Homeward Bound Episode 01

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==Recap==
===Thursday, 13th December, 1511 (Day 1*)===
Caldonia. Kel William Marshal and Grimes leave the location of their final battle with the Scrags in The Frozen Frontier to find a night-sky filled with alien and foreign stars. The land in front of them is thawing. Still exhausted from the battle the party decides to take a rest, but not before William tests his magic sword which turns out to still work properly.
===Day 2*===
The party wakes before dawn, the sky still littered with shining stars. Both Grimes and William discover that their healing rate while sleeping increased dramatically (1 HP per hour of sleep) for which they struggle to find an adequate explanation. William attributes it to a blessing of Bellum while Grimes wonders for how long they slept, but has no way to tell due to no other celestial body being present. 
They decide their plan of action to be to head to Swampside. Before leaving the cave area, William gives a prayer of thanks to Bellum, Grimes gives his own prayer to Martha asking to save their souls.
During their travel the thawing of the land surrounding them continuously progresses. Eventually, they arrive at an 80 ft. wide River separating a group of Kobolds from another. The party approaches the group on their side of the river, engaging them in a conversation. Grimes talks with Norglab, a Kobold telling them he needs to get his group of Kobolds to the other side. They also learn that these are the Dungdogs Pack. 
Grimes checks the water which is still cold. The party walks down the river just to find that they are trapped by a confluence of two rivers. The two try to ford one of them, but William fails a dexterity check and falls into the water - losing all of his arrows, the magic bow +1, the tinderbox and his javelin to the floods in the process. He eventually makes it to the far shore and Grimes catches up to him. 
Their magic armor dries the party, and they decide to follow the river down stream to get to the lake where Conquest is located. The field they're crossing melts, revealing grown, living grass. Grimes then realizes that the darkness never faded and the dawn never came.
They look around and see no light coming from the west. Watching the sky, they perceive the stars are just clustered in the northern section in a cone. What feels like some hours later they arrive at a confluence of yet two more rivers at the edge of the plane. Grimes shoots a magical fire bolt across the river and finds there is no wind, and his shot goes true. He gauges that this section of the river is 160 feet across while Kel William gazes once more at the stars and confirms that the stars hadn't moved in the sky all day.
Grimes starts looking for a spot along the river where they might be able to cross. Yet another attempt at crossing fails to William's clumsiness and he is dragged down river again, but this time starts to drown. He manages to stay afloat but still needs to be rescued by grimes to avoid an untimely end. When sitting down to rest it dawns on them that they feel neither hungry nor thirsty despite not having eaten or drunk ever since they left the cave.
The two fall asleep. Grimes sleeps without his armor on as to test and see if the armor is the source of the additional healing.
===Day 3*===
After waking up, both party members heal 9 HP, disproving the idea that their magical armor is responsible for their healing & sustenance. 
Hours into the "day" they come across some shouting Kobolds. Grimes shoots a crossbow bolt to illuminate the area, causing them to flee. After some more traveling William and Grimes find themselves near a forest. Grimes wonders if they are dead and in hell for all their crimes, but William immediately dismisses the notion as he doesn't see their past actions as crimes.
In the shining light of a fire, started by grimes, they see the color around them is normal and not desaturated. 
===Day 4*===
After waking up, both characters again heal 8 HP overnight.
The party continues their travels and eventually arrives at the large lake near Conquest. They navigate along the lake yet fail to spot the city - wondering if the city has disappeared. William's previously dismissal of Grimes supposition of them being dead begins to falter because of this
They proceed further and do actually find Conquest at the end of a peninsula. The city is as they left it, discounting the melted snow. William leads the way to the Temple of Bellum, heading into the catacombs towards the Statue of Bellum.
William reports of his victory to the God of War in the form of prayer and asks for guidance towards the next battle, but only receives silence instead of an answer.
Our adventurers decide to search Conquest for a tavern, eventually arriving at an adeptly named establishment "The World's End". In the basement they find some spirits which are actually still intact, while the barrels of beer have burst when they froze. William pours them both drinks of whisky leading to them passing out.
Around three hours later the door to the tavern opens and, despite their sorry state, wakes up the party. In walks a bipedal humanoid creature - the lighting conditions do not allow for a better examination - with many more behind it. William and Grimes draw their weapons, shedding some light. The strange intruder looks like a Gnoll, but with longer lanky limbs and claws. Grimes asks them to identify themselves, but only gets the same question back. However, their opponent does not bother to wait for an answer before initiating combat.
More of the Weregnolls enter the tavern to join the fray, totaling 7. Two get slain before one manages to hold Grimes, incapacitating him momentarily. After William ends another, the rest of the Weregnolls let go of Grimes and flee.
William goes to throw the bodies of the dead outside, only to realize all but the last slain one disappeared. Before their eyes the last body dissipates into a swarm of small float "gnats" that buzz. William squashes some in his hands and they do not dissipate further. They have hard exoskeletons and flapping wings, but are slowly floating to the ground.
===Day 5*===
Despite engaging in combat the previous day, both William and Grimes heal 5 HP overnight. 
They explore the docks of conquest, discovering that due to the ice-melting the previously frozen ships sank underwater. With his godly strength William manages to pull one rowboat ashore which they want to use for their further traveling downriver towards Swampside. 
