Game-Summaries:1/27/2018 Recollections

Recollections by Jeroy

Pearl, Kaylorr, Ford, Tallulah, and I gathered in the magistery to investigate the mysterious "Portals" of one known as "Hune" (Pronounced Hun, Hue-n, or https://youtu.be/iG940q9Jva0?t=87). After much debate of the proper pronunciation Ford relayed to us the fruits of his research on these portals.

"I was not able to find out much but it appears that some are working with portals as other members of the party have discovered. The portals may be made by a wild mage approximately 20 miles east of town."

We rented 5 horses for 3 days with plenty of rations to keep them well fed. I was warned against malnourishing a horse by Kaylorr and the repercussions from the stable owners. We rode east along a road led be Tallulah and approximately 8 miles till we found a farm with an old woman knitting on the porch. We approached and asked if she had seen anything strange lately, such as portals or strangers (that looked like us but meaner). She said no - I doubted this at first but was convinced she was telling the truth after a "perception check" (I don't know what that is or why I heard it in my head, but sometimes I feel as though my actions are not my own. That they are controlled by another and the whims of chance). The old woman did remember that a person who seemed filthy all over his skin came by about a week ago and asked for food, she said no keeping him outside and he left. She recounted he spoke with a funny accent that used more K's than needed for normal pronunciation. Tallulah recognized this as possibly the language under-common. The woman added that he came from the east and headed west. We thanked the woman for her time and headed back to the road.

We decided to head east from where the individual came from rather than where it was going by Tallulah tracking his path. As we began again, Pearl, noticed a figure that matched the creature's description approximately 1000 feet away along the path east of where we stood. We decide to approach with caution. As he approached we saw he had his short sword drawn, we continued to approach. When he was 30-ft away we noticed that he had mushrooms on his face. Pearl, Tallulah, Ford, and I describe the mushroom affliction we had seen in the training dungeon perimeter defense when a band of garden gnomes/goblin/elves (just filthy creatures really) attacked our base to Kaylorr and how this is a hive mind affliction where they are controlled by another and if the spores or smoke from them touches you.....well we don't know really. None of were afflicted but I imagined it would be terrible. Kaylorr stated he knew of this affliction because it had affected (or effected? I need to research the difference) him in the past. He stated that he felt like something was burrowing into his brain and feeding him new thoughts. I thought to myself "that sounds terrible, we should avoid it." When he was very close to us Kaylorr tried to speak with it saying "Ahoy traveler!" But he ignored us, slapped himself across the face spraying his spores/smoke across the party. I inhaled it while other avoided, but it affected (effected?) two of our horses ("those poor horses!" I thought, or maybe someone else did for I felt something taking over my mind). Ford and Kaylorr were bucked off of their now affected (effected?) horses to the ground. I manage to shake off the affliction, draw my shield and battleaxe (I have named her "Soulmate") entering a barbarian rage, I leap from my horse with Soulmate held high above my head such that I may swing down on this fiend slicing it in twain. But I missed, so that sucked. Pearl drew her long-bow, knocked an arrow, drew back, and with great aim let fly a mighty arrow straight into chest of the creature killing it. Kaylorr sliced off part of the face of the creature to take back the fungus for later study which I found to be gross.

We searched for the horses for a few hours and healed them of their affliction (effliction?). Feeling badly for putting them through this, I feed the horses some hay and pet them to re-assure them. I get the feeling they almost bite me.

We continued on the path, soon finding another creature approaching. We let it approach to within 30-ft where Kaylorr attempts to heal it of its condition but with no effect (affect?). Tallulah quickly draws her bow and lets an arrow fly but misses. Ford draws a throwing dagger, takes aim and misses. Kaylorr attacks with sacred flame and misses. We are not good at this suddenly. Pearl shakes her head and I think I hear her mumble "fine, I got this" and transforms into an elk, charging the creature and knocking him to ground. I draw a javelin and throw it into the creature killing it. After retrieving my javelin and cleaning it we burn the body like a Jawa on Tatooine (DM Note: like a what? on where??). We continued on to find a third approach. Tallulah quickly dispatches it with an arrow, I ride over to it and thrust a Javelin into its body to be sure (its not a dead horse so it isn't cliche) We burn the body.

