#abstract hexcrawling

[clericmalo]

The Hammers of Tydsford - And Then the Moment Passed

Wohn, Marquis’ the 31st, 607 Y.E.

The final day of Carnival begins colder than normal. An ominous-looking storm looms on the horizon bringing with it the smell of rain in the air. Nobody seems to mind another day without oppressive heat.

Armed with the knowledge that their scouting foray revealed, the Hammers collectively decide to delve the lower bowels of the vaults on the morrow. Even Elladriel seems okay with the decision as long as the group takes great care against the ghoul pack. Today they will spend resting up while enjoying the mild weather.

Desolation of Kuresu Wandering Monsters (3) - No

Later that night, the moon still mostly dark in the sky, the Hammers huddle around their small campfire. In the breezy silence, Answild unfolds a tale of a time from her earliest dedications to the goddess when she was barely in her teens. Every bladedancer of her order is required to undergo a series of tests to prove their faith in the night. The particular tale she unfolds is one of a much colder place.

Answild had been instructed to spend the night praying. The sky overhead was cloudless and she was left defenseless without even a knife in the snow outside of a frost-rimed cave. The goddess was the night and therefore, she’d been told, how could any harm come to her? Darra shone down between the bare tree branches and brightly lit the snowy ground.

Time passed and her prayers continued fervently, though shakily through shivering lips. The goddess rode the sky, but slowly it seemed to Answild, which was a bit bewildering. A special night. No doubt the goddess was providing her with a blessing. From the north, a chill wind blew, and with it, foreboding clouds spread their inky dark tendrils across the heavens.

Just before the last of the clouds covered the moon, she noticed long, deep gouges on the nearest tree. Answild looked to the cave and then back again to the tree, devoid of its bark and leaves. What creature, what thing, could leave such terrible rents?

Daring to pick herself up, she nearly fell on her way to the tree. Her legs and feet had gone numb in the cold. In the snow, she stumbled her way over and pressed her fingers into the grooves. They fit easily and then some. Suddenly, she felt more vulnerable than ever she could remember. She was a child again, and something huge loomed at the edges of her mind.

A bellow exited the cave mouth. As she spun, she knew that whatever dreadful throat had issued that cry, it was nothing natural. The sound reverberated through the vale as it leapt wet and gurgling through the still night. As much as she wanted, she could not back any further into the scored tree.

The echo of the cry died out and was not followed by another. All was quiet once more. A minute passed. Two. Had it been pain she’d heard in that howl, or something more? Something deeper and more sorrowful? Just when she had convinced herself that she’d imagined the roar in all of its terrible fury, something stirred in the shallow recess of the cave.

Answild’s eyes widened, desperately failing to take in more light than was present. Damn the sudden clouds. There it was again… a movement that she could just make out, though not quite sure of what it was or how she could tell. And then it stepped out of the rocky cavern and onto the snow where she could see.

It was the foot of a maiden, but somehow not. It left no print where it touched the icy ground. Spidery veins climbed its arch all the way up past its ankle and onto its smooth yet ancient withered leg before hiding under the tattered hem of the thing’s shift. No, not a thing… a woman. A hag, but beautiful, terribly beautiful. Answild closed her eyes, wanting to disbelieve what she was seeing in the darkness. It didn’t look real. It couldn’t be real, but it was there and ever so slowing, it was getting closer.

She fell to her knees, ragged breaths interspersed amongst her renewed and more fervent prayers. She was seeing things because she’d displeased the goddess. This couldn’t be real. Why would the sisterhood leave her out here alone with this creature? A sacrifice? The bladedancers of the temple didn’t make human sacrifices.

Get hold of yourself. This is the test, she thought. Of course! A vision given to her by the goddess to try her faith for the dedication. On shaky knees, she stood once more. It wasn’t until the freezing fingers wrapped around and under her chin that she realized her error. Answild was too terrified to open her eyes, knowing that the end was near. The thing’s fingernails, which felt more like claws, tilted her face up. Were these the same nails that gouged the tree? Its breath came in moist, wheezing fits and was more foul than anything she’d ever smelled before or ever would again.

