Session 8 The Rhest Road 29/7/91 XP 65+4+1= 70 Lvl 8

29/7 Head east at dawn to Rhest road, twice encounter hobgoblins on the road (& a strange sorcerer), reach Brindol after dark and meet the Council under Lord Kerben Jarmaath. Plan to go to the Dwarf Delves to recruit warriors, and on to the Thorn Waste to find the Ghost Lord.

The Council of Brindol

Bears account

Account of Bear - Druid of the Witchwood

After the battle in the ruins of Rhest, in which we drove the dragon Regiarix away, we had returned to the elven settlement of Starsong Hill hoping to rest and recuperate. There we met our companion Tessele who had received word from Brindol that Drellin Ferry had been destroyed, Terrelton had fallen and the forces of the Red Hand were rapidly marching towards Brindol. Some of our companions were still in need of rest and so it was decided that Motter, Tessele and myself would head to Brindol along with Kiliar Arrowsmith. It was felt that flying would be our swiftest option and the use of the elven owl mounts would aid us in this.
Before we left it was decided that the elves would launch stealth raids on the Red Hand Forces in order to disrupt their supply lines and cause chaos to their foraging parties in the Witchwood.
I assumed the form of a Great Owl and carried Motter on our southward journey. Tessele travelled with Kiliar who appears to be quite taken with our cleric!
As we travelled south we saw below a small group of humans fleeing from a much larger party of what appeared to be hobgoblins and two giant humanoids.
Much to the surprise of Motter, I swooped down and struck one of the hobgoblins a glancing blow before landing and allowing Motter to climb off my back. He immediately drew his axe and engaged a couple of the hobgoblins. As I reverted back to my human shape I saw that Tessele and Kiliar were engaging the other foul creatures with spells and missile accordingly. I also saw something quite out of the ordinary. The lead person in the group of those running from the hobgoblins was smaller than average and was dressed in a manner completely different from the rest, his clothing being almost completely black. As I noticed this, I saw him become enveloped in a sphere of complete blackness. Certainly not your average townsman!
As the battle continued to rage between us, the hobgoblins and what I could now see were ogres, I summoned two fey dire wolves to aid us. I also saw another dog like beast lope from the sphere of darkness towards one of the ogres.
I could see that Kiliar appeared to be sorely wounded and he and Tessele flew off out of sight. It was then that a large ball of flame shot from the dark sphere, wiping out a large number of our enemies and making the remainder much easier to finish off.
The sphere of darkness disappeared and a small, slim fellow made his way towards our group. He appeared to have a rather sallow complexion and what I can only describe as a ghastly grin plastered across his face. His demeanour instantly caused the hackles on my neck to rise and I could feel myself unconsciously snarling.
He introduced himself as Thelonius Umbra, a half elf employed as an agent of one of the major Houses in Brindol. His voice matched his demeanour and my distrust of him grew.
He said that he had been sent to seek aid for the defence of Brindol. He had been caught up in a group of refugees who were fleeing the encroaching Red Hand Forces until we intervened. He was willing to stay with us until we reached Brindol.
After a short rest we resumed our journey southward. I took the form of a giant eagle and carried Motter on my back and our new companion grasped in. Y talons. I felt this prudent, as if he proved to be false, I could drop him from a great height!
After a while we came upon a small hamlet which was under attack by another group of Red Hand hobgoblins. We immediately gave battle and thwarted the attack although there was only one survivor of the hamlet’s inhabitants. Despite my misgivings, our new companion proved his worth and my mistrust of him dissolved, just a little. I had no such thoughts of Tessele, Motter or Kiliar who proved themselves as capable as always.
After defeating this group we undertook the final part of the journey to Brindol. Cities have never held much appeal for me and I bade farewell to my companions and made to head northwards into the Witchwood where I intended to aid the elves in their harassment of the Red Hand army.