We quickly realize there is one seen almost every mile and this is taking too long. Pearl casts a spell to make us all stealthy ninjas so that we can pass them more quickly and reach what we believe is the source of the creatures. A large willow tree with thick, thick, bramble sides that requires the creatures to crawl and struggle through them. This tree seemed to be no normal tree and Pearl's first thought is to burn it which is an odd thought from a druid but who am I to judge? We camped for 8 hours to let our spell casters regain their strength while I spent the time doing pushups. Tallulah scouted around the tree and saw that the drow would only come from the western side of the tree and head west, down the road and towards Solace. She noted there was a flash of light at random times but didn't know what it signified. Pearl became bored with our talk of what to do and when to do it. "To Action!" she cried, but only in my head. She actually turned into a giant wolf spider (which I found to be very unsettling) and headed for the far side of the tree. She planned to climb into the canopy to see what should could find out.

We waited for some time, hoping for the safe return of our friend and spider when suddenly the tree disappeared and we saw Pearl the spider fall to the ground. "Did the tree just...disappear?" Kaylorr asked me as perplexed as I am between affect and effect. Before I could answer the tree flashed back into existence right where it once was. "....and now did the tree just reappear?" He asked. We look at each other and spring into action. I must confess, this is my favorite part for we charge into battle. Tallulah, her companion wolf and Ford move to the south of the tree and prepares to enter (anter?) the tree. A drow exits the tree to their left, poised to attack. I charge with a lust for battle and with a mighty cry I draw a Javelin and hurl it with all my might towards the drow. I hear from all around me someone exclaim "Natural 20 b*tches!" Which i don't know what that means or who said it, but I know that as I set the javelin go I have never thrown with such power and precision before - I think the pushups are working. My javelin flies true to the drows chest blowing a gaping hole and continuing through him and into the tree behind. He falls down lifeless to the ground and I smile because I have saved my friends. I let out a barbaric yolp in celebration. Tallulah, the Wolf, and Ford enter the tree. Kaylorr at my flank, I charge into the tree to it's western side where the drow had been exiting. As I enter I see we are in dire straights, Pearl has been knocked out, the wolf is down, Ford is engaged in battle, and Tallulah is trying to help Pearl who has another giant wolf spider over her. A mage-like being with a shinny helmet stands near the wolf and Ford. I wonder if this is the infamous Hune we had come to fine. As I enter my legs become entangled in vines from the ground and I am stuck. "Kaylorr! We are in tough times! The party is in dire straights and we need your assistance (or is it essistance?)" I yell to him through the tree. "Jeroy! This is no time for spelling! You are speaking and I understand you phonetically! Focus on the battle!" Kaylorr is wise.

Hune begins to chant something in a language that I don't understand as a second head sprouts from his body. I only think, "well that can't be good." The party is battling for survival and I with no ability to move I do what I do best by entering a barbarian rage. I draw a javelin, and with the distractions of my ancestors/annoying in-laws (they drive me nuts, the probably will for this guy), I aim for his chest. He is knocked back and visibly distracted and annoyed (ennoyed?). He chants again, touches his helmet and disappears into the ground. That helmet was sweet and if we meet again I will take it.

I free myself from the brambles and move to the second drow that was a spider (gross) but is now a person. He attacks me but I dodge. Suddenly we all see a large creature craw from the portal. It is a large mushroom monstrosity with one arm and holding a mighty staff. As I am engaged (angaged?) with the drow Ford comes from behind with a powerful sneak attack to kill the drow splaying it in twain around me. I smile a Ford as he gives me a satisfied wink and says "not bad right?" I nod as I draw my Soulmate turning towards the monstrosity and attack with all my might. My attack lands true. The monster lets out an acid spit which narrowly misses me, lands on the dead drow causing it to explode (axplode?) causing damage to those around it. The energy from the blast appears to absorbed (ebsorbed?) back into the mushroom causing it to be re-invigorated. It exhales a spore cloud around us which appears to linger but not affect (effect?) me or the others within the cloud. It takes several blows from my companions, including a healed Pearl, who is now a wolf, and the wolf companion which bite into the gross flesh of the monster. I swing for the monsters arm to sever its scepter but miss. The monster lets out another blast of acid which infects the drow outside that I killed so spectacularly. It explodes and again, energizes the monster. I stare with wide eyes thinking this monster my be two powerful for our group. I find I may be right as it takes it's scepter and uses it to smash my face. Startled but not out, I swing again with my Soulmate into its arm. Cutting deeply into its rotten flesh. Pearl, as a wolf, lunges and kills the creature with a powerful bite. The sounds of trumpets and drums fills the air in celebration.