Answild thought about all of the silly things she’d done. All of the wrongs done against her, and that she’d inflicted on others. She lamented that she didn’t feel like she’d really done anything of consequence in her short life and here she was at the end. The gnarled grasp shook her from her rueful reveries, first gently and then with more force.

“Look,” it said, the voice cracked and dripping with malignancy. Answild resisted a moment more and then opened her eyes. A sight more terrible than she imagined met her gaze. The face was a rotting sore, flesh missing in glistening chunks from its cheeks and throat. A black tongue roiled inside the cavity behind blackened teeth where any remained. The lower half of its nose was missing, and its sunken eyes peered back into hers with an intensity that revealed a hatred she could not fathom. Quickly glancing down, she noticed the devastation of the creature’s chest through its ruined night clothes, noting a nasty-looking scar that trailed from its left shoulder across its shriveled breast. She looked back up, compelled once more to meet the hag’s stare.

There was something familiar in those cold, blue eyes. Something intimate. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she saw something, someone, that she knew. “Yes,” it replied to her unspoken question. The crone-thing grinned and nodded, tendons somehow still working in its leathery jowls. Suddenly, the moon shot through the cloud cover, its beams bathing the two of them in their divine illumination. What then stared back at Answild was nothing terribly at all. Rather, it was a beautiful, strong woman in her prime who tenderly cupped her face.

The woman tilted her face this way and that, considering the nascent blade-initiate. Its gaze never left hers, and she realized that the woman was admiring herself in the reflection the moon made in Answild’s eyes. And then the light was gone once more, trapped behind the darkening pall above.

The hag had returned to its true appearance and howled in a fit of rage at the cruel loss of its loveliness once more. Answild wanted to run and hide, but she was petrified and couldn’t move an inch. A final shriek, filled with an unknowable sadness and more terrible than the first, filled the emptiness.

The thing struck out at her. Clutching at herself in sudden agony, Answild was left bewildered. The gnarled hand was gone from her face. The creature had disappeared as if it had never been… an apparition though its cry still echoed in her mind. It had been real, of that she had no doubt.

Answild looked across the campfire at her companions. All of them stared back at her with varying looks, some in disbelief, others with deep concern. She met Fara Darragon’s gaze, which quickly shot down to the bladedancer’s chest and then just as suddenly back up as if in embarrassment. The two shared a moment in each other’s eyes, Fara’s full of solace and Answild’s somewhat sad. And then the moment passed.

[clericmalo]

The Hammers of Tydsford - Enter the Saints of Uddlan

Skurn, Counts the 25th, 607 Y.E.

The party rests from the previous days’ scouting mission into the temple. Most seem nervous from their first foray, but with the exception of that large group of zombies at the back of the temple, the situation looks better than they imagined. Facing your fears can chase the butterflies away.

Blackleaf Forest Wandering Monsters (6) - Yes Forest Roll - Men - Brigands % in Lair (79) - No - A Band of 6 gangs (34 brigands + their leaders: 1 4th-level fighter and 2 2nd-level fighters) Monster surprised (5) - No & Party surprised (3) - No

Just after dawn, as a light rain comes down, the Hammers notice a large band of brigands moving through the forest. Both groups have seen each other. The Hammers could assume the worst and run, or hope to get lucky in a fight against such a large force. Marellye, the natural leader and spokesperson for the Hammers, attempts to parley with the brigand leader.

Parley with Ealward Wysav of the Saints of Uddlan Reaction roll: 11 (+2 for CHA) = 13 Friendly, Helpful

Being an exotic elfin beauty of considerable wit and charm, Marellye convinces Ealward and his group that the Hammers are doing the region a considerable service by clearing out the temple of its evil denizens. She also convinces him and the sizable force of brigands to stay up to four more days, which will provide the Hammers with some much needed protection in case of further unlucky wandering monster rolls.

[Old school D&D-type games’ reward structures were not built around the modern day assumptions of kill everything to progress. In fact, despite many playing as if it were a meat grinder, the lion’s share of xp in this style of game is gained from getting treasure, not killing things, at a ratio of 4:1. You want to sneak in and get the treasure, or talk your way out of combat, or retreat, or be clever in other ways. Minimizing risk is a big part of this style of play. It’s how you survive in a world that isn’t conveniently balanced against the existence of the player characters, at least at lower power levels of play.]

