[2025/11/06 14:28] Sonja Bikergrrl: Right, we all seem to be here, although I know some of us aren't all here
[2025/11/06 14:28] Sonja Bikergrrl: looking at YOU, Mecha
[2025/11/06 14:29] Sonja Bikergrrl: we're finally at Chapter 7: the final chapter, the thrilling conclusion that ends in a massive T... *coughs* ...I'm sure you'll all be fine
[2025/11/06 14:30] Sonja Bikergrrl: Last session: you found the location of the Black Wizard Thargons' base, an old tower just outside Kilrush, by the simple expedient of asking Bartholomew Overcoat.
[2025/11/06 14:31] Sonja Bikergrrl: And with that recap out of the way, GGGGGGGRRRRRREEEEEETTTTTIIINNGGGGSSSS Adventurers! Other players get satisfying conclusions to campaigns, you get to find a plank of wood.
[2025/11/06 14:31] Sapphire: /me wiggles in their seat softly. "Te'ala isn't that upset with such a thing."
[2025/11/06 14:31] Sonja Bikergrrl: So. Heading to the tower?
[2025/11/06 14:32] Sapphire: how dangerous does the approach look?
[2025/11/06 14:32] Mecha: /me nods."Ready to go
[2025/11/06 14:33] Sonja Bikergrrl: the road outside the tavern has city guards, elderly, kids, street traders and the occasional wandering dog. It looks not too dangerous - so far.
[2025/11/06 14:33] Sonja Bikergrrl: Al: "Ah, brave adventurers! You’ve traversed half the winding path of your fated quest, but beware, for the road ahead is fraught with challenges yet to unfold. That tower probably holds more than just stone and shadows; it houses a mind as twisted as the old vines that creep up its walls. Stay sharp and be wary, wizards are notorious for playing games with perception. And don’t underestimate his thirst for power; he’ll be prepared for you! Well... SEE YOU later!"
[2025/11/06 14:34] Sonja Bikergrrl: Kilrush is a fair distance away; it's about a six hour march. You'll arrive just after noon, assuming there's no encounters on the way.
[2025/11/06 14:34] Andreas: /me "Sounds I should have last beer before we go, if I have no perception, nobody can mess with it" shrugs
[2025/11/06 14:35] Sapphire: "Games with perception...." Te'ala reaches into the top of her bag to pet something in there, feeding them a bit of bread.
[2025/11/06 14:35] Mecha: let's rock the casbah
[2025/11/06 14:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: Te'ala gets a little nibble to her fingers, and the pseudodragon coils about her shoulders
[2025/11/06 14:36] Sonja Bikergrrl: The tower: Nestled atop a mist-laden hill, near a large babbling stream, the ruined tower stands as a weathered sentinel of a bygone era. Its once-mighty stone walls, now crumbling and partially shrouded in ivy, bear the scars of time and the relentless Iwerddon storms. The narrow, vine-choked entrance yawns open, inviting explorers to venture inside where the air is thick with the scent of damp earth and old secrets.
[2025/11/06 14:36] Sapphire: "Al, might we trouble you for a spare bag of flour?"
[2025/11/06 14:36] Sonja Bikergrrl: (You acquire a 1/4lb bag of flour)
[2025/11/06 14:36] Sapphire: ( Appreciated )
[2025/11/06 14:37] Sonja Bikergrrl: Propped up against a wall: "A tattered banner, its fabric shimmering and blood-stained, the shaft inscribed with ancient runes." (You may recall a mystical magical banner)
[2025/11/06 14:37] Sonja Bikergrrl: Near the tower, just standing and staring, is a troll.
[2025/11/06 14:37] Sapphire: How far is it to get to the banner so we can inspect the runes? does it require getting past the troll?
[2025/11/06 14:38] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me waits for catching up and if you want to know what the troll looks like
[2025/11/06 14:38] Sonja Bikergrrl: Sapphire: good luck with that.
