Through the Looking Glass... Session Five

Date: Friday, November 23rd, 2001
Players Attending: Dave, Ike
Characters Introduced: none
NPCs Introduced: none
Notable Enemies: none
Character Deaths: Runic Aleskull
Character Incapacitations (Negative Hit Points): none

The general mood of the party drops as this session comes to an end, as this adventure sees the fall of Runic Aleskull , felled by a mighty owlbear in the ruins of Eralion’s Keep. Though all of the adventurers fought valiantly, the harsh reality of life in the Scarred Lands hits home like a smithy’s hammer, as with the realization that there is much work to be done to set thing aright in this twisted and befouled land.

Local legend has it...

1. The party returns home after cleansing the ruins of Eralion’s dark presence, along with all of the orcish invaders. Spirits are generally high, and there is much conversation between the companions (thanks Dave for making it HTML J).
2. Jaroo tries to keep a low profile, and heads towards Voril’s smithying shop. Runic decides to accompany Jaroo to Voril’s, to ask him about some armor.
3. The party encounters Shandril on their way there, and she is most happy to see them return safely! The party tries to play down their involvement in any heroism, and Shandril leaves them to their business for the present.
4. Jaroo says hello to Voril and then ducks out, while Runic speaks with Voril briefly, requesting that part of his armor be refitted to eliminate a bit of chafing.
5. Jaroo is on his way, albeit through a roundabout route, to the Drunken Cockatrice. Shandril and Glarian are there discussing some matter, and Fendrin leans against the bar. Jaroo speaks with Fendrin for a while, trying to cheer him up, and gives Glarian 3gp for Fendrin’s ale.
6. Runic is heading through the marketplace at the same time that Jaroo emerges from the Drunken Cockatrice, and Arlen and Shandril call them over. Arlen gives them a hearty congratulations and informs them of the feast to be held tonight in their honour at The Drunken Cockatrice.
7. The party does not want to be glorified in this manner, but Arlen insists. Jaroo and Runic both head to see Kath at the shrine of Corean.
8. Kath is praying when they get there, and kneeling down beside him out of respect they wait until he is done before attempting conversation. They ask him if he has the chest with all their gold, and Kath affirms. Kath hears of the feast for the first time, and agrees to make an appearance.
9. It’s now time for the celebrating to begin! The party enters the Drunken Cockatrice and makes their way to a table to try and avoid being overwhelmed by appreciative townspeople. Arlen spots them and invites them to the table of honour.
10. Sitting down with Shandril, Baran, Lauriel, Quinn and Arlen, Jaroo tries to look like he’s having fun while Runic tears into a mug of ale.
11. The party sees Jerinor and Hathol prettied up for a night of merriment. Lauriel and Baran both come over and talk with the party for awhile.
12. Jaroo attempts conversation with Quinn, who doesn’t really look like a man in his element. They are interrupted when a bard named Vallance introduces himself to Jaroo and begins to ask him and Runic about their adventures. His intent is to write a song about their valour!
13. Runic and Jaroo are confused as to why all this trouble needs to be going to them, and argue with Vallance for a time before realizing that a little embellishment here and there would really benefit the town more than harm it.
14. Just as Jaroo is about the tell the story to Vallance, Arlen sees this and interrupts so that everyone will have a chance to hear their valiant tale. Much cheering and encouragement ensue from a very boisterous crowd.
15. Runic is beginning to get quite drunk, and Jaroo is also getting a bit tipsy. As only returns from upstairs now, he plans to head home. Jaroo offers to accompany him, and he meets Lasha, a lady-monk from the Monastery of the Standing Stone.
16. Jaroo attempts to ask Quinn a few questions about certain events at Eralion’s Keep, but Quinn suggests that perhaps talk of such things can wait till the light of day.
17. Runic munches on some damn good mutton, and Jaroo makes his way back just in time to hear Vallance’s song. A great cheer goes up all around the Cockatrice and he is asked to sing it again several times.
18. The party retires for the evening, and Arlen insists that they are to stay in the noble’s house that’s on the way to the tower. He gives them a key, and tells them they are welcome to stay there anytime they are in Fairhill.
