The last two sessions of our campaign were quite productive indeed.
As the day broke our heroes found the selves outside the portcullis of Fallcrest, appeared to be completely shut with not a person in sight. After a series of astounding strength checks they were able to lift the gate just high enough that a halfling and a dwarf could squeeze through. However, when the dwarf swung and propelled himself under the spiky iron, it caused the other to lose their tight hold on the bars and the portcullis came crashing down, luckily it merely nicked hi at the top of his skull causing only minor bleeding (for a dwarf).
After finding the lifting mechanism and entering the town, a few horseback fur traders rode up to the gate from the outside. They offered to take the PCs into Fallcrest proper if they would but lift the portcullis for them. The PCs agreed and found Antonius Scalebane to be quite the swaggering cowboy talking fur trader with a small host of hill billy minions.
It wasn’t long before they bade it to the Brass gate with a large granite carved eye at its apex. after it studied the travelers the impression of a face appeared in the door. Antonius scrunched up his face and stuck it in the impression. in a few moments the gates seemed not to be satisfied and several brass poles came out of the door, each baring a small trough at its end with a drain in the middle. The door appeared to want a bit of blood from them each. They gave it up accordingly, however Antonius was a trifle hesitant. When his blood hit the brass the door burst into action the great eye coming out of the door and blasting a stream of black fire after Antonius. The outlaw turned tail and tried to flee but the adventurers stopped them in their tracks and made short work of the devious foes. It didn’t take them long then to make their way through the portal, and into the very nice hustling and bustling town of Fallcrest.
They first sought out the half moon trading post where supplies were bought and sold, including having a throwing hammer magically smithed into D20s arm, great work for a drunken fat halfling. Then it was off to see the half giant Gagnus Yourn , high priest of pelor and leader of the Temple of Ascension. After speaking with him at lengthe they gathered information about the possible locations of the Last Artifact along with the whearabouts of the Glintshield clan.
With fresh vigor they made their way to the Head over Meals tavern to grab a pint from the Minotaur bartender of few words, and found 5 tired and anxious dwarves drinking solemnly in the corner. Rangrim Glintshield told them of his families claim of Stonefang Pass and their hopes of rebuilding and reopening it. They told also of how they were ambushed by the Severed Eyes Orcs, and had to close off part of the pass to keep them at bay, while also trapping some of their Kin.
Surprisingly the adventurers accepted the quest with very little persuading needed. The Rangrim was delighted and offered his Ruby ring as down payment for their help.
With a spring in their step the heroes knew that strange dangers and foes to slay awaited them. They slept briefly at the Temple of Ascension and made their way to the pass on horseback. Once they came close, they happened upon an old stone bridge crossing a small river and waterfall. It was there that they were attacked mercilessly by a pair of hippogriffs and magicar— i mean brutal fish which pounded them time after time with bites, claws, and blasts of water.
In an attempt to repeatedly tame one of the hippogriffs the Minotaur Duke Hellington was caught by the current of the river thrashed about and went soaring over the edge of the waterfall breaking once his horns on the way down, only to have it sent spinning into the air and driving straight into his chest killing him instantly. With their friend and ally vanquished, the remaining heroes fought with new vengeance, and laid waste to the monsters. The rogue even went as far as causing one of the hippogriffs to strangle himself with a length of rope around its neck.
They made a funeral pyre, set it aflame, and washed it down the river to honor their fallen comrade, and then pressed on into the Pass. It wasn’t long before they were met with many stirges small and large, feeding on the carcasses of dead dwarves. They fought them off easily, until a great earthquake cracked the floor and ceiling, sending most of the characters skidding across the stone. Once the quake subsided 5 spiers emerged to eat the living morsels. however they were not meant to fall so far or fast as when they were cast into the gaping crevice in the floor. They fell to their deaths easily.
This is where we left off, the adventurers soaked with sweat and some with blood, looking for a place to rest, and to continue on their quest to liberate the Pass from Orcs and save the remaining Dwarves.
Until next time.
DnDIY 