Chapter
1: "Targos"
March
1, 2003
Pasadena, San Juan
Mon Macutay, DM
Dramatis
Personae
Amenrath,
Jackalwere 3, CG by Myk Roman
Quinntalis "DeadBane" Galendale, Elven
Curst 3, CG by Jet
Tarion Gourn, Aasimar Fighter 2, NG by Dindo Moreno
ARRIVALS
1st
of Ches, Claw of Sunsets 1371DR (The Year of the Unstrung
Harp)
Tarion
Gourn is recruited as a mercenary from Daggerfalls by
Hedron Kerdos, captain of the Wicked Wench and joins Orel
and Jakob Firehand to Luskan. From Luskan, the mercenary
ships cross the Sea of Moving Ice where they lose almost
half of the fleet to orcs and a white dragon. Limping
and sore, they land at Targos in Icewind Dale.
Meanwhile,
Amenrath crosses the Spine of the World from Anuaroch
(where he is sent by his Bedine tribe to seek answers
which could unravel the prophecied cataclysm to strike
Anuaroch). Amenrath meets the undead, Quinntallis (newly
resurrected from battles with Myrkul at Waterdeep during
the Time of Troubles) near the outskirts of Bryn Shander.
Amen and Quintallis decide that there is strength in numbers
and head towards Targos.
Arriving
at the same time as the ships from Luskan; Amen, Quintallis
and Tarion find themselves surrounded by marauding orcs
which have began to attack the docks. Quickly dispatching
the humanoids and the resident shaman, they are also surprised
to learn that goblin sappers have tunneled under the docks.
Vagrad, the harbormaster, immediately instructs the trio
to lead a counter offensive to drive the foul beasts back
and destroy the tunnels.
Descending
into the tunnels from one of the warehouses, Amen was
almost skewered by orcs and goblins armed with longspears
awaiting in ambush below. Reinforced by their fellow mercenaries,
our heroes bring the battle to the caverns and cleared
the mines of orcs and goblins. The orcish shaman was lucky,
however, and escaped.
They
also discover that the goblins have mined from a section
of the Underdark that leads to the docks of Targos. Using
alchemist's fire and explosives, they seal the tunnels
and post guards to prevent such an incident from ever
taking place again.
THE
LORD MAYOR
Pleased
and impressed with their fighting prowess, Vagrad instructs
the trio to report to Ulbrec, Lord Mayor of Targos to
be formally commissioned and rewarded for their part in
the defense of the town.
Ulbrec
thanks them for their help and informs them that his scouts,
Emma Moonblade and Dereth Springsong have discovered that
the orcs have taken over a small fishing community at
the Shaegrane River. The humanoids have almost 30 humans
hostage and they have also fortified the village and have
constructed dams (perhaps, to flood Targos when spring
comes).
Ulbrec
cannot commit his troops to battle since they are hard
pressed to maintain a strong defense in Targos. This could
also panic the orcs into killing the hostages. The rangers,
Emma and Dereth suggest that sending a small 'strike force'
would be best. Tarion had a great idea of using Oswald's
airship to sneak past the orc defenses so that they can
rescue the hostages while Dereth leads a contingent of
20 mercenaries to distract the orcs by attacking from
the front.
Emma
and Dereth return to Shaegarne river to confirm fortifications
and determine the best route of attack.
SHAEGARNE
RIVER
After
being supplied with potions of healing (Tarion buys a
"Shield" potion, as well), Dereth leads the
militia to Shaegarne while the "strike team"
(composed of Amen, Tarion, Quinntalis and Emma) board
Oswald's airship.
Arriving
in the cover of darkness, the group dispatches a few orc
guards with wolves (thanks to Emma's silence spell) and
sneak into the orcish camp.
There,
they find the hostages huddled in the center of camp,
tied and shackled to log posts.
Using
a hawk to signal Dereth's forces to begin the 'distraction
attack', Tarion leads the assault to free the hostages.
Using
bows, they quickly kill the orc guards. The winter wolves
proved rather resilient and were tougher to eliminate.
Emma provides longbow cover and races to shield the hostages
from approaching orcs. Amen and Quinntalis join the fray.
The
commander of the orcs, a big, seven foot half-orc armed
with a greataxe and mounted on a dire wolf appears! His
bodyguards, orcish barbarians, also join him for melee.
Emma
leads the hostages to safety. Amen dispatches some of
the guards and prepares to defend himself against approaching
barbarians and wolves. Quinntallis stands his ground and
meets the orc commander while Tarion uses his longbow
and unleashes hell upon the orcish barbarians.
Quinntalis
manages to survive the initial flurry of blows from the
orc commander (and thankfully, was immune to additional
sneak attack damage because he was undead). Tarion discovers
the benefits of attacking from the rear of the commander
with his bow (the Shield spell was ineffective!). He dodges
several attempts by an orc barbarian to grapple him…
With
team effort (and a little luck from Tymora), they defeat
the orcs and rescue the hostages ('bombing' the orc camp
from the airship on the way back)
They
return to Targos as heroes…
QUOTABLE
QUOTES
Tarion:
"Hmmm… we need something to open this secret
door. Hey you (to a merc), can I borrow your halberd?"
Merc: "No!"
Tarion: "Why?"
Merc: "'coz I'm the ONLY ONE with a halberd!"
==
Amen:
"We still can't open this door… any ideas?
Mercs: "Maybe this wagon axle can help…
"
Quinntalis: "Where'd you get that?"
Mercs: "The building on top is actually a
warehouse, in case you don't know…"
==
DM:
"Emma's Silence spell couldn't have been timed better.
It is centered on the guards and the wolves can't alert
the others to your presence…"
Quin: "But… But… I'm blind, I use
sound to determine where they are.."
DM: "They 'vanished'"
==
Tarion:
"I try to concentrate and detect whatever is on that
Quinntalis dude.."
DM: roll… (Dindo gets a 2)
DM: "he… is…. (for a loss of words),
kinda' Queer"
==
Amenrath:
"oh-oh… I think we're in trouble…"
(after seeing the orc Boss)
==
Tarion:
"best goddamn 150GP I ever spent!!!!" (referring
to the Shield potion)
