Chapter 21: Pact With The Devil

[OGRE MAGE]

For the first time since their......change, Bo feels slightly satisfied with the outcome of this situation.

He stops his calling and looks around the area for a moment, pleased that the altar can no longer be used to torment the plants and wildlife in this area.

"Thank you, master Rudolph. I am glad you enjoyed the fireworks. I must admit that it felt good to let that all out."

Once the trees speak again, Bo joins Brevos in learning anything he can from them, trying hard not to think about poor Hothhil.

"Is there anything more you can tell us great shepherds? Can you communicate over vast areas? Send or receive messages from others of your kind that grow to the west of these lands? Any help you can offer will aid in the destruction of more places like this."

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Yes. There have been times when...we have not always done the correct thing. Sometimes, this was through ignorance or deception. Sometimes through supernatural means. And sometimes...sometimes we just make bad decisions. But this was a good thing we have done, and we would like to do more. If you know of other such altars, we will do our best to free the land from their influence.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur tries to comprehend what has just happened. Have they actually defeated their foes? Is the nightmare, for tonight at least, over?

The little gnome simply waits, dagger drawn.

[Inferno]

The Strange Black Altar of the Haunted Wood, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Five. The other side of midnight. Wednesday, November 16th, 576 CY
Cold, windy, storming





In the swirling black skies above the haunted wood, the fearsome lightning storm abates, its frightful work complete. Nature has smote the repellent evil from this mountainside.

Rudolf cautiously examines the smoking remains of the shattered altar of evil. If anything had been secreted within the sacrilegious pedestal, it could not have survived the righteous wrath of the heavens.

Slowly, the wounded, tortured Ents creep back toward the scorched earth and the heroes that bravely freed them from an unspeakable fate.



The ranger and the druid greet them with modesty and reverence.

Brevos says, "Wise ones, we came into this wilderness looking for an ancient source of evil. Do you know of any other evil sources besides this shrine we have destroyed?"

The towering shepherds of the forest answer with the deep rumble of oaken throats:
"Aye. Thou hast pruned a vile sapling of blossoming evil... but the accursed roots run deep...
"In the direction of the rising sun... thou shalt find the origins of Evil... that blight and damn these poor forsaken mountains..."

This confirms what Hoom Feethos had learned at a terrible price from the heinous tome of forbidden knowledge found within the wretched Hell Mouth of the Dark Mother.



To travel as the crow flies might be impossible. But the heroes know a mountain pass exists. The mouth of the southwestern trailhead lies near the doomed hamlet of Vicar's Head.

The grey druid asks the ancient tree creatures, "Can you communicate over vast areas? Send or receive messages from others of your kind that grow to the west of these lands?"

"Aye... given enough time, youngling..."

"Is there anything more you can tell us, great shepherds?

"...Be ye warned... To the vile source of Evil... none dareth go... Not even the hateful witches...
"...Except once... and recent...
"They doth made an accursed pilgrimage... to deliver unto Evil... an innocent childe... they had stolen...
"May the Gods have mercy upon her precious soul..."


Actions?


Area Map:

Green "?" might be the heroes' current location. Red "X" is thought to be the location of the Lost Shrine of Evil.





PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 6/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/19, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 7/22, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl and 0/4 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 20/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 0/3 2nd lvl and 0/2 3rd lvl
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/16
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 10/34
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 7/11, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl and 1/2 2nd lvl, Torch

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[rredmond]

"Ask them if they know how to rid ourselves of the full-moon curse," Rudolph says to the druid, half annoyed to find nothing of treasure significance at the altar, but 100% relieved that it was destroyed. He continues to look for anything hidden, at times scrabbling in the dirt like a little kid, and failing that scans the skies and woods for any baddies.

[wolfpack]

I am going to return to Hothhills remains to bury them and if he has any item that may be useful for our quest retrieve it.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo continues his conversation with the trees.

"We know of a path that should get us close, oh great ones. And we thank you for your help. We will head east then, to continue cleansing this area of the invasive evil that corrupts it. Send any message that you can of our deeds and goals to your friends in the east, for we will need all the aid we can muster in this fight, from plant, animal, and anyone else willing to help."

"Is there anything else we can do for you here before we leave this place?"

"And tell me, if you would. Can you sense anything......different about us? For we have been bitten by the evil man-wolves that haunt this area. Do you know of any way to rid ourselves from this curse, oh mighty friends of the forest?"

[SocraticLawyer]

After the trees have left, Urdur stows his dagger.

To Long Bo, he asks, Any chance you can drop one of those lightning strikes where we buried the cursed necklace and dagger?

[ravenn4544]

Mouser cradles his backpack for a second or two before donning. He looks over at the altar - a distant and scrambled memory of vile acts is all he can recount. He shakes it off as perhaps not his own.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

I am going to return to Hothhills remains to bury them and if he has any item that may be useful for our quest retrieve it.

