Bloodcrier's Hammer
The flyer was very detailed. In order to complete this quest you have to overcome three goals. The first is that you must defeat the guardian of a specific area out in the Vast. An area which is mapped out for you. After defeating this guardian you must find the grave of Thaer Bloodcrier which lies beyond the guardian. Lastly you must spend the night out in the Vast - and survive it. At the end of this you will be given an item which is to be taken back to the Adventurer's guild for your payment. It seems easy enough. Or it might not be.
Sasha blinkblinks. "Wow. they don't ask for much, do they?" She then makes a bit of a face. "Just....really? Why do I have a feeling that the grave site is haunted? Yeesh...."
Duncan checks over his gear. He tends to travel light and it doesn't take him very long. “Well I am ready," he remarks. "Undead seems likely for this 'guardian.' If so we'll be doing an extra service putting it to rest."
Darius shakes his head, "I hate the undead..." He's very silent, absently scratching the scarified tattoo on the back of his neck of a snowflake. He checks his bowstring to make sure it's properly oiled and says, "It'll be fine."
Sasha says, "I'll do my best to keep you guys safe, if I can."
Duncan gives Sasha a wry look. "How very comforting." He whistles and soon his large Digger stands beside him. "Have either of you been to the Vast before...?
Sasha says, "I've been there. Guy's trying to marry me from there. Ya me." She then chuckles. 'it wouldn't be bad if Kisa wasn't trying to set me up with him."
There are ruins standing before you, looking like what you might expect of a place said to hold the grave of someone named Thaer Bloodcrier. There's pillars sticking out of the ground at odd angles. Bits and pieces of what looks like building rising upwards only to be lost a few feet away by the rise of a hill. It's desolate and entirely unwelcoming. As you walk along you find yourself in a sort of canyon made up by these hills and bits of building. A long open hallway leading you downwards into this forsaken area.
As you walk along sand begins to swirl at your feet, brought up by an unnatural wind coming toward you. It blows into your face like the stroking of gentle fingers. It's impossible to miss how the sand is beginning to gather upwards, to swell into a massive form. The form of a gigantic beast of a creature. A sphinx. It's body blocks the path forward, and as you look up at it, it begins to rumble, mouth moving to shape and form words. "Answer this and I will go, answer wrong and face woe." Golden eyes blink open.
"They are dark and on the run, without sun there will be none. What are they?"
Sasha blinks as she sees the Sphinx (cuz dammit, she can rhyme too). "You are the most worthy guardian I've ever seen. No, that is not my answer." She then blinks a bit more. "Why does that sound like shadows...."
Darius blinks, "A riddle, whaaaaa? Are you kidding me? What a stupid way to protect something..." He moves to pull out his sword as he says, "I really hate mages and magic, I don't know the answer, do either of you?"
Sasha holds out her hand. 'If you're to draw your sword....do NOT point it at the sphinx. Or else it's going to forgo the riddle and attack. And you don't want it to attack. This is actually more fun."
"Give me your answer, this is a test; for without it you may not rest." The sphinx is looking at you curiously now.
Duncan scratches his beard. "Shadow seems like a good guess. But what about the 'running' part. That sounds more like water or paint. Bah What's the worst that can happen? We fight it anyway?"
Darius mutters under his breath, "It would be easier to just fight the thing... what the hell is this, a freaking riddle quest?"
Sasha says, "I'd rather not fight it." She then looks to Darius. "Not everything can be solved by hacking at it, Darius." She then looks to Duncan. "If you agree." She then looks to the Sphinx. "Shadow. We'll answer with 'Shadow'."
"Well then." The sphinx seems annoyed, but the sand begins to swirl. At first it seems to dissipate but then it begins to come back together. After a moment it forms into the shape of a large earth elemental. "I didn't expect anyone to be able to answer, most people just walk away... so I guess we'll do this the hard way."
Sasha says, "At least tell us the answer...."
