Knowledge (Local): Kobolds

Kobolds are short, reptilian humanoids with cowardly and sadistic tendencies.

A kobold’s scaly skin ranges from dark rusty brown to a rusty black color. It has glowing red eyes. Its tail is nonprehensile. Kobolds wear ragged clothing, favoring red and orange. A kobold is 2 to 2½ feet tall and weighs 35 to 45 pounds. Kobolds speak Draconic with a voice that sounds like that of a yapping dog.

Kobolds like to attack with overwhelming odds—at least two to one—or trickery; should the odds fall below this threshold, they usually flee. However, they attack gnomes on sight if their numbers are equal.

They begin a fight by slinging bullets, closing only when they can see that their foes have been weakened. Whenever they can, kobolds set up ambushes near trapped areas.

Within the last two months there has been a dramatic increase in kobold activity in the areas surrounding Deadsnows. From obscurity these reptilian humanoids have emerged as a threatening force that is growing in power. Residents have reported thefts of livestock, ambushes of caravans, extortion of tolls to use roads and bridges, and threats of death to those who would try and stop them.

Flamerule has seen an even greater spike in kobold activity. Local farmers have been chased from their property and their farms razed, often after all crops, livestock, and supplies have been pilfered. Caravans have been threatened with erradication if they didnt pay a toll to cross the Icespear Bridge. Indeed, some caravans have gone missing, not arriving at the designated time and destination and they are never heard from again.

Lady Icespear has ordered all citizens to report any and all sightings of kobolds in an attempt to pinpoint a base of opporations. Her efforts have been unsuccessful thus far. While there have been many reports on kobold activity, they appear to have infulence all across the region. This is yet more strain on Lady Icespear and yet another force that threatens to tear apart Deadsnows.

Petitions to the League of the Silver Marches for help continue to return declined. The region is well on its way to falling into the hands of evil if something isnt done soon to liberate its people from impending doom.

One bright spot in the landscape of darkness is the efforts of the Misty Ridge Explorers. They have vanquished many of the foul creatures and continue to investigate their activity. Further good news reported from the Hospice of Marthammor indicates that the paladin Buddrick has returned to the area and intends to join forces with the Explorers. May Marthammor guide their travels and Lathander light their path.

Fenia's Journal, 11 Flamerule 1372

Well, we finally made it to Sundabar. The guards didn't seem happy to see us, nor did they believe our story, until, of course, we showed them that winged elf woman's corpse. We'd been riding in the cart so long I'd nearly forgotten she was there. Why don't they put the towns closer together up here. It took forever to get from Misty Ridge to Deadsnows, and then we have another journey of several days to get to Sundabar. Back near Aelskuth, unless you're trying to avoid cities, you'll find one whichever direction you go within a day or two. Of course, Nestor always pointed out to me that you can get to anywhere (except a city) without setting foot in a city.

So, anyway, that Laian Dhoess fellow shows up, and he looks like somebody cast fengut on him after seeing the winged elf's body. I wonder if she was some kind of half-celestial. He asked us about a ring--as though we were tomb robbers or something! We told him what he saw was what he got, and he called for his master, a pasty, skin-and-bones elf. I knew elves thought the "lithe" look was fashionable, but after seeing this guy, I've lost all interest in it. It was terribly unappealing. So was his condescension. He shows up with some big display and acts all high and mighty, like he's the mightiest wizard around or something. Wouldn't it be fun to see Master Harald put him in his place?

Anyway, so I tell Aine to ask for a reward for our arduous and dangerous journey pursued out of the kindness of our hearts, but she's a coward, so I have to do it. The elf apparently hadn't saved enough money by not eating, so he didn't give us anything. The only money we got was to buy a replacement cart for the one they were stealing from ME so they wouldn't have to carry the corpse by hand. We got a little more money at Gargok's Emporium, from selling the weapons the orcs from a few nights ago had been carrying. Gargok was a nice guy (mostly because I looked like a half-orc; I love reflective disguise). We took that money and repaid all the debts the group had incurred to its constituent members, and then we went to Gargok's Cartwright (it is encouraging that even an uncouth half-orc can hold a chain of unrelated shops in a bustling city like Sundabar; perhaps they're not as barbaric up here as I'd first thought).

Fenia's Journal, 10 Flamerule 1372

Another uneventful day. These people hardly talk at all, I feel almost obligated to talk to myself. It's shameful, really. It's totally businesslike. If it's not about killing monsters and hoarding loot, it's like it doesn't matter. Except, of course, to Gibbie the halfling ranger. To him, it's all, "Look at that majestic oak," or, "Look at that regal deer," or somesuch meaninglessness. It was rewarding to see the look on his face when Melvin took down that "regal deer" with a single bowshot. It was a nice change to have meat for supper.

Fenia's Journal, 9 Flamerule 1372

Today, I played chess against an illusory opponent, just to break the tedium of this journey. The rain broke somewhat, but it still drizzled constantly all day. None of these people talk. They give me dirty or puzzled looks if I just want to strike up a conversation. They all look like they'd rather be somewhere else, except Melvin, who looks like he is somewhere else. Now that it's nightfall, I can see the light from Sundabar at the horizon. We should reach the city by the morning of the eleventh.

With any luck, we'll add a new party member who's a bit more talkative.

Fenia's Journal, 8 Flamerule 1372

Once again, journal, I'm cold and wet. What sort of place are these "Silver Marches" that anyone would want to live here. It's the dead of summer and nothing but bitterly cold rain. I find myself eminently grateful to Mickel for giving us the Magic Bag of Stuff. I miss the warmth of Aelskuth very badly at this point, although, flipping back, I see that this same day last year, my entry started out with "Once again, journal, I'm hot and sweaty..." so maybe all places have intolerable summers.

No excitement today.

Fenia's Journal, 7 Flamerule 1372

I'm cold. I'm wet. I'm uncomfortable. I spend most of my day riding in a corpse with a dead body. I want to go home.

Don't let me forget, journal, that when we get to Sundabar, I need to buy some warmer clothes.

The only excitement today is that we were set upon in the night, first by orcs on my watch, then by a flying stone creature. I hope Melvin uses his share of the reward for returning this corpse to buy a magic weapon, for he was unable to harm this beast.

See you tomorrow night, journal.

Fenia's Journal, 6 Flamerule 1372

Today, the annoyingly quiet halfling and I finally arrived in Deadsnows. It has been a long journey, especially with only my own illusions to really keep me company. I've never been away from Master Harald for so long now, and I fear I may be starting to get homesick. I think I'll start writing to him, though I wonder how to convey letters to Aelskuth and back. Anyway, journal, I think it best to introduce you to the two new players in our saga.

First is (at long last) another gnome, and also a woman. Her name is Aine, although it's pronounced AHN-yea. She is also an arcanist, so I feel quite a bit of kinship to her through that. She's also very personable, but unfortunately quiet. (Not as quiet as Melvin, though, thankfully.) I wish she'd take more of a lead in interactions. I keep putting my foot in my mouth, and she seems better suited to it.

Second is another halfling, this one quite different from Melvin (or even Mickel, who runs the establishment here (or should I say ran, since they're packing up now)). He is quiet, too, although, again, not as quiet as Melvin, thank the gods. He talks a lot about how evil humans and other tall folk are. I wonder if he's a ranger like Nestor. He likes nature a lot like Nestor, and likes Mielikki like Nestor, and hates humans like Nestor hates orcs and giants. I wonder if a human killed his parents, or was his parent, like the ogre who killed Nestor's father and the orc who was Nestor's father. Or maybe he's just bitter like Hector. You don't have to be a ranger to be bitter.

