The Boiling Bubble

As we left the nasty cistern behind, the terrain began to change dramatically. The flooded passageways transitioned into relatively clean hallways free of standing water. After trudging through grimy water all day, it was a welcome change. But clean does not always mean safe, as we soon found out.

The Undead Swimming Pool

With Whelm in tow, we started heading back towards the entrance to the dungeon - back towards the sphinx. We made it back without any trouble, but once there we quickly discovered that to pursue the other weapons we would have to answer more riddles. Bolstered by our success (or luck) with the sphinx's first riddle, we believed our next attempt would be equally successful. The sphinx then queried:

"Round she is yet flat as a board,
Altar of the Lupine Lords.
Pearl on black velvet,
Jewel of the sea.
Changing yet never changing,
Eternally"

Caverns Vast, Where Chain Links Rattle

After leaving the room full of glowing globes behind, we backtracked to the last intersection we passed, this time heading north. As we walked, the ground started getting damp and the air grew oppressively hot. Travel was slow, as we tried to avoid sliding around. Soon enough the scenery changed dramatically, though. The tight hallway opened up into a vast cavern, nearly 50 feet wide and at least 100 feet long. The ground ended abruptly, plunging down into a lake of boiling mud thirty feet below. Every ten or so feet along the length of the cavern was hung an 8 foot wide wooden disc, supported in the center by a thick chain. It seemed the only way to cross would be to jump. Unfortunately two hot spouts of dirt and water regularly exploded up towards the platforms, making our crossing even more deadly.

The Nine Glowing Globes

Now, let’s see…where were we?

Ah, yes. The human headed, lion beast with the twenty foot wingspan. We know now it was a Sphinx, but at the time we assumed it meant to harm us. As we readied our weapons for a fight, we realized it had no immediate intentions of attacking us. Instead it greeted us. “Greetings” the beast said, stretching as if waking up from a long sleep. Glancing up at the trap on the ceiling, the sphinx said “as you can see, you will not be getting past the traps, or me, unless I allow it. You must answer one riddle – answer correctly, and I will allow you to choose one of the three paths behind me. Answer incorrectly, and I will be forced to eat you.” It was then we noticed that the beast’s eyes were glowing yellow, hinting at some sort of mind control. But at the time we had no other choice than answer her riddle. With all of the disinterest of a creature expecting failure, the sphinx purred her riddle.

“My creator wants me not, and much in dread will I be bought. My cold embrace is fiercely fought, and most who need me know it not.”

A Story for the Ages

“Men and women, boys and girls, gather ‘round and hear a story for the ages. Let me tell you of the events that transpired under White Plume Mountain. I shall warn you that this story is not for the faint of heart, for we were in peril at every turn! Hideous monsters, insidious traps, and mind bending riddles awaited us around every bend. So sit down, pay attention, because I assure you that this tale is utterly true!”

Business Ventures

Later than night we met up with the Vistani, who were traveling west towards Brindol. After the battle in the warehouse and the storms before that, a little relaxation was in order. Dandelion introduced the group to his sister Lily, and to his niece Thrush. The party rested that night, then made their way to Brindol, where they had some loose ends to tie up.

The Dawn Way

With the goods packed up on the wagon, we make our way from the warehouse. The rain is clearing up, but it is getting late. The noise of the battle has apparently gone unnoticed, and it is much easier making our way out of town than it was getting in. And so we believe we have gotten away cleanly. Oh, how wrong we are.

A Rainy Night in Marthton, Conclusion

On the ground after taking a huge hit and falling twenty feet, Terik is in bad shape. But he is nothing if not a survivor, and he miraculously surges back to his feet.

A Rainy Night in Marthton, Part 2

With the center of the room clear, it was time to focus on the real threats; Myrissa and her lieutenant Kyrion. Climbing the ladder to the catwalks, Kai was kicked square in the jaw by Kyrion. But he held his vice grip on the ladder and pushed his way up onto the platform. While Terik was busy following Kai up the ladder, Kyrion and the warlock had their sights set on the exposed fighter.

Meanwhile, across the room and on the floor, Ayas is still locked in battle with the enemy dragonborn. As Dandelion runs over the crates and catches his breath, he is just in time to see the dragonborn fall to his knees in exhaustion. But Ayas, honorable to the end, refuses to strike the prone foe. On his way to the ladder, Dandelion strikes out but misses the tired foe. But it is Wotan who finishes him off with a blast from his rod, rounding the corner just in time to see this all unfold. Dandelion sprints towards the ladder, his armor transforming into mundane clothes for extra speed. He climbs and begins running across the catwalks towards the exposed Kai and Terik. Wotan stays on the ground, running towards the enemy warlock and blasting her with eldritch energy. And Ayas heads towards the door, hoping to prevent Myrissa from escaping again.

