Twenty First Session, 4 June 2020

Valldel Amakiir - 3rd Level Male Elven Rogue

Akadum Ironbeard - 3rd Level Male Dwarf Fighter

Dolin Stoneflare - 3rd Level Male Dwarf Light Cleric

Kethry - 3rd Level Female Human Wizard

8 June 981, Wednesday Continued

Hot and sticky

Valldel asks after the Lamp Oil Shop and Urgritte tells him that it is locallyfamous as the proprietor has figured out some way to produce lamp oil locally rather than having to import it.  It is quite cheap, but for some odd reason he will only sell a pint at time to any one person or group.

Dolin is intrigued by the Ship which Valdell saw out behind the Bog Witches shack.  He goes there and sees a ship way too large for the swamp.  It is still a skeleton and there is middle aged man working on it.  He is Tom Grayson, a retired carpenter.  He says that he has had a vision that there will be a great flood.  The people of Helix can be saved by this ship.  Dolin looks at the ship and can see some obvious flaws, and the plans make no sense.  Dolin takes his leave.

Valldel goes to see the Bowyer, an elf called Valeron.  He has nicely made bows and arrows and things he claims made from Giant Spider Silk found in the Thornwild Forest.  Valldel pays a bunch for a cloak of Giant Spider Silk.  Valldel tells him of his plans to explore the Barrowmaze.  Valeron warns him to stay out of the Barrowmoor at night; undead prowl the swamp.  Also he has heard the maze harbors a degenerate race that captures adventurers and sells them for slaves.

Kethry, Jon Fairbrain, and Akadum go to the Last Stop Inn and Tavern.  There they encounter Professor Illkin.  He is very excited.  He tells them there is a betrothal party going on here.  This is the first step in the local Solstice Festival which the locals call the Marriage Games.  Apparently all the couples who have pledged their troth in the last year compete in some physical and mental contests, with the winners doing some sort of great service for the town.  He is not clear what this might be.  He asks Kethry to pledge her troth with one of his gradaute students so they could compete in the Marriage Games.  It would make a great book describing the life ways of the primitive Shud Folk.  He would happily acknowledge Kethry in the forward.

Kethry is disgusted and hits Illkin with a Charm Person.  She tells him to go upstairs to his room and do some reading.  His gradaute students should join him.  Plus she hopes he never speaks to her again.  He does so dragging his students away from the growing party.

Kethry spends time copying the spell Blur into her spell book.

The others arrive and the party is in full swing.  Dolin seeks out the clergy.  He avoids the local head of the Temple, a priest of Zeus, but finds one Catronia a preistess of Ares.  She is here with a paladin of Ares who is on a final quest before he goes off to join the war effort.  The Paladin is a monster in combat with his heavy armor and two handed sword, but she can still take him with quickness and cunning in unarmed combat.  They came her on the advice of the Paladin's Squire, who is really a jerk, as he is a big fan of the Bumblebee Bandit series of novels and came here to try to get an early copy of the latest novel, The Battle of the Bumblebee Bandit.  She cannot understand how any one can waste any time on such useless drivel that borders on pornography.  She notes the betrothed woman is Jessica Reuter, who is of the family of the printers making the Bumblebee Bandit book.  She is not a local and does not really know what the point of the Marriage Games is, and hopes the Paladin will move on to find a worthy quest, but that jerk Squire is the reason they are here.

The party is very nice with an extended family of Shud Folk providing entertainment.  There is an old woman who tells fortunes with Tarot cards, there is a pair of brothers who perform Shud Folk ballads, notably Ain't No Grave:

There ain't no grave can hold my body down

There ain't no grave can hold my body down

When I hear that trumpet sound I'm gonna rise right out of the ground

Ain't no grave can hold my body down

Well, look way down the river, what do you think I see?

I see a band of angels and they're coming after me

Ain't no grave can hold my body down

There ain't no grave can hold my body down

Well, look down yonder Triton put your feet on the land and sea

But Triton don't you blow your trumpet 'til you hear it from me

There ain't no grave can hold my body down

Ain't no grave can hold my body down

Well, meet me, Hades, meet me, meet me in the middle of the air

And if these wings don't fail me I will meet you anywhere

Ain't no grave can hold my body down

There ain't no grave can hold my body down

Kethry quite likes the song.  There is a very well done puppet show featuring puppets that look like the betrothed couple.

The exhuberence is interrupted when one of the Shud Folk musical brothers apparently propositions the bride to be.  A scuffle broke out with the girl kicking her would be suitor and the girls father slugging him.  The Shud man, who is quite drunk, vows that all will learn what "Shud pride" means and how Shud men behave when “bitch gaje” reject them.  The father of the bride was screaming about not paying for the show and wanting the whole crew of Shud-folk locked up.  The old Shud woman curses the new couple with bad fortune.