Apparently, things aren't going so well for the Misty Ridge Explorers here in Deadsnows, which makes me happy I'm not one. Mickel says it's too dangerous for the weaker adventurers here (which is funny, because I thought we were all sent here because we were weaker adventurers. Oh, well, at least he's letting the four of us stay. Apparently, they don't care if we die. They want us to find out who Dorga the Wraith is. We tried finding out stuff in town, but they didn't much like us. Aine says I don't play a human very well, that I still sound like a gnome, which might be a compliment. She might mean that my Dwarven accent is going away. You know, journal, how much I've worked on losing my accent. But I bet she just means that I'm not making my voice sound deep enough. That's too bad, I know Hector tried hard to teach me to change my voice. He said it was important for making illusions succeed. I wonder how Hector knew so much about illusions. He wasn't a wizard like Master Harald, and Master Harald didn't know much about illusions.

Anyway, to get away from all that backstory, journal, what happened was this--the night before we got here there were some brutal attacks. Some kobolds killed Gibbie's (that's the less-quiet-than-Melvin new halfling) dog, and then Dorga the Wraith (the guy we're supposed to find out about now) killed some winged elf woman. Apparently, she was friends with Aine, because Aine found a note on her asking to be brought to Sundabar. So of course Aine feels she needs to be the one to take the body to Sundabar. So we go into town to find a way to get the body to Sundabar. I end up buying a cart, and we haul the body down the road to the Hospice. You remember the hospice, journal, since I wrote the last entry from near there. So we visit the priestess who lives there and she casts a gentle repose spell on the body so we can get it to Sundabar without it getting all decomposey. And we head out, but a big wolf thing attacked us. I don't think it was Gibbie's dog. Anyway, I got it with fengut, which I guess made it not so hungry anymore, so it ran away. I tried to kill it as it ran with a dagger, and I hit it, but it just got stuck. Now I'm out a nice dagger.

Anyway, I need to get some sleep or everybody will be waiting for me in the morning. Gotta get a good night's sleep to prepare spells! Nighty-night, journal.

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Session 8

Characters: Gibbie, Aine, Fenia, Melvin, and Buddrick

-Day 22-
The party awoke the next day, having spent the night in the circular room with the black orb. Strange things began to happen soon after.

While inside a tent with Aine, Fenia was overcome by a wave of nausea and before to long, vomitted. Embarassed, Fenia politely asked Aine to clean the mess up with a Prestidigitation spell. Aine agreed reluctantly and moved closer to the mess only to be horrified by what she saw. Fenia had vomitted up what appeared to be human fingers!

Aine was thoroughly disgusted and said as much. Fenia turned away, embarassed, and not knowing the true target of Aine's reaction.

"Do you realize there are human fingers in that vomit?" Aine asked Fenia. Shocked, Fenia moved to investigate and could only stare in silence.

Outside the tent, Buddrick could be heard stomping forward. He fliped the front flap open and investigated the commotion. He saw the mess on the tent floor, hes keen dwarven eyes piercing the darkness perfectly.

"By Marthammor, what did you eat?" the gruff dwarf inquired. Fenia could only shake her head and remain silent.

Melvin looked about, curious as to the source of the buzzing he heard. Like flies hovering over carrion. When Aine left her tent she heard a noise as well. A baby crying in the distance. Aine furrowed her brow and asked "Do you hear that?"

Melvin replied, "Yes."

Buddrick cocked his head to listen. "I don't hear nuthin'", The dwarf responded.

"You can't hear that baby crying?", Aine asked.

"What?", Melvin inquired, quite shocked. His keen ears hadn't detected any crying, "I hear a swarm of flies buzzing nearby".

They all looked about nervously, except Buddrick, who glared at the walls of the room with hate, as if they could look back at him. Perhaps they could.

Gibbie emerged from his tent to discover that he was clutching his holy symbol so tightly, that it had cut his hand and blood seeped from the wound. Arching an eyebrow in confusion, he quickly cast a minor healing spell to stop the bleeding.

The party soon turned its attention to the pedestal. Fenia strode forward casually and once again braved the unknown. She was rewarded in much the same way as she was in the past. Upon placing her hand on the orb, a blast of fiery energy pulsed out from the pedestal in all directions, scorching their flesh. Gibbie's hand started to bleed again and he cast another cantrip to take care of it. Fenia talked the reluctant Buddrick into trying the orb next, as he appeared to be the only one unaffected by the strange things occuring here, indeed, he had touched the orb yesterday with no such fiery effect.

No such luck today. Buddrick too triggered the burst of flame. There was obviously something they didnt know about the device.

They gathered up their things and proceeded out of the circular room with the strange pedastal. They were going to inspect a door they had passed on their way into the depths of the house. They concluded that it must hold the solution to the puzzle that was the strange gem.

The party came upon the door and Melvin set to work picking the lock. With much effort he was successful. Fenia cast a minor spell to silence the door and then another to open it. It swung open without a sound. Beyond was a small room and against the back wall was a shriveled looking human, standing at a desk. He quickly turned, surprise clearly etched across his dead face.

Melvin lept forward and scored a hit with his bow. The arrow protruded from the being's chest. Buddrick plowed forward, shouldering his way past Melvin and cursing the halfling for blocking his charge. He swung his warmace at the undead creature, for undead it was, and no doubt a heinous creation at that. The mace crushed bone as it impacted on the being's shoulder.

With a hiss the undead human rattled off a spell, while successfully avoiding another strike from Buddrick, and a bolt of lighting flashed out from his hand, striking Buddrick and Melvin. The bolt streaked across the room and out the door, blasting the opposite wall in the hallway. Aine and Fenia jumped back, nearly clipped by the spell.

Using the doorway as cover, Fenia cast an illusion spell that conjured the images of several soldiers surrounding the wizard. Gibbie strode foward to stand in the doorway and summoned up some lighting of his own. A large bolt of electicity blasted from the ceiling above the wizard and consumed him in energy. The undead wizard arced its body under the weight of that power then fell over, seemingly defeated. Buddrick crushed it's skull for good measure.

They set to the task of exploring the room and discovered several treasures. Aine cast a detect magic spell and rooted out the magical equipment. The wizard had a few items and there was a coil of rope laying in the corner that radiated blue light. Melvin quickly gathered up the magical rope, happy to have such a treasure.

Fenia searched the book case that held several tomes of varying subjects. Of particular note, she discovered a book that described a structure much like the house they were currently exploring and how to maintain its power with a trapped soul. The mystery of the house in the woods was beginning to unravel. Further inspection of the book revealed the passwords of both the wraith and the strange black orb. Success!

Fenia also discovered a tome that described a horrible procedure of implainting cysts of undead flesh into unwilling subjects and creating vile creatures that erupted from the victim's bodies. That too sounded all too familiar to the gnome.

Searching the defeated wizard further, Aine discovered a non-magical key that Melvin quickly scooped up and tested on the doors. A perfect match. Melvin happily stashed the key into a pocket.

Gibbie pointed out a strange book on the desk and Fenia quickly moved to his side. Scanning its pages she realized that it was a spell book. One containing a few spells she didnt posses.

Upon finishing their exploration of the room, they returned to the pedestal, passwords in hand. Fenia showed Buddrick the passwords and told him to try it out. Again reluctant, Buddrick memorized the short password for the orb and strode up to it, complaining along the way. The others stood in the hall, hopefully outside of the radius of the fiery trap.

"Adventure into darkness," Buddrick uttered as he placed his hand upon the orb. No burst of fire leapt forth, and the way began to open in front of them. The pedestal decended into the floor and dissapeared. Gripping his shield and mace tightly, Buddrick moved forward as quietly as his thick armor would alow. He stepped through the door and began to inspect what lay ahead.

The door suddenly began to close and the others had to run forward to make it through in time. It was pitch black. Gibbie cast a light spell on his shield and they proceeded forward. They came into a large natural cavern. Buddrick sniffed the air, his keen dwarven senses absorbing every detail of the stonework. At the back of the cavern, he discovered a breach in the wall. He jabbed at the crevase with his mace and the stone crumbled away, revealing a natural tunnel that decended away from the cavern. Across from the breach, another pathway went in the other direction. That tunnel appeared to be worked stone.