[clericmalo]

The Hammers of Tydsford - Sounder Feast

Avod, Knights the 13th, 607 Y.E.

Eryn hugs the blink dogs tightly as the Hammers begin to break camp. It’s clear that the dogs will not leaving with them. Aenbrun smiles and pats the dogs, and the others say their goodbyes.

The Hammers are thankful for their horses as the group is not slowed down by Marellye’s condition. The elf is well enough to guide her own mare without help. Answild rides next to her in case she needs assistance. The blade-initiate still does not fully understand what continues to affect Marellye as there doesn’t appear to be lasting injury.

Travel into Hex 2619 (Wilderness: Woods - Noney Woods) Wandering Monsters (3) - No & Getting Lost (16+4 = 20) - No Movement: 48mi. - ((3mi. x 1.5 {mountains penalty} = 4.5mi., rounded up to 5mi. leaving hex 2718) - (6mi. x 1.33 {wooded penalty} = 8mi. travel through hex 2619) = 13mi) = 35mi. left for the day.

They make their descent down the mountain. It’s warm for an autumn day, but a light breeze means that everyone keeps their cloaks on. The temperature drops a bit once the group enters the Noney Woods.

Travel into Hex 2519 (Wilderness: Grasslands - Whitewrym Steppes) Wandering Monsters (4) - No Movement: 35mi. - 6mi. travel through hex 2519 = 29mi. left for the day.

[The center hex at 2621 turns out to be swamp. This in-turn allows us to calculate hex 2519 as plains.]

Jane guides the group slightly southwest. They emerge from the woods into grasslands. They have crossed over into a southern section of the Whitewyrm Steppes.

Travel into Hex 2420 (Wilderness: Swamp - Venomous Moor) Wandering Monsters (3) - No Movement: 29mi. - (6mi. x 1.5 {swamp penalty} = 9mi. travel through hex 2420) = 20mi. left for the day.

[The half-hex at 2420 has to be a terrain type that works for both forest and swamp. Those are the two predominant terrain types of the atlas hexes it straddles. Cross-indexing against the table that I have, it turns out that this half-hex can only be swamp.]

The group gives Gamin a foul look as his southern path leads them through a nasty moor. Their progress slows considerably. Jane smirks while the dwarf simply shrugs his shoulders and says that it was in the hands of fate. Besides, that hydra is somewhere in the hills to the north. Why would they have wanted to travel back through there?

Travel into Hex 2319 (Wilderness: Grasslands - Whitewrym Steppes) Wandering Monsters (4) - No Movement: 20mi. - 6mi. travel through hex 2319 = 14mi. left for the day.

[With the Whitewyrm Steppes almost completely wrapping around the Zaruktharbh Highlands, I’m going to rename them the Whitewyrm Highlands. Retcon!]

Yet even more steppes greet the Hammers as they happily exit the fetid moors. Fara wonders at the size of the Whitewyrm plains. How far do they extend? Jane says she’s seen bigger.

Travel into Hex 2220 (Wilderness: Forest - Cawli Forest) Wandering Monsters (5) - Yes Woods Roll (6) - Animal Roll (4) - Boar % in Lair (n/a) - No - a Sounder of 4 Boars Monster surprised (2) - Yes & Party surprised (1) - Yes Movement: 14mi. - ((6mi. x 1.33 {wooded penalty}) = 8mi. travel through hex 2220) = 6mi. left for the day.

As the sun is halfway through its descent, the group finds itself back in forest. While traveling through a particularly heavy patch, they come across a small group of boars. Though they pose no credible threat, Elladriel makes the call to hunt down the beasts. Their food stores are getting low and she’d rather not take chances.

[I decide to run this one as if it’s a dungeon encounter as opposed to using the Domains at War rules. A group of 4 ordinary boars are 12 hit dice total worth of creatures, which seems to be in line with a level 1 difficulty.]

