Grand Duchy 58

Grand Duchy of Adventure

Session 58
June 6, 2015

Hellhounds, Mountains and Undead Trees, Oh My!

Gromdain 12 Yarthmont

Red Rover, Let Burik Come Over

The Hellhound

The Grey Company rushes to the aid of their companion, Burik, who is firmly in the clutches of a large Hellhound! Several key strikes by Draven, Marcel and Griffin force the demonic dog to release his hold on Burik and retreat back into it's dark hole. Feeling they should not press their luck, the Grey Company beats a hasty retreat and does not pursue the beast into its lair. Once they are a safe distance away, Draven patches Burik up quickly with his magic and they get to their horses. They then ride back to the camp and the protection of Remar's Mystic Mist, hoping it will keep the Hellhound away in case it wants to come back to seek its revenge. Fortunately the night passes with no further event. 

Tserdain 13 Yarthmont

Meet the Mountains

It's going to be hard to follow this river.

The Grey Company trudges through the hills to the west of Verge, doing their best to avoid civilization and possibly alerting Golthar and his Iron Ring cronies to their whereabouts. Eventually they make it to the edge of the mountains. The Black Peaks rise up out of the foothills quite obviously. The dark granite rocks are steep and tall. The Company follows the mountains to the east until they find the river they are looking for, not much more than a swift running stream at this point. Their hopes of following it north into the mountains are dimmed when they find a 25 foot waterfall filling a wide pool at the base of a cliff face. 

Remar flies up and scouts the upper flow of the river and reports that it looks like it follows a very treacherous route with nowhere good to follow along. He says he lost sight of it in places and is certain that it even flows underground in a few areas. Due to the constraints of his magic, he is not able to follow the river very long but he is able to report that he saw no nearby ways to traverse the cliffs to even get up to the level of the river above.

The Griffin does some scouting while a camp is made near the pond, which looks to be full of fish. After a while, Griffin returns to tell the others he has found a possible path up into the mountains but it is getting too late to explore at all so they plan to camp overnight and start fresh in the morning.

Moldain 14 Yarthmont

Here Come the Rains Again

The next day starts with thunderstorms and heavy rains. It is decided that there will be no travel at all this day after Griffin says he thinks it will rain for most of the rest of the day. The Company digs in and spends some part of the day fishing, hunting and foraging between storms. It is decided that the three boys will remain here at the camp with the horses while the others head up into the mountains to begin scouting a path north. Those going into the mountains will take all of the Elven rations while the boys will be tasked with fishing and hunting to provide their own food, which they are sure they can handle. 

A storm rages in the mountains

Nytdain 15 Yarthmont

Onward and Upward

The Companions head off into the mountains and find very quickly that mountain hiking is much slower and more difficult than even traveling through the hills and forests of Karameikos. The path that Griffin leads the party on requires frequent climbing and even some potentially dangerous situations. No major mishaps present themselves though the group is forced to double back and change course many times. 

Late in the afternoon, the travelers come across a wide hollow filled with what looks to be dead or burnt trees. As they approach, Draven experiences an ominous feeling. Up ahead, across the stand of trees, some movement is detected and soon it is revealed to be what appears to be a large, undead tree. 

An undead tree turns the Grey Company back

It taunts and beckons the Company to come forward and meet their doom. Marcel considers approaching then thinks better of it when it is seen that the undead tree can animate and control the other dead trees in his vicinity. The Company makes a hasty retreat and regroups some distance back and discusses engaging the undead tree, trying to find a path around or heading back the way they came. 

Getting closer to their destination.. whereever that may be.

Cast of Characters: 

Garrett "Griffin" Constantine, a Thyatian rogue of a gambler from Penhaligon rolled by +Arne Jamtgaard 

Marcel Maas, a homely but sincere wielder of spears aspiring to cooking greatness commanded by +Christian Blouin 

Draven Rickart, a Thyatian Acolyte of the Church of Karameikos ministered by +Jason Packer 

and +Jason Woollard as The DM