Into the Valley

Episode 1 - Fire, Flood, Dirt and Tornado

The Second Day of the Melting, The Year of the Melting Witch.

“So, Dessarin, this is Dessarin, where to first?” Carolyn Swiftarrow looked over the small town from the crossroads, “Grump, they have an all faiths’ shine, time to taunt our gods?”

“Hmph, sacrilege, how creative. But Vergadain cares little for sacrilege.” Grump Swiftarrow self-identified, “but truly Vergadain can wait. The feet are blistered, and the throat is dry. A glass of wine and a bed are required before we make any large sacred deals.”

“Then, you must have prayed to Tymora, as that big building with a sword on the sign is definitely an inn.” Sasha Swiftarrow added.

The four dusty and weary travelers made their way north on the Long Road, stopping at the Swinging Sword Inn. The interior is much better appointed than one would expect to find in such a small village, and all are surprised at the luxury, even if it is modest.

“Welcome to the Swinging Sword! I am Kaylessa, your ever lovely and youthful landlord.” A middle-aged human woman with obvious signs of years in the sun and hard labor in her face and eyes. “What is it that I can get for you? A room, a bed for the night, and some dinner?”

Jonathan Swiftarrow stepped forward, “Yes, that will do, and some food for my friends. The road was long, and we are quite tired.”

“Cliché alert,” Sasha mumbled, and Grump giggled.

“Well, dinner is cheese and cured meats, with a few raw vegetables. The kitchen caught fire, so there are no hot trenchers here, but the Helm, across the street, has some sturdy eats if needed. We should have a grill outside in the morning. My apologies for that, but we have rooms, either single bedrooms, each with their own garderobe. Or more common rooms upstairs with bunks.” Kaylessa explained the Inn’s situation.

“Fires, well, one should be more careful. We will take the crudité and a common room upstairs.” Jonathan responds. He does not notice the glare that Grump is giving him for ordering crudité or the glare from Carolyn for implying the fire is an accident.

The Swiftarrows stayed in the inn, and having arrived before dusk, they were alone in the inn until the day was over. They dine and talk to Kaylessa, who told them stories of recent bad luck and monster incursions, among other disturbances in the Town of Red Larch and the Dessarin Valley. There were tales about a persistent fog that resisted even bright sunlight and gusts of hot wind in the nearby Sumber Hills. Kaylessa called sudden and unexplainable lightning strikes “Fell Magic” and argues that every monster an adventurer defeats makes the town of Red Larch that much safer. Even though she admits to never having seen any of these things, the four travelers listened intently. Grump perked up when she said she may be interested in paying some adventurers.

“What, how much?” The Dwarf interrupts.

“What, oh yes, I believe that something is up at the Lance Rock, and as an incentive, I can give you two hundred Waterdavian Dragons to investigate it and make sure that everything is safe.”

“You said that there may be some in town, up to no good?” Jonathan inquired.

“Hold on, Jonathan, we must get to the bottom of these Dragons.” Grump interrupted, “It is too late today, but tell us how to get to Lance Rock, and we will go tomorrow."

“Of course, we shall go tomorrow, but I am still curious about the townsfolk.” Jonathan insisted.

“I would hate to start more rumors,” Kaylessa said, and Sasha gave her a look of suspicion.

A persuasion check of DC 10 will give a single name and DC15 for both names that Kaylessa knows. Jonathan rolls a 21 (16+5) on the persuasion check.

Kaylessa reluctantly went on, “I hate to start my own rumors, but Mellikho the Stonecutter and Luruth the Tanner are on the shady side, and I suspect that something is up.”

Jonathan looked to his companions, “Ah, friends, see we have things to do. and Adventure for tomorrow, and investigations into an unknown evil for the following day. What could be better?”

Instantly, Grump replied, “A beer, a soft bed, and a late sleep? A fine roast hen, a light rain on a hot day, and a chocolate piece? I could go on...”

Jonathan Swiftarrow paid for ten days' room and board at the Inn, in a common room, keeping everyone at a poor level (8gp) total. Sasha bought a pair of Healer's kits, and Grump got a Warhammer.

The Third Day of the Melting

The Swiftarrow group woke early and made the twelve-mile trek, following Kaylessa’s directions to Lance Rock. The trip is uneventful.

Rolling 1d20 for random encounters – 9 no encounter.

Approaching the rock, there was a sign:

come no closer
lest you catch
the disgusting plague
that afflicts me
The Lord of Lance Rock

“Sounds promising,” Carolyn pointed out as she passed the sign.

A couple of hundred feet further, there was a cave opening with another identical sign.“So, trap or the place we are looking for?” Sasha asked.

“One way to find out,” Jonathan replied, unhelpfully.

“Yeah, give me thirty feet, and I will scout ahead.” Sasha lit her lantern and headed into the cave.

“So we let the human scout?” Grump grunted.

“If you could see the barn you are sleeping in, we would let you.” Carolyn Switarrow replied.

“There is a body up there,” Sasha called back.

Jonathan responded, “Are you sure that they are dead?”

"Well, they are just lying there.” Sasha called back, “I suppose that they could be just napping. Screw it, stay there, and I will check it out."

“It is obviously dead, only in breeches. I am going to check if there is anything to find out if there is anything to identify him.” Sasha leaned over the body and checked the pocket in the corpse’s breeches. “Wait, they are moving…”

Sasha drew her sword and stabbed at the body ineffectively

(Initiative 17, To Hit 6)

“I thought you said that he was dead.” Jonathan dashed up to the corpse.

(Initiative 17)

“Fyr Mæðel,” Carolyn started casting, and the firebolt struck the corpse.

(Initiative 15, Attack Roll 16, Damage 5 Fire)

“I got this,” Grump handled his Warhammer and dashed up. “I got this”

(Initiative 14)

The Zombie lurched and took a swing at Sasha, striking her hard.

(Initiative 9, Attack Roll 22, Damage 9 Bludgeoning)

“Oh, fokka mer.” Sasha staggered.

“I was not prepared for that,” Sasha disengaged and moved away from the Zombie.

(Initiative 17)

“No worries, I got this,” Jonathan stated as he stabbed at the zombie with his rapier.

(Initiative 17, Attack Roll 11, Damage 8)

“Need more fire, Fyr Mæðel!” Carolyn cast firebolt again, and the zombie staggered a bit but did not fall.

(Initiative 15, Attack Roll 15, 6 Fire Damage, Zombie Constitution Save 23)

“We need headshots!” Grump stepped in with his warhammer, but caught it on a stalactite.  

(Initiative 14, Attack Roll 5 – Fumble)

“Not the head,” Sasha screamed.

The Zombie turned and lurched at Jonathan.

(Initiative 9, Attack Roll 12)

Sasha dropped her sword and pulled out her bow, “head shot, you say?”

(Initiative 17, Attack Roll 17, Damage 11 with sneak attack).

The zombie dropped from the arrow in the head.

“Give me a minute, I need to deal with this.” Sasha looked at the wound from the zombie and pulled out her healing kit.

(Healer Feat, uses hit die and regains 6 hit points)

“Are you okay?” Jonathan asked.

“Yeah, okay,” Sasha looked up, still breathing hard. “Let’s go.”

“Good, but you hang back, let me handle the scouting and you can hang back a bit.” Jonathan looked to the rest of the Swiftarrows, “Give me twenty feet as I enter this next opening.”

“My feet or Grumps?” Sasha joked.

Grump grunted, “Someone needed to get harder.”

To Be Continued...