Tis the Season

I know that its getting to be busy with the holidays coming soon so I wanted to see what we could do about setting up one or two sessions before the new year kicks in. Also I'd like to discuss our plans for the new year and see how people feel about keeping the game during the weekdays or changing to a weekend. What we have works for me but I don't know how everyone else feels.

If we can't get together I suggest we put forth some submissions that allow us to feel like we are still playing. Theodoruk did and awesome submission and I think if we could do some that had to do with our group doing side quest like stuff that would be pretty cool. What do you guys think?

Preludes

Two mini-stories from Theodoruk's past.  The first one is from the time before he started adventuring and the other one is from right before he met up with the current group.

****

Theodoruk quickened his pace.  He was late for the evening vespers and he did not want to anger the kindly Priest Klarus.  Getting to the service on time was never Theodoruk’s strong point.  He gripped a heavy tome to his chest.  The large leather bound book with the prayers to Pelor has served many students over the centuries and it always pleased Theodoruk to think that he was following in the footsteps of Pelor’s servants of old.  It put him closer to the heroes of legends he remembers hearing about.

A short distance away, Theodoruk noticed High Priest Darmond talking to someone.  He was about to look away and continue on when something about the meeting caught his eye.  Theodoruk grew up in the house of a wealthy merchant and he has seen deals made and deals broken.  He could read people better than most and something about the two men conversing tugged for his attention.  Something sinister was going on.

All thoughts of the evening vespers lost, Theodoruk turned and started circling slowly around the two men, staying out of their sight.  He came up to a bench which was close enough for him to hear the conversation.  He missed what High Priest Darmond said earlier, but the stranger’s response was clear.

“That is great news, your Excellency.  The Fishmonger’s Guild is very pleased to continue supplying the servants of Pelor.”

“Indeed,” responded Darmond while jingling a heavy bag of coins.  Theodoruk knew the sound well.  “Pelor’s Servants will happily continue relying on the Guild’s good works” Darmond finished with a smirk.  “Pelor’s Blessings my child,” he added after a pause and the two men walked apart.

Theodoruk sat in anger and disbelief for an hour on the bench.   An important piece of the puzzle clicked in place.  He remembered being angry at the Fishmonger’s Guild for taking advantage of the naïve Servants of Pelor when he found out about the constant deliveries of rotted fish to the Churches and Monasteries.  He remembered thinking “When I become a priest, I’ll negotiate for the Church.  Those greedy merchants won’t find me to be as easy to cheat as the kindly Priests.”  But now he knew the truth.  The greed of the merchants spread to the Church and Pelor was angry. He could feel His anger in his heart.

****

“No” said Theodoruk in a clear voice.  “I am not going to burn down that farmstead”.

“What?” asked Jonah, the wiry leader of the group.  “What did you say?”

“No” repeated Theodoruk, his anger rising.  “I did not sign on with the Golden Fists to attack defenseless peasants.” 

Jonah stared at the heavily armoured Paladin.  The rest of the group shifted uncomfortably in the silence broken only by the soft rustle of light autumn rain.  There was a faint smell of farm-dung in the air.

“You will do what you’re told, boy!  We took the contract and we’re going to do the job” said Jonah poking his finger into Theodoruk’s chest while keeping his other hand on the pommel of the sword at his side.  “You don’t get far as a mercenary by taking money and not doing what you’re told”.

Theodoruk stared unmoved. A feeling of unwavering clarity washed over him.  This is not what Jonah told him two days back at the inn when he was signing up as a member.  But this was Pelor’s Work.  He now knew why he was brought here to this place and to this moment.

“Then I suppose you will just have to go back to your patron, whoever the fiend is, tell him that you had a change of mind and give him back the money.” The paladin said slowly, like he was speaking to a child. 

“Give him back the money?!” derided Jonah, sweeping his hands around. “Oh, it’s that easy, is it?  Just here, sir, here is your money.  We ain’t doing the job no more.” Jonah continued in a mocking voice.  Borim, the group’s scout snickered.  Jonah continued emboldened by his audience “That’s not how the world works, boy!  That’s not how money works!”

Moving swiftly, with an almost unnatural speed Theodoruk seized Jonah’s head in his large hands and pulled his face close. 

“Money?!” he yelled into Jonah’s face, “Money won’t buy your soul back, dog!” he spat and threw Jonah back.  The smaller man flew through the air and landed on his behind with a splash of mud. 

“There will be no farmstead burning today,” said the paladin with an inner strength that made him seem as unmovable as the mountains in the distance.  He grabbed his massive, two handed maul with  practiced ease and fell into a ready stance. 

“Any one wants to try, they come through me”.

Jonah didn’t move to get up.  No Golden Fist moved.  The only sound was the soft rustle of the autumn rain.

The Last Two Sessions

Miramar, Zackar, Theo, Durin and Valaris headed towards the north ramparts, in search for the follower of Pelor. They arrived at a pair of towers, one of which had received significant repairs. When Valaris knocked on the door however, nobody answered, despite noises coming from inside. They found the remainder of the missing halfing camp, which upon questioning attacked! Wererats!

After dispatching these foes the party found what appeared to be the possessions of the Pelorian. A sad day. They ventured a bit further along a hallway, but decided to turn back as most of the party had acquired the "Fith Fevour" and required treatment.

Back at the monestary Durin managed to tend to cure everyone but Theo of the disease. Durin and Zackar made a deal with a dwarf merchant to return with a suite of magical plate mail for Durin in one month's time. Valaris decided to take a short rest to recover from his near death experinece (getting ganged by 5 wererats at the same time) and the rest of the party headed out in search of a crypt containing the jade chalice.

On the way towards the Monument to "Traitors" the party came across a unit of human soldiers. They were suspicious of us, but Theo befriended them with an astral tongue, and they not only confirmed the information the party had gathered on the location of a possible crypt in this location, but also gave Theo a pair of magic bracers.

Upon reaching the destination, the party found a fearsome lone orc warrior among other dead black fist orcs. He appeared crazed and paranoid. The party attacked and it was the fight of their lives. (note to self - orcs are a lot scarier than they used to be!!). After dispatching the lone orc, with thanks to Theo and his divine challenge, and cashing in some healing surges, the party found a secret entrance to the crypt. Below they were greated by hordes of zombies, which were dispatched with ease by Zackar and Durin. A wraith appeared out of a statue, but retreated the the face of the storm of radiant energy which was being unleashed upon its minions.

The party took a quick rest and are ready to venture further into the crypt, with hopes of finding the jade chalice!