Sounder of 4 Ordinary Boars Difficulty Level 1 Party level: 1 - adventuring against 1 encounter Easy (+2), Group Size: 11 (+2), Well-Balanced: (+1) = +5 Resolution roll: 12+5 = 17 (Excellent) - no mortal wounds Reward: 200xp from the encounter

The group makes quick work of the beasts. Gamin enlists Aakisun’s aid and takes an hour to properly render the boars. The dwarf promises the group that tonight’s feast will be worthy of royalty. Forgotten are the doubts many had about taking this southerly route as their mouths begin to water at the thought of dinner.

Travel into Hex 2119 (Wilderness: Grasslands - Plains of the Wanderer) Wandering Monsters (5) - No Movement: 6mi. travel through hex 2119

[This will put the group right on the edge of sub-hex 2020 when they resume their journey tomorrow morning.]

The Hammers exit the forest onto what they believe are the southeastern extents of the Plains of the Wanderer. Marellye asks if they’re near where they came across the caravan, but Jane explains that was further to the northwest. She says they might come across its tracks, assuming that it headed farther south than where they’re headed. She assumes that to be the case.

They make good time crossing the plains and camp later than they usually do. The delay turns out to be worth it. Gamin, true to his word, cooks them up an amazing meal.

He boasts that he added special dwarven spices to the meat. When pressed, the dwarf refuses to divulge the secret. The rest of them will simply have to appreciate the dinner for what it is without knowing his family recipe.

[clericmalo]

The Hammers of Tydsford - A Ship on Troubled Waters

Katala, Knights the 12th, 607 Y.E.

The decision to not go back into the tower is unanimous. Whatever the hell is below the Tower of Baleful Secrets can continue to rot. This is especially true if the mountain underneath is as trapped as the tower itself.

Maybe the Hammers will come back and clear it out when they have some more experience under their collective belts. Maybe Lord Tydsford will finally get around to dealing with the tower. Either way, this is not the time.

Blood Spires (Mountains) Wandering Monsters (1) - No

Answild tends to Marellye, but mostly keeps her comfortable. Aside from some lingering red spots where the magic arced through her body, there are no signs of harm. She’s never seen the elf so weak.

When they’re not playing with Aenbrun and Eryn, one or the other blink dogs lies next to the ailing elf. The enchanted creatures are definitely more intelligent than normal dogs. Eryn tries to give them the names, Lono and Beara, after two legendary warriors. They give her quizzical looks and both shake as if they’re throwing water off their bodies. The blink dogs then both yap and bark, and then blink into the woman nearly knocking her over in their excitement.

Much of the afternoon is spent discussing the path they’ll take heading back home. Mostly, it’s an argument between Jane and Gamin. The navigator wants to take the same path as the one they took to get here.

The dwarf insists that they should take a more southerly or northerly path, but one that parallels the way they came. It’s clear that this time, Gamin doesn’t want to explore for the sake of exploration. He wants to do whatever it takes to avoid the pride of griffons. That includes not traveling back through the Efnigh Woods.

In the end, Wine tells them both to shut the hell up. He produces a shiny silver coin from one pocket and holds it up for everyone to see in his good, right hand. This he says, with a bit of a wet slur, is his lucky coin. The embossed stamp of a kraken decorates one side, while the other has the impression of a ship on troubled waters.

This coin, he continues, has seen him through countless difficult decisions out at sea. It’ll settle this dispute. As he flips it high into the air, he calls out for Gamin to call it. The dwarf yells out “Ship!” and sure enough, the silver coin lands kraken facedown.

Having won, Gamin says they should take the southerly parallel route. A grumbling Jane Wythey reluctantly agrees. When he thinks no one else can see, Wine gives the dwarf a conspiratorial wink. Gamin grins from ear to ear and plops himself down in front of the fire for a draw from his wineskin.

Aenbrun shakes her head. The arbalester knows what’s going down. She would tell Jane, too, if it weren’t for the fact that she doesn’t like the navigator.

[Today was a day of rest required after each foray into a dungeon, whether scouting or adventure. No wandering monsters, so nothing much else going on.]

[clericmalo]

The Hammers of Tydsford - Kiss or Curse?

Urd, Knights the 11th, 607 Y.E.

Answild wakes bright and early. The cold mountain air helps; she didn’t sleep well. But today is an auspicious day. Tonight is the full moon, and goddess willing, she will be its celebrant.