19. Morning comes, and Runic is hungover. Jaroo finds Kath at his shrine and finds out that Kath was very tired and decided to get some rest. Jaroo then heads for Quinn’s to get some answers about some nagging questions. Runic joins him shortly after, and Quinn suggests that they answers to some of the questions surrounding Eralion and his keep can be found in some of the items that they left there.
20. The party makes their way to Voril’s shop, although Jaroo decides to jog it. He gets there and goes over some ideas he has for different modifications for items and new items altogether, and Voril is enthusiastic about them.
21. Runic enters and inquires about his armor, and respecifies that he would like there to be some significant improvement made over and above his current studded leather, so that he can move about more freely (hint: Masterwork!)
22. Jaroo ducks out again and tells Runic to meet him back here.
23. Runic buys a dagger from Voril and decides to nap outside Voril’s shop while waiting for Jaroo.
24. Jaroo goes to make some arrangements with Tarnen of the Cask and Flagon for a pony and cart, and stops in to let everyone know where they are going.
25. Then Jaroo goes to Kath’s shrine to Corean and gets the 25gp he needs, telling Kath where they are going. Kath volunteers to come along!
26. They see Runic sleeping outside of Voril’s shop and they roust him before heading on to get their cart and get on their way.
27. The party leaves and is almost to the river when Jaroo spots three orcs down by the water’s edge. The party decides to try and sneak up on the orcs, much to the chagrin of Kath.
28. Runic attacks first, and Jaroo shortly afterward. Kath storms in from behind, missing his charge and nearly getting split wide open in the process. Runic undergoes similar difficulties.
29. Kath is then beset from the opposite side of the river by a particularly tough-looking orc, who he promptly decimates with a blow from his mighty greatsword. Runic dispatches the orc in front him, and soon there is nothing left but the trickling of orcish blood down the creek.
30. The party loads up all of the orc hear on their cart and they set the bodies of the orcs alight where they have them piled at the side of the river. They press on to the keep.
31. First, they take the scorpion off of it’s base in the tower and bring it out to the cart. Then they realize that they should probably camp within the relative safety of the keep and so they make a path through one of the palisade walls for their pony and cart to come through.
32. Night falls, and Runic goes hunting, only returning three hours later after getting a little disoriented. After a fine meal of rabbit and grouse, the party calls it a night and sets the watch.
33. While Jaroo is on watch, he can hear something moving through the forest to the south. Something BIG. He awakens the other party members.
34. Runic goes to investigate, and can see the large frame of an owlbear coming to investigate the light of the fire. He then reports back on what he’s seen.
35. Kath hastily dons his armour, while the rest of the party tries to figure out where the hell this creature is right now. They finally spot it coming through the palisade they had just cleared!
36. Kath finally gets his armour on (with much help from Runic) as the creature roars/screeches in. The mighty cleric of Corean, not realizing what a ferocious foe he has met wades into melee with the beast.
37. Runic and Jaroo fire off a few bolts into the owlbear’s thick hide, but it continues it’s assault on Kath. He is felled shortly after.
38. Runic is beset by the creature next and after delivering a few smites is embraced in it’s crushing grip and bitten with it’s twisted beak. He doesn’t get up after he slumps to the ground...
39. Jaroo is fearful, and after dodging through swing after swing of those vicious claws, deals the killing shot to the creature and it falls dead.
40. Unfortunately, though his physical form is battered, Jaroo’s spirit is crushed with the realization that his friend Runic Aleskull has died here in combat. He drags Runic’s body into the chapel and falls into a restless sleep.
41. Morning comes and Kath has still not come to, so Jaroo ventures down into the lower levels of the southwest tower alone. He searches around and finds what he came here to get.
42. The next morning brings the recovery of Kath! Although normally a joyous occasion neither Jaroo or Kath feel inclined for merriment, their potential optimism slain by the death of their friend.
43. They make their way back to Fairhill with heavy hearts, and when Shandril meets them and learns of Runic’s fate, she tells them to bring his body to her temple (or what’s left of it).
44. Runic has risen from the dead!

