Through the Looking Glass... Session Eight

Date: Saturday, March 9th, 2002
Players Attending: Dave, Ike, Heather, Erin, and Jeff
Characters Introduced:

• Foranz, human ranger
• Morgaine, elven wizard
• Sir Branwin, elven paladin of Heironious

I am very happy that we were able to introduce not one, not two, count ‘em – THREE new people to this wonderful game! Fun was had by all, and hopefully we can play again soon! Heather as the slightly aloof elven wizard Morgaine, Erin as the “I’m not really THAT concerned about the trees” human Ranger Foranz, and finally Jeff as a noble and somewhat-clumsy elven paladin of Heironious, Sir Branwin. All in all I was very impressed by the quality of the roleplaying – when Ike, Dave and I get together, we usually try to concentrate a little more on the roleplaying because it’s a little more interesting and varied than combat. For all of you being new to the game, way to go!

Local legend has it...

1. The story begins for our three new adventurers in the small but bustling town of Crimmor, located on the shores of Lake Crimmormere. The group is currently residing in Morgaine’s lakeside estate, enjoying the sun and the wind of the lake, when they receive a visit from Erasu, a statesman they know of some affluence in the town.
2. Erasu is somewhat hesitant to ask what he is going to ask, but he finally spits it out: He needs the group to investigate the forest area to the northwest. Apparently, there have been sightings of ratmen who are getting a little bolder, and they’ve been seen conversing and dealing with men on great brown horses wearing purple cloaks. It’s somewhat of a mystery what’s happening here, and Erasu needs to find out what’s going on before anything terrible happens.
3. The group begins to make some preparations: Foranz by catching some dinner, Morgaine by collecting assorted plants and fungi, and Sir Branwin by sharpening his blade and shining his armor so as to put the fear of Heironious into the hearts of whatever fell creatures they encounter!
4. The group then takes the evening to rest, and in the morning they set out (after a brief display of limited climbing prowess by Foranz, and a bit of alchemical blundering by Morgaine! J). The day goes by quickly and uneventfully on there long walk to the dark line of trees on the horizon.
5. Taking a small lunch seems to be the consensus when they reach the forest, so they eat what berries and fruits they have left and some rabbit from the previous evening before actually setting foot in the forest.
6. There is a concentrated effort to be as noiseless and unobtrusive as possible, but Sir Branwin just can’t convince himself to skulk like a coward into the face of the enemy, so it doesn’t take long and they are found by Runic and Jaroo!
7. There is a friendly but wary meeting of all the companions, and they decide to converse a short ways from their current location so as to not attract any monsters that may be lurking nearby.
8. The party talks amongst themselves for awhile and get better acquainted, although Morgaine makes it abundantly clear that she does not fully trust these new party members.
9. Their conversation is cut somewhat short when Foranz hears some movement off to the north. The party is on alert, so Jaroo and Foranz scout ahead to see what the source might be. The scouting proves inconclusive, as the noise seems to have stopped.
10. Unfortunately, their sense of ill foreboding proves correct when they all are stuck in the middle of a bloodstorm!
11. Jaroo is the only party member who makes it out, and so the other members are caught in this crimson vortex. The blood’s acidic qualities begin to eat away at their skin as it whips around them, which causes both Foranz and Morgaine to run fleeing for their lives!
12. Of course, Runic and Sir Branwin do some running of their own, but only to escape the stinging blindness and deafness that they’ve contracted.
13. Meanwhile, Jaroo is on the lookout for the source of this new devilry, and two ratmen make an appearance. He mortally wounds both, but they manage to escape.
14. The party takes some time to collect themselves and renew their vision, and now await a confrontation with the ratmen once more!

Thoughts from the party...