Hot and Cold Running Encounters

Naoidheamh 6-18, 6638; next holiday, Beastnight, 9/35

The Party:

• Rig Bigny, Gnomish Beastmaster
  • Flit, the bat familiar
  • Clench, the Wardog War-Badger
  • Midnight, the Panther
  • Faufe Yitaw, Dogwere (Badgerwere?)
    • Rawf, Wardog familiar
    • Aroof, Wardog familiar
  • Llarm Paphyra, Elvish Polydoctorate
    • The Metal Man, construct
• Caranthir, Human Leader of Men
  • Rhea Trueheart, Elvish Nightblade
  • Lucille "Luce" Burwood, Fighter
  • Elenora Garrard, White Mage
• Gróin of Norston, Dwarven Sapper
  • Laurita Gomez, Priestess
• Quetgar, Thrassian Assassin
  • Zarc, Thrassian Gladiator
• Sorvald, Thief
• Good Question, the Wonderworker
• ???, a Gnomish Trickster

After a night of flying, the adventures landed to begin setting up camp. However, before they could manage it, the ground beneath their feet began to sink! Most of the crew took to flight immediately, leaving the ever-capable Quetgar and the inexperienced Sorvald to fend for themselves. Quetgar waited until one of the sinkholes revealed a multi-legged monster, and struck - only to be burned by the intense heat radiating from within it! Already down to half hit points, Quetgar headed for the others. The beasts followed; before Caranthir could fly down and pick him up, one of the monsters swallowed him whole! Laurita used a distance healing spell to heal him and a good thing, too, as the intense heat from the monster was cooking him quickly! Between the boulders and other spells from Gróin and the freezing breath attacks from Caranthir, the monster was quickly dispatched. Quetgar was snatched away by Caranthir... which left poor Sorvald alone with the monsters. It was barely one hit before the poor thief was laid out on the ground. As the three remaining monsters tried to split the poor fellow, Gróin fired more rocks in their midst, and eventually, the creatures were dead.

Once their white-hot skin had cooled, the party ripped them open, lugging out the treasures the huge beasts had devoured. Inside, they found a veritable treasure-trove, including some magical objects (listed at the end, for space reasons).

Flying on, they encountered four frost giants, who used their shelter as a lovely chair for an hour, and a few days later, managed to outrun five wraiths. And then... they met three dragons. After some quick thinking, Caranthir managed (somehow) to convey to Elenora that he was willing to trade the lives of a few of his compatriots for free passage. Alas, the dragons didn't get their meal. The two sides attacked simultaneously, the dragons managing to cast a fireball and some buffing spells. Quetgar leaped onto the back of the largest dragon, and did some heavy damage; the other two dragons attacked, but were unable to budge the lizardman, and soon, the eldest dragon was plummeting to the earth. Caranthir promised to heal the dragon, if the others would not pursue them; the dragons agreed, and the party flew off into the night once more.

They passed over three frost salamanders, and then, during a windstorm, they caught the sound of singing on the wind. Someone was singing "A Whole New World" - and moments later, they caught sight of a good-looking gnomish woman, riding a flying carpet beside a snake wearing a turban. She plowed into Caranthir, and, sliding across his back, pointed at Quetgar. "How you doin'?"

Quetgar, taken aback, was enchanted by the gnome. Quite literally; her words charmed him! Caranthir was not as impressed, but the rest of the party seemed happy enough to let her join their motley crew. Flying on, they encountered a group of 80 hoarfrost zombies, which Gróin happily Turned. On they went, finally coming to the marked treasure: a cube of frost resistance. Quetgar, unused to the bitter cold, hugged the device to himself and refused to let it go.

Now, as for treasure... There were two swords, one a +1, and the other a Sword +1, +3 versus summoned creatures Sword +1, light 30' radius; an Axe, tested to be at least a +2; two Scrolls of Ward against Elementals, a Scroll of Ward against Undead, a scroll of Scroll of Ward against Lycanthropes, Boots of Traveling and Springing, a Potion of Treasure Finding, and of course, the Cube of Frost Resistance. Other treasure is detailed below.

• Experience from treasure:
  • Clothing, 4 stone total:
    • 1 rich fur cape (1,300gp)
    • 1 rich fur cape (1,400gp)
    • 1 rich fur cape (2,100gp)
    • 1 rich fur coat (6,000gp)
  • Jewelry and Gems, 1 stone total:
    • 1 Black pearl (2,000 gp)
    • 1 emerald (1,000 gp)
    • 1 Alabaster jewelry (700 gp)
    • 1 chryselephantine jewelry (400 gp)
    • 1 emerald regalia (13,000 gp)
    • 2 Fine wood jewelry (900 gp)
    • 1 ivory jewelry (700 gp)
    • 1 scrimshaw jewelry (16 gp)
    • 1 sapphire regalia (5,000 gp)
    • 1 opal jewelry (3,000 gp)
  • Carvings, statues, etc., 11 stone:
    • 3 platinum reliquaries with crystal panes (24,000gp)
    • 12 alabaster and jet game pieces with jeweled eyes (10,800gp)
    • 21 jade carvings of heroes, monsters, and gods (4,200gp)
    • 1 statuettes (1 stone) (800gp)
    • 3 statuettes (4 stone) (3,600gp)
• Total experience from treasure (once sold): 80,916 (which is 16,183 each for Caranthir, Quetgar, Gróin, and Sorvald, and 8,092 for Elenora and Laurita.)
• Experience from encounters:
  • 4 remorhaz (19,200 xp)
  • 4 frost giants (avoided)
  • 5 wraiths (evaded)
  • 3 dragons (10,670 xp)
  • 3 frost salamanders (avoided)
  • 4 frost giants (ignored)
  • 9 hoarflesh (720 xp)
• Total experience from encounters: 30,590
• XP per PC (except the Trickster): 6,094
• XP for the Trickster: 120
• XP per henchman: 3,047

The treasure haul is quite large; most of it should sell in the village of the Northern People, but some of the larger items may need a different city. The reliquaries, especially, will likely need to be sold to a church. The XP for those items will be given out once the items have sold.

Additionally, new characters starting at this point will begin with 62014 XP and 160,000 gp, which can be traded for magical items.

And one final note... things are beginning to happen in Mareten, and across Mor-Thir; actions and reactions. The party has gained some significance, and are fairly recognizable now, at least the core group.