Thoughts from the party...

Runic's View

Once more, when my eyes open, they are greeted by the almost-afraid-to-be-hopeful face of Jaroo. Confused for only a moment by the absence of the growling, feathered creature, my suprised expression quickly fades to one of depression as I look around and see the faces of Shandril and Kath.

Not again.

With a slow intake of breath and a tired sigh, my eyes fall back on Jaroo. I shake my head. "I'm so tired 'a wakin' up like this, gnome." I frown, as I think back to all the times I've let me companions down. All the times it's caused them trouble to heal me, patch my wounds, and wait for my mind to awaken from the edge of oblivion. For a moment, even MY indominatable spirit just feels like giving up. Maybe it would be easier not to answer the call of Tanil's Priest. Maybe it would be easier not to have to let me comrades down one more time. Then I rememeber.

I remember Glarrg. The giant. The spineless coward that struck down one of the most important people in my life. The pityless waste of flesh that I have sworn I will hunt down until the end of my days. With this thought, the fire once again stirrs in my belly, and the desire to live, at least for a while, flows back into my bones.

I'm distracted now. So much so that I get up from the dias upon which I lay and exit the room, trusting my sturdy legs to hold me, and not even remembering to say anything to my three companions that watch over me.

I walk to the outskirts of town, and back towards the woods. I am looking for a tree. As I walk, I am convincing myself of many things. 'The giant is the cause of all my problems. The giant is the reason I have fallen in battle so many times. If I can kill the giant, I will never have problems like this ever again.'

It doesn't really make sense, but it makes me feel good. Because in a moment, I will take care of this problem.

I am not looking for the tallest tree, nor even the biggest one around. But I am looking for a sturdy one. After a survey, I spot it; a nice large oak tree, right on the edge of the forest. I walk up and stand in front of the trunk, and then stop.

Taking in a deep breath to clear my mind, I place Kneesplitter on the ground, and unsheath AnkleBiter from it's loop on my belt.

"Well Scarn, an' well tree, I'm nearly sorry te be doin' this. Hedrada, Corean, and Tanil, if yer listenin', well, perhaps ye'll forgive me fer takin' this one mighty oak of yers inta me own ends. If'n not, then I hope that before ye drag me off te yer realms o' damnation, that ye at least grant me the right te do the same te Glarrg as I'm about te do te this here shrub right now."

I hold my axe with two hands for a moment, blade down, and study the intricate work of nature in the bark that stands before me. Almost as if I am commiting it's image to memory, or pausing to let the tree enjoy it's peaceful life a few moments longer, I stare calmly and clear my thoughts. Then, hefting my axe and rolling up my sleeves, I get to work, in true Dwarfish fashion.

The loud, echoing sound of axe on wood can be heard from many yards away. Even though my brow begins to break a sweat on the crisp, cool afternoon, my body, and my inner spirit, will not tire. Anklebiter, true to it's name, chops through the thick base of the tree with ease, every stroke a smooth, clean cut. My thick-muscled dwarfen arms provide the power, and before long the creaking and cracking of the trunk can be heard, followed by a loud crash as the oak hurls towards the ground.

Without even pausing for breath, I step methodically over to the fallen tree and continue my rage-venting work. Every twig is shaved off, every branch is hacked into pieces, and the entire work of the trunk is layed into with a vengeful passion. Chips of wood fly into the air as I bring the blade of my axe down again, and again. The ground around me is sprinkled with fine oak-dust. Still my muscles work on.