The party breaks up abruptly, and the party turns in to their rooms at the Last Stop.

9 June 981, Thursday

Cool and partly cloudy

There is a great deal of commotion early in the morning and the party awakens to discover the betrothed girl, Jessica Reuter is dead.  She was found in the courtyard of the Reuter Printers and Bindery with a knife wound in the back and slashed throat.  The local constables, three inexperienced youths as the local sheriff is fighting on the Northern Front and the Paladin of Ares followed a trail of bloody footprints to the wagons of the Shud Folk.  There they found a pig slaughtered ritualistically, the puppet of the bride hacked to pieces, and the Shud Man who caused all the trouble last night covered in blood.  They decided to gather up all the Shud Folk (old woman, two brother musicians, puppeteer family (husband, wife, three small children)) and throw them in the local lock up, and prepare a burning for them since they are obviously guilty and demon worshippers.

The party is unconvinced.  Kethry suggests finding all the other potential brides as obviously this is how to win the Marriage Games.  Investigating the bloody foot prints, Dolin notes how precise and even the trail is between the Book Bindery and Shud Folk wagon camp.  He also notes the foot print blood seems to be pig's blood even though the foot prints lead from the Bindery to the wagon camp.  Talking with the one young constable who is guarding the wagon camp they learn the pig was simply sitting in the middle of the camp where there is not a large pool of blood.  Looking in the wagons for further clues, such as the murder weapon, they find a blood stained yellow and black cloak which seems out of place among the Shud Folk clothing which tends towads dark and ornate.  It matches the signature clothing of the Bumblebee Bandit.

They go to the Constablary where they find the Shud Folk in cells with the crying children separated from their parents.  Speaking to the old woman, in whose wagon they found the blood stained cloak, she tells them she has never seen such a hideous garment, and her nephew was just drunk, acting stupid, and afterwards passed out.  There is no way he could have committed the murder.

They head over to the Book Bindery where to their surprise they find the family hard at work.  They speak with Kurt Reuter, father of the dead woman.  He tells them the Bumblebee Bandit book, the worst sort of mind rotting junk, is a big deal for the family, they are on a tight deadline, and work distracts them from their grief.  It is what Jessica would have wanted them to do.  They ask if any one showed interest in the new Bumblebee Bandit novel.  He mentions that the Paladin's Squire turned up a few days ago trying to get an advanced copy.  They told him to go away; they would be in breach of their contract if any advance copies got out.  He made a pest of himself.

Dolin asks if any copies are missing.  Kurt tells him no, the printed copies are carefully packed and no one has messed with them.  There were galley proofs which they printed some time ago to check if all was OK and they have one in their safe.  Dolin suggests they check and upon opening the safe they find the book missing.  Kurt is beside himself.  Did his daughter really loose her life over a stupid Bumblebee Bandit novel?  Who would do such a horrible thing?

Dolin formulates a plan with Kethry and Valdell.  They will go to the Temple.  He and Kethry will approach Catronia, distract the Squire, and Valdell will go to the Squire's room and look for evidence.  Kethry suggests she could raise the pig or girl and ask them who killed them.  Dolin and the others think this is likely to be a very bad idea.  Kethry is disgusted, but goes along with Dolin's plan.

At the Temple they find the Paladin and Squire are in a courtyard practicing with wooden swords and padded armor.  Catronia greets Dolin warmly and he tells her of their suspiscions.  They show her the blood stained yellow and black cloak.  She says the Squire, who is named Fastonius, has a Bumblebee Bandit costume which he wears to party's and such.  Are they really telling her that he killed some young woman to get his hands on a trashy novel?  She leads them up to his room.  There is a chest which Valdell is able to open.  It is filled with Bumblee Bandit novels and there is a galley of The Battle of Bumblee Bandit.  They gather it and return below to confront the Squire.

The Squire and Paladin are finished sparring, and the party and Catronia accuse Fastonous of the terrible crime displaying the blood stained cloak and the galley of the new novel.  This seems to unhinge him, and he declaims, "No evil doers can capture the Bumblebee Bandit!" as he runs toward an impossibly tall wall with the clear intent to leap over it.  Dolin hits him with a Hold Person.  The Paladin, Tiberious, is at first incredulous, but when Dolin and Catronia tell him of their evidence he admits the merit of their case.  He picks up the limp Squire and tells them they should head to the Constablary to free the Shud Folk and see this wretch gets his just punishment.

