearing leather armour topped with dark cowls- standard equipment for Xanather thieves. Benny’s scalemail and shield offered better protection but the thief was faster. Using a dagger in his offhand, the thief was attacking four times for every swing of Benny’s.

Ignoring Lilisa for the moment, the second thief attacked Benny as well. Lilisa landed a few minor blows before switching to spells. The thieves dodged the fire and lightning that Lilisa rained down from the sky.

Benny was losing. He was outnumbered and outclassed. The thieves were using assassin daggers that dealt more damage than he could hope to inflict. He tried to boost his morale with a bardsong and cursed the thieves. He drank his last healing potion. He landed blows regularly but as the thieves wore identical armour and wielded identical weapons, Benny was not sure he hit the same thief twice in a row. Eventually, inevitably, Benny too fell under the thieves’ daggers.

The thieves turned their attention to Lilisa. She ran quickly to the west. The thieves gave chase, but crashed into a city watchman who made short work of the wounded thieves.

Lilisa returned to her companions and used her Rod of Resurrection to revive them.

Lilisa: “I shall need more of those wondrous rods before long”

Ygraine Chockspurr: (*laughing* Benny was dancing on my head while I was dead!)

Benny Alesman: “I have one of the rods but cannot use it on myself ;-P”

Ygraine Chockspurr: “Alas, no, you cannot…”


The Streets of Waterdeep


Lilisa assumed the role of Party Leader. She led the party westward.

In an area of open ground between the docks and the city gate, stockades were built. Various livestock from outlying farms awaited shipment to distant ports.

Ygraine Chockspurr: “How now, brown cow!”

The group continued west until they reached the Offices of the City Watch. There were rumours that the renowned City Guard was recruiting new members. The watchmen at the door were not saying anything though.

Lilisa: “For a recruitment office, the guards are most unfriendly!”

The group continued on in the rain and turned north at the next corner.

Ygraine Chockspurr: “Will your armor rust in this rain, good Benny?”

Benny’s reply (if any) was cut off as a black hooded shape broke from the shadows of a nearby alley attacking Lilisa.

Lilisa struck first, catching the thief off-guard. The thief attempted to strike back but could not get past Lilisa’ new armour. Benny and Ygraine joined in the battle.

Lilisa started to cast a spell. The thief tried to disrupt Lilisa but was hit with a pillar of fire before he could harm her. Benny started his bardsong. The thief followed his hit with another from his off hand.

Lilisa managed to summon lightning before being hit again. The thief evaded the lightning and scored another hit on Lilisa. Benny cursed the thief. After receiving another hit, Lilisa used a Potion of Cure Critical Wounds. Benny sneak attacked the thief while the thief was preoccupied with Lilisa.

Lilisa landed another blow to the thief. The thief’s attempt to retaliate was cut short when Benny dropped him with another sneak attack.

Benny and Ygraine let out a cheer.

Lilisa: “Another miscreant here!”

Lilisa managed to get the first blow in again. The Xanather thief returned the blow but was sneak attacked by Benny in return. Ygraine also managed to hit the thief.

The Xanather minion turned his attention to Benny. Lilisa began casting Blood Frenzy. Ygraine hit the thief again while Benny missed. The thief caught Benny with an off hand strike.

Lilisa used a Potion of Cure Critical Wounds before striking the thief again. Ygraine hit the thief as well. The thief tried in vain to hit Benny but collapsed under Benny’s counter-attack.

Examining the alley where the thieves came out of, Benny found a large chest while Lilisa inspected a sewer entrance near the rear of the alley.

Benny Alesman: “Hmm, I found a standard halberd, a common gemstone, a curing potion and a bracer...”

Lilisa: “This grate looks different than the others!”

Benny Alesman: “how shall we divide the loot?”

Ygraine Chockspurr: “I have no use for them, please keep what you need!”

Lilisa: “Come have a look here.”


The Sewer Tour


The grate did have a different pattern compared to the typical Waterdeep sewer entrance. Benny adjusted his weapons and climbed down.

The ladder ended in a T-intersection of the sewers. Suddenly a pair of Zombie Warriors attacked from opposite ends of the T.

Lilisa and Benny attacked one zombie each while Ygraine stabbed wherever she saw an opening. Once more Lilisa summoned pillars of fire which hit the zombies soundly. One Zombie Warrior fell while Benny sliced away at the remaining one. Benny found the zombie did not have any weak spots that he could exploit with a sneak attack. He had to settle for the old-fashioned way of simply chopping it to bits.

All three branches of the sewer intersection dead-ended but there was a large chest at the end of the stem branch.

Lilisa: “Oh my!”
Ygraine Chockspurr: “ooh...sewers”
Ygraine Chockspurr: “bit dank!”

Searching the chest, Benny found a helm among the gems and gold. Inspecting the helm, Benny found it enhanced the wearer’s ability to spot hidden or concealed things. Benny equipped the helm immediately.