The party chose to go through the breach and didnt get far before they were under attack. Something assaulted Buddrick from the dark. He shouted out in surprize and pain and bowled forward to get out of harms way, where ever harm might be comming from.

There was a side chamber to their right and when they looked for the source of the assault they discovered a strange floating orb. It had a single large eye in the center of its body and several tenticals writhing on its head. Each tentical had a smaller eyeball at their tip. The creature also possessed a large mouth that spanned the entire width of its body. That mouth displayed a wicked and sinister grin. The strange creature was not very large but imposing none-the-less.

Gibbie began casting a spell that would summon a bear to aid them. Buddrick invoked his holy healing power and recovered from the large amount of injury he had suffered. Melvin lept out, searching for something to shoot. He found his target and let fly with an arrow, lodging it in the spherical body of the creature.

The round creature held the tactical advantage and seemed to know it. It hovered in the narrow tunnel preventing its enemies from encircling it. The party had a difficult time coordinating their attacks against clever beast. Gibbie finished his summoning spell and a black bear appeared between the monster and the party. The monster quickly dispatched the bear though as it somehow undid the summoning magic, causing the bear to dissapear as quickly as it had appeared.

Buddrick charged back into the room but wasnt able to bring his warmace to bear right away. To his allies, he looked like he could hardly carry his heavy armor and weapons. Almost as if he was extreemly exhausted despite their short journey thusfar. Gibbie too seemed to be overcome with extreem fatigue.

The creature focused on Buddrick again and a red beam of light shot out from one of the writhing tenticles on its head. Buddrick growled in pain as the bean seared his skin. But then Buddrick's mace clanged to the floor loudly and he stood there with a dazed look on his face. The creature had apparently done something to his mind but no one could possibly know what.

The many eyed orb rose into the air and hovered above Buddrick, focusing on the other party members. Melvin let fly with a barrage of arrows that penetrated the monster's spherical body. With that, it fell from the air and landed atop Buddrick's head. The dwarf shook himself out of his stupor, picked up his mace, and hammered on the corpse of the weird being to ensure it couldnt trouble them any longer.

The party decided to set up came in the creatures small lair. Some strange effect had come over Gibbie and Buddrick and it they determined it wouldnt be wise to continue until their strength returned. Fenia searched the bone ridden cavern for treasue but didnt find any.

The party spent the rest of the day holed up in the small cave. Gibbie and Fenia played several games of chess, each one claiming victory on several occasions. Soon, Gibbie went to bed and Fenia played a few matches against an illusionary opponent. Buddrick shed his heavy armor and collapsed to the ground. He used his shield as a pillow and it wasnt long before the dwarf's snores echoed off the tunnel walls.

Fenia took the first watch. After some time had passed a monstrous cockroach that was bigger than any of them scuttled into the room and attacked Fenia. She woke Melvin and he rushed forward to divert the vermin's attention and block it from entering the room. The roach climed up the wall though and bypassed Melvin, who took the opportunity to stab it with his dagger. The giant bug bit at Fenia but she avoided the attack. Melvin charged it and stabbed it again. That got the roach's attention and it turned around and bit Melvin on the shoulder, viciously tearing his flesh and causing blood to drench the halflings clothes.

Gibbie awoke to a scream and the sounds of battle outside. He burst forth from his tent just in time to see Fenia fell the beast with an orb of acid that dissolved a large hole into the bug's back. Gibbe set to work healing Melvin of his wounds and they returned to bed. Buddrick snored on, oblivious to all of it.

-Day23-
They gathered up their things the next morning and set out again to explore the tunnels. Melvin scouted ahead and came upon another underground river. Soon they were all standing next to the water and they could see that the tunnel continued on the other side. Buddrick took up Aine's staff and wadded out into the water, feeling its depths with the the piece of wood. He lost his footing about halfway across and the water swept him along toward a whirlpool at the end of the cavern. Fenia reached out to grab Buddrick but couldnt catch him in time. Buddrick lurched forward and caught hold of Fenia though but his momentum was too great and Fenia went tumbling down stream with him.

Thinking quickly, Melvin pulled out the magical rope they had found and tossed it out to Buddrick. The dwarf caught hold of it and with the rope in one hand and Fenia in the other, he slowly made his way up the rope, having to alternate the rope between his left hand and his mouth. The others stared in shock at the sight of the powerful dwarf actually using his mouth to climb up the rope.

Aine lament her lost staff as it floated toward the whirlpool but Gibbie invoked his druidic powers of shape changeing and turned into a crocodile. The reptillian Gibbie deftly lept into the water and retrieved the staff, much to Aine's delight. Then Gibbie ferried everyone across the water, his powerful form navigating the river expertly. Buddrick tried to show off by standing atop Gibbie's back but couldnt even get out of the water before he started to slip. He gripped the rope tightly and didnt move until they made it across the river.

The party continued on. Buddrick to sense that they were decending deeper into the earth. Soon they came to a corner and Buddrick let Melvin know so he could scout ahead. Melvin crept forward and froze as he spotted another of the eye ball ridden creatures in an alcove very similar to the first. Its eyes were fixed in his direction, but if the creature saw him, it didnt show it. Melvin held his hand up to warn his allies and the monster sprung into action, apparently seeing the motion.

Another fierce battle ensued. Gibbie was knocked unconcious by a powerful beam of fire that blistered his skin. Buddrick was able to get to him quickly and pour all of his divine power into him, restoring much of his health. Aine was rendered immobile as she was overcome with exhaustion and collapsed to the floor. Fenia cast a Fengut spell on the creature and it took. The many eyed orb started to fly away but Melvin ended its retreat with a flurry of arrows in its back.

Knowledge (Local): Dorga The Wraith.

The infamous masked criminal, Dorga The Wraith, has plagued the Deadsnows region since the beginning of the year. With the area in the throws of chaos due to the gold rush, Dorga has been able to evade the authorities on countless occasions.

The Captain of the Watch, Mannok, and his small contingent of law enforcement is stretched thin. The town jail is full to bursting with detainees. The Captain has ordered the hiring and training of more militia, but the process is slow, and the candidates are unimpressive.

Criminals of all kinds have taken advantage of this fact but none have risen to the despicable heights of Dorga. Many people have witnessed him murdering others with that vicious dagger and stealing their goods. Indeed, it almost seems as if Dorga wants to be caught in the act due to the sheer amount of witnesses to his crimes. The sad fact is, no one can stop him. Many have given chase after Dorga's crimes but he always seems to shake his pursuers. Those who get close enough to threaten him end up dead. The only known survivor of an attack made by Dorga is Gibbie Gibbs, a halfling druid of the Misty Ridge Explorers. He felt the the painful sting of that dagger in a valiant attempt to apprehend the villain and lived to tell about it.

Nothing substantial is known about Dorga. He is always seen with that telltale black mask with the jagged white lines scattered across the face. He always wields that crackling dagger with the unusual sheen. His race and even his gender are unconfirmed. He could just as likely be a she. Captain Mannok has even tried to track down the origin of the criminal's name, but no one seems to know who named Dorga. Its just what hes always been called.

Dorga is very much a skirmisher. He employs hit and run tactics, often leaping from hidden places to slay victims with a single strike. He quickly loots the bodies and disappears into the darkness. From all reports, Dorga has never struck during the day. Encounters with the criminal always occur at night. No doubt he uses the cover of darkness to aid his ambushes and getaways.

The city council is preparing to post a reward just for any information about Dorga. They aren't optimistic enough to believe anyone locally can capture him. Lady Artletha Icespear has petitioned the League of the Silver Marches for support in the matter, but with a monstrous orc army laying siege to Mithril Hall to the north west, and the ever threatening presence of the trolls of the Evermoors to the south west, the other cities of the league have no help to spare.