We inspect the tree and portal while Kaylorr takes the gross fungus scepter. Pearl realizes the tree is from a magical staff. She creates a magic word and the tree becomes the staff of the woodlands which she takes for her own. The portal is pink, which Kaylorr believes may lead to a dark cave based on his previous experience with other portals. Kaylorr dispels the portal and we make our way back to Solace along the road to find the drow that we had sneaked past. We catch up to them about 10 miles east of Solace but they do not head towards Solace as we suspect but instead head north. We follow for a mile where it enters a small hole in the mountain side. I can tell the area has been excavated and this is not a natural cave. Someone has gone through much effort (affort?) to build this. We rest for a short time and Pearl enters the cave as a giant wolf spider while we stand guard outside. She tells us that the cave is long tunnel leading down to a large chamber. There are stairwells leading from this chamber but she doesn't know towards where. Within this tunnel and chambers are hundreds of drow all standing in lines looking like they are waiting to go somewhere but with no idea where that is. We look at each other and say "I got a bad feeling about this" I use my mason tools and collapse the cavern entrance. We nod and everyone gives me a pat on the back. It feels great.

We get back to Solace and meet Wisakedjak from the Magistery to tell him what we saw. We recount the tale and Pearl gives him the staff. He reviews it and returns it to her. Wisakedjak believes that the druid that had it previously may have made a deal with the dark forces, his name was possible "Winy" but he is not sure. The druid was not powerful but was given great powers through the dark side, I mean Under Dark. I feel like I have heard this story before but cannot be sure. We tell him of the drow in the cavern. He exclaims "you mean over the ruins of Old Solace?" We nod in agreement, but unsure of our directions because I don't have my magic maps app open. "Hmmm perhaps it is time for an investigation in the ruins of Solace" he suggests. We nod again and leave. Kaylorr take the gross scepter and fungus face to the library for study. This is a well earned night's sleep. I clean and sharpen my Soulmate and fall asleep anxious for the next adventure.

Recollections by Kaylorr

Hune. Damn him and his portals. Ford came back from his research and found that there was a wild mage somewhere to the west of Solace. With Tallulah leading us, we headed out with Ford, Jeroy, and Pearl. Along the way we came across and old lady at her farmhouse and we stopped for some quick bites of info. She informed us that she witness a stranger coming from the west speaking in a sharp accent that we later learned to be Undercommon. With our rest over, we continued along our path where we saw one of these odd fellows on the same path we were. His heading pointed towards the way we came and, with no cover, we decided to take a chance and intercept his travels. Luckily he wasn't some sort of barbaric cavalry, because only a fool would meet them in an open field as we were.

Upon greeting him, we notice his face was afflicted with some sort of growth and with no other warning he slapped himself, releasing a cloud of spores. Unfortunately, these spores spooked the horses that Ford and I were riding and bucked us off and ran. Jeroy inhaled a bit but was able to shake off. Thankfully, Pearl was at the ready and quickly dispatched him with a swift arrow. We find nothing of note and decided to continue along our path, after locating our missing horses of course.

Fast forward a couple of hours later, we enter some sort of glade with a massive tree out in the open. We decided to take a quick rest and keep an eye on the tree. We notice that a single Drow (btw did I mention they were Drow) would exit from somewhere underneath the tree and head east. We counted about 45 of them over the course of a few hours. Needing more information, Pearl changed into a giant wolf spider and went to go climb atop the tree. After several minutes, the tree vanishes and appears in a quick flash. We see Pearl no where in sight and decided to move in on the tree. Tal moves in quickly with her wolf friend and disappears underneath the canopy. Ford follows and Jeroy and I make up the rear. A skirmish breaks out underneath the canopy between us and a Drow druid and Hune immediately teleports away after yelling something in Undercommon. Here we find another portal in which a massive spore creature emerges from within. We make quick work of the Mushroom creature and druid and find the portal to be pink in color. Similar to the portal I discovered with Rezik, Zanna, and Sarya. The portal looks to be one way and I quickly decide to dispel it in case more Fung-Drow make their way out. After pillaging the the body of the fallen druid, we decide to quickly make our way back east in hopes of finding out where the drow were headed. PS Pearl also found a shiny new staff - the Staff of the Woodlands - left by the druid.

We eventually catch up to one of the last Drow the left the tree and Pearl decides to follow him into some sort of cavern in her super sneaky spider form. This cavern is only 10 miles east of Solace and we wait apprehensively for Pearl to return. She finds that there is a massive army of these Fungus Drow doing nothing but waiting for more orders it seems. To be extra cautious, Jeroy collapses the entrance in hopes that this will slow down what or who ever may be coming after us. We make our way back to solace and meet with Wiskadjak to inform him of our findings. I also brought back with me a scepter of some sort that grew out of the mushroom creature and find that it definitely originated from the Abyss. With nothing else to do, we part ways and I patiently wait for the next party in need of healing.

