***** * The 8 player characters contained in these writings are copyright * 1992 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to persons or characters * either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. Copying and/or * distribution of these stories is permissible only under the one * condition that no part of them will be used or sold for profit. * In that case, I hope you enjoy them. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 5th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Bosco, 5th level halfling thief (CN) Peyote, 7th/8th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 1/2/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: late afternoon Place: the southern Suss Forest, alongside the Jewel River ------------------------------------------------------------------ LXVIII. The Deck The party has just been blasted by a large, invisible green dragon! Of course, the dragon isn't invisible any more, but the adventurers have more important things to worry about than whether the monster is invisible or not... various animals: (summoned by Peyote earlier, they have all fled in terror by now) Lyra: (with a running start thanks to Alindyar, she avoids the worst of the noxious green poison breath) Ack! (falls to one side) Alindyar: (atop the carpet, hit by the worst part of the breath, saves but perishes anyway, at -8 hp) Halbarad: (saves, avoids serious damage as he rolls to one side) Whoa! (guzzles a potion of speed) Peldor: (perhaps due to his luckstone, saves, manages to avoid critical damage) (sheathes his sword and becomes invisible) Bosco: (slain instantly by the breath, -33 hp) Peyote: (saves, but is barely conscious) (grabs a javelin of lightning) Green Dragon: HAH! YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD SNEAK UP ON _ME_, DIDN'T YOU? YOU WERE WRONG! (moves to melee the nearest of the party) Halbarad: You shall pay for those deaths, monster! (charges the dragon speedily, and hacks it with his axe) Take that! (stabs it with his dagger) And that! Green Dragon: ARGH! THOSE TOOTHPICKS HURT! (swats the ranger with a paw, knocking him aside) Peyote: How 'bout _this_ toothpick, then? (hurls a javelin of lightning at the dragon, hitting it in the belly; the enchanted weapon explodes in a blast of electricity) Yo! Green Dragon: ARGH! YOU WILL DIE FOR THAT, FOOL! (grabs the half-elf and crushes him in its mighty paw) DIE! DIE! Peyote: (smashed to a pulp) Green Dragon: DIE! DIE! (tosses the limp body aside) BAH. Halbarad: (stands up) Where is the foul fiend? Ah, there, of course! Lyra: (dragging Alindyar's prone body away from the main battle) Halbarad: (leaps up once more, and charges the dragon again) I am not finished with you yet! (chops it again, hitting with his axe, though his dagger glances off of its armored scales this time) Hah! The gods are kind! Green Dragon: FOOL! (bats the ranger again, knocking him about fifty feet away) Halbarad: (drops his axe and dagger along the way, as he sails into a wall) Oof! Green Dragon: HA HA! Peldor: (striding and springing with his boots, he tries to backstab the dragon) Green Dragon: WHAT?!? (turns around and looks at the thief) Peldor: Erk. (slashes the dragon across the head, since he can't backstab; a minor wound is scored) Green Dragon: ARGH! YOU LITTLE BUGS HAVE A LOT OF STINGERS! (tries to bite Peldor but misses as the thief leaps aside) Lyra: (pours Alindyar's last potion of extra-healing down his throat, stabilizing him) There. Halbarad: (looking around himself) Damn. Where are my axe and dagger? (realizes that he can fire arrows from here much more safely than a melee approach) Aha! (grabs the bow and some arrows) Peldor: (slashes the dragon, but his blade bounces off of it) Green Dragon: (claws Peldor, knocking him unconscious) HAH! Peldor: (slumps to the ground) Green Dragon: AH, BUT I SHALL EAT WELL TONIGHT! Halbarad: (fires two arrows at the dragon; both bounce off its hide) Damn. Green Dragon: BAH. MY SPELLS DEFLECT ALL YOUR PUNY WEAPONS. ONLY A MAGICAL ARROW COULD HURT ME NOW! (showing his green hide with great pride) Halbarad: Magical arrows? (thinking) Magical? (realizes that he is carrying an arrow of dragon slaying) Gods! (frantically begins tossing items out of his pack) Where is it? Where _is_ it?!?!? Green Dragon: THIS IS