Will Dorga The Wraith's reign of terror ever be brought to an end? Can anyone ever hope to stop this monster? Who will be his next victim? These questions haunt the people of Deadsnows and they can only pray to Marthammor and Lathander that a saviour will emerge to bring peace back to their home.

Knowledge (Local): Zarsst Quondulen

The party encountered this stranger not far from the house in the woods after a battle that very nearly claimed their lives. Aine was the only person who was still conscious after the battle and she was driving the cart back to their camp.

Upon seeing the robe clad figure in the road, Aine was immediately apprehensive. Who was this person and what was his intent?

He strode forward, pulling back his hood, and revealed his elven features. He asked Aine what had happened and she cautiously described recent events and the injury of her comrades.

Walking to the back of the cart, he inspected the condition of the Explorers. Aine asked the elf who he was. He simply responded with "I am Zarsst Quondulen".

He began casting a spell then, one that Aine couldn't identify, and fear gripped her. Was this elf friend or foe? If he was the latter, there wasn't much she could do to defend her allies as her spells were nearly exhausted.

Zarsst completed his spellcasting and brilliant blue energy began to fan out from his outstretched fingers, blanketing Fenia, Gibbie, and Melvin. Before long, the trio stirred and awoke, fully refreshed!

With a graceful bow and a step backwards, Zarsst turned and slowly faded into the forest. Aine watched him go for a moment, but quickly shook her self out of deep thought. She goaded their magical mule onward and explained the strange encounter to her friends on the way back to their camp.

Was it a chance encounter? Or was something more going on?

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Session 7

Characters: Gibbie, Aine, Fenia, Melvin, and Buddrick

-Day 20-
The party headed back to the house in the woods and encountered a dwarf eyeing the hidden pathway. Fenia played some sneaky tricks on him with her spells. Annoyed and cautious the dwarf introduced himself as Buddrick. He was a paladin of Mathammor Duin, the local dwarven deity of travel and exploration. He stopped in at the hospice near Deadsnows and was told by the Overseer about all of the dangerous activity plaguing the region. He also learned of the Misty Ridge Explorers and their efforts. He sought them out to join forces and combat a mutual foe. The party gladly accepted the help of the paladin.

They then arrived at the woodland house and Buddrick was overcome. His ability to detect the presence of evil was overwhelming him. This was certainly an evil and heinous place that needed to be purged from the land. Before entering the house, they explored the smaller building next to the house. They found what appeared to be a jail house with several corpses hanging from chains in the cells. Fenia wanted to leave the foul place but Buddrick wanted to burn the corpses to offer them proper respect and to prevent them from being used for vile purposes. Fenia grudgingly agreed. Melvin stood on Buddrick’s shoulders and undid the manacles that held the corpses in the air. Gibbie gathered deadwood to build the pyre. Soon they incinerated the corpses and Buddrick offered a prayer to Marthammor to guide their spirits on their last travel.

They then went into the house and the first floor was again empty. They went upstairs and discovered, that once again, the room with the vile jack-o-lanterns was intact. Buddrick was angered at the sight of such vile creations and destroyed everything in the room with his great warmace.

They then went into the next room and discovered more piles of clothing. Cautiously, they entered the room but they were not attacked. In the next room they spotted the broken remains of the floating brain. They went back downstairs and proceeded into the basement. It was pitch black and only Buddrick’s keen dwarven eyes could pierce the blackness. Buddrick spotted something strange on the floor and walked up to prod it with his mace. It suddenly leaped up and attacked him! The creature appeared to be the shed skin of some humanoid. It wrapped Gibbie and then Aine in its ropey tendrils and nearly squeezed the life out of them. Buddrick rushed to Aine’s aid and invoked his paladin power to heal with laying of hands and restored much of her vitality. Once Gibbie was released, he too aided with healing spells.

Through much effort the party was able to slay the powerful creature. Buddrick proved to be a powerful ally with his healing abilities and hefty warmace. They decided to leave and rest once again, having exhausted much of their healing power fighting that skin like creature. When they left the house, a pack of vicious animals with elongated jaws assaulted them. They were no match for the powerful group and were quickly dispatched.

The party returned to the bridge.

-Day 21-
The party returned to the house and combed the upstairs again. Buddrick was frustrated with the reappearance of the vile pumpkins. He barged into the room and smashed them once again. When they went downstairs, they heard a door slam back upstairs. Buddrick rushed upstairs to investigate but the others were hesitant. They just wanted to get through the house and be done with it but Buddrick was determined to discover the source of the house’s trickery. He walked up to the pumpkin room, which now had a closed door, and opened it. The heinous creations mocked him once more. In a rage he burst in and smashed them all. But this time he stayed in the room and shut the door.

Melvin crept upstairs to watch the spectacle. When Buddrick failed to exit the room, Melvin strode forward with concern. He opened the door to discover that the pumpkins were intact and that Buddrick was missing!

Suddenly, Buddrick was encased by blackness. He felt like he was suffocating. He struggled and broke free of the earth. He sat up and looked around, bewildered. It appeared that he had just emerged from a shallow grave behind the house. He looked beside him and saw similar “graves”. He leapt up and spat on the loose dirt. He barged back toward the front door with typical dwarf bluster and was assaulted by a horde of vile jack-o-lanterns on the porch. He stomped across them, trampling and smashing them all on his way to the door. He stormed into the house and met up with his allies in the basement.

The floorboards creaked upstairs and Buddrick rushed to them to intercept any foes that were on their way. But nothing happened Buddrick stood guard in front of the stairs as Melvin worked to pick the lock on the door. The floor above them creaked again but this time something came down the stairs. One of the vile pumpkins was astride a thin body of vines. It lurched toward the bottom. Buddrick readied his mace but Fenia let fly with a ball of acid and intercepted the pumpkin, melting it where it stood. It collapsed on Buddrick and he eyed the gnome illusionist with annoyance as slime dripped down his face.

With time, Melvin got the lock open. This time, Buddrick was the one to boldly stroll forward. He was covered in darkness again. Everyone stared forward with confusion as Buddrick had simply disappeared.

Buddrick sat up out of the grave with a huff. Something was behind him this time. He turned to see a simple headstone that read “Here lies Buddrick”. He lurched to his feat and knocked the stone over with a growl.

Stomping back to the front of the house he stopped and looked around for any of the mocking pumpkins. He looked this way and that way, with squinting eyes. With a nod and a snort, he walked in through the door and stiffened. A pumpkin sat in the middle of the floor. Instead of smashing it this time, he picked it up and walked down into the basement once again. The others were relieved to see their ally but annoyed with the pumpkin he brought down with him. Buddrick set it down on the floor and it melted into a puddle of blood. They all watched with disgust as it happened. Buddrick poked his finger into the goo and then promptly wiped it off on his leg.

Cautiously, they all walked into the hallway beyond. Melvin picked the lock on a second and then third doorway. They came into an underground cavern with a river pouring in through a hole in the wall and running down into a whirlpool at the back of the cave. Light shone down from above. They investigated and surmised it was the well behind the house.

They discovered a tunnel and proceeded down. Buddrick’s keen dwarven senses, detected their decline into the earth. After a ways, they came upon a small pillar with a black orb atop it. They walked into the room and a chilling voice loudly whispered, “Speak the word”.

Not knowing “the word”, a black wispy figure rose up out of the floor. It appeared to be a wraith! It attacked the party and it appeared that they might not defeat the dark spirit. But Buddrick’s hefty warmace proved powerful yet again, as he was able to beat the spirit into submission. Gibbie ran about with Buddrick’s healing wand, hoping to damage the wraith with its powers but he failed to land a solid blow on the creature for most of the battle.