Lilisa: “The gates seem to be closed there - let us try another…”

They returned to the surface.

Lilisa paused by the entrance of a building.

Lilisa: “Now, how can a swaying curtain be locked?”

Ygraine Chockspurr: “Mayaps magic?”

When Benny considered that some wizard’s robes were harder that plate armour, he had to agree.

The group took a short break while Lilisa scryed the location of their wayward companion.

Lilisa: “Friend Tinade seems to have fallen into the sewers”

Ygraine Chockspurr: “The ale, no doubt!”

The three companions found a regular sewer entrance near by and Benny and Lilisa climbed down.

Ygraine Chockspurr: “drank too much or is in search of more!”. She went to find another sewer entrance to find Tinade quicker.

Lilisa and Benny were barely steps away from the ladder when Shadows attacked. Although the Shadows were one of the weakest of the Undead, they have a chilling touch that could sap one’s strength. Both shadows fell quickly but not before Benny’s strength was drained. He became encumbered.

Benny Alesman: “I will have to cash in so of this loot soon...”

Having more loot than he could carry had never occurred to Benny.

Benny Alesman: “How I have dreamed of being in this position.”

Lilisa came to a locked gate in the sewer. The breach required a specific key to open. Benny’s lockpicks were of no use. Lilisa and Benny used their weapons to break down the barrier.

Voices were heard echoing through the sewer system.

Ygraine Chockspurr: “I have lost the others, but good to see you back!”

Tinade Fermana: “It seems that ale was stouter than others.”

Lilisa and Benny continued to strike away at the breach.

Lilisa : “I heard the cry of the Mother from the sewers”

The noise of breach finally collapsing attracted the local inhabitants to Benny and Lilisa.


Spiders and Slimes, Oh My!


Sewer Spiders, the size of young ponies came skittering down the passageway.

Ygraine Chockspurr: “My head still aches from Benny dancing on it while fighting those rogues!”

Benny, Lilisa and the Sewer Spiders (Benny counted four of them) failed to land a solid blow on each other when coming into striking range.

Tinade Fermana RP: “that wasn't the Mother”

Benny decided to change tactics. From his backpack, he pulled a special jar and lit the oil-soaked rag tied around its neck. The jar was carefully scored so that it would break easily when hit with a hard surface. Benny tossed the jar at the spider behind the one that was attacking him. The jar disintegrated upon impact spreading flaming oil on everything in a 5 foot radius. The spider that was hit directly did not get back up.

Ygraine Chockspurr: “‘Twas sewer rats!”

Lilisa casted a Flame Strike while Benny started his bardsong. Encouraged by the bardsong the two adventurers began to hit the spiders while avoiding the mandibles and claws of the 8 legged horrors.

Tinade Fermana: “Perhaps we can find our fortunes up here, whilst they play in the refuse of the city.”

The spider battle continued so long that Benny had to renew his bardsong. Lilisa cut down the spider in front of her and cast another Flame Strike. The Flame Strike wounded the two remaining Sewer Spiders.

A Shadow appeared among the spiders. Benny hit his spider while Lilisa cast another spell. An electrical discharge killed the Shadow outright and wounded the spiders even further. Benny killed one of the wounded spiders.

Ygraine Chockspurr: “Ahh fresh air and sea breezes”

Lilisa and Benny made short work of the remaining spider.

Benny Alesman: “Well hurrah!”

Lilisa: “These creatures have grown uncommonly strong in the taint of this sewer”

Benny Alesman: “Indeed!”

They soon found out the spiders were not the only creatures that had grown strong. At the next intersection, three large puddles of slime reared up and spat globs of acid at the two adventurers.

Benny slashed at the nearest slime and hurt it but the slime did not have any vital spot for Benny to capitalize on. All three slimes focused their attacks on Benny.

Benny Alesman: “AAAaaagh slime!”
Lilisa cast another electrical spell. It seemed to hurt all three slimes.

Benny used a Potion of Cure Light Wounds.

Tinade Fermana: “wooo, more ale, and some wine..”

Benny fumbled into his backpack. He pulled out a Ring of Elemental Resistance. The merchant said it was good against fire, cold, electrical and acid damage. Benny hoped the latter was true.

It was true. Most, if not all, damage was resisted. The slimes had a hard time hitting Lilisa and Benny in their new armour. Those acid blobs that did hit were reduced in effectiveness.

Voices from their companions drifted down from the surface…

Ygraine Chockspurr: “I've changed my mind...don't think I wish a solo sea journey just yet!”

Tinade Fermana: “I had become quite stuck”

It became grinding work. The adventurers would hit the slime for minor damage. The slimes would get lucky sometimes and hit back. Thanks to magical protections and healing supplies, the adventurers would return to full health quickly. Exhausted, the adventurers had no energy to cheer when the last slime succumbed to their combined attacks.

[ 05-29-2007, 09:55 PM: Message edited by: javan ]