NO TIME TO LOOK FOR MAGICAL WEAPONS, FOOL! (uses an innate spell, Magic Missile, and blasts the ranger with five bolts) HA HA! Halbarad: (pummeled mercilessly by the spell) Argh! Ugh! Ouch! Aha! (holds up a glowing red arrow) Now we shall see! Green Dragon: (prepares to breathe on Halbarad) NONE OF YOUR PUNY WEAPONS CAN KILL _ME_! (sucks in breath) Lyra: No! (casts a Web on the dragon's head) Green Dragon: EH? (rips the web into bits with a shrug, looks at Lyra) BAH. YOU I SHALL SAVE FOR DESSERT... (turns to face Halbarad) EH? Halbarad: (facing the dragon with a nocked, glowing arrow ready) Here goes nothing. Ehlonna guide my aim. (fires the arrow) Green Dragon: (watches the arrow as it flies toward him) WHAT?!? (the missile pierces its left eye with a meaty sound) AAAAAAAAARGH! (leaps about in great pain, causing the ground to tremble terribly) AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHH!!! Halbarad: (watching in fascination) Green Dragon: (keels over, dead) Halbarad: By the gods! It worked! (limps over to Lyra) Lyra: So it did! (happy) Halbarad: Were it not for your timely distraction, though, and my consumed potion, the beast would surely have breathed gaseous death upon me... Lyra: (looking around) We must help these others! Halbarad: Aye. They tended to the other adventurers as best they could. Alindyar, Peyote, even Peldor were recoverable, only on the brink of death (the ranger and drow poured water down their throats and then induced vomiting, hopefully to clean out their systems), but the halfling Bosco was beyond help, green of face and still of limb. Lyra used a spell taught her by Alindyar to create an illusion of a sleeping green dragon where the real, dead one actually was. Also, they borrowed potions of healing from Peyote to get themselves back up to full strength (not wanting to deal with the half-elf's Rod of Life and Death). Peldor also unwittingly contributed a potion of healing to the cause. After a night of uncertain rest (during which Halbarad stood watch, mostly), they woke up Peyote in the morning. Though some kobolds approached during the night and early morning, they were apparently fooled by the illusionary dragon. At any rate, they did not seem to want to risk its wrath by awakening it. Anyway, Peyote used his spells to heal the others, though more rest was required by all. Peyote: I hope my spells helped, dudes. Alindyar: Most certainly. Now I shall have to see to a spell or two for our continued safety while resting here. Peldor: What about Bosco? What will become of him? Peyote: Who knows, dude? Halbarad: We may be better off without the little runt. Peldor: Hey, watch it. They rested for another two days, and took the time to look over the dragon's great hoard. Most of the monetary treasure could not be taken, due to its weight, but many magical items were found. The topic of Bosco came up once more, as well. Peldor: Maybe an item in this hoard can help Bosco. Peyote: Get real. Lyra: Cannot the druid use a spell to return him to life? Peyote: I have no spells that can do that...wait! I have a scroll here somewhere...(begins searching his pack) Peldor: (holding his breath) Peyote: Ah! (holds up a scroll tube) Here it is! This will help. Though, it's not really raising of the dead. Peldor: It's not? Then what is it? Peyote: Do you believe in reincarnation? Halbarad: What exactly is that? Is it not bringing one back as another type of creature, but with the same mind? Peyote: Basically. It's all I have. Peldor: (thinking) Peyote: Take it or leave it. What will it be, dude? Peldor: Oh, all right. I suppose he could be an orc, or a goblin, there are worse fates, after all. Peyote: (spellcasting) Oh great Obad-hai! We ask your help in returning this poor fool to life... Bosco stirred, and shifted - suddenly, he began melting like clay! Momentarily, though, he was gone, and a jet- black raccoon stood in his place... Peldor: Bosco? raccoon: (looks up, and squeals loudly) Peldor: Ah, Bosco. I'll see what can be done for you, but for now, you're stuck like this. Sorry. (pets the raccoon) Poor Bosco... raccoon-Bosco: (scurries around angrily) Alindyar: Hmm. They departed later, after a total of four days since the day they had found the dragon. Apparently, the big green monster had been the king of the