Rise of the Runelords

During your stay in Radigast City, D'Argo realized he needed a lot of spell ink for inscriptions.  He had some trouble locating enough of a supply and then got a lead on some from a shop in the slum quarter.  Not familiar with the City, he asked Golian to accompany him.  Henrik was on his way to the under construction Temple to St Cuthbert in the same quarter, so the three traveled together.  At the shop, Henrik told the shop keeper that you were looking to buy spell ink.  The keeper replied that he hadn't seen many arcane worshipers of 'The Cudgel.'  Henrik explained that it was actually for the dwarf.  "Even fewer arcane dwarves." the keeper replied.  During the back and forth between D'Argo and the keeper, Henrik thought the keeper nervous, as if he were under some duress.  The keeper had to go into the back room to get the ink as such a large quantity was needed.  He did not return.

Instead, a half orc wielding a very shiny and sharp battle axe came out and said "Wilhelm will not be back.  We'll take your gold instead."  Golian said "I don't think Henrik has much gold."  Henrik replied, "I think he means all OUR gold."  "Oh, well in that case..."

The three started to position yourselves to take down the half orc when then the front door opened and D'argo could hear people moving around but could not see anyone.  Then three casters appeared as did two spiritual weapons.  Golian started toward the half orc and was interrupted by two rogues that had been hiding behind the counter. Another cleric entered making maneuvering extremely difficult in the now very crowded shop.  Henrik, not in his normal armor took the worst of the exchange, finally being felled by the half orc.  A silence in the shop made it impossible for D'Argo to aid with his spells.  The half org was preparing to lop off Henrik's head when a few good strikes from Golian and a timely lay on hands changed the course of the fight.  A couple of the waylayers fled.  You were able to find the shop keeper and dragged him back out into the shop and began to interrogate him.  Turns out he was a victim as well.  Golian found his wife tied up in a trap upstairs and was able to disarm it.


Several more days went by as all the selling and buying as finished.  You decided to head back to Ardrinn to wrap up the loose end at Thisletop - the outer-planar creature you left in the basement.  Thistletop was still abandoned, but it did look like someone(thing) had been there at some point.  The beast in the basement was no real challenge for you. Bach skinned the beast.  You went back to Ardrinn and celebrated your final clearing of Thistletop.  You discussed with the Mayor about being able to supply Thistletop if you were to occupy it.  She indicated there might be a few details to work out, but that it sounded like a good idea.

Early the next morning as you were eating breakfast and some were treating hangovers, bells in town started ringing.  You knew from experience that that was not a good sign.  You gathered your arms and armor and raced to the north gate where you found three stone giants some 200' feet away lobbing rocks at the gate house.  Those with bows and spells climbed up to aid the town watch and others helped the turtles get their armor on.  It took some times, but you were able to kill two of the three before they completely destroyed the gate house.  The third fled.  Then more bells.  The turtles were still not fully armored.  Running to the mill pond, you found two more stone giants and three dire bears. 

The giants were punching holes in the buildings and grabbing their occupants which they then proceeded to stuff into large sacks.  D'Argo wished he hadn't unloaded so much spell power on the first giants.  Missile fire first until all were in range for melee.  Golian headed off another direction apparently to tackle a giant and bear by himself.  Malloric kept an eye on him.  You all noticed a large shadow cross the ground where you were fighting.  Looking up you saw a huge dragon circling.  It landed on the garrison.  Another giant moved into town south of where you were fighting.  More bells from other parts of town.