[2025/11/06 14:38] Mecha: Is the troll lookingat us or the banner?
[2025/11/06 14:39] Sonja Bikergrrl: "A figure looms in the dim light of the forest, its hulking form covered in mottled green skin and patchy tufts of dark hair. Standing over eight feet tall, its long, muscular arms dangle by its sides, fingers tipped with jagged, yellowed nails. The creature's bulbous yellow eyes, half-lidded and glassy, are fixed on something far beyond the trees, as if lost in thought or entranced by the whispers of the wind. Mud and leaves cling to its thick, calloused feet, while a half-eaten bone dangles from its belt, forgotten in the moment of idle contemplation. Despite its fearsome appearance, the creature seems momentarily peaceful, a beast caught in a transient reverie amid the shadows of the ancient woods."
[2025/11/06 14:40] Andreas: /me "we should carefully continue around it, so it won't notice us" whispers to Te'ala and Lahli.
[2025/11/06 14:41] Mecha: Lahli nods
[2025/11/06 14:42] Sonja Bikergrrl: so, what you doing?
[2025/11/06 14:43] Sapphire: Well, we've managed to never actually fight a troll this entire campaign, and I see no reason to break that tradition.
[2025/11/06 14:43] Sapphire: Te'ala nods to Andreas. "Agreed. Avoid if possible, negotiate if needed."
[2025/11/06 14:43] Andreas: /me nods
[2025/11/06 14:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: okay.... what are you going to do?
[2025/11/06 14:44] Mecha: Gonna try to sneak around and past them preferably at a good distance to do so.
[2025/11/06 14:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: to where?
[2025/11/06 14:44] Sapphire: what are our options to scale the wall where the troll won't see? or otherwise get around unseen
[2025/11/06 14:45] Sapphire: ....what are the options for "to where", is there more than just the tower?
[2025/11/06 14:45] Sonja Bikergrrl: practically zero; while you can probably scale the walls of the tower, you can clearly see it's open to the elements and completely ruined and abandoned
[2025/11/06 14:46] Sonja Bikergrrl: the banner is by the doorway, beside the troll; getting close WILL be noticed
[2025/11/06 14:47] Andreas: /me "we could get around and I could try to climb up, or perhaps we could distract the troll so it will go away on it's own and we sneak in?" looks at Te'ala and Lahli
[2025/11/06 14:47] Sapphire: /me tries to arrange this scene in their brain, visible confusion
[2025/11/06 14:48] Sonja Bikergrrl: you could taunt it until it becomes so cross it makes a mistake
[2025/11/06 14:48] Sonja Bikergrrl: {tower}-{banner}-{troll}
[2025/11/06 14:49] Mecha: Lahli whispers."You two be ready. Attention is my middle name. well it's actually bancroft but don't tell anyone."
[2025/11/06 14:49] Sapphire: Te'ala will discuse with their mouse friend and pseudodragon friend what they think about sneaking past the troell to reach that runed banner.
[2025/11/06 14:49] Sonja Bikergrrl: Squeak twitches her nose and ducks back into the pack.
[2025/11/06 14:50] Sonja Bikergrrl: Pseudodragon: {growl}
[2025/11/06 14:50] Mecha: Lahli sneaks off in the direction so she can face the troll. Crouching down she reverts to type and just starts barking at the troll.
[2025/11/06 14:51] Sonja Bikergrrl: Troll: (blinks, the glares at Lahli): "Hurr? Mad dog? Me beat!" (grabs banner and holds it like a giant club and strides forwards)
[2025/11/06 14:51] Sonja Bikergrrl: everyone roll initiative!
[2025/11/06 14:51] D20: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 7
[2025/11/06 14:51] Mecha: I'm not mad.. I'm Angry!!!
