Kings-Men 8: Largest Ever Seen

… after dispatching the goblin gaurds, then later a group of goblin archers, and finally a group of

gillie goblins with a winter wolf, our characters looked upon the east border fort. A plan was quickly concocted where Raghnall would set alchemist fire and caltrop traps as the rest of the A-team approach cautiously as the sun sets behind them.

Each border fort was layed out the same with the stand out differences being the upkeep or lack of in each fort our characters investigated; however this one had a round yurt erected in the courtyard. Battle commenced with Ace jumping over the palisade, bow in hand, while the rest of the A-team showed off their mythic might on the barghests and the goblins of hob.

Our characters gathered the treasure, which included: burglar boots, major (Ace), ring of delayed doom, +1 weapon, +1 sa (Hannibal), ring of wishes, three (Raghnal [+1 Dex], Baracus [+1 Dex], Egol), +1 armor (Egol), and two potions or scrolls of second spell level or lower. Also gathered were masterwork weapons to be taken back to the druid’s secret community in the woodlands.

Our characters decide to camp outside with filthy east border fort where Hannibal makes his report to Major Garrett that all forts are relatively secure, the threat of the Goblin-King is no more, and that our destination now is Vicklow in a few days hence.

Vicklow

Late the next day our characters arrive to the secret woodland community to a night of stories, revelry, dance, drink and physical pleasures (after which Raghnall gives an enchanted cloak tohis woman).

Our characters set out early the next day and travel late and encounter the King’s Road along the way where our characters turn north to a relatively unmaintained road and increasing colder temperatures.

Eventually we find Vicklow built into a massive bluff, magically protected and mechanically locked against intrusion. After a few moments of study Egol feels a presence and Raghnall finds the magical protections. Raghnall disables the mechanical lock and in a moment of inspiration Egol freely walks into the monastery, and as the war priest walks past Raghnal uses his skill to emulate what was needed to also pass into Vicklow, the door shut firmly behind them.

We pick up here next Thursday. We were awarded 2,800 xp and 1 mythic trial. 

Kings-Men 7: The Secret In The Woodlands

The Durid’s name was Connie and to her right and left were half-elf rangers of the bowman variety, while flanking them were werewolf hybrids- who were also rangers but of the melee combat variety. A symbol of the Stag Lord was visible upon them.

Hannibal immediately uses his diplomacy to adjust their initial attitude towards favorable to us when the druid suddenly warned us not to advance along our path further; because further ahead is the Goblin King.

When questioned further, she bid us to follow her into the nearby wooded area. Baraccus seemed to trust her immediately and followed her, while Hannibal showing trepidation and Raghnall expressing impatience along the way. An hour later we arrive to a secluded community nestled in the woodlands; humans and half-elves made up most of the community of frontiersmen. Watching the people react to the druid we see how comfortable everyone is even in the presence of werewolves.

Connie leads us to a community building where we tell her of our travels and our goal of reaching the east border fort. She explains that the Goblin King was driven out of the mountains a year and a half ago (after midsummer) by dragons. As far as the strength of the Goblin King’s forces, she diflects that question to a ranger named Tristan.

Tristan, part of a scout group, described four tiers of enemies consisting of goblins with wargs commanded by winter wolves in the first tier. The second tier populated by trained hobgoblins, he estimates their number at seventeen. Third are the Goblin Kings lieutenants, two lesser versions of the Goblin King- the top tier enemy, and through Tristan’s description Hannibal was able to discern these to be barghests and the Goblin King a greater barghest.

There has been no contact with the former King’s-men Sir Baconridge and Glynnis, who we believe went to Vicklow.

With this valuable information our characters return to the road without further delay. Ace leaves his sturdy cart behind. Shortly thereafter Hannibal makes a report to Major Garrett about the Goblin King, how John Jr. was telling the truth in his lunatic ravings and leaving out Connie and the woodlands community.

Over the course of the day our characters encountered a group of goblin sentenials, then later a group of goblin archers, and finally a group of gillie goblins with a winter wolf. We dispatched each group, Raghnall gathering oilfactory components to his disguises; our characters finally arrive a half hour before sunset to the east border fort.

We gain 1012 xp and begin next session with the attack on the Goblin King. 

Kings-Men 6: Border Fort Tour

… The King’s Road veered north east as our characters continue north west to the border fort following the map. Along the road we see recent wagon wheel tracks along the way. We take a short six hour rest and continue. The next day, around a bend in the road, we come to what we believe to be the border fort under siege with the dwarves defending themselves against the ogres and bug bears...

                                              

It proved to be three ogres (one mage, and two brutes) and their leader upon a wholly rhino, who made his entrance by delivering the heads of dwarven miners in a gruesome sack over the border keep palisade. Bolstering their numbers were seventeen bug bears.

We defeat the attackers and introduce ourselves to the dwarves, eventually telling him of our kings-men orders to aid if the dwarves should require. Thorgrim Battlehammer, a dwarven clan chief, bids our characters stay and feast after our victory, while he checks on the status of the iron mine and the fate of the miners.

Inside the border fort, our characters see the improvements the dwarves have made as well as some of the injured; furthermore no one here as seen Sir Charles of Baconridge or Glynnis.

Later during feasting Thorgrim shares with us the details of their week under siege and his long term plans of maintaining this border fort as well as the mine with lofty hopes of somehow becoming a Baron after it’s all said and done.

That night during Hannibals report to Major Garrett, Hannibal releys this and conveys our support. Major Garrett says 25% of the mines output goes to the crown, the Barony is more complicated than that and will have to be negotiated, but it is not out of the realm of possibility.

The next morning most of our characters are fitted with hangovers, nevertheless our group travels east early that day and arrive at the next border fort late that day. The outpost is deserted and neglected with no valuables left behind; the night goes by uneventful (Egol thinks he sees a large serpentine silhouette in the sky) and we depart early the next morning.  

Around midday our character’s path intersects the King’s Road, but beyond that Baracus starts to feel a sense of calm as well as a natural resonance with the land- a strong indication of druidic presence.

Our characters arrive at the third fort to find it has been visited manys times, we even find a shrine and well maintained barracks and store house. It is here where Ace leaves a pint of vodka and Baracus a magical cloak of resistance +1. During the night Egol notices a wolf watching us during his watch, then that morning Baracus speaks with a hawk, hopefully to deliver a message to the druid.

Again our characters leave early for the final border fort, but after a few short hours our characters come to a shallow valley and a group of half elves, a wolf, two werewolves, and a familiar hawk. This is where we will begin next session.

We are awarded 6,000 exp, gain seventh level, and our second mythic tier.