Session 7 25-28/7/91 Destruction of the Hatchery XP 58+7=65 Lvl 7>8

25/7 Meet Kythri the Blade Monk - Sellyria Starsinger is permitting her to take part in the attack on Rhest.
26/7 Cirila, Cailyenna's adopted daughter, finds her near the shrine of Corellon
27/7 Travel back to Rhest with Kiliar Arrowswift, arriving after dark.
Kill 6 lizardmen & 2 lizards at watch post on western shore. Short rest Cross lake & attack town hall - greenspawn razorbeast, 4 baby razorbeast, 7 lizardmen, & 2 lizardman shamans, plus Regiarix! Party is nearly wiped out, but Cailyenna gets razorbeast to attack the lizardmen & Regiarix, killing many, then a horde of Bear's summoned animals drives off Regiarix. The 4 baby razorbeast flee. Party destroy the 20 remaining eggs.
28/7 Return to Starsong Hill planning to rest (28-30/7/1491). That night the Elven Council agrees to aid the heroes of Elsir Vale.

Session 6 18-26/7/1491 Regiarix XP 49+8=57+1=58 Lvl 7

18/7/1491 Attack the half-sunken ruins of Rhest Town Hall, find Greenspawn Razorclaw hatchery, kill lots of monsters through spell & steel and drive off the young adult black dragon Regiarix. Final tally is 6 ogres, 2 ettins, a drowned giant eagle, a hobgoblin 'mindbender' (bard), & the goblin Wyrmlord Saarvith. Regiarix the black dragon retreats to summon his lizardman hordes. Find Regiarix's hoard including the relics of Kalborith, Champion of Lathander, and what appears to be the Phylactery of the Ghostlord, a corrupt druid from the time of Old Rhestilor, apparently now a Lich. Party retreat into the swamp pursued by angry lizardmen.
19/7/1491 Rest in hiding, then reach Starsong Hill at nightfall.
20-26/7/1491 Rest up at Starsong Hill with the Tiri Kitor, Bear enchants his armour to +1. Motter has the Armour of Kalborith (+2 full plate) resized to fit him. Malfurion gets Kalborith's +2 silver mace to wield.

