Fairy Firing

Naoidheamh 29 - Deicheamh 4, 6638; next holiday, Wintermas, Dara 1

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
• Mor Gibs, the Wonderworker
• Gianna, a Gnomish Trickster

In the City of the Northern People, the group sold rather a lot of their stuff; while they were waiting, they spoke with a rather large paladin, who agreed to hunt the undead Kraken and its vampire master come the spring. They also bought a few items from a certain gnomish marketeer, though once again opted to forego the Staff of Staff.

Finally, it was time to go. The party hurried straight to the Court of the Winter Fae, to hand over the letter given to them by the king. They left on Beastnight, avoiding most of the merriment.

Upon arriving in Fae territory, they were, indeed, given safe passage, and a place to sleep. The next morning, they were awoken by a knocking on the door. A messenger brought them something he claimed they ordered - a coat of chainmail. But such chainmail! The links were so small, it felt like cloth; it was so light, even a thief like Sorvald could wear it. Which he did. As he was putting it on, a letter fell out; on it was written, "Go to the Court of the Winter Fae, and accept the offer presented to you by the Queen."

Sorvald, however, saw the paper a bit differently; to him, while wearing the armor, the paper read, "You must keep this paper. Trust!"

In the "o" in the world "you" was a familiar symbol - that of the Seekers.

When they were summoned to the court, they company gave the letter to the Queen, who read it carefully, then handed it off to a courtier. Looking over the group carefully, she said, "Many seek power from the Queen of Elves; others seek revenge, or mercy, or redemption. I can grant all of those, of course, and more... but what is it you seek?" She looked from one to the other, listing off their inner desires: "Power, of course; battle... a nice ale... hmm. Perhaps I could offer a choice, then. A game?"

She gestured, and a form rose lazily out of the pile of rugs on the throne beside her. "Mmm... plaything, mother?"

The princess of the Winter Fae was, like her mother, radiantly beautiful. Playfully, she tiptoed down the steps. "Hmm... a game... I will grant you a thing of Power, in trade for... a life. Yes! Such a pretty thing, life. I will kill one of you, instantly, irreversibly; in trade, you will be granted a thing of Power, a object of Worth, one without equal. Do you agree to this bargain?"

As the others considered the offer, Sorvald saw the scrap of paper change, this time reading, "Accept. Sacrifice. TRUST." A different cortier brought out a scroll to sign, the bargain written upon it in triplicate: "In trade for instantly and irreversibly killing a member of your party, the Princess of the Winter Fae will bestow an item of Power upon the remaining members of said party." The courtier offered a slender knife, with which to prick the finger of the sacrifice, and bind the agreement in blood...

Sorvald volunteered (though, as Caranthir noted, he would have been picked anyway, poor fellow). After he pricked his finger to sign in blood, the princess did the same. And then, with a giggle, blasted him with a ray of death, instantly killing him. With a lick of cold flame, his body disintegrates until nothing remains. The armor fell, empty. The princess laughed, turning to her mother... who was already on her feet. She hissed, "Foolish girl!"

As the princess stopped, confused, there came a sharp crack! A few yards away, the cold floor creaked and groaned, then split open. A warm breeze drifted from the opening, and the sweet smell of summer flowers; suddenly, Sorvald stood up from the crack, completely whole (if somewhat exposed)!

The princess gasped, turning back to her mother, her eyes wild. "No... no! You... they cheated!"

The beautiful Winter Queen stood, and the room grew dark at the corners. A sharp blast of chill blew through the room. She gestured at her daughter, sending her from her presence, then with a bow, addressed the party in a calm, if somewhat frigid, voice. "My daughter has broken her promise. Her power is gone, and she is yours to do with as you will, her and her things, for 33 and 1/3 days. Her life is yours."

Slowly, the queen sat. A courtier came to escort the party to the princess's chambers. Inside, they found the princess, still lying where she flung herself on her bed. Around the room were a collection of magical items, which the party gleefully helped themselves to:

• A necklace of adaptation
• Elrik's Cloak: provides total immunity to cold/cold-based magic; additionally, leave no footprints in snow, and does not slip on ice.
• The Graystaff: a narrow staff of granite and iron, it functions as a +1 staff, and allows casting of Unseen Servant at will, and Mass Invisibility and Nondetection once a day. Merely holding the staff causes detection spells, ESP, Scry, etc. targeting the user to fail, though the scry-er will know that the wielder is shielded. However, when using the staff, you will not be able to remember your dreams. The staff is flat on two sides, and rounded on the third. Usable by divine casters only. It grows and shrinks to fit its master.
• Scroll of Arcane Spells (Written in Elven): Conjure Elemental (5th lvl), Magic Missile (1st lvl), Locate Object (2nd lvl), Control Weather (6th lvl)
• A map to a "treasure hoard", found along the cliffs in the Wild Plains. A note written on the map in Fae reads, "Not worth the effort."
• Potion of Shrinking
• Potion of Sweet Water
• Potion of Oil of Slipperiness
• Wand of Fear, with 8 charges left in it.
• A plain looking knife +4
• A very, very nice looking woman's undergarment, casually hanging on a hook labeled, "Wonderbra."

Additionally, the wooden mail is +2, for a total of 2 stones at AC 6. The spell within has been used.

No XP or non-magical treasure was earned this time.

• Remaining gp from treasure hauls, as yet unsold: 167000 XP
  • Caranthir, Quetgar, Gróin, Sorvald: 23782
  • Rig, GQ, Gianna: 12022
  • Elenora and Laurita: 11891
  • Midnight and Faufe: 6011