Recollections by Tallulah

Investigate Hune - Portals 1.27.346

I woke up yesterday morning feeling excited about the day's mission. It had been a long time since my last adventure and I was definitely eager to get back out there. I've been working hard in my downtime, plus, this would be my first quest with Wethril. My companion wolf and I have a come a long way over the past couple months and I had a feeling this mission was exactly the next step our relationship needed towards working as a team.

Kaylorr, Jeroy, Pearl, Ford and myself had come together to investigate Hune and how he may be responsible for the portals that some of our classmates have encountered recently. While Hune proved to be a tricky fellow to learn much about, Kaylorr and Ford were able to share some information that would get us on the right track. Kaylorr filled us in about what he had witnessed just a few weeks ago on a mission where the group discovered overlapping portals from the "outside" realm to ours. On this mission they uncovered a Pentagram symbol that seemed significant although we're not sure how just yet. Ford had done some research prior to our mission and learned that the same types of symbols have been showing up about 20 miles east of Solace and had heard rumors that a wild mage may be involved in producing them. The symbols include writings in an ancient, forgotten language but Ford was able to decipher a few of them which suggest a breach between the outside realm and our own.

After a brief discussion about strategy, Jeroy rented us some horses and I led the group out on the road heading east with Wethril padding along beside us. The further we got away from Solace the more remote it became so, when we came across a farm, we decided to stop and ask if anyone had seen anything out of the ordinary of late. The elderly woman we met described a dirty looking man walking from the east toward Solace who spoke with an accent which, to me, sounded a lot like it may have been Undercommon. I suspected the dirty appearance might in fact be the grey skin discoloration we had seen in the training dungeon months ago. Knowing we were heading in the right direction, we ventured on.

A short time later Pearl spotted someone similar to the man the farmer had described walking down the road towards us. We decided to try to talk to the man. As he approached I recognized him as a drow and he seemed to be infected by a fungus, as I had feared. He ignored our greeting calls and when we attempted to pass him he slapped the side of his face releasing a cloud of fungal spores! Two of the horses inhaled the cloud which sent them into a frenzy and they bucked Kaylorr and Ford to the ground. Jeroy also came in contact with the cloud as he jumped off his horse but he shook off the effects and went into a barbarian rage swinging his ax at the drow. Pearl planted an arrow in its chest and the drow went down easily. We decided it best to see if we could find the infected horses. With Pearl's help we were able to locate both of them. They were pretty distressed when we found them, seemingly ravenous for food and drink and not too keen on us approaching them. Fortunately, Kaylorr was able to heal the horses from their madness and we were able to continue on our way. I had taken a piece of the dead drow's clothing for Wethril to scent and he helped us find our path again.

Once back on the road we saw another drow approaching in the same condition as the last. I drew my bow and as we got closer, Kaylorr attempted the healing spell that had worked on the horses but to no affect. I panicked when the spell failed, letting an arrow fly and missing terribly, enraging the drow. Ford and Kaylorr also missed their attacks; Pearl leapt from her horse transforming into an elk and charged at the drow but it was Jeroy who finished him off with a javelin to the jugular-effective to say the least. Continuing down the road a bit further we encountered yet another drow and I decided to take it out from a distance. I hit the drow in the shoulder and it began to charge. My companions assisted in taking this one down too and it was suggested we burn the body in case the fungus is infectious even after the host dies, so we did that before continuing on.

It was becoming clear we were going to continue to encounter these creatures along the roadway and we recalled from our previous experiences that not only does the fungus infect healthy minds, it controls them too. We hoped if we were to find and kill the leader responsible that the fungus would die as well allowing the infected to return to their normal selves. Pearl cast a spell allowing us to pass the rest of the drow undetected. We traveled until we came to an enormous willow tree. This tree was bigger and more magnificent than any tree I had ever seen before. We found a hidden place to tie the horses and I took Wethril to scout the perimeter of the tree. We had indeed found where the infected drow had been coming from as periodically one would emerge from the tree canopy and head west. I noticed a dim flash of light every now and then but the sweeping branches of the tree were too thick to determine the source of the light. I reported back to my group and we decided to rest before we made our approach.

At nightfall it was time to make our move. Pearl transformed into a giant wolf spider and climbed into the tree while we held our distance. Then, suddenly, the tree vanished from thin air! In the blink of an eye I saw three dark figures standing where the tree had been as spider Pearl fell from the air; just as suddenly, the tree reappeared hiding everything from view. I sprinted toward the tree with Wethril close behind me. As soon as we reached the edge of the canopy a drow came through the branches and before I could react a javelin whooshed past us and killed the drow swiftly--thanks Jeroy! Wethril and I scrambled through the tangled branches of the tree with quite some effort. Once we broke through I was able to see just how dire the situation was: Pearl was no longer a giant wolf spider and was sprawled in an unnatural position on the opposite side of the tree trunk as a different giant wolf spider stood menacingly over her; closer to me stood a powerful looking drow wearing an elaborate helmet with a red gem gleaming in the middle of it and next to him was a glowing, pink portal-we had found Hune indeed.