18.7.1491 Account, by Caileyanna Dusksong
We have just finished off our last hobgoblin in the bell tower and thank Sirrion for that. We were battered, as Egg’s account of events
details further; we take a short rest here afterwards. Tess is especially tired after we almost lost her, and, dead frogs notwithstanding,
decides to stay here a while and keep an eye out while we try to infiltrate the townhall next. A man short, I am relieved to see my dear
Malfurion rowing up quietly to us, with Motter beside him. They’re a welcome sight indeed, and when they arrive, they told us Killiar had
pointed them in our direction and that’s how they knew where to find us.
As much as I would like to take some time with my husband to tell him about meeting Ilian and news of Cirila, now was not the time. Egg had
spotted four ogres patrolling around the townhall. We aren’t out of the woods yet. I grab Malfurion’s hand, grab hold of my horn and focus
on the task ahead. Just think of the songs I could compose of our glory if we survive this!
It seemed foolish to row straight to the townhall from where we were, we would be spotted, even by creatures as dimwitted as the ogres.
After some deliberation, Bear decided to scout through the water for a way in from below the water. He changed into a crocodile (it’s always
a delight to watch him change into and conjure up beasts!) to scout ahead in the water, for a way in or for danger down below. Good thing
he did too. He smelled something acrid and foul and told us it was akin to the razor fiend we encountered before in the Witchwood.
Thankfully he was not seen or attacked by whatever caused that scent, and he scouted ahead for us. Attached to the townhall he found a
hatchery of some sort, where he found eggs with that same scent a lot stronger in there. He saw what he at first thought was a log move,
but thankfully he managed to duck out of sight before it could spot him.
When he made it back to us in one piece, we deliberated once more. We decided the safest way seemed to be to go around the hatchery to
approach the townhall from the other side where we’d be less likely to be spotted. I suggested we use the hobgoblin boats that were moored
around the bell tower, as they would attract less attention. We took two of these boats and went round as agreed. However as soon as we
approached the hatchery it would seem the creature within it caught our scent and started hissing and growling. Worried it would alert
anyone nearby, we went back to the nearest walkway we could land on, and by some miracle were not spotted.
Egg and Malfurion being the stealthiest, went up ahead on the ramp to see if the way was clear to get to the top floor of the townhall, which
seemed the safest way in. The wood creaked under Malfurion’s foot and my heart leapt into my throat for a moment, but thankfully no
alarm was raised. They peek in and see four ogres standing inside, and the interior filled with ogre nests that would make it hard indeed to
manoeuvre around. There were also two more ogres outside patrolling, just around the corner and we were not in their line of sight yet. Egg
motions to Motter to go pick off the two outside with him, while Malfurion looks at me. When I move to go to him, that same wooden plank
creaked even harder under my foot! The ogres look up; we are seen, and we surprise them by jumping straight into battle!
Malfurion tries his best to stun these brutes, but their thick skin makes it incredibly difficult and he fails repeatedly. Bear has far more
success by using ice storm and calling lightning down on them repeatedly. It wasn’t quick enough however; we hear them excitedly mentioning
both Saarvith and Regiarix. Malfurion and me look at eachother in alarm. The black dragon that took his brother and father! He is here?!
Before we could react to this at all, we see black claws and wings coming up from the hole in the floor, and suddenly we are not just facing
Ogres, but a juvenile black dragon as well. I start doubting whether I will ever get to complete my songs, and his fearsome presence makes me
cower in fear (it is shameful to admit but I will commit no falsities to my accounts), and to my horror the fiend claws and bites my husband
who immediately goes down. No!
As terrified as I am, I will not watch my husband die. I heal him, but we are outnumbered, and the ogres knock him down again in no time. I
look around me wildly. Egg and Motter are outside the townhall dealing with Ogres there, and we are dying! Bear! Help us! Bear comes to the
rescue by summoning a cave bear to protect Malfurion’s unconscious body. I look at him gratefully, but the poor bear is no match for a
dragon and was mowed down in one fierce attack. Then Malfurion surprises us all. In a miraculous death save, he jumps up, hits the dragon
right on the nose, then jumps down from the side to the floor below! I gasp, but before I can panic, I see him running around back to the entry
we came in from. If I wasn’t still trapped in fear, I would’ve sung in jubilance right there and then! I do manage to heal him up a bit. Thankfully
Egg and Motter have dealt with the ogres outside and come to our aid as well, and Malfurion comes back in to do his part. The boys
manage to push the Ogres down the stairs to the floor below, and then Egg, jealous of Malfurion booping the dragon’s nose, wants to do him
one better. He shield bashes the dragon back down the hole!
We look at each other incredulously and giggle a bit. But now what? Bear decides to do one of his delightful transformations again and
turns into a spider so he can sneak down there and look what they’re up to below us. Egg tries to distract the dragon by insulting him, and
the dragon responds with menacing threats. In meantime, Motter and Malfurion drag the dead ogres to block the two staircases, and I shake