[2025/11/06 14:51] D20: Mecha rolls 15
[2025/11/06 14:52] Sonja Bikergrrl: Sapphire, Andreas? D20
[2025/11/06 14:53] D20: Sapphire rolls 14
[2025/11/06 14:54] Sapphire: hmmmm
[2025/11/06 14:54] D20: Andreas rolls 12
[2025/11/06 14:54] Sonja Bikergrrl: Troll goes first. He strides forwards and swipes with the magic banner, as if it were a club.
[2025/11/06 14:54] D20: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 11
[2025/11/06 14:55] Sonja Bikergrrl: hits AC 2....
[2025/11/06 14:55] D10: Sonja Bikergrrl rolls 2
[2025/11/06 14:55] Sonja Bikergrrl: Lahli is clubbed for 2 damage.
[2025/11/06 14:56] Sonja Bikergrrl: As the banner slams onto Lahlis' head (which causes no new noticeable mental derangement) the banner cracks loudly, snapping in two pieces.
[2025/11/06 14:56] Sonja Bikergrrl: The troll, looking at the shattered pieces of the Battle Standard artifact with wide eyes, grunts in frustration and says: "Oops! Not supposed to break that, right?" It scratches its head, frowning in confusion, and grumbles loudly, "Me no mean to break it! It just... go snap! Is not good, right? Big boss not like, I think?"
[2025/11/06 14:57] Sonja Bikergrrl: Andreas! You're next.
[2025/11/06 14:57] Andreas: /me "boss is going to be very angry at you, is it the guy behind you?" draws spear and throws it at Troll
[2025/11/06 14:58] Sonja Bikergrrl: The troll would answer, but, is suddenly busy dodging a thrown spear
[2025/11/06 14:58] Sonja Bikergrrl: roll d20 to attack
[2025/11/06 14:58] D20: Andreas rolls 5
[2025/11/06 14:58] Sonja Bikergrrl: ...
[2025/11/06 14:58] Sonja Bikergrrl: well, good news is, you hit the tower
[2025/11/06 14:59] Sonja Bikergrrl: bad news is, you aggro the troll, who flings the two pieces aside and charges forwards, roaring furiously and waving his claws about
[2025/11/06 14:59] Sonja Bikergrrl: Te'ala! You're next.
[2025/11/06 15:00] Sapphire: "We'll tell the boss that we're the ones who broke it if you let us through!" She readies her sling, spinning it up, but offering the troll a chance to stand down before attacking
[2025/11/06 15:00] Sonja Bikergrrl: Troll pauses. "Hurr, you do that? Boss shout when mad. But, maybe me can fix, with some dirt?"
[2025/11/06 15:01] Sapphire: "I am a druid of the white pines, if you let me have it I could very likely mend the wood."
[2025/11/06 15:02] Sonja Bikergrrl: Troll: "Hurr, Boss be mad if me give it away. Boss will shout! Me must keep, fix before he know it broke."
[2025/11/06 15:02] Sapphire: "How am I to fix it without touching it?"
[2025/11/06 15:02] Sonja Bikergrrl: Troll: "Is okay, me fix, get dirt, it fixed."
[2025/11/06 15:03] Sonja Bikergrrl: Lahlia?
[2025/11/06 15:03] Sapphire: "Good plan, I belive there is some excellent dirt by the river for that."
[2025/11/06 15:05] Mecha: After barking grogilly Lahli looks at him."You, you broke your scroll on my head... I'm telling him."Before making a mad dash to the tower.
[2025/11/06 15:06] Sonja Bikergrrl: Troll: Blinks, wanders to the river and starts picking up clumps of mud.
[2025/11/06 15:06] Sonja Bikergrrl: At about this time, what looks like a bunch of musicians step out from the trees and start setting up their musical instruments.
[2025/11/06 15:06] Andreas: /me goes and takes back his spear ....
[2025/11/06 15:07] Sapphire: Oh, is it that ghost band?
[2025/11/06 15:07] Sonja Bikergrrl: Andreas: retrieves one (1) spear.