Once the creature turns into the elemental, Darius literally rubs his hands, "Oh yeah, now we're talking! I told you we should have just gone and killed it!" He draws his sword and prepares to charge the thing.
Sasha says, "You're not gonna kill it Darius."
GAME: Sasha casts Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19 GAME: Duncan casts Shield. Caster Level: 5 DC: 12
Duncan's eyes glow. Tiny arcs of electricity occasionally crackle out of his skin and writhe over his form, but disappear as soon as they leave his body. He unclips the hammer from his back and his Digger begins to move in cautiously.
Sasha seeing the summoned earth elemental, just sighs. "Could've at least told us the answer." She says as she puts her hand on her medallion....and she manifests a pair of wings. her eyes begin to glow and she grins, before she flies into the air. "This is not how I wanted to do this, Sphinx....but if it's a test of faith you want....it's a test of faith you'll get."
GAME: Darius rolls weapon7+2: (1)+13+2: 16 (EPIC FAIL)
Darius attempts to charge the elemental but because he's not used to running on sand, ends up getting his foot caught and trips.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (9)+14: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (2)+14: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+7: (3)+7: 10
While Darius is still recovering from his trip the elemental slams a fist into his back, the heavy blow rattling the man.
GAME: Morgan casts Haste. Caster Level: 9 DC: 20
Morgan has been here the whole time.... don’t question it. With sharp moves of her hand she sends out a blue energy the makes the world seem a little bit slower. She then backs away from the group.
GAME: Sasha rolls 1d20+6+4: (9)+6+4: 19 GAME: Sasha rolls 1d20+1+4: (16)+1+4: 21 GAME: Sasha rolls 1d10+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Sasha rolls 1d10+3: (10)+3: 13
Sasha stays in the air, and as Darius whiffs his charge, Sasha gives him a bit of help. She summons a ghostly ally to stand on the other side of the elemental and attack....which it chips away at the elemental...
GAME: Sasha casts Spiritual Ally. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18 GAME: Duncan rolls 17+4+1-3: (6)+17+4+1+-3: 25 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+9+9+2+2d6: (8)+9+9+2+(9): 37 GAME: Darius rolls weapon7+2: (9)+13+2: 24 GAME: Darius rolls weapon7-7+2: (17)+13+-7+2: 25 GAME: Darius rolls damage7+2: aliased to 2D6+10+2: (11)+10+2: 23 GAME: Darius rolls damage7+2: aliased to 2D6+10+2: (6)+10+2: 18
Darius is punched in the back, it's enough to piss him off and get him up and snarling he slashes twice at the Elemental, "You are going down! DIE!"
Duncan sends a wordless thought to his Digger. The creature surges forward, and Duncan smashes his battle hammer into the rocky hide. The electricity snakes over the warhead just before he strikes. "It's not too late to let us pass," he growls. But his eyes are still glowing and he readies his hammer for another blow.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+14: (14)+14: 28 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+7: (7)+7: 14 GAME: Morgan casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19 GAME: Morgan rolls ranged+2: (18)+7+2: 27 GAME: Morgan rolls ranged+2: (2)+7+2: 11 GAME: Morgan rolls 4d6: (14): 14 GAME: Morgan rolls 4d6: (10): 10
Darius oofs as he's punched again, driving him to his knees and giving him some cracked ribs, his breath driven out of him. He kneels there, using his sword for balance and huffs, he then says "Next time... Let's just... kill it... and not... try... and... play... it's games..."
Morgan points towards the elemental and says in a hollowed voice a few arcane words as two lances of fire hit the elemental dead center in its chest. She does feel bad when it crumbles away. "Use fire to attack earth ones."
Sasha flies her way down to Darius and places a hand on his back, to heal his wounds. "Again, Darius......not everything is settled with a blade. While I respect you earning money for the child you care for and for your pet....do not goad potential allies into fights....or goad those that give us an alternative to fighting.....Do I make myself clear?"