20th Session, 20 May 2020

Valldel Amakiir - 3rd Level Male Elven Rogue

Akadum Ironbeard - 3rd Level Male Dwarf Fighter

Dolin Stoneflare - 3rd Level Male Dwarf Light Cleric

Kethry - 3rd Level Female Human Wizard

5 June 981, Sunday, Continued

Partly cloudy and warm

Kethry tells Jon Fairbrain to gather provisions for their journey to Helix.  He notes to them there is little here in Drigbolton and Helix is bigger and a better spot for provisions.

7 June 981, Tuesday

Cool and cloudy

They meet with Zelda.  She has identified the kris, which is actually long enough to be a short sword as a +1 magical weapon plus with something else that she cannot figure out.  It is a not curse, but something strange.  Valdell takes it for use.

The snake statue is magical, but she cannot figure out what it does.  Maybe it is part of a larger thing?

The Purple Mushrooms are as Kethry thought of the sort used to make stone to flesh.  She offers them 1000 GP for them, but they suggest 500 GP plus half of the produced potions.  She agrees with that.

The strange potion from Xiximanter does indeed seem to be an ordinary healing potion despite its strange appearance.  Jon Fairbrain takes it and puts it with the bunch of potions they got from treasure room in the Clooney Caves.

They begin their journey to Helix climbing out of the Drigbolton valley and up into the Moon Peaks.  Around lunch time they pass the Ironguard Motte which is a castle surrounded by a Moran Army training camp.  Along the road are many establishments; bars and female entertainment.  They elect not to stop, Valdell is worried he might be recognized, and they press on.  They begin descending and can see the Barrowmoor to the south and the Thornwild Forest, pines, to the north.  Beyond they can see the rough, broken country known as the Shud Lands.

As night falls they get to the cut off road that leads to Bogton.  Here there is a road house called the Marching Tankard.

They see a large man come out and shake some large lanterns lighting the entrance way to the Inn.  He greets them as Gunther Grohl and tells them if they want to press on to Helix is is a few miles along the main road.  They decide to stay and enter the inn.  The fare is fish, crayfish, and game gathered from the Barrowmoor.  Also present is a vaguely middle-eastern looking man with three young men who are very differential to him, and two other rougher looking sorts.  Overhearing their conversation the man is Professor Tevrat Ilkin and he wants to explore the Barrowmaze to study the burial customs of the Shud Folk.

They talk directly and Ilkin tells them he is a Professor at the White College and this is a summer field study.  The Shud Folk are thought to be pre-Moran.  He has with him three graduate students and has hired two mercenaries for protection against the swamp beasts and carry any artifacts they might find.  He notes this Inn is rife with Shud Folk  influence.  The inn keeper is clearly a Moran, but the serving girls and stable boys clearly have the Shud Folk look.  Look at the vermin they serve and eat!  It belies their simple folk ways which are so fascinating.

His plan is to head to Helix tomorrow morning and visit the The Last Stop Inn and Tavern.  It is well known as a gathering place for the Shud Folk.  Also in a week is the Solstice Fest in Helix which is some sort of pre-marriage ritual, the Marriage Games, which he cannot wait to study.

The party tells them that they are too are heading to Helix and planning to explore the Barrowmaze.  Perhaps they can arrange to work together.  Privately Akadum tells them Ilkin and his party are likely doomed if they do not get help.  They agree to watch out for Ilkin and company.  On the other hand they find Ilkin's overbearing ways and superior attitude to the Shud Folk to be highly annoying.

They also ask after the lamps, and the waitress, who is one of Grohl's daughters tells them they are full of Barrowmoor fire flys.  They need to be regularly fed, fruit or honey, and then shaken and they will produce light, dull greenish glow, for a few hours.  They can buy hand held ones tomorrow.

8 June 981, Wednesday

Hot and sticky

Helix, traditional start of the Great Games by couples pledging.  Start the Dead Bride with a party celebrating at The Last Stop.

They purchase some Fire Fly lanterns and make the short way to Helix with Professor Illkin, his three students, and two mercenaries who at least look well armed.  One of the students Fitzwalter tells them how excited he is to be going to Helix.  His favorite book series starring the Bumblebee Bandit has a new entry coming out, The Battle of the Bumblebee Bandit.  It is printed in Helix and he hopes to get a copy.  He shares with them a drawing of the Bumblebee Bandit and a pre-release page of text:

...unfortunately the struggle had caused her

corset to come undone. “Oh, my modesty!”

cried Lady Labreque, attempting gather her

torn gown over her lady dumplings...

...“Oh, yes, Bumblebee Bandit!” The Lady

Labreque was overcome with thoughts so

unlike a lady but so like a woman. “I will...