[2025/11/06 15:07] Sapphire: The dead who are hopefully grateful to us?
[2025/11/06 15:07] Sonja Bikergrrl: Indeed, Sapphire - it's the Grateful Dead!
[2025/11/06 15:07] Sonja Bikergrrl: They start to play, a soft, repetetive melody hinting at careful exploration into the unknown: "Tum, tum-tum-tum, tum-tum-tum tum, tum, da, da-da-da..."
[2025/11/06 15:07] Sonja Bikergrrl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGudCJTbd_k
[2025/11/06 15:08] Sapphire: Te'ala waves, and prepares to make her way to the tower, not wanting to waste the opening given by outwitting a troll.
[2025/11/06 15:08] Sonja Bikergrrl: The interior of the tower is clearly collapsed and ruined... but it looks like you can safely push you way in.
[2025/11/06 15:09] Sonja Bikergrrl: Into the tower?
[2025/11/06 15:09] Andreas: /me nods
[2025/11/06 15:09] Sapphire: Yes, watching my step
[2025/11/06 15:09] Sonja Bikergrrl: Upon entering the tower, there is a shimmer, and the real tower interior is revealed!
[2025/11/06 15:10] Sapphire: Did we step into something gooey?
[2025/11/06 15:11] Sonja Bikergrrl: The lower level of the ancient tower, shrouded in shadows and imbued with a palpable sense of dread, serves as the command post for the mage warlord. The air is thick with the scent of burning incense and strange herbs, mingling with the residual energy of powerful arcane spells. To one side, steps go up. To the other, two cages, one with a confused looking young man, the other with a wild-eyed dark-haired woman clutching the bars. "Beware! He's completely crazy!"
[2025/11/06 15:12] Andreas: /me "heh, looks like pets" grins at the man and woman
[2025/11/06 15:13] Sonja Bikergrrl: The woman scowls. "Let us out of here!"
[2025/11/06 15:13] Sapphire: "WE know he's mad, but what tricks has he prepared?"
[2025/11/06 15:13] Sapphire: does the look look smashable?
[2025/11/06 15:13] Sapphire: lock*
[2025/11/06 15:13] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "All sorts of tricks, you better be careful!"
[2025/11/06 15:14] Sonja Bikergrrl: could be, if you smack it hard enough, or pick it maybe
[2025/11/06 15:14] Mecha: Lahli barks at Andreas before looking at the cages."Why are you in there?
[2025/11/06 15:14] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "Why do -you- think?"
[2025/11/06 15:15] Mecha: There are a whole lot of reasons. He needs you for a spell. he caught you trespassing. You spoiled a play that he had yet to see.
[2025/11/06 15:15] Sapphire: "Andreas, you know how to pick locks, yes?"
[2025/11/06 15:16] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman rolls her eyes. "Yeah, so... let us out, then go up and kick his ass?"
[2025/11/06 15:17] Andreas: /me "I know how to do lockpicking, but how do we know they won't play tricks on us or so? I'd let them be where they are." looks at Lahli and growls slightly
[2025/11/06 15:17] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman sighs. "Well, fine, we'll stay and wait for real heroes to come along, then?"
[2025/11/06 15:17] Sapphire: Te'ala baps the back of Andrea's head. "Is this the time to be paranoid about prisoners?"
[2025/11/06 15:18] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman agrees with Te'ala. "You tell him, sister! No, it isn't!"
[2025/11/06 15:18] Andreas: /me "ouch, yeah it is, you never know. They should tell us how did they get here" looks at the man and woman. "rather sing little birds"
[2025/11/06 15:19] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "Hit him again."
[2025/11/06 15:19] Mecha: Lahli starts looking around for a key. in case they did the hanging the key just out of reach thing
[2025/11/06 15:19] Sonja Bikergrrl: Lahli: no obvious key in sight
[2025/11/06 15:20] Sapphire: She will instead use her mace to try cracking the lock open.