The rest of the Hammers are roused. They break their fast on a cooked meal, something they haven’t enjoyed in two days. They’re then off back up the slope and into the forbidding tower.

Meanwhile, as the day continues, it gets warmer. The skies are mostly clear and the sun is drying up the puddles. The hirelings stretch their legs and setup a proper camp once more.

Blood Spires (Mountains) Wandering Monsters (4) - Yes Mountains, Hills Roll (4) - Unusual Roll (2) - Blink Dog % in Lair (20%) - No - a Route of 8 Blink Dogs Monster surprised (6) - No & Party surprised (6) - No

While Aenbrun and Eryn are out hunting and foraging, they come across a strange pack of canines. The dogs seem to be playing, but the odd thing is, they disappear from one place and appear in another in some weird game of tag.

The two groups notice each other around the same time. The humans freeze not knowing what to make of the situation, but realizing that they cannot outrun these enchanted beasts. Eryn slowly puts her bow down, but Aenbrun keeps her aim on one of the dogs.

Suddenly, half of the dogs blink to surround the two. Their barks and yaps at the woman and to each other almost sound intelligent. Eryn is terrified and raises her arms straight up in the air.

Blink Dog Decision Reaction Roll [2d6]: 10+2 {Disposition} = 12, Friendly, helpful

Just as Aenbrun seems ready to try to shoot one at point blank, they all blink away. Then, just as sudden, they blink back in to tackle the larger woman, bowling her over and knocking her arbalest away. But, instead of mauling her, she is covered in licks and nuzzles.

Eryn Haucey lets out a laugh of joy as her terror vanishes. What wondrous creatures. She too gets her fill of play time with the dogs as they all chase each other about.

Eventually, the women need to get back to camp. The dogs seem to understand their intent, and two of the dogs return with them. Jane and Hammond are startled, not only by the addition of the dogs, but because they were enjoying each other’s company during a rare time of privacy.

Aenbrun and Eryn give them proper warning, and before they know it, the dogs are playing in the camp. The teleporting canines get a bit rambunctious, knocking over this and that, and spooking some of the horses. But, they remain playful and seem intent upon staying with the group, at least for a while.

[It’s too bad there’s no one in the group that has the Speak with Animals spell or Beast Friendship proficiency. With a reaction roll of 12+, they might have been able to convince one or more of the blink dogs to be hirelings! Alas, the communication gulf is too wide, despite the intelligence of the dogs. The two blink dogs will stay in camp with the group for up to three more days.]

And, back in the tower…

Tower of Baleful Secrets Difficulty Level 2 - Layer 1 Small (2 encounters) Party level: 1 - adventuring against 2 encounters Dangerous (-2), Group Size: 7 (+1), Well-Balanced: (+1) = 0 Resolution roll: 17 (Excellent) - 1 mortal wound, 150% treasure Reward: 280xp from encounters, 1,120xp from treasure, 1,120gp, but no magic items Mortal Wounds: Marellye - d6 roll of 1: upper torso/chest/neck/head, d20 roll of 15: You are critically wounded. You die unless healed to 1hp within 1 day. If you are healed, you need 1 week’ bed rest. You actually died from shock, but were miraculously revived through witchery that no one can explain (roll on the Tampering with Mortality table - factor in only the character’s WIS modifier and the -1 for each side effect already suffered.

Tampering with Mortality - d6 roll of 2, d20 roll of 8: Your life and limb are restored, but with weird, lingering effects. You need 29 days of bed rest. You have been permanently connected to the spiritual plane and glow like a candle to the unliving. All undead can sense your presence within 60’.

The tower’s secrets are plumbed, with the Hammers facing off against both gargoyles and an arcane-altered cave bear. All seems to be going well. Better than expected, in fact. And then, as they emerge onto the tower top, disaster strikes.

The sun’s rays dapple the sky in one last attempt to resist the night. Deep blue gives way to lighter azure, with softer reds at the horizon. As she spies the wondrous view, Marellye fails to notice the perimeter runes of a magic circle that she has crossed. Blue arcs of energy course through the elf’s body and she falls dead in front of the Hammers’ eyes.