I tried to run past Hune to the trunk of the tree, but as I began to move the ground turned to a bed of sharp, nasty thorns one of which pierced through my right foot. I shortened my stride and gritted my teeth as I made it to the tree trunk. I turned for Wethril to find him laying on the ground motionless next to Hune! An overwhelming feeling of fear and anger washed over me. I fired an arrow deep into Hune's side to which he responded by shouting in Undercommon: "I beseech thee, come forth" followed by, much to my horror and surprise, growing a second head!

At this point Ford and Jeroy had also made their way through the canopy and were engaged with both Hune and the giant wolf spider. Desperate to get to Wethril but closer to Pearl I made my way around the tree trunk. Pearl was quiet and still when I got to her; I focused all of my energy and attention to cast my new spell Cure Wounds while our friends fought behind us. As Pearl was waking up I heard Hune shout again in Undercommon, this time his words were even more chilling: "I beseech thee Demogorgon, send your servants!" I turned to see him touching his fingers to the gem on his helmeted head just before he disappeared.

With stealth and agility Ford slid underneath the giant wolf spider cutting it with his rapier, then, Kaylorr burst through the tree canopy casting a spell transforming the giant wolf spider into a its original druid form. I cast Hunter's Mark on the druid as something large began to emerge from the portal. Ford dealt a final blow to the druid splitting him along his spine and as he fell, the thorns disappeared into the earth. Out of the portal climbed a being resembling a massive, living mushroom monster carrying a scepter-it was really strong and really really angry. Jeroy swung his ax at the monstrosity but as he struck it, it sprayed acid on the corpse of the druid seeming to absorb its energy and become stronger despite Jeroy's blow! Pearl, now awake, had transformed into a wolf and launched herself at the monstrosity taking a bite out of it. I moved Hunter's Mark to my new target and rushed to Wethril. When I got to him he was awake thanks to Kaylorr, but in bad shape from Hune's attack. I healed his wounds and with a powerful shake of his thick, dark fur my partner was back and ready for action.

Just then the monstrosity released a cloud of fungal spores which we all managed to avoid somehow. Wethril attacked the creature with strength, ferocity and grace biting and ripping through its flesh. I launched an arrow through the monster's body only for the creature to regenerate itself again by spraying acid this time over the corpse of the drow Jeroy had speared outside the tree canopy. With its new-found vigor it slammed its scepter into Jeroy's face. This thing was harder than anything I have faced up to this point but we fought with everything we had. Wethril and Pearl attacked viciously with their wolf jaws tearing big chunks of flesh each time. Ford moved stealthily to attack with his rapier and at one point was fully engulfed in a cloud of the fungal spores! Jeroy swung his ax detaching the monstrosity's arm that held the scepter. And it was Pearl who took the monster down by tearing out its throat with a final death shake.

With the immediate threat dealt with we examined our surroundings. We took account of our injuries and while we were certainly a little beat up everyone seemed to be okay. Pearl recognized the slain enemy as a druid; she pulled on a branch of the tree and the tree disappeared revealing a magical looking staff which she collected to bring back to Solace. Kaylorr was able to determine that the pink portal was directional-from a dark, cold, cavernous place; he successfully closed the portal using Dispel Magic.

We headed east back toward Solace tracking the drow that we had encountered earlier in the day. We caught up with one along the road and followed it to an underground cavern above the ruins of Old Solace approximately 10 miles from Solace itself. Pearl returned to giant wolf spider form and made herself invisible to enter the cave and give us a report. Inside she found hundreds of infected drow just milling about seemingly waiting for something or someone. Wanting to prevent the drow from escaping the same way they entered, Jeroy collapsed the cave entrance.

We returned to the Magistery late into the night. We found Wisakedjak to report everything we had learned and that Hune had gotten away. Pearl showed Wisakedjak the staff she had recovered. He examined it thoroughly and told us it was The Staff of the Woodlands; the staff had belonged to a druid of this realm named Wyny who had made a pact with the dark realm. He told Pearl it was a powerful instrument and she should use it well. I noticed that Wisakedjak gave pause when I informed him of Hune calling upon a Demogorgon before his disappearance. I get the feeling we may have gotten very very lucky yesterday and we may not be so fortunate the next time we encounter him.