(August 15, 2004) Chronicler: Isaku
Month 8, Day 5, Year 1562 -
Gorvak heard from the local korobokuru enclave about a gang of outlaws causing trouble in the Dragon lands. Apparently a powerful korobokuru barbarian/rogue named Vastern, outcast from his people, had collected about 40 followers and established a hidden lair somewhere near some villages in the northwest of Hodate, the Dragon capital. They have been raiding merchants, villages, etc., and generally giving the korobokuru a bad reputation in the Dragon lands.
One of Vastern's former gang, a raw recruit who was injured in battle and left for dead, repented of his actions and was willing to give information on the gang and how to find the hideout, though he was terrified of going back there himself. He warned us that some ogres appeared to have allied themselves with Vastern.
Gorvak naturally wanted to capture this gang, since they are giving his people a bad name. Hatori instructed us not to kill any who surrender, so they can be brought back for justice.
Month 8, Day 7 -
We set off for the hideout, which was about two days away, according to the former gang member.
Month 8, Day 9 -
We reached a village near the cave. The village had been raided before, and the previous Jitto was killed during one of the raids. We spent some time talking to the villagers, and getting information on Vastern’s gang.
Month 8, Day 10 -
We reached the cave, made our final preparations, such as casting Invisible spells (on Noku, Ashiko, Til’k, and Isaku), and Fly spells (on Noku, Ashiko, Birkat and Gorvak). Once we were ready, we pushed the rock that opened the door to the lair. Birkat faintly heard someone inside yelling “OUCH!” but it didn't sound like a korobokuru. We entered the corridor and started opening doors to different rooms of the lair.
The first room on the left was some kind of bunk room. Some korobokuru were sitting on beds talking. Others were torturing a human by holding a candle flame to his feet while he was tied to one of the beds. The human looked old, yet youthful somehow… perhaps one of the spirit folk? One of the korobokuru, speaking in Drakaran, threatened to kill the hostage if we attacked. Ashiko, while invisible, slashed one the ropes tying the hostage to the bed.
Til’k opened another door further down the hall, and found a room with a large bell in the center, and several korobokuru. Noku soon followed and cast Fireball in the room. One of the surviving korobokuru stepped to the bell and started ringing the alarm, but Til’k finished off the rest of them.
Isaku opened the door to the first room on the right, and found the kitchen. Some korobokuru were washing dishes, and a large fat cook was in the corner chopping meat. They immediately surrendered and ducked for cover. Birkat took a quick look in the room, but decided to go off to find some warriors to fight. Isaku yelled “Surrender in the name of the Empire and you will be spared!” then turned around and tumbled into the bunk room and killed the korobokuru that was threatening to kill the hostage. Isaku then helped untie the hostage and cast Cure Light Wounds on him.
Birkat attacked a couple of korobokuru guarding the office door. Ashiko cast Blade Barrier and Control Winds on a bunch of korobokuru coming down one of the hallways, slaughtering most of them, while Gorvak finished off the rest.
Zenako and Mulan defeated another bunch of thugs (including three ogres) coming from one of the other hallways. Another human hostage managed to kill one of his captors with two war fans in the supply room. The hostage stuck his head out of the supply room, and Isaku recognized the man as Two Fans Lee, a shaman/rogue that Isaku met back in Marike. Two Fans recognized Isaku’s voice and said he was fine, but there were two other hostages, a spirit man and a female. Isaku said they already freed the spirit guy, but hadn’t found the female yet.
Birkat and Gorvak finished off the two guards outside the office door, and Noku opened the door (while still invisible), and found 12 korobokuru waiting. Noku flattened all but 4 of them with a Fireball. Birkat and Gorvak knocked down three of them, but the last one wisely surrendered. Birkat and Noku tried to open another door in the back of the office. Fortunately they were both flying, so they avoided the pit trap. They were also fortunate enough to dodge the arrows and survive a poison cloud. They wisely decided to leave the door alone until they could find the keys.
Til’k opened the door to the barracks while invisible and ordered them to surrender and drop their weapons. The korobokuru inside were able to see the dead ogres in the hall, and quickly surrendered. Til’k ordered them into the kitchen, while Zenako supervised and blocked the exit.
Isaku opened the dining room door and found a sleeping ogre who had apparently been looted by his companions. Isaku removed his weapons and tied the ogre up without waking him from his drunken stupor.
Gorvak found the body of the fallen leader and took his keys, which would hopefully open the trapped door.
Ashiko ended the Blade Barrier spell and Noku flew down that corridor and around the corner. Noku then summoned a Fire Elemental to search the rest of the complex and attack any enemies that don’t surrender. Unfortunately, it mistook Gorvak for one an enemy and attacked him. Gorvak survived and got past the Fire Elemental, grumbling about Noku under his breath. Noku instructed the Fire Elemental not to attack Gorvak again, then flew around another corner and found another bunch of korobokuru and ogres, and the female hostage. The thugs were holding daggers to the lady’s throat, so Noku flew back to alert the rest of the party of the situation.
Ashiko rescued the lady by flying to her and Teleporting her to Hodate, leaving some very surprised and frightened brigands behind. Gorvak charged them and dropped a korobokuru in front. The ogres and some of the korobokuru squeezed passed him, but soon met Til’k, Mulan, Birkat, Hatori, Isaku and the Fire Elemental. The Fire Elemental, Til’k and Mulan killed the ogres, and the rest of the thugs surrendered.
Eventually we rounded up all the prisoners in the dining room. There were 30 korobokuru and one drunken ogre. The gang members generally fell into three categories: sneaks, warriors and scouts.
The spirit man was Sung Cho, a wu-jen commoner. His spellbook was destroyed when he was captured by the gang. The gang thought he was interesting and kept him.
The lady was Ikoma Miko of the Lion clan, which is known for storytelling. She was captured while gathering stories on the way to Drakara City.
Two Fans Lee was captured on a trading trip (he didn't give any details), and was held captive because of his shaman healing skills.
Ashiko left the lady at the lord's castle in Hodate, then attempted to Teleport back to the hideout, but didn't quite make it. She wound up somewhere near the town on the north coast, and had to find her way back by sensing her karmic twin, Hatori. It took about an hour for her to catch up with us.
We searched all the rooms and gathered up anything of value. There was a dead body in the garbage room, with some magic items. The korobokuru and ogres were all equipped with magical items. There were various weapons in the armory, and some gems in a wine skin in the food storage room. There were coins and gems in the chests in various rooms.
The office had some maps of nearby villages and towns, with notes on various targets. We also found a really old map of a big cavern, with tunnels and some kind of underground city; maybe an entrance to the deep dark? There was also an ivory box, and some pouches of coins. There was a large amount of cash and a few gems in the trapped treasure room, as well as a wand and a sword. The sword turned out to belong to Ikoma Miko, so we returned it to her.
We put the prisoners to work burying the dead gang members and carrying loot back to Hodate. We also made sure the dead body in the garbage room received a decent burial and said some prayers over the grave.