the fear off me and recover my wits.
Bear comes back to tell us what he saw. The dragon stood at the ready for a breath attack, with 2 Ettins at the ready for attack on
either side. To make matters worse, he saw a hobgoblin archer that looked dressed like a leader and quite fearsome. There is another
hobgoblin as well, wearing strange red robes that he couldn’t identify. A caster of some sort; we wonder if this might be Saarvith. Of course,
the ogres we had pushed down were there too, and to top it all off, there was a giant eagle perched next to them. If we go down there, we’re
dead. What are we going to do? Despite our predicament, Bear did not fail to mention the sight of the dragon’s hoard right behind him. We
were determined to get to it.
Then Bear, genius druid that he is, comes up with a diabolical plan. He controls water, and floods the lower floor completely, in the hope of
either washing some away, or drowning them. Instead, most of them floated up to the hole in our floor or the stairs but Regiarix, one ogre and
the eagle seemed to stay down there. We did spot something large swimming away at some point, so Regiarix got away, but if we kept the
ogre and eagle down there long enough, we could drown them! Poor Malfurion is having a bad day, and the ogres knock him out again and the
one downstairs came up. Bear however, is absolutely shining, bringing down lighting to decimate them all. The eagle drowns below, but Saarvith,
who turned out to be the ranger, now he was mine. I exploded his head with my Eldritch blast and brought my unlucky husband back up right
after. That was a proud moment for me, sure to be embellished a bit in song later! As might a comical moment where we threw an ogre down
on top of the caster who was pinned down by this big brute’s body. We almost threw down a second ogre on top of the first, but didn’t
manage to, and the caster almost ran away. Motter managed to get to it however, and we were finally in a clear room, nothing between us
and the treasure we found.
Greed got the better of us, and we took the boats back to the shore after picking up Tess, to rest and divide up our loot. We completely
forgot the eggs and fiend that were sitting in the hatchery. That will be something we regret later if we don’t attend to it soon, I imagine, but
in the moment, we just wanted to rest and enjoy the spoils. We sleep a couple of hours to the next day.
18.7.1491
I divided up the gold and such, but then we had a closer look at the rest of the hoard. It looked like there was the arms and armor of a
Rhestiloran champion, which would be of good use to members of our party now. There was a horn of fog, that I immediately took a fancy to.
What can I say, I love blowing horns! But there was a sinister find there as well. A fine chained necklace, emanating necromantic magic as
Bear would tell us. He wanted nothing to do with it. There was a letter in the box with it. It was written in Goblin, but several members of our
party know that foul language and so we could translate:
Saarvith—
Take great care with the enclosed phylactery. I need not explain to you what the
Ghostlord would do if he knew where I had sent his little bauble for safekeeping.
Hide it somewhere safe—perhaps it could be trusted to your dragon friend’s keeping?
Keep it hidden until Brindol is taken. Should it fall into the hands of someone who
could return it to its owner, the consequences for our effort could be dire indeed.
—Ulwai
How troubling indeed! Who is this Ghostlord, who is clearly a Lich? Who is this Ulwai? Do the hobgoblins have an alliance with this Lich?
Could we disrupt it somehow, now that we have this phylactery? Also, until Brindol is taken? What happens when Brindol is taken? So many
questions fill my head, but my party is too tired to think of all this right now. Egg wanted to hold on to the foul necklace and so it is now in
his care. We are exhausted and need rest and recovery, so we decide to go back to Starsong Hill to have a proper rest. Bear enchants his
armor, while Motter adjusts the armor we found to his dwarven form. Malfurion enjoys the powerful mace we found.
We ask Sellyria if she knows anything about the Ghostlord and she tells us of some legends that are told in these parts. I make a mental
note to look into these further. Perhaps Trellara would know more. Sellyria did mention she has seen a map with his location in the
Thornwaste but this map was now destroyed. She mentions to try looking for a map in Brindol, and I intend to do just that. I believe this
Ghostlord to be critical in the war to come. But first we need to ensure the alliance with the elves, and with Regiarix and those mysterious
eggs still out there, I do not believe we have done enough to achieve that. I hope we are not too late.
While we rest, I start to develop a song of our latest adventure:
Ode to Bear
In the middle of an ancient ruin,
flooded by the reeking Rhest lake.
A plot of war was clearly brewin,
the fate of Elsir Vale at stake.
We find hobgoblins and ogres,
alongside some lizardmen.
Even a dragon as we progress,
hatching razorfiends inside a pen!
Overwhelmed and all but overrun,
surrounded by fiends everywhere.
Malfurion couldn’t pull off a stun,
Cailey couldn’t quite shake the scare
Despite it all our party is always brave,
standing tall in the face of such despair.
We would be sleeping early in our grave,
had it not been for our very own Bear!
Nature’s elements he loves them all,
ice and lightning did he forth call.
Protects the fallen with his beasts,
even if they end as the dragon’s feasts
And then as his final coupe d’etat,
controlling water to flood the lot!
Thanks to Bear we live to tell this tale,
and to fight another day for Elsir Vale

