Cobwebs on the Borderlands, Session 2

The party wander through a heavily-wooded valley, with steep cliffs on either side. Among the foliage, they find a cave. As they get closer to it, a series of explosions occur from all around them, as a tornado of birds erupt in flight. Brindar, Ryka and Fineas take 4 damage as superheated crystal shards penetrate their skin. They have been shot by a gang of troglins hiding among the trees.

The gang fail their initiative rolls, so the troglins act first. They fire another volley, no longer with the advantage of surprise and stealth, and the party are unscathed. Furthermore, the troglins' locations have been discovered. Brindar rushes a troglin and deals 3 damage, killing it outright. Ryka stabs with her spear, and kills another. Fineas takes a shot, at a -1 penalty due to cover, but hits anyway, killing another troglin. Nimbus shoots a beam with his staff, and injures a troglin.

The troglins have suffered 3.5 losses in 1 round, and try to flee back into the forest. Nimbus blasts one as it flees, causing it to explode, and Fineas shoots another. There were two survivors, and one troglin was left gravely injured. It's possible, however, that the troglins within the cave heard the commotion.

Tentatively, the party enter the cave. The passage in is 2m wide, and splits in a T-shape at the end. There is no sign that the troglins inside have heard the commotion. Brindar sneaks up ahead to get a look down either direction of the T-junction. As he approaches, however, he steps on a trap, and the floor swallows him up and closes overhead.

Ryka goes to the front, shield raised, and Fineas & Nimbus prepare to shoot potential enemies. 5 troglins approach from the right of the T-junction while another heads into the deeper parts of the caves. From the left side, a swarm of giant rats comes rushing out. The party notices that one of the rats wears a collar of precious metals and jewels. These must be the troglins' pets.

Nimbus uses his scroll of gust, summoning a powerful wind into the tunnel. The narrow passages concentrate the gust, pushing the creatures backwards. That should keep them at bay for 2 rounds. Ryka uses the opportunity to push the pit trap open with her spear, allowing Brindar to emerge. In the meantime, Fineas shoots an arrow, albeit with a penalty, at the collared rat. He slays the creature.

Brindar rushes forth, slashing at the rats with his axe, dealing 1 damage and pushing them back. In the meantime, Ryka approaches, snags the jewelled collar, and throws it to Fineas. At least with this they will be able to restock on food. Fineas shoots an arrow, killing a rat. Nimbus tries as well, but misses. The enemies are starting to get their bearings after having been stunned by the summoned wind, but the party take their chance to escape.

The party run through the wooded valley, and reconvene somewhere along the path. This collar is probably worth around 2w. They have enough food for 2 nights--just enough to make it home. They could rest for the night and try their luck in the caves tomorrow, but it's risky, as their trip home is far from guaranteed to be safe. Thus, the party head towards Bordland Keep.

As they venture back, with the cave-pocked mountains at their back, a river rushing below them to the left, and a dense jungle to their right, they hear wolves howling around them. Their minds go back to the locals, and their friend Hweng. This could mean trouble, but there's nothing for it. They press on. It's a clear day and they're in open terrain, so they see 4 wolves rushing at them from a distance of 40m.

Fineas takes his shot. They're moving fast, and they're far away, so he has a -3 penalty. He misses. It's too far for one of Nimbus' beams. The party move 3m back and the wolves move 16m towards them. They are therefore 27m away. Fineas takes another shot, they're still moving fast, but are well within range now, so his penalty is -1. He makes the shot, slaying one of the wolves. Nimbus is able to shoot his beam, but at a -2 penalty due to range. His beam flies true and evaporates a wolf! Nimbus & Fineas continue their slow retreat, but Brindar and Ryka move forward a bit to meet the wolves. They are now at a distance of just 6m. They bear their teeth, their jaws dripping with frothy saliva.

Combat has begun, and the party rolls for initative. Only Fineas takes the initiative. He retreats 3m and shoots, killing a wolf. The last remaining wolf attacks Brindar, dealing 3 damage! He rolls the save to avoid being incapacitated and succeeds. As if out of nowhere, three more wolves appear from behind! One attacks Fineas, at a +2 bonus, and he takes 3 damage! He makes the save to avoid incapacitation! Two attack Nimbus, dealing 6 damage! He makes his save!

Ryka strikes out with her spear, but misses. While it's distracted, Brindar goes to defend his allies in the rear, but his axe gets stuck in a tree! Nimbus strikes with his staff, and misses, dealing 1 damage. Fineas takes a dagger from Nimbus' belt and stikes, dealing 5 damage, and killing a wolf! The wolves lose morale, and begin their retreat back into the wilderness!

Rather than getting straight back on the road, the party decides that the wolf pelts may be worth something. Brindar & Fineas get busy skinning the 4 wolves that were slain while Ryka and Nimbus prepare the camp. These pelts should fetch about 1w all told.

Unfortunately, the next morning it begins to rain. This is bad news as it will slow their progress significantly. They don't make it to the fortress before they have to make camp. They consume 4 rations, and are left with 2. The next day is clear and sunny again. They see fresh gillman footprints in the mud, but are fortunately not confronted with any before they get to the gates of the keep. The guards open the doors for them as they make their way to the Golden Toad, victorious in their first mission!

The party has slain 5 troglins & rats (level 1/2) for a total of 200 experience. They also slew 4 wolves, for a total of 400 experience. That's 600 experience, shared between 4: 150 experience each. In addition, they have discovered the presence of the troglins' cave, and brought back a bejewelled collar, so they get another 100 experience for a job well done. They end up with 250 experience each.

They sell the wolf pelts to the provisioner, and the rat collar to the traders, who put it on their cat. At the Golden Toad, they find that Hweng is awake, and recovering well. She is thrilled to see that her old friends have joined her, and is sorry that she was in no fit state to join them. She won't be ready for a while, but is pleased that they have already seen some success.

Fineas spends his time around the stables, and lends a hand to the young girl who tends the birds, even teaching her a thing or two. Her father doesn't seem happy, for she is far too young for him, but in truth there is nothing untoward, and Fineas is accustomed to being dismissed as a rascal. Nimbus spends his time up on the towers, observing the coming and going of guards, and the passage of various creatures. He catches sight of gillmen down by the river, and wolves, troglodytes and giants up in the hills. He even hears the roaring of a dragon, but doesn't catch sight of the majestic creature.

Ryka visits the chapel to give thanks. Three statues, a dragon (representative of Druk, the Dragon of Dragon Lake), a frog (representative of the desert frogs that led humans to this haven), and a fish (representative of the Fish King, consort of Druk and conqueror of Dragon Lake). The priest is a middle-aged man of great statue, with a long beard streaked with white, a large golden turban on his head, and great rings upon his fingers. Brindar spends his time in the Toad, drinking, making merry with the locals, and building the party's good standing in the keep.

The party have soon spent all of the scales they have earned. They spend 1w on lodging & food, and 2w on potions: a potion of healing and a potion of luck. Next time, the party will return to the Caves of Chaos, and see what else is there.