[2025/11/06 15:20] Sonja Bikergrrl: STR check, roll D20
[2025/11/06 15:20] Andreas: /me takes out his lockpicking set and starts with the cage where the man is .... "ouch .... you're such .... "
[2025/11/06 15:20] Sonja Bikergrrl: Andreas, 2D10
[2025/11/06 15:20] D20: Andreas rolls 16
[2025/11/06 15:20] D20: Andreas rolls 4
[2025/11/06 15:21] Andreas: mhm
[2025/11/06 15:21] Sonja Bikergrrl: 2x D10, not D20 :P
[2025/11/06 15:21] D10: Andreas rolls 3
[2025/11/06 15:21] D10: Andreas rolls 10
[2025/11/06 15:21] Sonja Bikergrrl: *click* the lock opens
[2025/11/06 15:22] D20: Sapphire rolls 17
[2025/11/06 15:22] Sapphire: two locks, right?
[2025/11/06 15:22] Sonja Bikergrrl: and at that moment, Te'alas' mace hums past Andreas' head and narrowly misses the lock.
[2025/11/06 15:23] Sonja Bikergrrl: /me is being generous, one check to open both locks: man and woman now free
[2025/11/06 15:23] Andreas: /me moves to the cage with the woman and starts lockpicking "you rather be certain this is not a mistake" looks at Te'ala
[2025/11/06 15:23] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "Now go upstairs and get 'im!"
[2025/11/06 15:25] Sapphire: "What traps did he set?" she asks
[2025/11/06 15:25] Andreas: /me "and here we go" looks at the woman ... "you're welcome and you go upstairs first ... chop chop"
[2025/11/06 15:26] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "I dunno! I'm but a village girl, he's some powerful wizard, how am I supposed to know?"
[2025/11/06 15:27] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman looks to Andreas: "This isn't a sinking ship, you know."
[2025/11/06 15:27] Mecha: LAhli heads for the stairs."Best laid plans ya know...
[2025/11/06 15:27] Sonja Bikergrrl: The guy shambles out, blinking and looking around
[2025/11/06 15:28] Andreas: /me looks at the man "hey, what's your name? I'm Andreas"
[2025/11/06 15:28] Sapphire: "How about you, what do you know of the wizard?"
[2025/11/06 15:28] Sonja Bikergrrl: The man looks at you, blinking
[2025/11/06 15:29] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "Old Silas, he doesn't talk much."
[2025/11/06 15:30] Sapphire: that name sounds familiar....
[2025/11/06 15:30] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "it's a common name."
[2025/11/06 15:31] Andreas: /me turns to the woman "And your name is?"
[2025/11/06 15:32] Sapphire: Te'ala looks around the rest of the chamber. What are we dealing with?
[2025/11/06 15:32] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "well, it's not Silas, is it? And I'm not dating you - whoever you are - and shouldn't you deal with that wizard?"
[2025/11/06 15:33] Sonja Bikergrrl: The rest of the chamber looks like any other magical tower. Bright glowing runes, purple drapes, comfy chairs, an astrolable, a desk covered in parchments, a skeleton standing in the corner
[2025/11/06 15:33] Sapphire: Te'ala moves to check the parchments first.
[2025/11/06 15:33] Sonja Bikergrrl: They're covered in some illegible scrawl.
[2025/11/06 15:34] Andreas: /me looks at Te'ala "this woman is mean, I'm telling you we should let her in the cage"
[2025/11/06 15:34] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "Well, it's clear who wears the trousers in -this- party."
[2025/11/06 15:35] Mecha: Lahli rolls her eyes."How about we explore after we do what we are supposed to do. Have little Miss Muffet here wiggle her tuffet back home or something
[2025/11/06 15:35] Sapphire: "Not after he's through with him," she quips, before inspecting the skeleton. "Anyone you know?"