The fighting between Kai and Kyrion reaches a feverish pace, as both furiously slash at each other. Kyrion, using a sword stolen from Kai a few months ago, again tries to disarm the fighter, and is again successful. He catches the dropped sword and takes Kai’s knees out, knocking him to the ground. Terik, wanting to get behind Kyrion, climbs along the edge of the catwalk and stands up right behind him – but his eyes are focused on the warlock. He charges and slashes her arm, but she is ready. With but a touch, she sends draining energy coursing through his body, pushing him back and knocking him from the catwalk. As he falls the twenty feet to the ground, his body falls limp and it is clear he is badly injured. Kai, now facing a well-trained soldier and a powerful warlock, is on his own for now, with Dandelion still too far away to lend his aid and Wotan twenty feet below, rushing towards the downed Terik.

To be continued…

A Rainy Night in Marthton

Long story short, we've got a price on our heads. The boys from Tourean have made some powerful people mad. It's been months now that we've been searching for who wants us dead, and all we've had is dead end leads. Until now. We have it on good authority that the ones responsible for the bounty will be at a certain warehouse in Marthton, at a certain time. And that's a lead that we can't pass up.

Still reeling from the sudden departure of their brother, Thorn, the party stumbles onto the help of a half-elf named Dandelion that has a grudge against the powers that be in Marthton. With the help of him and their friend Graffer, they have a way into the town, and into the warehouse. With a wagon laden with fake goods, they pose as a caravan bringing expected goods to the warehouse. And during a heavy downpour, they make their approach to the despicable town. They find little resistance, as the rain is keeping most of the guards inside and out of the cold. The guards we do run into are easily persuaded to let us pass. And soon enough we see the warehouse, with light shining through the cracks around the door.

Dandelion knocks on the door, as the others make sure they aren't immediately recognized. The goods were expected to have been here hours ago, but that is easily explained by the poor weather. The guard who answers the knock immediately recognizes Dandelion, a man they have had business with in the past. The guard invites him and his colleagues inside. Amicable at first, the guards soon start to get suspicious as they eye the party. A dragonborn? A Half-orc? As Dandelion approaches the head guard, he asks one simple question; "What do you get when you cross a demon and a devil?" As the guard fumbles for an answer, the half-elf smashes him hard in the face with a spiked gauntlet; apparently he isn't much good at subtlety. As the others throw back their heavy cloaks, a voice from the rafters cries out "Its them! Take them down!"

Trask's Warehouse

The workers nearest the door don't react nearly fast enough, as the half-orc Terik whirls by them, pulls them close, and strikes down three of them in a single blow. Cries ring out from the depths of the warehouse, as more guards and workers spring into action. The head guard isn't as easily dispatched as were the workers. He lays into the half-elf with two swords, with Dandelion just barely dodging out of the way. As his powers start to flare, Dandelion begins a low hum and slices at the guard with an attack meant to lower his defenses. And Kai follows suit, smashing him with his longsword and ordering his summoned pet to stall the enemy's pursuit. But as attackers begin arriving, the party has to split to avoid being pinned down. The huge Ayas breaks to the right, taking down a worker and engaging an unexpected enemy - another dragonborn. Two, in fact, as they run down the paths between the crates. As workers rain down crossbow bolts on the party, Wotan is forced to fire up at them, and takes down a number of them. The fight moves slowly towards the center of the warehouse, as more guards file in. And then a familiar face joins the fray; from up on the catwalks, a half-orc warlock named Myrissa chastises the party and fires curses from above. The group has faced her a number of times before, and each time she has escaped death.

Trask's Warehouse

Kai and Terik immediately break left over the stacks of crates, towards a ladder leading up to the catwalks. Bolts and curses rain down on them, but they make it and begin climbing. With Ayas still tied up with the dragonborn soldier, though, Dandelion and Wotan are left to finish off the guards and workers on the warehouse floor. The half-elf holds one at bay, while the warlock rains down death.

To be continued...

Welcome!

Welcome to Defenders of Tourean, the story of a group of adventurers that are committed to defending their home against threats both mundane and magical. This blog will be a record of their continuing adventures. It will contain photos of their battles, descriptions of our sessions, and a list of all of the important characters in this world we are creating as we go along.

To catch you up, we have been playing this campaign for a little over a year, and we are rapidly approaching the paragon tier, 11th level. Rather than recap everything we've done (I don't have that kind of time), we will be chronicling our adventures from this point forward. When we need to revisit something from the past that effects what is happening in the present, we will. And you can visit the Player Characters page for more detailed descriptions of the characters.

Our weekly sessions use the 4th Edition rules of Dungeons and Dragons. Some of us are new to the game, and others have been playing since the game's inception. So follow along with our story as we fight monsters, unravel plots, eat a lot of candy, and gain some levels. I hope you enjoy it!