Elladriel and Aakisun drag her body out of the circle while Answild rushes to her side. Wine and Fara Darragon are dumbstruck at what just happened, and Gamin is on his knees next to the elf begging her not to die.

The light of the full moon shines down upon Answild as she does everything in her power to save the elf. But, it appears that the shock to Marellye was too great. In the midst of the crushed hopes of the others, the blade-initiate beseeches the goddess one last time.

Just then, a brilliant beam of pure light strikes the still body of the elf. Her chest heaves with a sudden intake of air as she breathes once more. A strange glow permeates her body as she chokes and coughs. Spirits, not all friendly-looking, course through her repeatedly along figure-eight paths.

The dance of the seemingly-divine power speeds up in an ever-widening circle that encompasses most of the top of the circular tower. And then, just as suddenly, it vanishes along with the glow suffusing Marellye’s body. Right at that moment, the elf’s eyes shoot open and glow for a second before returning to normal.

Answild forestalls a veritable dog pile of hugs as the Hammers are relieved to see their leader breathing once more. However, more than one set of eyes look suspiciously upon the blade-initiate. She has no answers for them. It wasn’t her doing, though she assumes that it was the will of the goddess.

[This is just me interpreting the Mortal Wounds and Tampering with Mortality results. It is not to suggest that Answild has the power to resurrect anyone. However, others may and will be suspicious of her abilities given the undesirable side effects that Marellye has incurred.]

Marellye is in no condition to move quickly, and so they slowly make their way down the tower’s central staircase. When they reach the bottom, the wooden hatch that covers the stairs leading into the unknown below the tower, flies open of its own volition, nearly coming unhinged. An unnatural moan escapes the darkness. Answild instructs the warriors to pick Marellye up and carry her. They must flee!

Rushing as fast as they can down the slope, they make it back to camp with nothing in their wake as far as they can tell. Elladriel asks what that was, fearing the bladedancer’s response. Sure enough, Answild says she is certain that some undead creature rests in the dungeons below the tower. One of the wizard’s baleful secrets must have been necromancy.

All wonder what they did differently this time that such a force was wakened by their presence. Whatever it is wasn’t disturbed by their previous foray, even when Aakisun had stuck a torch into the stair below to see how far they went.

When they learn of the blink dogs, the Hammers are intrigued. Marellye is too weak to play with them, but is heartened that such creatures have befriended Eryn and Aenbrun. At one point, even Gamin joins in on the play, riding one of the dogs about and whooping with laughter as it blinked him here and there.

For the time being, concerns over exactly what happened to Marellye seem to be of secondary importance. The Hammers are tired and need to rest. A cold wind picks up and with it comes the smell of possible rain.

[clericmalo]

The Hammers of Tydsford - We Haven’t Come All This Way...

Oehd, Knights the 10th, 607 Y.E.

The Hammers rest from yesterday’s harrowing foray into the Tower of Baleful Secrets. The traps, especially the magical ones, have the group on edge. It’s clear that the place has been abandoned for ages, so why would anyone fill it with deadly tricks?

Marellye suggest that some of them could have been placed by a mage intent upon plumbing the secrets himself. The traps could be there to keep others from gaining the tower’s secrets. Or, Gamin posits, it’s full of traps because mages are full of evil intent and mess with forces they shouldn’t.

This gets the dwarf an uncharacteristic angry look from Marellye. But, the moment does not last long as Jane wonders out loud if the group should give up on the tower for now? The storm has passed on, but the mountains are still foggy, cold, and wet. It could even be the sorcery of the tower bringing such foul weather down on their heads. Maybe they should head back to the shelter of the wooded lowlands.

The group’s leader will not consider it. The Hammers haven’t come all this way to be deterred by a bout of bad weather and some ancient traps. Marellye is intent upon gaining the tower’s secrets, if not those below it as well. She will not allow superstition to factor into their decision.

Blood Spires (Mountains) Wandering Monsters (1) - No

The day remains cold, damp, and windy. The intemperate weather only gets worse as the sun goes down. At least the Hammers are treated to a gorgeous dusk as the sun peaks below the clouds to the west be disappearing.

