Session 97: "Missing friends and companions........" or "There's a long, long trail a winding!"

28th day of Frostmoot: Late Evening:

Mission:  Return to Grogs Tower

Campaign: Elemental Cult Campaign

Location(s): Hidden valley of Feathergale Spire. 

Present: Aramil,  Anor,  Bandur, Grog, Karion,

Present but not active: Aerie and Garet

Red Larch: Zindra, Fabien  & Fenn

After an uneventful rest the group picked themselves up and retraced their steps to the entrance to the underground. Although the going wasn't difficult it took some time.

By the time the group exited the tunnel/cave next to the flowing stream it was dark in the valley outside.

Bandur led the way as best he could. Followed by Karion then Grog who had to resort to using his shuttered lantern. Aramil came next and Anor brought up the rear.

Somehow Bandur had lost the trail back to the Spire and seemed to be heading along the stream which wound its way through the steep sided valley. At least he knew from what Aerie had told him the stream would lead them out of the valley.

Picking his way along the wooded edge of a hill arrows suddenly erupted from the darkness to their right. Many missed but a few hit the mark.

Anor charged off to his right, Bandur charged across the stream. Karion tried to see where the arrows were coming from but he could see nothing. Aramil cast a spell and a bush and ambusher burst into flame. Grog cast a healing prayer. 2  Gnolls were quickly killed by magical attacks.

Anor was fighting his way through a tangle of bushes unsuccessfully when a Gnoll charged him out of the dark. Spear thrust after thrust missed. Anor managed to strike the Gnoll back.

 Bandur had managed to cross the stream and engage another Gnoll on a hill. Aramil turned the tree into another ball of fire.

Bandur killed the Gnoll on the hill and took off after another to the right. Grog and Karion tried to kill the Gnoll and save Aramil.

A Gnoll charged Aramil and laid him flat. Grog stepped between them. Karion who had been felled by an arrow managed to regain his feet and launched arrow after arrow at the enemy, one arrow way of course struck Aramil as he struggled to regain his feet.

Anor with 2 mighty swings felled the Gnoll facing him and charged round the bushes instead of struggling through them. He charged across the river up the hill and into another Gnoll hiding in the trees.

Anor was charged from behind. Karion and Grog killed the Gnoll attacking them, then moved into a position to fire into the rear Gnoll attacking Anor.

Bandur, having dispatched his Gnoll was charging towards Anor when he let one of his hand axes fly out of his hand, straight into the rear Gnoll. 

Karion and Grog killed the Gnoll attacking them, then moved into a position to fire into the rear Gnoll attacking Anor.

Anor was charged from behind.  Anor Killed the first Gnoll he charged and turned to face the second. Bandur launched another hand axe, it struck true too, an arrow from Karion, magic missiles from Aramil and a final blow from Anor killed the last Gnoll.

Axes recovered, healing taken or healing prayers cast and the group searched the bodies of the fallen Gnolls.

3000 copper pieces, 1000 silver pieces, 80 gold pieces, 9 gems worth a total of 450 gold pieces and a +2/+2 Longbow with 5 +1/+1 arrows and 2 +2/+2 arrows.

29th day of Frostmoot: Dawn:

Bandur led them back along the east bank of the stream heading southward, or so he hoped. A few more hours and they emerged from the valley onto the plain. They could see Grogs tower some 2 miles away as the sun, still below the horizon arose in the east.

Bandur held his hand up, he had seen the snow covered land move about 100ft in front of them. Forming an arrowhead formation the group moved off to the right, circling round a large single rock formation sticking out of the ground.

They hadn't gone far when the ground started to moved in a straight line towards Bandur. As the huge, horned behemoth burst from the ground Bandur managed to jump out of its way as it landed on Grog. Grog was pounded flat into the ground, an armoured rider on the creatures back struck out with its lance, 3 times.

Karion cast flame blade and prepared to attack, Aramil moved off to a flank and unleashed 5 bolts from his crossbow, all 5 bolts stuck into the thick hide of the creature. Anor and Bandur charged in, Grog too. The creature then leapt away and landed on Aramil, Aramil was pounded into the ground but the lance missed him. Again the others closed in and attacked, again the creature leapt away and fell on Grog again.

This time the group attacked as a group and the creature was felled. The rider was thrown to the ground and Anor, Bandur and the others pounced on him before he could rise and before too long the rider had joined the creature, dead. His clothing indicated he was a member of the Earth Cult. No doubt sent to find out what had happened to their missing Earth Cult members. Karion identified the mount as some form of Bulette

The body was searched.

He carried 130 gold pieces.

The group made it to Grogs tower without further incident. The horses were brought outside and Grog deactivated the tower. Placing the cube back in his pouch. They had a short ride to Red Larch, it being only 12 miles away. They arrived shortly before midday, for tomorrow was the last day of the month.