[2025/11/06 15:35] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "At least one of you guys has a brain in their head."
[2025/11/06 15:36] Sonja Bikergrrl: The skeleton nods. "Yes, a village girl, named Elenor."
[2025/11/06 15:38] Andreas: /me "spells, gossips and intrigues .... how do we know it's not the wizard playing with us?" looks at the woman and then the skeleton
[2025/11/06 15:39] Sapphire: "Elenor?" She asks,. Does the skeleton seem female?
[2025/11/06 15:39] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "Maybe go upstairs and stop him, don't you have a bone to pick with him or something?"
[2025/11/06 15:39] Sonja Bikergrrl: Sapphire: D20
[2025/11/06 15:40] D20: Sapphire rolls 5
[2025/11/06 15:41] Sapphire: "Less than you might think," she answers. "But the wizard has been rather... a thorn in everyones side lately."
[2025/11/06 15:41] Sonja Bikergrrl: A quick search of the skeleton fails to reveal boobs, or a boner. So... not female, not male... also, how the hell is it talking without lungs, a voicebox, a tongue, lips...
[2025/11/06 15:42] Sonja Bikergrrl: Woman: "So he's a bone of contention. Better go upstairs before he comes downstairs, maybe?"
[2025/11/06 15:43] Mecha: *Can this one roll for Lahli to battle her impulsive behaviour
[2025/11/06 15:43] Andreas: /me "noisy ladies first" grins
[2025/11/06 15:43] Sonja Bikergrrl: D20, must roll under 15
[2025/11/06 15:44] D20: Mecha rolls 4
[2025/11/06 15:44] Sonja Bikergrrl: You successfully battle your impulsive behaviour.
[2025/11/06 15:45] Sonja Bikergrrl: Now what?
[2025/11/06 15:46] Sapphire: "Fine, if it will satisfy your base urges," Te'ala says dryly, before heading up the stiars.
[2025/11/06 15:46] Sapphire: stiars*
[2025/11/06 15:46] Sonja Bikergrrl: As you go up the stairs, you activate a magic trap!
[2025/11/06 15:46] Sonja Bikergrrl: There's a (pop) and...
[2025/11/06 15:46] Mecha: People, and Andreas. All this can be done after facing the big baddie upstairs. And can we move on it? I'm either dying or going to find a Happy Dasher after this so...
[2025/11/06 15:46] Sonja Bikergrrl: ....and doesn't this make a great cliffhanger? :D
[2025/11/06 15:47] Andreas: /me draws his spear and gets ready for whatever comes, watches Te'ala moving upstairs
[2025/11/06 15:47] Mecha: Cliffhanger? Nooooooooooo
[2025/11/06 15:47] Andreas: cliffhanger ofc =)
[2025/11/06 15:47] Sonja Bikergrrl: 'fraid so.
[2025/11/06 15:48] Sonja Bikergrrl: you'll thank me next week, when you get a full two hour of epic combat.
[2025/11/06 15:48] Andreas: I was very very close to stab the woman, coz I'm 75% convinced it's the Wizard or some of his spells or so.
[2025/11/06 15:48] Sonja Bikergrrl: not sure I'll be thanked for the TPK, but, it's a risk I'm prepared to take
[2025/11/06 15:49] Sonja Bikergrrl: hope you're enjoying this and looking forward to the big finale - I know I am! ;-D
[2025/11/06 15:49] Mecha: And yes If Lahli survives she is going to find the store she wants and say.. Ohhh Haberdasher. I have been saying it wrong the whole time."
[2025/11/06 15:49] Sonja Bikergrrl: okay, i got to dash....
[2025/11/06 15:49] Sapphire: It's possible Adnreas is right, but... have some -tact- man!
[2025/11/06 15:50] Sonja Bikergrrl: SEE YOU next week ;-)
[2025/11/06 15:50] Andreas: tact lol, insticts over tact ;)