Through the Looking Glass... Session Six

Date: Friday, December 13, 2001
Players Attending: Dave, Ike
Characters Introduced: none
NPCs Introduced:

• Arialle, daughter of Voril

• Girbolg the Ettin

There is a brief period of mourning and general sadness that hung over the party for a brief time after Runic rose from the dead, but after the dwarf returns from his “venting”, the overall mood improves. There are discussions of the events, preparations for future outings and other comraderie that follows, and the party decides on the rescue of the Voril’s daughter, Arialle!

Local legend has it...

1. Jaroo is stricken with Runic’s sudden exit, and then decides that Runic is obviously having some trouble dealing with the current state of things. The gnome then gets the idea to make a gift for each of his new friends, based on their most recent trauma.
2. Runic returns from his venting session to give his thanks to Kath and Shandril for giving him a second chance at life. He find Kath and offers his thanks, but Shandril is not at the Shrine of Corean when Runic returns.
3. Jaroo speaks to Voril about making necklaces out of the claws of the owlbear. Voril readily agrees to make them, and Jaroo then heads back to the Drunken Cockatrice. He tries to see about a bath, but there doesn’t seem to be someone immediately available to assist him, so he makes his way upstairs to bed.
4. Runic stays with Kath awhile, obviously tired from the ordeal he’s just been through. Kath isn’t much for conversation, busying himself with keeping the Shrine of Corean clean and orderly and out of respect for someone who’s just visited the afterlife. As the evening wears on, however, Runic decides to call it a night, and heads back to the Drunken Cockatrice where he falls fast asleep, dreaming about a very beautiful woman.
5. Morning comes, and Jaroo struggles with some flatulence as he breaks fast with some delicious spiced ham and eggs. Runic joins him shortly after and they listen to Vallance’s improvement to their tribute song (coming soon…).
6. They stop in at Voril’s first, and Jaroo gives one of the finished owlbear claw necklaces to Runic. Jaroo requests an explanation of their making, so they spend some time there discussing that with him. Runic then requests a large wooden shield, and although the only one that Voril has right then is one with a pattern of a snake, Runic takes it.
7. They head off to see Kath, where they encounter Shandril and Lasha conversing quietly. Lasha excuses herself and bids Shandril farewell, and Shandril speaks with the party for a time, in particular with Runic. The party informs her of their plans to seek the manticore and/or Voril’s daughter, and she urges them to take caution.
8. Jaroo gives both Shandril and Kath owlbear claw necklaces, who are very honoured at such a thing and accept them.
9. The party then collects some of the items they wish to get more info on heads of the see Quinn, the town sage. He’s not home at the present, so they go to Voril’s instead. Voril immediately begins dissecting and examining the scorpion they brought. Kath departs to take care of other business, and Jaroo and Runic stay while Voril examines the swivel mount for the scorpion.
10. Voril then realizes that he should probably get back to what he was working on, and the party departs in search of Quinn.
11. They find Quinn at home this time, and he eagerly greets them and bids them to come in. He starts examining each of the items they retrieved from Eralion’s Keep, and the party discovers that the papers they brought have some evil magic written on them, the goo they scraped out of the flask is a poison of some sort, the staff may have other powers, books are spellbooks and a journal, and the incense smells like the yurlanthir flower.
12. The scent of the yurlanthir flower reminds Quinn of some research he was doing, and tells the party that if they come across any yurlanthir flowers to please pick him some. The party then leaves Quinn to digest all of this information and analyze it.
13. The party pays another visit to Voril to exchange his short sword for a dagger, and then they decide to retire for the evening. Baths are drawn, and their drowsiness from the hot water soon overtakes them.
14. They awake and have some breakfast at the inn, and are just on their way out when Kath comes trotting in, armed, armoured and itching for a fight. He announces that he’s going to accompany the party, for it most surely would be the will of Corean to do so. He also gives both Runic and Jaroo two healing potions, saying that it was Shandril’s idea to help the heroes who have done so much for Fairhill.
15. Since the party would like to leave, yet they are not fully healed, they request that Shandril grant them some healing. She gladly grants them the healing and wishes them all Tanil’s blessing.
16. The party heads immediately for the Whistle Creek (I just named it! Neat!) that runs west of what is becoming quickly known as Darkwood by the townspeople of Fairhill. Runic recalls his old tracking skills and begins looking for anything that would indicate Voril’s daughter, Arialle.
17. It is some time before they come across any tracks, but following the creek was a good idea, for as they continue northwards alongside the creek, they come across what appears to be giant tracks (much to Runic’s delight).
18. Unfortunately, the party encounters a small band of gnolls on the plains, and without any type of cover, battle ensues!