The party is horrified, but Fitzwalter continues to talk about the various plots of the Bumblebee Bandit novels and asks if they have read "50 Shades of Ulfire"?

As they arrive in the town, it is mid-morning, they make arrangements to meet with Professor Illkin and company for dinner at the Last Stop.  The party plans to meet at the Temple and decide where to go for lunch.

Akadum goes to the Tobacco Shop.  There he sees they are selling tobacco and carved pipes from the Shud Wilds.  He notes the art is raw but effective.  He buys a bear shapped pipe, and some Shud Wilds tobacco.

Kethry goes to the Wizards Tower.  The tower is three stories tall and seems ill kept with moss growing up the sides and it might be leaning.  There is an impressive observing dome on the top.  A sign on the outside says "Do Not Disturb" but she knocks any way.  A hunched man in blue wizard robes and a pointed wizard hat, which is bent half way up, and are covered with small metal trinkets with chime musically as he moves, appears and asks what she wants and if she can read?  Kethry says she can read and is instersted in trading knowledge.  He introduces himself as Muzzahs and invites her in.  The inside seems bigger than the outside, and it is quite nice and cozy.  He prepares a cup of tea and they an elliptical talk eventually agreeing to trade spells with Kethry getting Blur and Muzzahs getting Spectral Stilletto.  Kethry does not mentions her interest in the Barrowmaze or her connection with Zelda.

Dolin goes to The Axe and Anvil which is a smithery run by a dwarf named Karg Barrelgut.  They strike a bargain for a set of half plate that will be ready in about a week for a very good price.  Karg tells Dolin that there regularly used to be adventurers going to the Barrowmaze, but since the war started there have been fewer.  Adventurers are in danger of getting swept up by Imperial Army press gangs from the Ironguard Motte.  Dolin is the first person this season heading to the Maze.  Karg says it is infested with undead and Dolin should go to the Brazen Strumpet where Bollo knows much more about the Barrowmaze.  The Last Stop is indeed patronized by the Shud Folk and go there for music.  The Foul Pheasant is the place to go for gambling, and female entertainment.  He does not know much about the maze, but he has heard that all its entrances are trapped.

Valdell goes to the little shack at the south end of town, almost in the Barrowmoor, with Fortunes and Readings sign.  Within is a women named Beatrix who looks like Griya and claims to be her sister.  Beatrix reads Valdell's tea leaves, the tea is strange tasting, and gets a vague foreshadowing of an unpleasant future.  She notes his cursed ring and says she can fix that for him.  No charge, she just wants the ring and in return gives him a dried frog, which she tells him is a luck token.  Come back tomorrow and she will be ready to remove his curse.

The party meets and heads to the Brazen Strumpet on Dolin's recommendation.  There is a warhammer and shield hanging over the bar.  It is quiet and they are waited on by Urgritte, who is a tall handsome woman with blonde braided hair.  She seems to like Dolin.  They speak with Bollo who is tending bar.  He tells them he was an adventurer until he took an arrow in the knee.  He has been to the Barrowmaze.

He draws a rectangle on a napkin.  The northern third he covers with dots.  These are small crypts some of which have been looted, some which have not and may contain treasure.  There are minor undead.  Some of crypts have tunnels that lead to the maze below.  He draws lines in a complicated pattern that extends into the southern two thirds of the diagram.  This is maze itself which is undeground.  It is easy to get lost.  There are tablets with rune writing on them.  Some are cursed but some contain valuable information.  There are stranger more powerful things down there and magical treasures.  They mention Professor Illkin's theory that it is a burial place for the ancient Shud Folk.  He just laughs and retrives a gold coin.  It is an ancient Moran coin, hundreds maybe a thousand years old which he retrieved from the Maze.  The Maze is an ancient Moran necropolis.  He has no idea why the old Morans buried their dead so far from the coast, but old Moran stuff is what is found in the crypts and in the Barrowmaze.

Akadum notices a dirty bad smelling man seated in a dark corner.  The waitress brings some soup and tells them the man is called Alaster and Bollo tells the staff to be nice to him and give him whatever he might want.  Akadum talks to Alaster.  He is not coherent babbling about the walking dead, the darkness, traps, and being lost.  Urgritte tells them he has been around for at least three years.  Bollo tells them Alaster was an adventurer, a thief so be careful, and his fellow party members were killed and Alaster was lost in the Maze for days.  The Elf, Valeron, who is the Bowyer and Fletcher found Alaster in the Moor and brought him back might be able to tell them more.

They have time to see more of the town before heading to the Last Stop for dinner.