[clericmalo]

The Hammers of Tydsford - The Baleful Secrets are Trapped

Wohn, Knights the 9th, 607 Y.E.

The day of the Mother of All opens with a resounding crash. A severe thunderstorm drops over the Blood Spires, bringing with it a deluge. It’s all the Hammers can do to break their camp before it blows away.

After about an hour, they find some shelter in an overhang under a sheer cliff. It’s not much, but it’s enough protection that the horses and hirelings won’t be directly in the rain. Unless, of course, the winds change.

Blood Spires (Mountains) Wandering Monsters (2) - No

The location seems as safe as any they’re going to find in this weather. With some final words of instruction, the seven Hammers head up toward the tower. The way is slow until Elladriel spots the timeworn path that leads to the tower’s base.

Tower of Baleful Secrets Difficulty Level 2 - Layer 1 Small (2 encounters) Party level: 1 - Scouting Dangerous (-2), Group Size: 7 (+1), Well-Balanced: (+1) = 0 Resolution roll: 13 (Satisfactory) - no mortal wounds Reward: Learn that the dungeon layer they’re on is Difficulty Level 2 and there is a lower level below the tower. Encounter Inhabitants: they don’t know because they didn’t uncover the # of encounters.

[The first Resolution roll was a 1. Marellye spent her final Luck point, and the re-roll was a 13. Lucky 13.]

The Hammers don’t spend too long in the tower, but the time they do spend inside is harrowing. The tower’s three levels are trapped all the way up. It was all that Wine, Gamin, and Elladriel could do to keep the group safe.

Remarkably, it was Marellye at one point who noticed an oddly shaped flagstone and kept Answild from stepping on it. After a thorough examination, it’s determined to be a magical trap that would have electrocuted all of them in that room. Everyone, especially Answild, thanks the elf for her keen eyesight. Gamin curses all wizards, and Elladriel chastises herself for missing the trap’s trigger.

When they descend back down and out into the late afternoon, the group emerges into a storm that isn’t as strong as earlier, but is windier. A bitter cold seeps in, and combined with the gusts, no one can get comfortable this night. Hammond and the rest have made a pitiful fire in the shelter that’s taking a great deal of effort to keep going.

Marellye relays that all they really discovered about the tower is that it’s the most dangerous place they’ve come across. They weren’t able to investigate all of the tower’s rooms because of the need to avoid traps, magical and otherwise. They did find an ominous set of stairs leading underground into darkness.

Eryn asks if they’re going back in. Marellye purses her lips and says that they’ll discuss it tomorrow. Hopefully, the weather will abate and they’ll all be able to rest comfortably.

[clericmalo]

The Hammers of Tydsford - Dragon?

Skurn, Knights the 8th, 607 Y.E.

Jane expects to find this Tower of Baleful Secrets to the east by the end of the day. The Hammers are all eager to get a move on. The dawn rises over the forest with the promise of moderate temperatures.

Fall has taken a firm grasp on the region. The deciduous trees of the mixed forest are all well on their way to changing color. The air is crisp and there is a light breeze blowing from the north.

Travel into Hex 2219 (Wilderness: Forest - Cawli Forest) Wandering Monsters (1) - No & Getting Lost (12+4 = 16) - No Movement: 48mi. - ((2mi. x 1.33 {forest penalty} = 2.66, rounded up to 3mi. leaving hex 2118) - (6mi. x 1.33 {forest penalty} = 8mi. travel through hex 2219) = 11mi) = 37mi. left for the day.

The forest canopy closes overhead as the trees density increases. The group’s travel slows quite a bit as they wend their way through the forest. They have to be more careful that the horses don’t lame themselves on tree roots and other hazards hidden beneath the undergrowth.

Travel into Hex 2318 (Wilderness: Grasslands - Whitewrym Steppes) Wandering Monsters (4) - No Movement: 37mi. - 6mi. travel through hex 2318 = 31mi. left for the day.

The dense forest opens onto a vast grassland. The group’s pace picks back up. Eryn Haucey takes the opportunity to do some light hunting when she spies a family of hares bounding over the plains. Her arrows strike true and a minute later, she returns with a couple of fat rabbits for tonight’s stew.