19. Eight gnolls enter the fray, but only one bloodied gnoll manages to run away in terror. The party has done very well for themselves, given that these creatures are bigger than even Kath! Bloodied and bruised themselves, the party tries to accomplish some healing before continuing.
20. The party is among the foothills, and although they continue to track the giant they are very cautious as they navigate through the increasingly rocky terrain.
21. Darkness and exhaustion overtake the party soon, and they decide to set up camp. Jaroo takes his watch first, and thanks the gods above for his sharp ears when he hears the sound of large creature lumbering nearby, accompanied by some very familiar shriek/growling.
22. Thinking quickly, Jaroo wakes the others and cautions them to silence. The party all hears the owlbear off in the distance, and they know it’s coming towards them. They ready themselves for flight, when Jaroo comes up with an idea.
23. Calling upon powers innate to his people, Jaroo tries his best to remember how to activate them. He creates a shimmering light effect of a humanoid heading away from their current location. Luckily for them, the owlbear takes the bait and begins pursuit, all the while the party running as fast and as far as their legs will carry them.
24. Listening very carefully for any approaching owlbears, the party then makes a new camp, taking the same care not to light a fire in these hostile lands.
25. Day breaks and the party is still alive! They give many thanks to the powers that be, and make for the creek with all haste.
26. The tracks of the giant are a little more distinct on the banks of the river, and the party hopes desperately that it’s heading in the right direction. The ground is starting to become more stone and less soil, so they hope that they can find Arialle’s whereabouts soon.
27. It isn’t too far and the party begins to hear a beautiful female voice singing some sort of love song, with an accompanying harp being played quite badly.
28. The party gets a little closer, and sees a crumbling tower atop a hill. The singing seems to be coming from behind the tower somewhere, so Jaroo and Runic decide to check out the situation using their stealth – meaning that Kath will have to stay behind.
29. Trying as much as possible to use the surrounding trees as cover, Jaroo and Runic circle around to find a better vantage point. One is becoming apparent, so they decide to risk exposure and ascend the hill.
30. They make their way slowly, not wanting to alert any giants. Jaroo gets the first look at their adversary, and at the girl they came to rescue. The creature is larger (and uglier) than any that Jaroo has ever seen, and it has two heads instead of just one. The girl has long blond hair and appears to be quite young, so the consensus is that they’ve found Arialle.
31. The problem, however, appears to be getting Arialle away from the ettin. The party decides that it’s really not ready to face the giant in combat, so they wait until dusk for the giant to fall asleep. Then the rescue begins…
32. Runic takes up watch on one side of the tower while Kath waits in the trees. Jaroo sneaks up the same side he had previously that day, and carefully awakes Arialle. Moving as quietly as possible, he frees her from her chains, all the while keeping a close eye on the ettin for signs of movement.
33. Arialle is freed! She makes a dash for the trees where Kath awaits, and Jaroo tries to make his way down as noiselessly as possible.
34. Unfortunately for the party, the ettin wakes, and finds Arialle missing! Kath and Arialle take off running as quickly as they dare under the cover of night, as they cannot see very far in the darkness, while Runic follows very closely along. Jaroo remains for a moment in order to use his innate powers to distract the ettin while they make their getaway.
35. They all make haste to the river, and a beacon of light appears over Kath and Arialle’s heads in order for them to see. Runic takes this to mean that the giant is tracking the girl somehow, and is quite worried.
36. Fortunately enough, the girl reveals that is was her who put the light above their heads, stating that her and Kath needed to be able to see. Runic is much relieved.
37. The party travels a short distance, still high from the adrenalin pumping through their veins, before they realize how exhausted they are and decide to make a camp. As luck would have it, they encounter another owlbear (perhaps the same one), but use their experience with this type of creature to steer clear of it.
38. In a very good mood, Arialle cannot thank the party enough for rescuing her. She tells the tale of how she came to be caught by the ettin, and regrets not having the chance to grab her beautiful (yet badly out of tune) harp. Jaroo becomes annoyed at that, thinking that they obviously are very lucky to have escaped with their lives.
39. Making for Fairhill with all due haste, the party arrives for the happy reunion of Voril and his daughter! Overjoyed at her safe return, he promises the party any weapon or armour that they would like – they shall have the finest craft that he can muster.

Thoughts from the party...

Runic's View

As Runic walks back to his room at the Inn and turns in for another night, many thoughts cross his rejuvinated mind.

Back in me clan, we have a sayin'. "Look te the left side of yer tools." It is a reminder, and often comes about during times of war.