Ingrid helps, saying a few words over the grave.

[Inferno]

The Strange Black Altar of the Haunted Wood, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Five. After midnight. Wednesday, November 16th, 576 CY
Cold, windy, storming





In the haunted wood, the grateful Ents offer whatever aid they can to those that freed them from bondage and madness. They promise to spread the word of the brave heroes' merciful deeds.

The grey druid asks: "Is there anything else we can do for you here before we leave this place?"

"...Nay, young one... Thou hast done enough... Thou shalt have our gratitude... always..."

Bo asks, "Can you sense anything......different about us? For we have been bitten by the evil man-wolves that haunt this area. Do you know of any way to rid ourselves from this curse, oh mighty friends of the forest?"

"...Alas... Of such things, we knoweth not..."

Brevos and Ingrid reverently see to the red gruesome remains of Hothhil. The priestess recognizes the frightful signs of human sacrifice when she sees it. The heinous witches were delivering innocent souls unto their dark master.

As Ingrid prays that Hothhil's soul may be shown mercy, Brevos recovers what he can to aid the heroes in their desperate quest: a longsword, a bow, five silver arrows, candles, an elvish ring, and six pieces of gold. Hothhil's bloodsoaked leather armor is cut to pieces.

Of the Curse of the Beast, there is no sign upon Hothhil's corpse. Would Hothhil rise again from the grave with the next full moon? And if he did, would he have need of his possessions?


Actions?


Area Map:

Green "?" might be the heroes' current location. Red "X" is thought to be the location of the Lost Shrine of Evil.





PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 9", AC: 2(1), HP: 6/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 3/4: Move: 9", AC: 5, HP: 13/19, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl, 0/1 2nd lvl
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 6", AC: 3(1), HP: 7/22, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl and 0/4 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 9", AC: 4(3), HP: 20/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 0/3 2nd lvl and 0/2 3rd lvl
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 4: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 10/16
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 4: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 10/34
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 7/11, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl and 1/2 2nd lvl, Torch

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[wolfpack]

Bevos will leave a silver arrow embedded in the heart of hothhills corpse to make sure he doesn't rise.

On returning will offer the ring to Bo

perhaps it will aid you in protection.

We are injured, tired, and it is late. Perhaps we should sleep here and the ents could act as guard so we can all rest.

[ChubbyPixie]

"Do we not need, now, to return to Vicar's Head and take the mountain pass from there?"questions Telkis. "Not that I am anxious to return to that place. I did, however, leave a scroll lying in the cobblestone street just before... well, just before I got my throat ripped out, I guess. The details are fuzzy. Maybe it was some magic that could help us, if we must return there before proceeding, that is."

"To travel as the crow flies might be impossible. But the heroes know a mountain pass exists. The mouth of the southwestern trailhead lies near the doomed hamlet of Vicar's Head."

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdurnods at Telkis's suggestion. It seems our path lies through the accursed village again.

If the group decides to rest before heading out, he tells everyone, I'm going invisible again. I'll still be here though. Then he casts Invisibility on himself.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo is surprised once Brevos gives him Hothhil's ring. He looks around at the disheveled group before him.

"I will wear this in honor of the elf, unless one of you needs it more than I. Speak up now."

He turns to the trees again.

"Masters, we are all weak, tired, and filled with sorrow from our heavy burdens. Will you watch over us as we rest in your glade here? Or do you know of a better spot we groundlings may rest safely nearby?"

[rredmond]

"As much as halflings are rumoured to covet magic rings," Rudolph pipes in, looking down at his dusty, but very serviceable leathers, "I'm small and quick, and usually hard to hit," He punctuates that statement with an eye-roll. And contrary to recent actions, I don't normally like to fight up front with the big swords. If one of you brawny front line fighting types can't use it, then definitely a spell-caster should." He shrugs. "The ring is a help to the party, and at this point my life and safety are wrapped up with you all, I'll need you all to keep me safe, and vice versa. If going back to that place," he uncontrollably shudders, "is what we must do, well, I've done stupider... actually, sigh, no I haven't..."

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

I really do not wish to go back, but if that is where our path leads, it appears we must return. There was a hidden room that may have had something of interest. We were not able to open a locked drawer before we heard commotion. I don't know if we are able to check, but I feel it may contain something important, if we are willing to take the risk.

[wolfpack]

We have more pressing matters than the cursed town, If we can find the source of evil perhaps we can stop all these other curses. We just need to get to the trail and continue on our quest.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser looks surprised, "We're not really considering going back to that town are we? We are quite outnumbered if you recall..."

[Inferno]

Well, we have enough of a consensus to rest for the night and head out for the mountain pass at Vicar's Head. I'll move things along.