Adventure 1 - A Strange Encounter

You slowly open your eyes - it feels like you have been asleep for weeks. As you look up you see the amazing forest canape above, gloriously lit with the early morning sun of a lovely summer's day. Then you realize - the last thing you remember was feeling really tired and going to sleep in your own bed last night not outdoors in a forest...

As you look around you see you are amongst strangers! The Gnome, being one of quick tongue, formally introduces himself: "I am Darmisty Boldick Fairweather No Father Go Further Why Bother Dungamgee II - Bringer of Shimmering Lights & Tingling Spines, the Lost Adventurer & Women Worshiper - and you are?" You "sort of" introduce yourself - obviously being cautious as you have found yourself in a very strange situation.


You all remember seeing a bright red meteor drift across the sky last night. Bold and fiery - very strange?

You see you are inside a clearing within a thick forest - roughly circular about 25 feet in diameter. The only noticeable item is a central stone also circular in shape.

The nameless one with the strange scar across his eyes attempts to determine the significance of the stone but stumbles and falls across it. Hmmmm - have you been saddled with a blind man? Not an easy task to care for a sightless one in the dangerous worlds you travel...

The female Elf and male Gnome, of your strangely assembled fellowship, notice something strange on the top of the flat rock - upon closer inspection they make out a marking. It is an arrow - the Elf states that it has a strong essence of magic upon it.

The large Half-Orc declares himself as "Shenrek the Wild" and asserts, with complete authority, the arrow points due north and he, for one, will take Obad-Hai's - the true god of Nature, Woodlands, Hunting, and Beasts - blessing and strike out on this divine path. The Gnome, Misty for short (not in name but in stature) has already struck out and you quickly lose sight of him in the thick forest undergrowth.

The nameless one, visibly rattled, drops to one knee and begins a prayer of strength and guidance, obviously he is a Cleric and man of sound devotion. The Elf, unsure of the enchanted rock of direction and the troubled sightless one, watches carefully over the scene.

Shenrek and Misty quickly locate another clearing and view a very large oak tree. As the two remaining members of the party catch up they see Misty bound 20 feet up the tree as if he was walking on land - the stout little Gnome stops on a high branch to survey the land.

The Elf declares this tree to also be enchanted with magical energy.

The nameless one states coldly, this is the only oak tree within this forest... The others slowly look around, and realize he speaks the truth. Strange... how does a sightless man know this?

Misty, back from his tree climbing escapade, informs the party that he saw a hidden opening in the rear of the tree about 1 foot tall by 4 inches wide. Shenrek - distrustful of magic as any decent Barbarian is, raises his massive great ax and delivers a blow that would rock the gods themselves. His axe bounces off the tree like child's ball off of a wall. The other members question his strength, possibly all "show and no go"? Misty, not to be outdone, comes close to equaling Shenrek's mighty blow - but alas, the gnome too is deflected. The Elf smiles, laughing inwardly - she did say it was magically enhanced after all.

The Cleric begins a prayer of guidance, the Barbarian inspects his great axe - surveying it for damage, Misty contemplates a new name (deflectee of the tree, the mini-barbarian, the Shadow of Shenrek?) but the Elf - fearing not of the arcane, places her hand within the giant oak...

It feels strange inside the tree - certainly not what a tree should feel like - it appears to be gooey and warm. Slowly her hand goes deeper and then suddenly she feels herself being drawn in! Immediately she has the sensation of floating in a large, dark, open space. She cannot hear the others any more. The Elf screams out in pain as her body is wracked with interdimensional energy.

In panic the remaining party attempt to pull the Elf from the tree - but to no avail.

Just as she can't take it any longer the Elf feels herself being pulled back to the land of the living. Something small and solid brushes by her hand - with quick reflexes she grabs it just as she crosses the threshold between our world and the other.

The Elf shows the party the object she has retrieved - a very old book bound in beat-up leather, it has a gold clasp with one ruby - regardless of its condition it still has a strong feeling of importance. Misty, being a Gnome of good standing and knowledged in the arts of mechanics and general tinkering, notices that the ruby has the ability to be depressed. As they flip through the pages of this old book they are surprised to see that the pages are in fact blank?? The elf states that this is an important matter for a later time.