You took out a couple dire bears and forced the giants to flee.  They went through the pond and you though about following by using the nearby bridge, but decided to route any other giants from the town.  You headed back into town to see the dragon had torched the play house and was trying to ignite the cathedral.  Someone noticed that same giant that had headed into town was now heading back. You decided to try to cut it off.  The giant was well armored and wielded a normal sized mining pick in each hand with great skill and force.  When he spotted the dwarves it was clear he had a preference, but was cut off by Bach and Henrick.  It was a short, but vicious fight.  In the large sack at his side you found not a townsfolk, but a large cut stone that appeared to have been recetly unearthed from the sand.  The fall of this giant caused the rest of the giants and dragon to route.  After securing the town and putting out a few fires, you headed to the lighthouse from where the main giant had come.  You found several, hand dug holes in the ground and several discarded, cut building stones.  D'Argo grabbed his pick to see if he could determine why the giant chose the one he did.  It was quickly noticed that striking the giant's stone resulted in a 'pinging' rather than a more normal 'tink.'  Odd and D'Argo couldn't explain it.  You decided it would be best to armor up and head off after the giants to rescue their captives.

On your way to Radigast City, you stopped in Ardrinn for the night and stayed a little longer than planned checking in with friends and others in town.  In the early evening a couple of days out, you came across a caravan that was picking up the pieces after being waylaid by bandits.  You stopped to help and found a guard who had taken charge.  He reported that late last night they were attacked by group of bandits and strange,fleshy creatures that were extremely resistant to damage.  They were quickly overwhelmed.  The bandits carried off some good, but more importantly had taken a few captives.  There were no real good descriptions of any individuals.  Malloric said it shouldn't be too much trouble tracking them on account of their number.  So off you went.

Several more miles than you anticipated, their trail led into a copse.  Malloric and Golian headed in and found a tent encampment.  They scouted and headed back.  You decided to give the two time to get back and in place at the rear of the encampment and the rest of the group would make their way through the wood to the front.  The plan worked.  The main group was able to get to within 200' before being noticed and the alarm raised.  The fight began.  Malloric and Golian, just outside the main tent heard a guard come in and give an update.  A female voice barked some orders at the guard.  Another deep, male voice said "Looks like my time here is done.  I might stay a bit to see how you handle this."  "so be it" was the female's response.  Golian made a slashing movement to Malloric who vigorously shook his head.  Golian misinterpreted and cut a slit in the tent from head height to the ground.  Inside was an attractive female with long black hair in blackened chain mail; a tall, thin, nondescript man in robes; a burly man in heavy black armor and shield with the symbol of Hextor on it; and a creature not of this world whose most notable feature was a full-faced, spiky beard.  The woman said "Rothsar,  deal with our guests."

The main group was making its way toward the heart of the encampment without too much effort when the bearded devil summoned a horde of fleshy creatures.  While they couldn't do much due to protections from evil, they did effectively cut off the groups progress.  Golain and Malloric were taking shot from the other end of the camp when thew were 'dealt with' with a glitterdust spell from an invisible mage.  This took Golian out of the fight.  Malloric proceeded to pincushion the mage.  Bach was enlarged and charged the toward the mage and proceeded to slice and dice.  The devil was next.  The female was casting a few divine spells and did not enter melee yet.  The large man in black simply stood and watched and after a few seconds summoned a large warhorse from nowhere.

Henrik was pounding away at the bandits while most of the rest of the main group maneuvered around the summoned creatures.  Bach and Malloric were easily in control of the other side of the fight.  Until the man in black looked at the woman and said "Looks like you need some help.  I am not impressed."  He met Bach's sword blows and took a beating, but held his ground for several rounds.  He eventually retreated to his horse and as he mounted, he looked to the female and said "Perhaps you weren't the best choice." and fled.  The group took a couple of parting shots and debated chasing, but then though of your captive and hostages which had yet to be located.

You were able to locate the hostages in the other tents and a lot of stolen goods.  Your one captive was Horath Shangel, a priestess of Vathris.  Malloric knew she was wanted by several Baronies as were any other of her band, 'The Glaive.'  You rounded them up and forced some of the prisoners to carry what stolen goods and freed hostages they could back to the caravan.  You proceeded on to Radigast City with a stop in Brotton to drop off your prisoners and inquire about a reward.  The sheriff sighed your warrants and instructed you to secure your reward from High Mardreth.

You made it to Radigast City and set about finding an inn and started the processes of identifying items, selling them, and shopping for others.