Duncan frowns. He says carefully, "That would probably be easier..." he says to Darius. "But she's right. If a living enemy is willing to talk instead of fight, we always have to try."
Morgan nods and points to them "Parlay first."
Duncan turns to peer at the ruins. "If that was the guardian..." he muses, "Then now we have to find the grave of Thaer Bloodcrier." He nudges the Digger gently at it begins to move forward. "I really was expecting undead...but I suppose it's not too late."
GAME: Sasha rolls survival: (20)+6: 26 GAME: Morgan rolls survival: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Darius rolls survival: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Duncan rolls survival: (9)+11: 20
It doesn't take long for you to find the shrine. Not that it's easy to find, it's through a labyrinth of pillars and hills. It sinks down into the ground until you can no longer see the sky above you. There you find a huge space, the pillars here still stand tall and proud the way that they should. They line up to the grave which is a monolith. You make your way down to it, sand crunching beneath every footfall. When you reach the monolith you can finally read the words written upon it. It's a huge amount of information. A legacy of information all about Thaer Bloodcrier.
Sasha says, "Wow." She says as she sees the monolith. "Compensating much?" She says as she tries to read the monolith…
Morgan smiles. "Finally things I like to look at and no more sewers... @#$^ sewers." She starts to study the monoliths looking for anything to record and read.
Darius shrugs and says, "It was a different time, the guy was a hero after all, you gotta expect they'd go into detail about him and his exploits."
Duncan pans his gaze up, trying to read the side of the monolith. "A different time?" he replies without looking away from his reading. "You mean, you know the story? How long ago was this? Before Alexandria? Before The Vast?"
GAME: Morgan rolls knowledge/local: (18)+12: 30
The monolith itself explains the exploits of Thaer Bloodcrier, and that the enemies he slew in his final battle are laid to rest here to guard his tomb against those that would desecrate it.
Morgan gets a bit chipper. "Yes this here confirms some knowledge about Thaer Bloodcrier who was a mighty warrior who was instrumental in pushing the Fel orcs." Her eyes go wide. "Wow this even talks about how he killed Than Grinder... I remember reading about him when I was 6."
"Fel Orcs." Duncan repeats flatly. He peers at the spot that describes how his fallen enemies now guard his tomb. "Best be on our guard, then." Duncan slides off of his Digger's back. The large creature moves to the back of the party, seemingly taking up a rearguard position. The Khazad himself moves forward, then pauses. "Does anyone need to make any preparations?"
Darius grunts and says, "I could use some rest, I got beat up by that damned Sphinx."
Sasha says, "I have what spells I can use. They're a lot more varied than you may think, Duncan."
Morgan says. "If you want we can rest to get our spells back."
GAME: Sasha casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 9 DC: 15 GAME: Sasha rolls 1d8+5+2: (8)+5+2: 15
Sasha stretches a bit. "If we're gonna set up camp here, then we should get to work. I'll have to take last watch." She then shrugs to Morgan. "Fresh blessings and all that. Thankfully, I won't need to sleep long."
Morgan gets her bed roll and thick blanket out "I suggest I take first or last watch but mister Duncan should take a middle one since he can see in the dark better than all of us. But I can see real good if the stars are out."
GAME: Darius rolls perception: (19)+8: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+28: (17)+28: 45 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (14)+18: 32 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (18)+18: 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d4+8: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d4+8: (7)+8: 15
There is nothing to see by the light of the fire. Nothing... And then suddenly out of nowhere comes a giant cat. It leaps over the fire, raking it's claws over Darius and pinning him to the ground.
GAME: Sasha casts Chains of Perdition. Caster Level: 9 DC: 17 GAME: Sasha rolls 1d20+6+4: (2)+6+4: 12
Sasha sits upright and groans. "What the hell Darius..." She says before she notices the tiger. She puts her hand on her medallion and a spectral chain appears out of nowhere to fling itself at the cat, but it misses....