Session 5 15-18/7/1491 Ruins of Rhest DR XP 42+6=48+1=49 Lvl 7

15/7 Meet elf owlriders, taken to Tiri Kitor main camp at Starsong Hill. Meet the Speaker and agree to investigate evil coming from the ruins of Rhest. A black dragon is mentioned. Rest 3 days.
16/7 Funeral service of Lanikar, elf scout slain by a weird dragon-thing.
17/7 Cailyenna meets with Ilian Snowmantle, chief priest-monk of Corellon.
18/7 Travel by boat with Killiar Arrowswift to flooded ruins of Rhest at dusk. Attack lizardman hut on lakeshore, kill 6. Row into ruins under cover of night, attack belltower, kill 6 hobgoblin veterans and a bladebearer. Short rest in bell tower, spying on the old town hall.

While you are short resting in the bell tower, from the top of the tower Egg spots two ogres emerge from the top floor of the town hall and head down the two narrow stairways to the floating walkway, while two more emerge from behind the building and head upstairs - so at least 4 of them, all wearing crude iron & carrying heavy mauls. Looks like the ogres are on guard, but they don't seem especially alert (ogre Passive Perception is 8!)
Meanwhile Tess finds a thin rusty dagger impaled upwards through the rickety table she was hiding under, with 3 dead frogs impaled through the dagger point. It seems non-magical.

"A rickety wooden table and three chairs round out the room’s cramped furnishings.
A long dagger has been thrust up through the table from below, its thin blade protruding from the table’s center. No less than three dead frogs are impaled on the blade."
The hobgoblin veterans and their leader Korkulan have been staying here for the past few weeks. There isn’t much to do, so when not on guard duty the hobgoblins take turns playing games at the table. Their latest favorite game is one they invented called Stupid Frog, in which the hobgoblins take turns trying to impale frogs on a dagger blade stuck in a table. Most games of Stupid Frog are spent
trying to catch frogs that prove too smart for the hobgoblins and leap in unanticipated directions...

NPCs - Tiri Kitor
Killiar Arrowswift (m), Battle Hunter of the Tiri Kitor - fancies Tessele (PC)
Lanikar Nightshadow (m) - elf owlrider scout slain by dragon beast (RIP)
Sellyria Starsinger (f) - Speaker (leader) of the Tiri Kitor for 200 years, wise and venerable Druidess, friends with Bear the Druid (PC)
Trellara Nightshadow (f) - young High Singer of the Tiri Kitor, grieving for her brother Lanikar, friendly with Cailyenna (PC), who performed at Lanikar's remembrance service.
Ilian Snowmantle (m) - leader of the Monks of Corellon, and warder of Cailyenna's stepdaughter Cirila.

NPCs - Red Hand
Regiarix - a black dragon rumoured to lurk in the flooded ruins of Rhest, may have killed several Tiri Kitor including the father & brother of Malfurion (PC).
Saarvith - goblin name, identity unknown
Korkulan - hobgoblin bladebearer commander of the Bell Tower (RIP)
____________________________________

EGG SESSION ACCOUNT

It is about a year ago that in making research at the national archives for my Histories of the Sun King, I by chance met with the Memoirs of Master Egg of the Brindol Irregulars, printed by the Red Mage of Dennovar. A principle work of that period. The title attracted my notice; I took the Memoirs home with the permission of the Librarian and devoured them.  

It is not my attention to make an analysis of the curious work, but to satisfy myself by sharing them with my readers. The work itself, a picture of those times.

Alexander D.

15.7.1491 The Blackfens.

A monstrous beast half-crocodile, half-dragon springs from the swamp, we slay the brute swiftly. Just then Brother Bear appears, he calls it a razor beast and tells us the swamp has become infested with the brutes. He has been searching for us for several days.

