***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller...copying and distribution of these stories * is permissible only under the condition that no part of them will * be used or sold for profit. In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PARTY: Alindyar, 7th level drow elf mage (N) Belphanior, 5th/5rd/6th level high elf fighter/mage/thief (CN) Ged, 6th/6th level grey elf priest/mage of Boccob (NG) Halbarad, 7th level human ranger (NG) Mongo Thunderhead, 7th level dwarf fighter (CG) Peldor, 8th level human thief (N) Peyote, 6th/7th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) Rob, 7th level human priest of Trithereon (LG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 5/1/570 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: midday Place: Havenhill, capital of the Principality of Ulek -------------------------------------------------------------------- XXXVIII. The Payoff The party recently returned to Ulek from the Drachengrab Mountains (in the Pomarj), where they once and for all destroyed the menace of the Slave Lords. After a week-long trek through wilderness and hostile lands (omitted from this account for convenience), they just arrived one morning in Havenhill and went to City Hall with news of their victory. Needless to say, there was a commotion of major proportions among the councilmen. While the king de-briefed the adventurers, asking about every single minor detail, riders were sent to the capitals of the other two Ulek regions (the County and the Duchy) to summon their kings or representatives thereof. After the initial questioning, the party members were put into the royal suites in the king's palace to await news from the other capitals. During this time, they chose one afternoon to lock themselves in a large room and divide the loot they had gained (with the help of the city's finest sage and magic expert, plus Peldor and Alindyar for the monetary items and Ged as a double-check on the more powerful magic items)... THE LOOT: shortsword +1, invisible (a.k.a. Sword of Lyons - whe sheathed, the sword makes the bearer invisible until such time as he attacks someone) longsword +3 battle axe +3 bracers of defense, ac4 dagger +2 rose ioun stone (increases AC and saves by +1) chain mail +1 longsword +2 gauntlets of dexterity potion of extra-healing scroll (Spider Climb, Feign Death, Dig, Affect Normal Fires) footman's mace +2 bracers of defense ac6 longsword +2 (yes, another one) evil illusionist's spellbook (11 illusion-type spells) gem (100 gp value) 27 ep gem (500) idol (~4000) 50 pp diamond (~1000) deed to land near Hardby, to the north (~1200) golden brooch w/gems (3000) platinum ring w/fire opal (5000) gemmed dagge (1100) artwork (~900) box of gems (total ~4750) Scroll detailing slave lord agents in the Sea of Gearneat area Scroll - order for the assassination of all locatable relatives of the adventurers... sage: I have identified practically all of these items for you. Ged: And we thank you. sage: For my payment, I will be happy to take that platinum ring, the diamond, and that strange idol of a dragon. Mongo: YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKIN' KIDDING! That's most of the good cash there! Halbarad: The sage has earned it, though. Peyote: Yeah...? Ged: Well, I suppose we must make good on our deal. Belphanior: Too bad. Peldor: Here, take those things and get out of here. (hands the named items over, muttering) Before I rob you... Alindyar: What of these two documents? Mongo: Yeah? Assassination?!?!? Ged: It's a good thing that we got that particular paper before anyone else did... Peldor: Like the Assassins' Guild. Belphanior: Damn good thing. Alindyar: Actually, I should hope that someone could find my own relatives. I would like to see them try to kill them, though. Peldor: I HAVE no living relatives, so I don't much care. Halbarad: I say that we burn that paper now. All in favor? all: Yes! Belphanior: (produces a flame quickly) Here you go. Halbarad: (holding the burning scroll) So ends one danger... Peyote: The other scroll - the one with the slaver agent dudes - the kings or whoever that are on the way will want to take a look at that. Ged: Yea. I hope they use it to find them all and bring them to justice. Halbarad: Aye. Belphanior: Oh well. On to the real treasures. We can divide the monetary stuff. Or what's left of it. As for the magic... where's the treasure prioritizer? Rob: Huh? Ged: (produces a strange die with many sides) I have it right here. I'll go first. (he rolls, then all the others; the numbers rolled determine the order of treasure picks) Alindyar: (rolled a 20) I shall take the spellbook. Ged: No! NO! Mine, mine, mine! Peldor: Now, now. Fair's fair. Ged: No fair! You always get all the magic! Waa! Alindyar: (cradling the spellbook lovingly) Peldor: Heh heh. Ged: What do you care, thief?! You pick next, anyway! Peldor: Yup. And I want...the shortsword! Belphanior: (not suprised at all) Peldor: (sheaths the weapon and turns invisible) Yeah! Ged: (worried) Belphanior: I'm next. I'll take those gauntlets. Halbarad: (picks up the battle axe) This fine axe will suit my tastes, thank you. Mongo: Me next, huh? Well, this stuff is pretty useless to me. But I'll take this longsword here (grabs the +3 one) just in case my hammer ever hits a tar baby or something. Ged: Finally! My turn! Shit. (looking over what's left) I'll settle for the scroll. Four spells is better than none. Rob: I know what _I_ want! (snatches the mace) Ah... Peyote: Well, dudes...(picks up the ioun stone and sets it spinning in an orbit around his head) Neato! Far out! Alindyar: The circle comes around to me, once again. Hmm. I shall take this fine dagger. Peldor: (picks up the potion) We usually have more than just one potion bottle...but I'll take this, anyway. Belphanior: (extremely happy today) I want the longsword here (takes the +2 one, smiling all the while) Halbarad: (looking over the suddenly-measly pile) There is nothing left that I can use. I shall forfeit my second turn. Mongo: Hey, good idea! I'll do that too! Who wants that junk? Halbarad: (pleased that he has imbued good morals to someone else) Ged: Hmm. (grabs the bracers of ac4) I guess today wasn't a total loss. Rob: (picks up some pieces of the chain mail) I'll take this armor, here. The banded armor was getting too heavy, anyway. (Rob has been moving at 9" due to far too much luggage...this new armor should change that.) Peyote: Raw deal, man. I skip too. Let's sell the rest. REMAINING MAGIC: longsword+2, bracers ac6, Belphanior's old longsword+1, Halbarad's old battle axe+1, Rob's old mace+1. Ged: Does anyone mind if I take the bracers? I want to use them to try and get new spells from some mage. Alindyar: (practically gloating over his new spellbook) I care not. Belphanior: Fine by me. You probably earned it, anyway. Mongo: Sure, take them. Bracers are for wimps. Belphanior: Hey! Halbarad: Mongo, will you help me take these gems and jewelry to some place where we can sell them? Mongo: Sure! (they scoop up all the excess stuff and go) Peldor: I guess nobody wants ME to take care of that part... Within days, the messengers started to return. The actual king of the Principality of Ulek came as well, which was no big deal since Havenhill WAS the capital of that region. It turned out that spies and informants had been watching and listening, and there had been a notable decrease in slaver-related activities. The party's safe return confirmed these reports, and they suddenly became the center of an incredible amount of congratulations and rewards. The adventurers were each given sufficient funds to train in Havenhill's best guilds and schools (no small thing, there!), totally re-arm and re-equip themselves, and rest and relax for no less than a year or so. In addition, the three kings granted each of them (even Alindyar) the status of nobility in any of the Ulek lands - this included a sizable tract of land in the approximate middle of the region. They were now recognized as heroes of the realm(s) and were free to come and go as they chose. The king of the Principality of Ulek (one Olinstad Corond) insisted that they all stay in the royal castle until they were ready to leave. The meeting room where all of this occured (only the three kings and their closest advisors and guards, and the party, were present there) went into an uproar when Ged presented the document listing the Slave Lords' agents in the area. Some very prestigous people were thus incriminated (fortunately, none of them were in the meeting chamber just then) and the orders were immediately given to find and capture all of these individuals. For this, the kings opted to give the party further rewards. A medium-sized platinum chest was brought out. They opened it and extracted eight huge sapphires, one for each adventurer, and gave them to the party members. Peldor's eyes lit up as he no doubt thought of ways to acquire the other gems, but for once the thief was totally silent about what was on his mind. The kings again thanked the party and shook each of their hands, assuring them that they would not soon be forgotten. With that, they left the kings and councillors to their devices and started training and other miscellaneous activities. A brief summary of each adventurer's activities for the next month or so follows (the