The group decided to set up camp in room with the black orb.

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Session 6

Characters: Gibbie, Aine, Fenia, and Melvin
-Day 13-17-

The party started their journey back to Deadsnows. When they reached the woods near the Deadsnows Trail, they encountered a mad man who burst from the trees. He rambled on about a monster in the woods. Suddenly, he fell to the ground and writhed in agony. He died shortly there after. Fenia ran up to the man, who’s abdomen had bloated strangely, hopeful to apply some first aid. But the corpse burst open and a vile undead creature made of the dead man’s organs leapt out at Fenia and entangled her in vile intestine tentacles. It then began to drain her blood. Fenia’s allies rushed to her aid and were able to slay the creature and dislodge it from her. Fenia was shaken and weak. They traveled to the nearby bridge to set up camp. Fenia vigorously bathed in the river, desperately trying to cleanse herself of the vile abominations touch.

-Day 18-
Gibbie restored Fenia’s vitality with a couple of restoration spells. They then set out to where they had encountered the mad man and discovered a trail leading into the woods. They decided to play it safe and Gibbie commanded the mule to walk the cart backwards down the overgrown path so they could make a quick escape if need be.

They came into a clearing and discovered an old and seemingly abandoned house. Outside of the house was a dead tree from which hung a corpse. A corpse that was clothed like Dorga The Wraith! Aine worked up the courage to remove the body’s mask with her staff. Underneath they discovered that the skin, eyes, nose, ears and tongue had all been removed. Melvin inspected further and found that all of the beings innards had been removed as well.
They ventured closer to the house and another of the entrail spawned creatures dropped down on them from the roof of a smaller building next to the house. This time Melvin was the victim of the creatures blood draining attacks. The party had a harder time defeating this creature but they were none the less victorious.

They then proceeded into the house. Melvin snuck about cautiously, his keen senses searching for danger. There was nothing on the bottom floor. Upstairs, they found a room with three tables that were covered in blood. Upon them were grotesque jack-o-lanterns which had actual eyeballs, noses, and teeth embedded in them. They destroyed the heinous creations and moved on to the next room.

In the next room, they discovered several piles of clothing strewn about on the floor. Curious, Fenia boldly strode forth into the room and the clothing piles rose into the air and attacked her. It was a furious battle that nearly ended the lives of the entire party. The twisting and chocking arms of the animated cloth made it difficult for Fenia and Aine to cast their spells. Further, Fenia lacked many spells that could harm them.

In the end, all but Aine had been rendered unconscious, and she finally managed to get away from the twisting coils and incinerated the articles of clothing with a large burst of fire. Aine heroically gathered her comrades into the cart and drove it out of the woods.

Much to Aine’s fear, they encountered a strange figure on the road clothed in a thick green robe. The person revealed himself to be an elf and walked forward to investigate the party. Aine watched with caution. Soon the elf began to cast a spell Aine couldn’t identify and her heart raced. What could she do against this person if he was an enemy? Her power was exhausted. Much to her relief though, all of her allies woke up fully healed. The elf introduced himself as Zarsst Quondulen and quickly faded into the forest.

The party set up camp at the bridge again.

-Day 19-
The party went back to the woodland house. Again, there was nothing downstairs. They went upstairs and discovered, much to their shock and horror, that the room with the vile jack-o-lanterns was intact. They smashed all of the pumpkins again and went to the next room that held the animated clothing. This time, there was a burlap sack in the middle of the room. They all stared at it cautiously. Fenia cast a minor spell that would open the bag. The old bag unfurled and they saw a pile of entrails within it. Fear gripped them as they remembered the horrible creatures that drained blood. Aine rushed in with her staff and smacked the pile with a “splat”… but nothing happened.

They proceeded to the door inside that room which they hadn’t explored yet. Fenia confidently strode in once again. At first, nothing seemed amiss. But then, Fenia turned around and started assaulting them with spells! The group could see a strange floating jar with something sloshing around inside. A brain! It had apparently taken control of Fenia.

The brain commanded Fenia to slay her allies and she obediently attempted to carry out the task. Melvin hung back, shooting arrows at the brain whenever he had the chance. He landed several solid blows that cracked the jar’s glass and cause the brain to flee upward toward the ceiling. Gibbie slammed the door shut to avoid Fenia’s barrage of powerful illusions. Somehow though, Fenia was able to fling her spells through the door! Aine rushed forward and opened the door, only to see that the door was closed. Confusion gripped her mind.

Gibbie rushed forward and discovered that Fenia had actually cast an illusion on the door and then opened it to hit them with more spells. All they had seen was a closed door. He shut the real door once again and then there was silence. Aine saw Gibbie close the closed door and her mind swirled.

After a moment, Gibbie opened the door and rushed in. He nearly toppled when he was assaulted by a barrage of mental energy and spell energy from above. He stumbled out of the room and recovered. Fenia had erected a dark wall of gloom across the ceiling and she and the brain were no where in sight. Finally, Gibbie cast a spell that allowed him to climb walls as if he were a spider and he breached the dark wall. He saw the brain floating in the air with Fenia sitting quietly in a recess in the wall. With great determination, Gibbie flung a ball of fire at the brain and shattered its jar. It tumbled to the floor with a crash.

Fenia came out of her dazed state and couldn’t believe what had happened. The party quickly left the house and set up camp at the bridge.

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Session 5

Characters: Gibbie, Aine, Fenia, and Melvin
-Day 12-

The party made it to Sundabar and talked with the gate guards about contacting Laian Dhoess. Once the guards heard about the body of Lassi they didn’t hesitate to call on Laian. Soon, Laian (an elf) showed up and was distraught at the news of Lassi’s death. He inquired about a ring but the party knew nothing of it. Laian contacted his master who soon showed up amidst a tremendous display of arcane power. He was a pale and thin elf with chin length black hair and black robes. He interrogated Laian and then asked the party about the ring. Again the party couldn’t add any information.

The black robed elf lead everyone into the city and to a building. A sign out front identified it as “The Elven Caste”. The crowds of the bustling city parted before the imposing elf like water as he waded into their midst.

Fenia inquired about a reward and Laian tossed her a sack of gold coins with annoyance. Laian wanted their cart so the party walked about town trying to find a new cart to purchase. They found Gargok’s Emporium, a weapon shop where they sold the gear they found on the orcs. It was run by a half orc named Gargok who gladly took the orc equipment and intended to clean it up. Fenia purchased some new daggers as well. Maybe someday she will find that wolf that stole her dagger. What a grand day that would be!

They inquired about a cartwright and were given directions to the nearest one. Soon they came upon Gargok’s Cartwright and were greeted by another half orc. They purchased a new cart and were on their way. They thoroughly enjoyed their new cart.
They set up camp for the night outside of Sundabar.

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Session 4

Characters: Gibbie, Aine, Fenia, and Melvin
-Day 7-

Fenia and Melvin arrive from Misty Ridge and deliver a report to Mickle.

Mickle decided that they were going to pack up and head back to Misty Ridge to report recent events and contemplate their next course. He charged Gibbie, Aine, Fenia, and Melvin to remain in Deadsnows and find out as much as they can about Dorga the Wraith. The criminal needed to be stopped. Mickle provided them with specially made vests that would help them ward off the effects of magic. He also gave them special packs that could hold many times their normal capacity and a pouch that could produce various supplies.

Aine informed the new arrivals about Lassi Karia and her note. They all decided to head to Sundabar. First, they went into Deadsnows and purchased a cart. Then they summoned a mule from the magical supply pouch and rode out, retrieving Lassi’s body and traveling to the dwarven hospice to petition a spellcasting to preserve Lassi’s corpse and prevent decay. They set out from the hospice soon after and came to the bridge. Strangely, the bodies of the kobold, Banshee, and the pony were all gone. This was very unsettling to Gibbie as he wanted to give Banshee a proper burial and farewell.