Some splendid owl riding elves of the Tiri Kitor swoop down with my dear friend Uuah, the Copper Dragon. They are led by a chap named Killya Arrowswift and looking for missing fella by the name of Nightshadow. I pointed out that the slain razor beast might be the poor Nightshadow chaps last resting place, so Arrowswift sets right to it, opening up the razor beast's belly with his hatchet and rummaging through its smoking guts, where by the blazes he finds the signet ring of Nigthshadow (deceased). Case closed. One of the Owl ridders looked as if he was going to be sick, so I gave him one of my winning smiles.

At first, the elves seemed a little reluctant to parlay. It was just as Mother Superior Tuzhna from the foundling home had told me "strangers don't take kindly to those with drow blood." But after flashing a few more winning smiles and a short discussion about the weather. We were all excellent chums. So, I showed Arrowswift the Hobber invasion plans, to gain some trust you see, and wouldn't you know it he immediately points out a reference to a goblin leader in the area, Saarvith. Now we're onto something here thinks I, and that's when I notice, the usually chipper Cailyenna, quiet and keeping her distance from the Elves, I notice the suspicious glances the from the Tiri Kitor toward her. Bad blood, no doubt. That's when this Arrowswift chaps pipes up with talk about Crinti, and seemingly including me in the gist of it. Lathanders hairless sack, he might have something there because Cailyenna and I do have a passing likeness to each other.

Anyway, Brother Bear convinces the elves to take us to the Starsinger, the leader of the Elves to parlay. We are to fly there on the giant owls! Malfurion, Shar-Teel, and Motter remain with the skiff, while Bear, Cailyenna, Tes, Uuah and I leave to parlay with the Kiri Kitor.

The giant owls are magnificent creatures, and flying is an absolute treat, I thoroughly recommend it. We double up with the elves, Tes the showoff, takes off her helmet to flourish her locks in the wind, instantly gaining the attention of Arrowswift, who subsequently follows the ex-pirate around like a puppy. Off in the distance, we spy the sunken ruins of Rhest. Once the capital of the Rhestian Empire, now just old stones sunk in a swamp. In no time at all, we reach the Tiri Kitor settlement, where several clans have gathered on wooded ground rising out of the wetlands.

At the camp Brother Bear immediate secures an audience with Starsinger, who reminds me of dear old Mother Superior. Bear speaks for us, and the elves quickly share details of attacks they have suffered at the fangs of the razor beasts. They think the creatures are coming from the ruins of Rhest, a place taboo to the tribe. When we share the Hobber invasion plans we took at Keep Vraath with the elf council, Arrowswift again points out the goblin name Saarvith written over the location of Rhest. We all agree that there is a strong possibility the monster attacks on the elves and the goblins invasion plans are linked. We decide to investigate ruins. The reason the region is forbidden to the elves is that the ruins are home to home to a black dragon named Regiarix. Indeed, Malfurions brother and father both died at the claws of that Wyrm.

Cailyena requests of the Starsinger to see her stepdaughter. They agree to await the return of Ilian Snowmantle, an old mucker of Malfurion, before seeing the child. We pay our respects to Nightshadow's sister Trellara Nightshadow, she invites us to his funeral, which will take place upon Snowmatles return a few from now. We decide to rest, resupply, and wait for Snowmantle's return and attend Nightshadows funeral. At Lankiar Nightshadow's funeral Cailyenna sings a haunting dirge that the elves appreciate. The day after Cailyenna and Snowmantle meet to Malfurion's niece/daughter's well-being.

The day after that it's back to the adventuring business, and business is good…

18.7.1491 Blackfens.

We travel by skiff across the Blackfens. Killa Arrowswift guides us to the flooded ruins of Rhest, occasionally looking at where we are going. We arrive at dusk. My favourite time of day, the end of it.

Arrowswift tells us the lake is guarded by an encirclement of Lizardfolk camps. The lizardfolk have set up guard posts of 6-10 warriors. Arrowswift leads us to a creek, he believes is the least well defended. The swamp is hot and dark, it feels glorious. We agree to 'takeout' the sentry post, then ascertain a route deeper into the sunken ruins. Brother Bear uses his powers to camouflage us as we disembark from the skiff and creep toward the lizardfolk sentinels. The party moves to the front of the shack acting as a guard post, while I slip through the muck into the back of the hut. I can hear the lizards talking about their master Regiarix the dragon as I sneak into the shelter. Outside, Teselle drops her shield. Upon hearing the clang, the guards rush out of the shack to attack the party. The fight is over soon enough, Tes and Uuah taking the majority of the guards down quickly.