Again, the Gnome being a Gnome, cannot leave the thought of some mechanical devise going uninspected and asks to look at the book - the Elf acquiesces and Misty presses the ruby. The book starts to glow. Magically script appears on the first page drawn out in beautiful golden rays.

The others look on in wonder and, puzzled, ask "Who is Vashrah?"

"I am... " says the elf - frustrated that her name was exposed without her consent but secretly excited by her new strong connection to the arcane world she loves.

As the party tries to take in the strange new tidings of this bewildering morn the nameless one announces - "I am the Hand of Heironeous - it seems we have been brought together through strange and mystical forces." The others slowly look to each other, trying to figure out what has happened to them... Suddenly Misty and Shenrek hear the sounds of battle in the near distance - they inform the others and make haste to the north.

The Hand of Heironeous, being of true altruism, is concerned for Vashrah and the injuries sustained from her visit to the OtherWorld - he speaks a prayer of healing and lays his hands upon her. Energy courses through him and into the Elf - she immediately feels re-invigorated and slightly confused, maybe this strange human could be trusted?

Misty reaches the edge of the forest and observes smoke billowing from nearby. He is witnessing the tail end of a caravan raid - 2 wagons are burning, and a 3rd is overturned. An older man is trying to fend off 2 orcs next to the overturned wagon, while behind him cowers his wife and youngest daughter.

Misty, hiding amongst the shadows of the trees, slowly advances towards the fracas. Shenrek also arriving at the forest periphery sees the Orc skirmish and smiles - by the will of Obad-Hai I will draw blood today! Strangely he cannot see the little Gnome... no bother, Shenrek blasts out of the forest in into the fray!

In due time the two remaining members also reach the edge of the forest and view Shenrek wading through Orcs with heads rolling, Misty - nowhere to be seen and in the distance wagons burn!

The Hand senses a strong powerful surge while Shenrek and Misty see a bright blue pulse of arcane energy shoot out from the trees hitting an Orc and dealing a massive amount of damage - Vashrah smiles to herself.

The Hand, spiritually devoted to the protection of others, sets out into the battle, shield raised with his divine sword pointed down. He engages with one of the Orcs and tries to bash him to the ground - from out of nowhere Misty jumps to a rock for the higher ground advantage and lets loose an arrow striking the Orc in the back - Shenrek, with a look of menace, shouts at the Orc "Flee creature!" The Orc, overcome with fear, turns and runs screaming.

Driving the forces of evil back Shenrek makes for the farmer and his family and tells them to take cover - he watches over them, assessing the situation.

More marauding Orcs join the battle - the stout compatriots match them... Orcs fall by the swords, arrows and magic of the party. Some of the party too take their licks - Shenrek shouldering most of the damage.

To the side of the devastation a group of 4 more Orcs have formed a circle and are placing bets on a fight between a huge Orc and a large human female. The party engages with the remaining Orcs, wading through them and onto the Orc leader to help the single female fighter. With a group effort the leader is overpowered and crushed! The party is victorious - there was much rejoicing!

The female introduces herself as Bree Woodsheart a Ranger and Sellsword (gun for hire). The party loot the dead (as they are like to do) and gather some shiny goodness and a large rock, weighs 40 lbs., with a design of a flightless bird on it that Shenrek claims as a memento of this epic battle. The members agree to share the loot with Bree - a nice gesture and maybe will help strengthen their relationship with her?

The survivors thank the party profusely - the older man asks if the group would guard them to their homestead, not far out of the way, 2 days tops - Bree agrees as do members of the party. Misty asks what is in it for them. The farmer offers the remains of the other wagons - Misty, armed with bolts of silk happily agrees.

In a quick search for the farmer's lost horses Bree finds an Orc trail - possibly this leads back to their camp? Bree, Shenrek and Misty weave through the thick forest on a barely visible path that opens up into a small clearing. They see a dirty, run down camp - bones of wild animals are strewn around a central fire pit. Worn out, old tents are also visible. A search ensues - remarkably, Bree locates a cache beneath one of the tents. The rule of Tit for tat is employed by Bree and she also shares her finds - the party becomes rather wealthy. Not bad for a day's work.

Returning with their spoils of war the party begins to organize themselves for their next journey - it is here we leave our merry band of adventurers, tired but not beaten, confused but not overcome, and befalling to the strange realization that a blind man can see, until next time...