On their journey, the party was attacked by a large and vicious looking wolf. Fenia threw a dagger at the beast, lodging it firmly into its flank. This caused the wolf to limp off into the night with fear. Who knows where that dagger is now?

-Day 8-11-
The party was attacked by three orcs during Fenia‘s watch. One orc wounded Fenia badly but Gibbie quickly administered healing magic. Also, they were beset upon by a hungry gargoyle who tore apart Gibbie’s tent while looking for a meal. The gargoyle and the party exchanged blows and the monster even caught Gibbie in its powerful arms and tried to rip his throat out. Aine blasted the gargoyle with a ball of fire and it dropped Gibbie with a howl. Melvin launched several arrows which failed to penetrate the rocky hide of the beast. He then drew his Morningstar and moved into melee combat. Valliant though his efforts were, he was unable to land any blows on the elusive gargoyle.

The turning point of the battle was when Fenia cast a powerful enchantment, causing their enemy to be overpowered with nausea. It took to the air to escape but Aine launched a ball of fire and knocked it out of the air.

Fenia procured another dagger and valiantly launched a vicious deathblow of great and tremendous power…..but it skittered harmlessly across the rock hard skin of the monster.

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Session 3

Characters: Gibbie and Aine
-Day 6-

Gibbie and Aine returned to Mickle the next day to give him their report. Mickle informed them that Dorga The Wraith had struck again. Perhaps he needed to reconsider the actions of Misty Ridge in Deadsnows. As the pair exited the tent, Aine heard a familiar voice. She turned to see Lassi running down the path toward here and waving. Aine turned to greet the winged elf and went to join her. But suddenly, a dark figure leapt from another tent and plunged his dagger into Lassi’s chest. She crumpled to the ground, instantly slain by the vicious weapon that crackled with energy. The figure bent over Lassi and began searching for something in her pockets. Behind Aine a gnome screamed. “Its Dorga The Wraith!”

The gnome scurried inside and soon the entire group of Misty Ridge representatives poured onto the path. The figure appeared to find what he was looking for and set off at a run, in front of the gathered gnomes and halflings. Mickle was flanked by three allies who sought to protect him from the criminal. The Misty Ridge Explorer’s rushed forward to stop the masked Dorga. He slew anyone that came near easily with that horrifying dagger. Undaunted, Gibbie rushed forward just as Dorga was about to slip away. He lashed out with his scimitar, scraping Dorga across the leg. That made the criminal pause and turn to consider his new attacker with that horrible masked gaze. Lightning fast, he stabbed Gibbie in the shoulder with his dagger. Energy crackled across and through Gibbie’s body. Gibbie’s body convulsed under the power of the dagger but no sound escaped his lips.

Dorga withdrew the dagger and fled. Gibbie staggered a couple of steps backward and then fell over. He was rushed inside by the others and tended to. The town guards soon came to question Mickle.

They brought in the corpse of Lassi as well. Aine searched the woman and found a note asking for whoever found her remains to return them to Sundabar.

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Session 2

Characters: Gibbie and Aine
-Day 3-

The party set out across the grasslands the next day and were again assaulted by kobolds. There was something different about these kobolds though. They were more organized and better equipped. But that wasn’t enough to save them from the coordinated work of Gibbie and Banshee and the fiery magic of Aine.

Time passed and they eventually found the Deadsnows Trail heading south. Happy to be nearing their destination, the party eagerly took the road. They soon passed what appeared to be a dwarven run abbey.

Two more miles passed by and they saw their destination on the horizon. Deadsnows is set atop a large hill and a large house can bee seen rising out of the center of the town. Surrounding the town is an ocean of tents, set up by the newcomers wishing to cash in on the gold rush.

They entered the bustling “tent town” and began to search for the tent belonging to the Misty Ridge Explorers. They had to dodge and weave between the bigger folk, but eventually found what they were looking for. They met a gnome outside who greeted them and bid them to enter. They met Mickle Nixback who was happy to have the new recruits arrive. Mickle filled them in on what was going on in town. Kobolds were assaulting anyone and everyone along the countryside. To make matters worse, there was a vicious masked criminal on the loose named Dorga The Wraith. Mickle warned them that extreme caution needed to be taken when out and about. Gibbie and Aine told Mickle about the kobolds they had encountered on their journey.

Mickle thought for a moment and then charged the pair with getting to the bottom of the kobold problem.

-Day 4-
The pair headed north along the Deadsnows Trail the next day to begin their investigation. It didn’t take them long to find kobolds. Or rather, it didn’t take kobolds long to find them. Over the course of the day they killed many kobolds. Gibbie and Aine almost met their end though when net wielding kobolds pulled Gibbie from Banshee’s back and injured him greatly.

When the battle was over, Aine struggle to lay the unconscious Gibbie across Banshee’s back. With careful effort, Aine was able to lead Banshee back to the dwarven abbey. There they got healing from the Overseer Kerilia Gemstar. They also found Lassi Karia there. Aine and Lassi talked while Gibbie rested. Aine discovered that Lassi was a member of an organization that hunted and killed dragons. She seemed to be elusive when asked more about the subject. Lassi thought she was closing in on the kobold stronghold and had a few more areas to search. Aine and Lassi agreed to meet at the abbey again the next day.

-Day 5-
The pair set out once again on the Deadsnows Trail heading North. Once they approached the bridge that crossed the Icespear river, they saw a strange figure standing on it. Not only that, but a large log had been set across the bridge. The figure began casting spells and creating duplicates of itself. A kobold spellcaster! They rushed in and the battle ensued. It was vicious and difficult battle. The kobold threw rays of fire, slaying Aine’s pony. Even the stalwart Banshee fell to the burning beams of the kobold. The kobold proclaimed that he couldn’t fail his master and that he had to be victorious. Desperation began to set in as neither Gibbie nor Aine could penetrate the illusionary defenses of the enemy and their spell power began to dwindle. The kobold backed away from Gibbie and replenished the magical copies of himself and pulled out a dagger. Aine, fear gripping her, yelled for Gibbie to flee, and she ran across the bridge on foot, back towards Deadsnows.

Gibbie didn’t agree though and chased down the kobold and pitted his scimitar and shield against the kobold’s dagger. It was a tremendous battle of parries and dodges as neither could hit the other. Seeing that her friend wasn’t in pursuit, Aine turned to see Gibbie engaged in melee combat with the kobold. Bringing to bear the staff she had crafted herself, she ran to her friends aid and set up a flanking formation with Gibbie. The stubborn kobold refused to give up and continued to lash out with his dagger. Through their joint efforts, Aine and Gibbie were able to destroy the illusionary copies and topple their powerful enemy.

They had no time to celebrate though, not even time to catch their breath, as shouts in the distance caught their attention. A human upon a cart was racing down the road with kobolds in hot pursuit. The human was yelling for them to remove the log from the bridge. They set to the task immediately, straining to move the large piece of wood. They succeeded and the man stopped and allowed them onto his cart and they raced away from the pursuing kobolds.
The human dropped Gibbie and Aine off at the abbey and returned to Deadsnows. The pair rested uneasily. Banshee and the pony had been slain and Lassi hadn’t appeared at the designated time. Who was this master the kobolds served and where was Lassi?

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Session 1

Characters: Gibbie and Aine
Day 1

Gibbie and Aine are sent by Pinya to Deadsnows to deliver a letter to Mickle. They are to remain in Deadsnows and work under Mickle, as he has requested additional Explorers to augment their strength in the north.

Gibbie (with his trusted dog Banshee) and Aine set off on their journey right away. They left the forest heading north and into Turnstone Pass that same day. While in the pass, they were ambushed during the first night by a strange, demonic looking elf. It was a difficult fight (as the being appeared to be immune to any physical damage they could do to it) but they prevailed thanks to Aine‘s fire magic.