area, for no more organized attacks of any import occurred. A few minor battles did happen, but they did not last long. Bosco grew used to his new body, and the party travelled north for over three weeks, until they entered the Gnarley Forest and then left the woodlands, entering some short grasslands. Two days after that, they passed through the gates of the Free City of Dyvers, and paid for a series of rooms at a fine tavern. The treasure was quickly piled on a large, expensive oaken table for division, for the party did not want to wait until Greyhawk was reached... THE LOOT (magic items only are listed): * = couldn't be identified by sage ** = identified as very powerful & dangerous by sage drow spellbooks Alindyar black ring * Peldor 2 beads of force Alindyar wand of polymorphing Alindyar potion of extra healing Peldor javelin of piercing Peyote dagger +1 Halbarad eyes of the eagle Peldor potion extra healing Halbarad deck of cards ** (party) horn of bubbles Alindyar earring +1 Halbarad egg of creation Peyote amulet * Peyote net of entrapment Peyote amulet w/petrified dragon eye Halbarad potion of treasure finding Peldor While they were at it, they decided to rest for a bit, and Peyote trained in the druidic ways. Lyra and Bosco trained as well (as best the latter could). After two weeks, they departed for Greyhawk, which was only four days' ride away. The ride was through civilized lands, and thus there was no trouble. One interesting thing did happen, though, on the way. Alindyar: (to Peldor) I have an idea. Peldor: What's that? Alindyar: I could use my new wand to...transform Bosco back into his normal halfling self. Peldor: Think it'd work? raccoon-Bosco: (jumping up and down eagerly) Alindyar: Who can know? 'Tis worth a try. Peldor: Okay. Alindyar: (zaps raccoon-Bosco with intent to turn him back into a halfling) raccoon-Bosco: (becomes a halfling) Yay! (leaping around) Lyra: Tsk, tsk. Peldor: Uh...Alindyar? Alindyar: Hm? Peldor: What are those black rings around his eyes? Sort of looks like a bandit mask... Alindyar: (snickering) Peldor: Grrr... Bosco: (hasn't looked in a mirror yet) Yay! I'm me again! Halbarad: He definitely looks like a thief, now. Raccoon eyes and all. Peyote: The masked wonder - Bosco! Alindyar: Heh heh. They arrived in Greyhawk without incident after peaceful travel through its suburbs. ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 9th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 6th level female drow elf mage (LE/N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 10th level human thief (N) Bosco, 6th level halfling thief (CN) Peyote, 7th/9th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 3/08/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: evening Place: the Free City of Greyhawk ------------------------------------------------------------------ Before seeking the sea group out, the land group unanimously elected to...utilize their magical deck of cards first. This was a foolish choice for some, a good one for others... Peldor: I shall draw first. Now, how does this thing work? Alindyar: You must first choose the number of cards you will draw. And then hope that you are able to continue after each draw from the deck... Peldor: Aha. Well, then, I shall draw...three cards. (draws the first - a card marked Balance) Huh? (his alignment changes from neutral to neutral) Hm. Nothing happened. Halbarad: Perhaps the item does not work on thieves... Peldor: Bull! Bah. (draws his second card - a card titled Fool) Eh? Halbarad: How appropriate. Peldor: (loses some experience but gains a bonus draw) Ulp. (draws again - a card marked Throne) Ah! Peldor's true greatness is exposed at last! (gains great charisma and, unbeknownst to him, a small keep somewhere in the world) Alindyar: The rascal has avoided serious injury thus far. Peldor: That's because I'm _Peldor_! (draws his last card, one called Sun) Huh? (a large tome appears in his hands, and he gains some experience, more than he lost on his second draw) Ah! Peldor _is_ great! I wanna draw again! Alindyar: You cannot. You chose four, you drew four. Peldor: No! No! This is too much fun. (eyes Bosco) Hey, Bosco! You're good at card games. You should have some draws, too! Bosco: Yea! (looks at the deck) I wonder if this is a marked