Travel into Hex 2419 (Wilderness: Hills - Zaruktharbh Highlands) Wandering Monsters (6) - Yes Mountains, Hills Roll (7) - Dragon Roll (7) - Hydra % in Lair (20%) - No - a Solitary Hydra Monster surprised (2) - Yes & Party surprised (5) - No Movement: 31mi. - ((6mi. x 1.33 {hills penalty}) = 8mi. travel through hex 2318) = 24mi. left for the day.

The steppes rise and give way to a low lying set of hills. The sun has just begun its descent when something spooks the horses. They’ve caught the scent of something they most definitely do not like. It’s about that time that an immense reptilian head crests the hill immediately to the Hammers’ north. A dragon!

At least, that’s what Gamin cries out at first. Eyes bug out of their heads all over the group as horses are wheeled about in a panic to head south away from the thing. But then, the rest of the twenty-foot long or so creature tops the rise and the sight becomes more horrifying. It has seven heads. It’s no dragon at all, it’s a hydra! Thank goodness for small miracles. Sort of.

Somehow the fourteen-eyed creature it still hasn’t noticed the large group. By the time it does, Marellye has herded the group east as fast as they can ride. It let’s out a chorus of hisses to give chase at the faster horses. The thing might not be able to overtake them even if they didn’t have mounts. Well, it could likely run down Gamin. He’d make a fine meal for one of its seven gullets. [Because the hydra was surprised, the Hammers are able to automatically flee successfully. It’s likely they would have gotten away regardless due to the initial distance between them and the speed differential.]

Travel into Hex 2518 (Wilderness: Grasslands - Whitewrym Steppes) Wandering Monsters (5) - No Movement: 24mi. - 6mi. travel through hex 2518 = 18mi. left for the day.

[Generating the half-hex connector at 2418 gives us plains as the Whitewrym Steppes continue in the northeasterly direction. The atlas hex at 2617 turns out to be more forest. Based upon that information, the terrain of the hex the group is moving into is randomly generated as secondary plains. As it turns out, the steppes wrap around the north side of the hills continue eastward.]

Fleeing from the seven-headed serpent, the Hammers descend from the highlands back onto the steppes. The group is happy to be able to pick up the pace across the mostly-even ground. The monstrosity gave up on its chase long ago, but it never hurts to put more distance between yourself and something like that.

Travel into Hex 2618 (Wilderness: Woods - Noney Woods) Wandering Monsters (2) - No Movement: 18mi. - ((6mi. x 1.33 {woods penalty}) = 8mi. travel through hex 2618) = 10mi. left for the day.

As the sun is well into its zenith, the Hammers enter a light woods. Their pace slows again and then comes to a stop. Jane takes a moment to be sure of her bearings in the middle of the trees. Certain of their heading, she has them continue on.

Looks are passed between many of the others. They’re a long distance from home for their navigator to be having doubts. Then again, none of them know exactly where they are without looking at her map. They trust in her ability to see them to their destination, it’s just been a long day and nerves are a bit frayed.

Travel into Hex 2718 (Wilderness: Mountains - Blood Spires) Wandering Monsters (1) - No Movement: 10mi. - ((6mi. x 1.5 {mountains penalty}) = 9mi. travel through hex 2618) = 1mi. left for the day, but it’s not needed.

The ground begins to rise precipitously once more, but more steeply than earlier in the day when they were traveling through the highlands. In fact, as they slowly rise above the canopy below, they are greeted by quite the sight.

A set of jagged mountain tops rise above them. The woods continue up their slopes, though thinned out quite a bit. The reddening leaves of autumn give the mountain range an almost bloody appearance.

The elevation gives them quite the vista as they look back the way they’ve come. The view is breathtaking. However, a better sight sits just above about half a mile up the slope. The stone of an aged edifice yet reflects some of the failing sunlight. The Tower of Baleful Secrets at last.

Elladriel stops the group to camp in a secluded clearing about a quarter mile down from the tower. Time enough tomorrow to scout the structure. Who would build such a place here? Marellye nods as Answild conjectures it’s likely the abode of some practitioner of the dark arts, be they arcane or divine in nature. Either way, it’s secrets are bound to be deadly.