Day 2

While in the pass, they were also assaulted by a band of three kobolds and later, by a pair of orcs. They too fell to Gibbie and Aine. They exited Turnstone Pass by midday and decided to turn north off of the road to shorten their journey by following the edge of the Nether Mountains.

When evening approached they came upon a large battle being waged between a large horde of kobolds and a lone woman, born aloft on white feathery wings and aided by a tremendously large bird of prey (a dire hawk by Gibbie’s reckoning). They rushed in to help, slaying as many of the reptilian creatures as they could. It was a fierce fight. Aine depleted her spells and had to take up a short bow from one of the fallen kobolds. Gibbie too depleted his spells but was able to fall back on the mounted combat tactics he and Banshee had worked hard to perfect. The giant bird of prey tore apart the ranks of the kobolds and didn’t appear to suffer any harm. The Winged woman suffered quite a few cuts from kobold weapons but didn’t appear to be hindered by that fact. She wadded into the kobold ranks, scimitar and buckler at ready.

After the battle was over the woman thanked them and introduced herself as Lassi Karia. Gibbie and Aine could see that she appeared to be a frail looking elf (frail even by elven standards). Lassi told them that she was in the area investigating the increased kobold activity. Thanking them again after a brief conversation, she took wing to continue her journey.
Gibbie and Aine continued onward to Deadsnows. They soon set up camp as night fell.

The Tribulation of Deadsnows: Campaign Background

-Cast-
Fenia MacCuhal (Gnome Illusionist)= Richard
Melvin Likin (Halfling Ninja)= David
Gibbie Gibbs (Halfling Druid)= Doug
Aine Di’ Rossi (Gnome Sorceress)= Angie
Buddrick (Dwarf Paladin)= Buddy

Campaign Start Time: 1st of Flamerule, 1st day of the 1st tenday, 1372 DR*, The Year of Wild Magic

*Dale Reconning

-Calendar-
Hammer = 1st Month
Alturiak = 2nd Month
Ches = 3rd Month
Tarsakh = 4th Month
Mirtul = 5th Month
Kythorn = 6th Month
Flamerule = 7th Month
Eleasis = 8th Month
Eleint = 9th Month
Marpenoth = 10th Month
Uktar = 11th Month
Nightal = 12th Month


Each month is divided into three tendays. Every 4 years Shieldmeet is added as an extra day (leap day) between Flamerule 30 and Eleasis 1.

-Misty Ridge-
In 1370 DR, a coalition of gnomes and halflings banded together from the surrounding lands and founded Misty Ridge in the northern Far Forest. Misty Ridge was founded to help cleanse the forest and provide a new stronghold for the gnomes and halflings of the world who are often pushed aside as the larger races establish their own holds. The halflings in particular sought a new safe haven as their population spread north from the lands of Luiren which is constantly assaulted by a growing population of Tall Mouthers.

In 1371 DR, Misty Ridge founded the Misty Ridge Explorers. This organization serves as a militia that protects and serves Misty Ridge’s needs. Also in 1371, a little known band of halfling ninjas (the Dragonblade Clan) secretly joined the Misty Ridge Explorers. They serve as a spy network and covert operations group that can secretly accomplish objectives for Misty Ridge. The Misty Ridge Explorers are lead by a loose council of accomplished and trusted individuals. Pinya Nixback (halfling druid), and Mickle Nixback (halfling rogue) are siblings and often looked to as the undeclared leaders of the council. Red Blade (halfling ninja) is the leader of the Dragonblade ninja clan and a member of the council.

In Mirtul of 1372 gold was discovered in the area surrounding Deadsnows, North of the Nether Mountains. The Misty Ridge Council determined that it would greatly bolster Misty Ridge’s resources to begin mining there. Mickle Nixback has led a group of gnomes and Halflings to Deadsnows to begin the expedition. Mickle is in constant communication with Pinya back at Misty Ridge. They send messages via lower ranking members of the Explorers.

Buddrick's Backstory

As written by Jason:

(Character played by Buddy)

Buddrick is a paladin of Marthammor Duin, the dwarven deity of travel and exploration. Marthammor is the protector of those dwarves that travel far and wide and dwell amongst the other races. Buddrick's journey has taken him across The North and The Silver Marches as he sets right the wrongs caused by evil and promotes his deity's dogma, helping to expand the small church. His travels have brought him to Deadsnows once again. A hospice has been erected in honor of Marthammor to aid weary travelers outside of the bustling town. It is headed by Observer Kerilla Gemstar. When Buddrick arrived, Observer Gemstar recounted current events.

He learned that a gold rush has covered the region in chaos. People from all across Faerun have come to stake their claim. People who have traveled many miles to explore the rocky expanses around Deadsnows. Along with the prospectors has come crime. Kobolds have been assaulting the people of the area and a vile criminal, Dorga The Wraith, has committed many murders and thefts. This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated. Not only are the actions of these evil forces vile and heinous, but these evil forces may cause people to cease their travels to the region and their further exploration of the area; something Marthammor Duin would not appreciate.

He has also learned about a band of gnomes and halflings that have been working to rid the area of the kobolds. They belong to an organization called the Misty Ridge Explorers. Kerrilla suggested that he seek them out and join forces with them. Dorga The Wraith is a powerful and vicious individual that will be difficult to defeat alone. The Misty Ridge Explorers were assaulted by Dorga several nights ago and may know more about the villain. They are also sure to know much about the kobold activity plaguing the area as well.

Buddrick set off the next day to the north, up the Deadsnows trail, where the Explorers were last seen traveling.

Fenia MacCuhal's Backstory

As written by Richard (in the words of Fenia):

I never knew my parents.

I was seven years old before I even realized I wasn't a dwarf. Master Harald had raised me for so long that I hadn't considered that I wasn't his daughter. He then told me how he had come to raise me. He and his adventuring group (Hector & Nestor, and Sheilah) had been, in accordance with their contract with Aelskuth, clearing the area of giants and giant-kin, when they had found me in a hill giant encampment they were clearing, screaming mightily. Hector swore he had seen the tribe's shaman carrying off another gnome girl—swore it until the day he died—but no one could find any trace of them; even Nestor couldn't find any trail where Hector had said they'd gone. They'd brought me back to Aelskuth, where Master Harald was able to find a gnomish wet nurse to take care of me until I was old enough for solid foods. It was at that point that he took over the task of raising me.

I should describe at this time, in greater detail, the composition of Master Harald's party, as they are prominent characters in my tale. They were all outcasts, and they fit very well together. None of them liked discussing their families, either, which made things a lot easier for me. Hector and Nestor were half-brothers, the Half-Brothers they were known as. Nestor was the tracker of the group, it was said he knew the Western Heartlands better than Volo knew the taverns of Waterdeep. He was a half-orc and he hated orcs. Only thing he hated worse than orcs was giant-kin, particularly ogres. Master Harald said it was because an ogre killed his father. When I said that was understandable, he clarified and said that Nestor hated ogres because an ogre robbed him of the chance to kill his father. Hector, on the other hand, was a half-elf, and hated both elves and humans with a passion. One of the biggest differences between them was how they reacted to their fathers being slain. Where Nestor swore vengeance on all giants and giant-kin, Hector actually invited his father's killer to join their band of adventurers. That brings us to Sheilah, who was a “renegade drow priestess of Eilistraee,” as she would regularly identify herself. Hector once told me she was actually a priestess of Vhaeraun, but I said it didn't really matter to me what good drow deity she worshipped, and he dropped the topic altogether.