deck. Oh, well. I'll draw two! (draws the first card, one titled Moon, and is granted three wishes) Peyote: Wow. Bosco: Yes! YES! (draws his second card - one marked as Void) Ulp. (his soul heads off to another plane) Peldor: Bosco? Hey, Bosco? (shakes the halfling) He's gone! What happened? Alindyar: He chose...poorly. Bosco: (gazing ahead dully) Peldor: Shit! Three wishes, wasted. Damn it all! Peyote: I'll go next, dude. I will draw...once. I don't want to risk too much. (draws a single card - the Vizier) Hmm. (suddenly knows that he will know the answer to his next dilemma) Huh? Alindyar: I suppose it is my turn. I shall draw four cards. Halbarad: FOUR?!? Peyote: That's risky, dude. Alindyar: Of course. (draws his first card - one marked Euryale) Euryale? (he now has a permanent susceptibility to all forms of petrification) Peldor: (searching Bosco's pockets) Halbarad: (watching Peldor with a scowl) Alindyar: What else will there be? (draws his second card, one titled Talons) Uh-oh. (every magic item on his person vanishes) Lyra: Yipes. Peyote: Rude deal, man. RUDE deal. Alindyar: Oh, well. It cannot get much worse. Peldor: Don't say that. Never say that. Alindyar: (draws his third card, Star, and gains significant and nigh-godly intelligence) Ahhhhh. I am enlightened... Lyra: (happier now that something good has happened) Alindyar: (draws his fourth and last card, the Sun, and an enchanted cloak appears on his back) Hm. Not so bad in the end. Lyra, will you draw? Lyra: Uhh...I don't think so. Peldor: Well, Halbarad, it's your turn now. Halbarad: Never. (turns and walks away) Peyote: Well, I guess that's that. Alindyar: Hmm. (watches the deck vanish) I suppose it has served its purpose. Lyra: Yes. Poor Bosco. (pats the soul-less halfling on the head) Thus, some of the adventurers were tied up longer, needing to train or cope with their newfound traits or curses... ALINDYAR studied intently, and advanced a level in the arcane arts. He and Lyra totally redesigned their spellbooks so that they were more efficiently organized. HALBARAD did nothing unusual, but a large wild tiger showed up while he was wandering outside Greyhawk, and it became his companion. (also see below, under Peldor's activities) PELDOR managed to rid himself of his ring of truth, but later, unbeknownst to him, the mage who helped him with this matter, being a kindly and benevolent sort, sought out Halbarad and gave the ring to the ranger, knowing that he was one who would never lie but could use the ring for good purposes. Peldor also read his new book, and gained significant amounts of thiefly experience. He knew not what to do about Bosco, though - the halfling's soul was gone and no solution seemed in sight. PEYOTE spent an awful lot of time trying to figure out what his next dilemma would be. ------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PARTY (temporarily split up; this is the "land" group): Alindyar, 10th level drow elf mage (N) Lyra, 6th level female drow elf mage (N) Halbarad, 8th level human ranger (NG) Peldor, 11th level human thief (N) Bosco, 6th level halfling thief (CN) (no soul) Peyote, 7th/9th level half-elf fighter/druid of Obad-Hai (N) ------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: 3/23/571 C.Y. (Common Year) Time: evening Place: the Free City of Greyhawk ------------------------------------------------------------------ It seemed to be the time to seek out the land group, and see how they had fared in their adventures... next time: Reunion FTP SITE: ccosun.caltech.edu (in pub/adnd/fluff/adventurers) ******************************************************************** NOTES: I played up Halbarad's realization that he had that arrow a bit...at the time of the gaming I had forgotten about it, but he never did...oh well, the best-laid plans of DMs sometimes go awry. I didn't want to BS my way out of it, though... Whew, that deck was one of the most controversial things ever to hit our campaign. Poor Bosco...hey, what _are_ the effects of not having a soul, anyway? I played it as if he was no more than a vegetable, no mind, no actions, nothing...but in some fiction I have read (e.g. Conan) the soul-less person can still act normally - just without a soul. Ideas, anyone? ********************************************************************