In yer hand, a tool can be used fer many things. A hammer or pick can mine ore and gems of the earth. A sling can be used te toss supplies up te a higher level in the mine. An axe can fell a tree. But if it need be, these tools can also be used fer other things, such as battle. In a pinch, a hammer can knock a person out cold, or worse. Supplies can be substituted with heavy weights of stone, and an axe might be the tool what savers yer life when the Vengaurak comes stormin' up outta the ground!

The use of a tool is all in the intent of the mind behind it. Every tool crafted by dwarf or elf can have a "left side"; a function similar but not rightly what she was designed fer. This, I've been considerin' over the past few days.

That Jaroo lad, now there's a gnome full of surprises! First, when we're bein' sniffed out by the feathered fury of a goblin's own arse, he decides te wiggle 'is ears an' sniff his toes, an' make some sorta shape of light appear, what lures the beast off. Then, right when we're needin' te make a hasty retreat from the giant, curse 'is 'ide, he comes up with a way te open the lock on the girl without so much as smashin' it. There's been many a time when I've been not so resourceful.

Vurin Angerstorm, me late-yet-soon-te-be-avenged mentor, would often repeat to me the lesson of how we have been given many tools upon creation. Me eyes, me hands and feet, and me five senses. Plus me sixth sense o' knowin' what's right what comes from bein' a dwarf. These are me tools and wits what I have te survive. This not-so-fun business o' dyin' has got the juices flowin' around in me head. Perhaps I've been neglectin' up 'till now the tools I've got, er the tools I could indeed have. Vurin also spoke of another tool that ye can have what comes from within. Bein' attuned, so te speak, or aware of yer surroundins, and using the energy of the world around ya te accomplish great things. Much like what Jaroo's been up te as of late.

I swore te my mentor that I would see the giant what felled him destroyed, and perhaps now I'm beginnin' te see the path. Perhaps Reorx, in his great wisdom, just had te take another means te pound it into me thick head.

I should try te figure it out, if'n I can. Perhaps it's time te start lookin' te the left side a' me own tools, what have been there all along.

Jaroo's View

Jaroo sinks slowly into the almost scalding bath that Glarion has made up for him. After witnessing Voril's joyous reuniting with Ariel, he congratulated the two, took their praise without a word and with a small smile, and ducked out of the smith's Hammer. ( In Shank's Grotto, it's common to call a Smith's place of work by a name that represents his trade. Ie. Smith's Gem)

He makes his way to the Inn without meeting anyone, taking special care to walk far to the sides of those few passerby, and quickly asks Glarion for a bath and some privacy. And now there he is, mulling over the events of the past few days, barely able to believe the things, both horrifying and amazing, that have transpired.

"The sounds of the owlbear moving towards the camp terrified me... and I feared that at any moment it's great head with that wickedly curved beak would pan straight towards me, and I would hear it's screeching cry and there would be just enough time to take a few steps before it crushed me or speared me or rent me..."

"similarly, the Ettin, that monstrous, disgusting creature, could have woken and could have very well eaten me with one bite from either of it's two heads... sweet Madriel's mercy I was scared. Worst was plunging through the brush, just ahead of the the others, just hearing them curse as they cry out for light, and being unble to get myself to turn back and help at the great sounds of that creature howling and cursing..."

"I should not have snapped at Runic, who is my ally and trusted friend and companion. The events of the night before were still very much fresh in my thoughts, and I imagined the giant stepping from around every copse of trees and every small hill, coming to kill us. As silly or as unreasonable as it was, I was still scared, and wished that every sound would cease so that we could hear anything coming"

"As the fear itself ebbs still away, my conscious struggles to sort out the feelings I had for the Gnoll that we killed. I have never met gnolls, and have only heard or read a little about them. They are savage and dangerous, capable of wicked evil, and indeed, they attacked us on sight. But even at that, should we have killed the one that was defenseless, arrows and bolts protruding from it's torn body? It was surely no more of a threat to us. Morally, I suppose I could argue that if we had let it recover it would likely only return, wiser and stronger, to wreak more evil, maybe this time attacking a small merchant caravan or finding a wandering youth like Ariel and slaughtering her... maybe we were justified in killing the creature."

"But that changes and eases nothing in my mind. We killed something that itself was defenseless..."

All these thoughts enter and leave Jaroo's mind. Wrestling with his conscious and morals and his beliefs. The fact that he did not sleep all through the night before, instead laying as still as he could as the hours pass, pretending to sleep but knowing he is unable, and the extreme warmth and comfort of this place soon has him dozing off and on.

His eyes close as he thinks about the scorpion, and greater inventions still... great gears and cogs pushing greater cogs and wheels and powering fantastic machines only out of a gnome's imagination. He dreams.