Master Harald himself is a definite standout—by all accounts, he is the most powerful dwarven wizard ever to dwell in Faerun. And yet, he semi-retired at a fairly young age—as did the rest of the group, going out only occasionally on another sweep for giants' lairs. This, of course, made raising and teaching me fairly easy for him. He had plenty of time both to take care of me and teach me the basics of magic. It must have been very difficult for him, for all the accolades he received for his proficiency with magic, to have been rejected by all of his family. His great-grandfather was Fionn MacCuhal, the legendary dwarven warrior. His grandmother was Fionn's renowned daughter Fiona, high priestess of Moradin. His father was Fiona's eldest son, the fearless paladin Baerron MacCuhal. After beginning his magical studies, Master Harald only ever saw any of them twice more. They threw him out of Farpeak Hall, and he was forced to find his own way. He was able to return to Farpeak Hall twice, both on account of me. The first time was thirty years after he found me, when he was allowed to return to formally adopt me. (You see, family is very important to dwarves, and especially to those in Farpeak Hall, so they only allow an adoption to become official after the family has not claimed the child after thirty years.) I actually got to meet Fionn that day. He said nothing to me, and all he said (that I know of) to Master Harald was, “You should have named her Fiona.” Apparently, Fionn knew that I had been named after him, and was unaware that Fenia is simply the Gnomanticization of Fiona, and I actually had been named Fiona by Master Harald, but he was gone before Master Harald could explain. Fionn died three years later, and neither of us saw him in the interim.

The second time we were able to return was for the dwarven rite of passage into adulthood. This was ten years later, when I was known to have lived for forty years. This was the first time I was able to really adventure with Master Harald's group, as we did cut through some rather dangerous territory to reach Farpeak Hall.Master Harald is a generalist wizard, and not terribly familiar with many illusions. He actually had to study fairly extensively to learn enough to teach me. He actually spent a great deal of time studying with the best illusionist in Aelskuth in order to learn spells to try to train me in. I think, though, that the most fun I had in my studies was the first day I didn't actually sit in on my lessons. I sat just outside with the door cracked and combined a silent image of myself with a ventriloquism spell. He didn't realize until he walked out the door and saw me laughing. Master Harald was very impressed. He was convinced I hadn't had the training to unlock that advanced of a spell yet. After extensive study and statistical analysis, he determined that I was one of the fairly rare gnomes with the gift to be able to cast those spells as though they were cantrips.

After the fall of Hellgate Keep, many citizens of Aelskuth joined up with the Misty Ridge Explorers to help settle the Far Forest, and Master Harald granted me permission to accompany them, feeling my studies had reached a suitable point.

Gibbie Gibbs' Backstory

As written by Doug:

Gibbie Goodshadow was born into a typical halfling caravan. The caravan was founded and run by three halfling families: The Goodshadows, the Goldenfoots, and the Greenhills. The caravan was an extremely sucessful one, running goods between Daggerford and Loudwater. As a result, he spent his childhood and early adult life in the typical halfling way: enjoying life. However, the lack of purpose seemed to weigh heavily on the little halfling and their interaction with humans (who seem to have no respect for the little folk, unless the halflings had something they wanted) was spoiling the merchants life for him.

The merchant's life ended for Gibbie during his twenty-third summer. He was driving one of the covered wagons (as was his typical job since he was always gifted in the handeling of animals) when the caravan was assaulted by an orc raid. The orcs nearly overwhelmed the surprised halfling's defenses and would have if not for the assitance of two huge bears which seemed to appear out of nowhere. After the chaos of the battle was over it was revealed that the bears were actually a human druid named Travi and his faithful woodland companion. Travi quickly helped the wounded members of the caravan and agreed to travel with them until they reached their destination. It was during that trip that Gibbie learned of the Order of the Unicorn's Horn, the goddess Mielikki, and that not all humans were bad people. So, when the caravan reached Loudwater, he said goodby to his friends and family and set off on his journey into the High Forest as Travi's apprentice.

Gibbie decided to change his name as a symbol of his new life and to distance himself from the less than good name of the Goodshadows. After some long thought, he decided to take up his childhood nickname as his surname. So he became Gibbie Gibbs.

Gibbie took to his druidic apprenticeship like a duck takes to water. Travi was more than happy to drench him with knowledge. He soon learned of all the area's plants and animals. Travi didn't limit the training to just those subjects or just to the High Forest's creatures. He explained creatures and plants he had seen in his travels, told of horrible threats to the natural world, instructed Gibbie in the arts martial, and lead by example. Soon Gibbie was blooming as a druid of Mielikki and ready to take his druidic oaths. However, the great treant Turlang called for aid in the cleansing of the Far Forest. The Order of the Unicorn's Horn, and thus Travi, answered.

Gibbie took no part in the actual cleansing of the forest. He had not taken his oaths, neither druidic nor to the order, so he was not seen as fit for combat against the monsters of Hellgate Keep. He did however help in the base camp that would become Misty Ridge. Basic first aid, moving supplies, and tending animals is how he spent his time during the cleansing. It was when doing the last that he met Kora Longhowl. Kora was a dog breeder and raised Icewind Howlers. These large dogs served as mounts for many of the halflings involved in the cleansing, and Kora loved nothing more than working with the dogs. It was from her that Gibbie learned how to teach animals how to do a great many things and how to ride the dogs. It was with her that he witnessed the birth of a loud little pup that soon became Gibbie's shadow.

It wasn't until after the formal creation of Misty Ridge that Gibbie finally took his oaths to the natural world, and he still hasn't commited to the Order, though he agrees with their cause.

Melvin Likin's Backstory

As written by David (in the words of Melvin Likin):

Born into the Dragonblade Ninja Clan, I was brought up in the way of the ninja. I found it useful to be able to surprise my opponents for greater attacks.

In my mid twenties, I began adventuring outside of the clan, using my skills to find adventure and make a profit. I spend most of my time around the Western Heartlands.

After doing some work for a group in the heartlands, the leader of my clan told me about his cousin to the north, in Deadsnows, who was in need of help. Fenia MacCuhal and I traveled there and was charged with finding out information about Dorga The Wraith.

I am faithful to the Dragonblade ninja clan, not flaunting my membership and never revealing the hidden fortress. That is why I took the name Melvin Likin as to not reveal my true past and identity. Although quiet, I use my hiding and observation talents to gain knowledge and absorb the situations I am involved in.

Aine Di'Rossi's Backstory

As written by Angie:

Aine traveled north with her family to aid the Misty Ridge Explorers. her father is a master miner. Her mother, Kaerii (also known as Kaerii Firecaller), is a sorceress with an affinity for fire. She has two brothers and one sister.

Oldest brother: He is a Fighter. He is working as a protector for Misty Ridge.
2nd oldest brother: Apprenticing as a miner under their father.
Younger sister: Married to a Fighter that is a protector for the Misty Ridge Explorers.

Her father, Dalgor, and the rest of the family stayed behind at the southern outpost. Dalgor is an advisor that teaches other miners the finer points of the trade.

-Pre Misty Ridge-
Aine grew up in the Western Heartlands with her two older brothers and one younger sister. From a young age Anie has had a fascination with fire. Her mother was quite pleased as her two older children and her younger daughter have taken no interest in the arts of magic and fire that she loves so dearly.

-Description of Aine-
Her affinity for fire matches her looks and personality quite well. Aine has a passionate personality. Normally a cheerful person, she is known to have a pretty hot temper when provoked.

Hair: Red
Eyes: Green

She has a tendency to wear her hair loose with little braids in it. A warm hued silk scarf is usually wrapped in her hair like a head band to keep her hair off her face.

-Clothing-
Warm hued gown with embroidery. Dark cloak with gold claps.

-Jewelry-
Necklace and rings of no magical value.

-Description of Kaerii Firecaller-
Wavy, waist length hair. There is a strawberry blond streak from her left temple. Her skin is "flushed like a permanent light blush". Her eyes are light blue, "the color of the blue part of a flame".

She is curvy, but not chubby. She likes to wear green and black colors to augment her unusually skin color and make it stand out.