new levels listed at the top of this posting reflect the training listed below): Alindyar: Studied extensively in the mages' guild, chatted with the mages there, considered becoming a specialized illusionist mage but held off for now. Notable new spells he learned: hypnotism, summon swarm, fear, confusion. The drow was quite happy these days. "Illusion spells? Me? Never...your eyes doth play tricks on you." Belphanior: Studied magic and thievery. The thieves' guild was wary of him and Peldor at first, until they realized that the single most threatening thing to the guild (the Slave Lords) had been eliminated by these two. Belphanior learned the spells of ventriloquism and Melf's minute meteors (two spells he was sure he could cause much chaos with). Also recharged the JUMP spell in his ring of spell storing. "So, tell me about your current guildmaster..." Ged: Studied magic and Boccob's ways (what there were of them, anyway - what can you expect form a god who is called "the Uncaring" ??). Notable new spells he learned: spectral hand, web, lightning bolt. The grey elf traded the bracers to a mage in Havenhill for a few spells. He found that he still did not have enough magic for his liking and wondered if he was addicted to magic. "More spells?!? Where? Where?!?" Halbarad: Trained with the city's finest warriors, and spent a lot of time in the city zoo as well. Became used to his new axe, and decided that it had a better feel than his old one. (this may have been due to his attack rate going from 1/1 up to 3/2 - which means axe/dagger/axe, then dagger/axe/dagger the next, etc. - rangers get to use two weapons at once...). He also donated large sums of gold to the homeless and poor of Havenhill. "Here, go buy yourself a meal or fifty." Mongo: Trained with Halbarad and Peyote, also with a group of dwarven guards in the palace troops. Spent most of his time playing target practice with his hammer, to the point of torn elbow tendons many days. Along with Halbarad, he sold the monetary treasure that the party had brought back, on the party's behalf. Also learned that his third "magic" ring was actually fake, and proceeded to flatten the item with his hammer (his attack rate went up, also, from 3/2 to 2/1). "Sage, if I find out that you were wrong, I'm gonna come back here and smash YOU!!" Peldor: Visited the thieves' guild, and showed off his skills whenever possible. Drew up multiple plots to rob the royal treasury just for fun. Practiced with his sword in order to get used to being invisible most of the time. "Now you see me, now you don't! Ha ha!" Peyote: Worshipped at the (sizable) temple of Obad-Hai, and also worked on his weapon-play with the other warriors. Gained access to a single fourth-level priest spell per day. Also learned to get used to the rose-colored prism that was in perpetual orbit around his head now. Spent many nights smoking strange herbs that he got from the city's black market. "Dude! Check out my satellite! Cool, isn't it?" Rob: Sequestered himself in the temple of Trithereon, praying and discussing worldly matters with the high priests, who were certainly glad to accept his hefty donations. Gained access to fourth level magic from the diety (not one, but three spells, due to Wisdom bonuses). "Huh?!" -------- It seemed that everyone was happy these days, despite the possibility of new enemies made of any who might have escaped the Slave-Lord-agent hunt...but any good group of adventurers cannot remain static for long, as we shall see soon. next time: The next mission (wait until you see what it is!) ANONYMOUS FTP SITE: tybalt.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) *********************************************************************** NOTES: What a laid-back episode, wouldn't you say? I have an idea, here goes. Tell me who your favorite adventurer is, and tell me who your least favorite is. Also give reasons - I want to know if I'm doing a good job of portraying these guys the way that I knew them. Email me your votes within the next week (by Sunday, May 17th 1992) and I'll tally them up. The winner and the loser will get an entire posting devoted to their history - what makes that adventurer the man (or elf, or dwarf) that he is, where and when he came from, what he wears, what his favorite pasttimes are, and a zillion other things that I shall draw from my memories plus whatever written material I have in my character files. This should be fun, so I ask that if you read these postings, you take a minute to mail me your opinions; I'll then take a few hours to post mine. Thanks in advance to everybody. ***********************************************************************