From the vantage point of the sentry post, finally, we lay eye upon the ruins of Rhest, the fallen city we have learned much about. It is an eerie place; the ruins of the city lie beneath approximately 20-25 feet of water. The city guardians flooded the plains in a last-ditch effort to turn back a goblin invasion many years ago. A few large buildings rise from the lake, many of the smaller ruins wholly submerged. We make out what looks like an old bell tower, surrounded by crude wooden pontoons and beyond it what must have been the government building or town hall, the premises fallen into disrepair and again is covered in the same crude wooden pontoon as the bell tower and some scaffolding. Not work of Lizardfolk, this is Hobber work, I'd bet Uuah's honour on it. It is further evidence of the scale of the invasion. With that in mind, I ask Arrowswift to go and fetch the rest of our party Malfurion, Motter, and Shar-Teel.

Brother Bear wisely performs a water breathing ritual on all of us. What a brouhaha, he blows water over us through a hollow reed using his left nostril. It hadn't worked properly on me apparently, so he insisted I fully immerse myself in the river for several minutes while the party threw scented flowers at me, when he finally let me out of the water, he beat me with rushes. With all the mud has washed off my clothes, everyone can see how threadbare they are. I skulk off like a tom cat thrown in the river.

Covered by darkness and Brother Bears spell of unseeing we punt quietly across the lake to the Bell Tower. Before long we are close enough to see Hobbers moving around inside, they have made crude repairs to the tower including a wooden pontoon surrounding the tower, it looks as if the bell is still intact on the upper level. One of the guard's spots Teselle and we rush the tower. Bear, Uuah, Tes and yours truly rush in catching the Hobbers off guard for a few seconds, one goes down quickly. But it's not enough, Hobbers occupy both levels of the tower and include a Blade Bearer. Bear summons, a Bear (would you believe it) and a wolf and they tear into the guards with great zeal. Tes get off one of her Timotei Thunderwaves, then goes down as veteran archers shoot her from the upper level, just then the Blade Bearer moves in to deliver the coup de gras.

I thought she was done for.

Cailyana and Bear rush to her aid with healing magic. I step over her unconscious body and bash the Hobber Blade Bearer to the floor with my shield. At which point the summoned Bear (not to be confused with Brother Bear) and Wolf rip into the scoundrel. More arrows rain down from above, this time I am the pincushion, the mithril breastplate works a treat stopping them from piercing my significant inside bits, but the shots are so savage that they deflect into my not completely insignificant bits like my arms and legs, the shabby old clothes are hanging together by threads, a little bit like me. Ouch, that hurt.
Tes, healed pulls herself together and crawls under a table, from there she silences the upper level, brilliantly stopping the Hobbers from raising the alarm by striking the bell and from shouting out orders to each other. I take a leaf out of her book, remove myself from the kill zone and hop onto the pontoon outside. Then I climb up the outside of the tower, to spring out onto the Hobbers on the roof. I stab one through the leg and try to knock the other down the hole, but I miss. Bear spider climbs up the other side and zaps one with some nasty swamp poison, that's we he said after the fight, but to me, it looked like he just spat in the Hobbers eye with a big greenie. Then they turn on me with blades, stab, stab, stab, the Hobbers slice me up good, but I hang in there long enough to run one through and bash the other down the hole in the bell tower. The Hobber sinks very quickly in heavy armour. Tadah! I slump to floor, eggsausted.

Meanwhile, inside, the Blade Master Boss has now crawled to the top of the stairs stands only to be torn down again, forever this time devoured and the final Hobber veteran run down. Tes and I use most of the bandages, while Cailyana sings a soothing melody, which does make all of us feel a little better. Healing magic is passed around, and we take stock.

