09/18/14 The Mighty Oak

That night a thick, eerie mist set in. Crossbow bolts fired into it, illuminated by Light spells, mysteriously extinguised. Many frogs began croaking loudly and pouring out of the swamp toward camp. They were followed slowly by 5 zombies. Booyow alerted the others and they all joined the fight. Joseph was frozen with fear at first, but eventually pulled himself together and also attacked. Leoreo hit the first one with a crossbow bolt and Booyow finished it off with a Firebolt. Abe wounded another one and then Booyow cast Burning Hands. It incinerated two of them and hurt the 5^th one. Abe then turned the two remaining undead beast away. We quickly gathered the horses and moved camp to the top of the bluff before they returned. The rest of the night was uneventful.

As the mist cleared the next morning, we set out for the stone bridge that we could see in the distance. As we approached, we saw that it was covered in crows and one solitary gargoyle. Abe timed it so that he could approach just after Booyow cast his Firebolt spell. The spell hit and it errupted in flames. Abe then struck it solidly, only to find that it was a statue after all. Abe and Booyow painfully searched the bridge for any signs of a chain or chest as our map indicated, but had no luck. We then decided to head toward The House of Firth.

Our map indicated that there would be a “Tree of Dead Man's Hand” southeast of the bridge. We headed in that direction and soon found it. The old, dead tree in fact did resemble a dead man's hand. Leoreo was so griefstricken for those that had fallen in battle here that he insisted upon planting an oak tree as a memorial to them. We had never seen him act this way before. Joseph was so moved that he too was eager to help. Not just any tree would do, as the mulberry tree that he returned with first would not satisfy the determined elf. Abe watched over them with concern. While the two persisted, Booyow scouted ahead to Lookout Hill where Trebuchet Rock set atop. He found two large, sealed, clay pitch pots and could see the House of Firth in the distance. He could also make out 6 horses and people exiting the house. They appeared to look at a map and then head off toward the bridge. Booyow quickly returned to the tree to warn the others. 


Leoreo had not planted the tree yet and refused to leave before doing so. Seeing no alternative, Booyow cast a Sleep spell on the elf.  He should have known that his lifelong friend was immune.  Joseph however was not and dropped fast asleep!  Hoping he'd follow, Booyow mounted his horse "Duke".  Abe threw Joseph over his horse and they all rode to take cover behind a nearby bluff. Leoreo however did not follow, but stayed behind and soon the party rode up. It was the same party we'd met at Treefall, minus their elven companion. 

Fortunately they remained friendly and remembered Leoreo from Treefall. They even offered to let him join their party for a quarter share. Concerned for their friend, Abe and Booyow woke Joseph up and the three of them returned.  The party quickly rode off as we approached.  Leoreo finally finished planting his oak tree and we were ready to try and follow.  However we were attacked by three gargoyles before we could depart.  They dropped stones, clawed and bit but ultimately were defeated.  We then returned to the stone bridge, which was the direction the other party was headed.

We found an open chest attached to a chain at the bridge, but the other party was already gone. One of their riding horses was left behind, but badly injured. Abe healed it and each of us now had our own mount. He would later name it "Mule".  Leoreo searched the chest and found a hidden compartment wherein was a ceremonial dagger! We surmised that the other party headed northeast toward the graveyard.  So we headed to the northwest, toward Holdout Hill and dismounted on the west side of the hill out of view.

Leoreo then sneaked up the hill. He found a large statue of a horse and rider. The rider had his arm raised, but his hand was empty, and he faced the graveyard. Booyow joined Leoreo and they scouted the graveyard in the distance. They watched  the other party digging at various graves and fighting gargoyles. One of their party members appeared to cast spells as well. They eventually rode off to the east of the graveyard. A large party of what appeared to be orcs dressed in orange tunics came out of one of the mausoleums as well.

We decided to seek shelter to the north in the ruins of Fort Murning because we believed it would be safer than staying outside near the swamp.  We were wrong.  As we approached, a ferocious dog started growling and more orcs emerged from the ruins.  We quickly retreated to the west and then back to Holdout Hill.  We would wait for the cover of darkness and then head toward the graveyard.  Our plan was to have Booyow cast Invisibility on Leoreo.  The elven rogue would then use his powers of stealth and darkvision to gather as much intelligence as he could on the other party and the graveyard.