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+18: (18)+18: 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d6+8: (5)+8: 13
The big cat which is an odd sandy color in the firelight grabs Darius's arm in it's mouth and starts carrying him off; the man still caught between its legs.
GAME: Morgan casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18 GAME: Morgan rolls 3d4+3: (6)+3: 9
Morgan sits up and gets to her feet letting her blanket fall to the side. "What is it with this guy and Dire cats." She then sends three bolts that mildly annoy it.
GAME: Duncan rolls 17-3+2: (19)+17+-3+2: 35 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+9+9+2: (2)+9+9+2: 22 GAME: Sasha rolls 1d20+9+4: (17)+9+4: 30
Duncan stirs and the rises to his feet. He has no time to don his armor. Instead he snatches up his hammer and charges at the creature, slamming his hammer into its side. "Bad kitty!" he bellows.
GAME: Sasha casts Bestow Curse. Caster Level: 9 DC: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (16)+5: 21
Sasha's chain finally wraps around the tiger's leg and starts to drag the tiger away from Darius. In the meantime, Sasha casts a spell on the tiger, but it has no effect. "Damn it. I hope it's not yours Darius."
GAME: Darius rolls intimidate: (19)+7: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25
Darius is pissed off after being so rudely attacked by the tiger and once it's dragged off of him, glares at it and roars, "GET LOST YOU OVERSIZED FLEA BAG! YOU'RE NO FLUFFY! IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO EAT THEN NEXT TIME /BEG FOR IT/!!!!!!"
The feline growls back at Darius, looking shaken but not stirred into running away. Instead the creature uselessly attacks the chain binding it backwards.
GAME: Morgan casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19 GAME: Morgan rolls ranged: (6)+7: 13 GAME: Morgan rolls ranged: (3)+7: 10 GAME: Morgan rolls 4d6: (17): 17
Morgan takes a stance most mages take while in combat and sends two rays at it but only one hits hurting it a little.
GAME: Duncan RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 20 temporary HP GAME: Duncan rolls 17-3+2: (19)+17+-3+2: 35 GAME: Duncan rolls 17-3+2-5: (9)+17+-3+2+-5: 20 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+9+9+2+2: (1)+9+9+2+2: 23 GAME: Duncan rolls 1d8+9+9+2+2: (1)+9+9+2+2: 23
Duncan's eyes begin to glow again. This time his features twist and redden. He grips his hammer with both hands and swats the tyger, then clubs it again. Only when it drops does he lower his hammer, slowly regaining his composure.
Darius manages to get up, looking really worse for wear and glares down at the tiger, "Stupid <EXPLETIVE> tiger... I'm going to turn you into a fur cloak... Anyone got any problems with that?" He glares at the others, "And no jokes about me and cats..."
Morgan shakes her head as she goes to lay down "No best to use all of it that we can, and I already made that joke."
"I'm truly scared, Darius. next time, keep your eyes open." Sasha then looks over to Duncan. "Back to bed with us." She says as she simply turns over.......
GAME: Darius rolls survival: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Darius rolls survival: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Duncan rolls survival: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Duncan rolls survival: (8)+11: 19 GAME: Darius rolls perception: (2)+8: 10
You don't notice until it's right upon you, being so busy sleeping and carving the cat into a cloak as you are. But suddenly there's the figure of a glowing blue specter before you. If not for the fact that you can see through him, and that he is glowing blue. He might have looked alive so clear is the image of him. "You have defeated a foe on the battlefield of my grave. You have proven yourself worthy of my hammer." He holds the weapon out... to Duncan.
Darius, seeing this, still making the cloak finally just shakes his head and says, "Eh, you deal with it Duncan, I'm going to finish this cloak up then go to sleep." He then ignores the blue spectre as it moves to Duncan to give him his hammer.
Duncan accepts the weapon offered. He tries to treat the moment with suitable reverance. But it's clear he's also interested in what it is. But then he realizes, "This must be what the Guild was asking for. What they sent us for..."
And indeed it is.
-End-