In those few moments, the tree becomes many things. It becomes the feathered creature which I met last night. It becomes Glarrg the giant, whom I have sworn to kill. It becomes the orcs in the woods, and the orcs in the keep. It becomes the Vangaurak devourers that raided my home as a child. But most of all, it simply becomes a tree. A mighty, massive piece of now-dead wood that is the outlet for my maddess. A beautiful work of nature that is sentinent and willing to let me plunge my blade into its flesh, so that I can work the knots out of my system and return to my normal life.

When the deed is done, I dust off my axe and stand for a moment longer in silece. "Thank ye."

Still not one to leave a mess in my beloved outdoors, I place Anklebiter on the ground and gather up as many of the splinters as I can into my cloak. Making several trips, I haul all of the dust, wood, bits, and chips over to the stump of my tree and place them behind, to the north. Then, taking out my knife, I carve two simple runes into the surface of the trunk. The first: Raido - the rune for Journey. The second: Tiwaz - for victory in battle. I pause for a moment, placing my hand on the stump, and my dagger back in my sheath. "And may the gods bring luck te us all."

Retrieving Kneesplitter and Anklebiter I turn my back on the forest and walk away. With a shrug of my shoulders I think to myself "Well, that's done then", and I head back to the temple to give my sincerest thanks to Shandril.

Jaroo's View

Impossible. We come here expecting little trouble and hoping to be back the following day… and here I find myself again, this time in mourning.

I feel the dais beneath my knees and through the thin cloth of my pants. It feels cold, rough and dead. Runic is propped against the altar, his eyes closed and his face and armor smeared in blood. His beard is a thick mass of crimson maroon. His face is sitting on his chest. He’s dead.

No amount of training could bring him back.

I want to ask Hedrada for his life back. I want my tongue to turn silver and to speak soft, eloquent words and be heard and then answered. In my mind’s eye I see Runic’s wounds close and my bandages fall of his body as he stands up, that trademark smirk on his face as he cheers me up yet again, reminding me of some of the reasons life is worth living well.

I fall so far into my reverie that soon I simply sleep, remembering better times just a day ago…

Jaroo slumps slowly forward into unconsciousness, his own bloody and torn body sharing the floor’s cold.

The next day goes by in a blur, with me accomplishing with much fear what we came here to do. I check on Kath often, between gouging at the giant creature’s body and examining in further detail the dismantled scorpion.

I have troubled dreams that night.

Kath is well enough the following morning and I wake to a small fire and his huge body moving about solemnly. I tell him the news and fill him in on what has happened, and soon we are heading away from the keep. I hope to Hedrada that we never return.

We pass through the same trails that we passed just 3 days before, and I can’t help but think about the conversations we were having then. I learned a lot about myself thanks to Runic and the others, but now Kath and I are completely silent. Many times I feel my eyes cloud over with the beginnings of tears, and I fall behind, pretending to adjust my belt or my pack. Kath is good enough to pretend he does not notice.

On our arrival back in town, I am surprised to hear that bringing Runic’s life back to him is a possibility. I am overjoyed, and on Shandril’s request, I urge her to do it as soon as possible, as I am anxious to tell him that he defended myself and Kath and that I was able to sink a lucky crossbow bolt into the creature’s throat.

For such wonderful news, I cannot understand the look on Kath’s face…

I find it unbearable, and I blurt out, “What’s the matter Kath? Runic is coming back! Didn’t you hear?”

On his silence the smile leaves my dark features, my navy eyes already red-rimmed and threatening to well up again, but I’m not concerned anymore. I Ask again, “Kath… it will still be Runic when he returns to us… won’t he? Why aren’t we celebrating instead of letting this pall hang above us?… I propose… another feast! In Runic’s honor! Twice as large as the last!”

His deep, bassy voice cracking, Jaroo looks around imploringly at everyone gathered around, not sure of what else to say.

“Please, someone… enlighten an ignorant Gnome…”