From the top of the Tower, I can see the Town Hall 700-800' away surrounded by a similar but larger pontoon and covered in scaffolding, including crude stairs. Two pairs of ogres appear, one pair on the top level, and one on the bottom level. Both patrols use the external stairs. Armed and armoured the brutes pose a significant physical threat, but they are stupid and unlikely to spot skilled interlopers, which makes me think of Tes. I find her under the table playing with frogs impaled on a rusty dagger.

"Tes" says I, "Fancy a game of stupid frog?"

Session 4 12-15/7/91 On the River XP 30+10=40+2 accounts=42, Lvl 6>7

11/7/91 New PCs arrive in town and stay at the Green Apple - Shar-Teel the Ranger, a Shaaran Lion of Brindol, Cailyenna the Crinti half-drow Bard, and her husband Malfurion, a wood elf Monk of the Tiri Kitor, now in exile.
12/7/91 Morning - a frost chimera & Ozyrrandian the green dragon attack town square, Bard turns chimera against dragon enabling defenders to kill both, though 2 guardsmen are frozen dead in the crossfire. Meet Norro Wiston & head north on keel boat, making good speed. Sleep overnight near the Rhestwash/Elsir river confluence.
13/7/91 Morning - encounter hobgoblin battle raft, hobgoblin archer killed, but blade bearers board boat and come close to overrunning party, but Bard saves the day again with a Hypnosis spell. One blade bearer killed, hobgoblin leader is pushed overboard & drowned, others are pushed overboard and have to swim to their raft, PCs escape. Continue upriver & sleep overnight.
14/7/91 evening reach the Rhestwash and camp overnight on edge of the marsh.
15/7/91 Head into the swamp, towards noon encounter a weird green dragon-beast that has eaten a giant owl & its rider. Kill it, and then see elf owl-riders approaching.
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Judge Jaarmath,
The Big House,
Brindol,
Elsir Vale

Judge,
On the morning of 12th of Flamerule 1491, Drellin’s Ferry was attacked from above. The villain, Ozyrrandian in league with a three-headed chimera set about the village causing many woes. The monsters attacked from the air. Alas, many good folks of Drellin’s Ferry perished in the attack.
The Lioness of Brindol, Shar-Teel and a mysterious elven couple came to our aid, and the monsters were slain. One of the elves a half-drow, Cailyenna the Crinti used skillful enchantments to set the beasts to fighting amongst themselves, giving us time to rally and with the help of Captain Sorana and her guards, we slaughter the dastardly fiends.
As luck would have it her partner, Malfurion is a wild elf, from the Tiri Kitor tribe and he has agreed to introduce us to their leader their mysterious leader The Starsinger.
Today, the 13th of Flamerule 1491 we depart Drellin’s Ferry again, this time seeking the reclusive Tiri Kitor in the hope of making an alliance. We travel by river boat, Teselle, a skilled sailor and navigator commands the vessel.
Judge, I have made some observations of the goblinoids tactics, I hope they prove useful comrade.
1. The hobgoblin soldiers are well equipped and well organised. Typically encountered in combat formation, they are most effective when fighting together and under the command of one of their officers.  Effective countermeasures against these tactics have included, area of effect attacks and targeting the officers (see my next note on long-ranged missile weapons).
2. The enemy has deployed strength in the air in most encounters so far.  Brindol should organising as strong a defence as possible, not only against siege craft but also attacks from the air. All troopers should at least be issued with long-range missile weapons to give a means of defence against an airborne enemy.
3. Brindol is the final objective in the enemy invasion plans.  Brindol may well be the last defence for the people of the Vale. Strengthen Brindol Judge, make it a bastion, a safe haven for the folk.  The other towns and villages of the Vale must be warned, they should prepare to evacuate to Brindol.  If the enemy cannot be halted in the field, retreating behind Brindol’s walls is the logical choice.
Lathanders Blessings!
Faithfully yours,
Egg,
Brindol Irregulars
12th Flamerule 1491