The two then head to the keep's library to look for a map, but find none. They head upstairs into the keep proper, as William suspects the war room may contain a bigger map of the continent. Using his expertise in navigating castles, William quickly finds what he's looking for, netting them a massive map. The party scavenge the city for supplies before setting out, arriving in Swampside a few hours later.
To their surprise they find that the SOS message they had left behind previously has been destroyed, probably by one of the few remaining Scrag patrols. After another rest the party sets out to find Nimrod's clan to the east.
===Day 7*===
The party arrives at a river to the east of Swampside and to the west of Nimrod's clan's Forest, finding themselves to have to cross it once more. They find a relatively calm spot and ford it using some of the rope they gathered. Grimes slips at one point, losing some Scrag Cloaks to the stream. Continuing their journey west the duo arrives at the woods, getting greeted by their dogs, Nimrod, and some other Kobolds.
After exchanging their greetings, the groups start sharing information. Nimrod reports the Kobolds are also experiencing the strange healing effects the party does, as well as a lack of thirst and hunger. Nimrod also says he saw a dragon swim away from Caldonia instead of flying. Additionally, he also saw the Frost Giants, looking sad, heading northwards. Nimrod also confirms that the moon has not been spotted by them either. 
===Day 8*===
It is raining lightly as they set out. Five dogs come with the party as well as Nimrod. Nimrod reveals that he saw the two dragons be mean to one another, then Gale headed West and Frostbite went into the Ocean. 
===Day 9*===
The party arrives at the coast. The tides are still working, even without a moon. Nimrod shows them the spot where Frostbite went into the Ocean and says that the dragons seemed unable to fly. There is a light breeze in the air. Grimes tries jumping, but the gravity feels normal. William then realizes he hasn't been defecating or urinating since they left the cave either.
===Day 11*===
They arrive at the Dead Wood. The snow is gone, so the 20 foot stone wall around the woods is exposed. Grimes and William climb inside while Nimrod and the dogs wait outside. The trees in the Deadwood appear the same as they did before.
Grimes tries shooting one of his magical bolts at one of the tress, but the bolt flickers out of existence after it hits the trunk of the tree, with nothing else happening afterwards. Grimes tries a second shot, and this time the tree starts to move. William charges in, but like in their previous encounter the tree starts to drip acid from its branches. William sets the tree on fire, but not before getting some acid in his face, revealing that all party members are more vulnerable while on this plane of existence (-4 to all saving throws). The other trees move away from the burning trunk to prevent the spread of the fire.
===Day 12*===
Williams and Grimes wake up after a 4-hour nap and head into the forest now that the trees have calmed down. They travel the 3 miles into the center of the forest to the great willow tree. Grimes looks at the Willow Tree with the Gem of Trueseeing and sees the tree is covered in hundreds of eyes, looking at the party. Losing their resolve, the party backs out of the forest returning to Nimrod and the dogs. They decide on their next traveling location being Salt Port. 
===Day 13*===
The party gets back to Swampside and crosses the river to the west bank in its rowboat. 
===Day 15*===
The party arrive at Fort Pass. Everything is as they left it, except all snow melted. William finds the supplies left behind here and eats some rations. He feels that his body still wants food, even if he doesn't need it. Without food, he feels empty but not hungry. 
They end up resting at Fort Pass.
===Day 16*===
They head north towards Salt Port. Grimes explains to Nimrod they are going to the Salt Port Lighthouse to light it up.
===Day 17*===
As they reach the forest, they run into a Kobold pack, the Wetfurs, who Nimrod isn't familiar with. Rumpy of the Wetfurs addresses Nimrod, who claims to be the king of the Longsnout Clan (having taken over from Grumpkin). Nimrod also claims the party are his serfs. They haven't seen a Dragon since the party killed Sleet.
===Day 20*===
The party arrives at the Salt Port Light House. Around the light house are the glowing rocks that Jaromir has previously set up to warn ships. The party climbs to the top and lights it. Grimes and Williams take turns sleeping, keeping the fire lit.
===Day 25*===
William is keeping a watch and spots a ship crossing over Jaromir's Continual Lights. William blows the Horn and waves to the ship. Grimes wakes up by the noise and looks down at the ship, momentarily thinking it looks "alive".
The party get to the base of the lighthouse and trek down to the shore to meet the arrivals. The ship appears to be made of skinless flesh, with arms, feet, and bones and eyes that are looking at the party. Leaping off the ship are 7 Thung. The party retreat into the lighthouse. 
:Thung: Thin sickly skinless emaciated dog-like creatures with discolored bony plates protruding from their joints. Also, they have unhinging jaws.
William kills one of the Thung, and it too turns into gnats, scattering into the air. Two more attack as one bites into Grimes' thigh and won't let go. Another Thung attacks William and its teeth find purchase and doesn't let go. The Thung in the rear gives a canine whiny yelling. Grimes & Williams kill the ones attached to their legs, and unlike before these don't turn into gnats, instead staying attached to their legs.
Four Warrior Demons then jump out of the "ship" as William kills another Thung. It seems that the Thung are extra hard to hit when they aren't biting. Grimes also notices his Phase Sword is doing double damage (2d8 Slashing + 2d6 Fire). Another Thung falls to William's blade as the Warrior Demons close in.
:
:The Warrior Demons: Blackish bit iridescent plates coming out of all of its joints and is vaguely humanoid (no wings, no horns). 6'3" 260 Lbs. Their chest has blue interlocking plates. It carries a curved sword of obsidian.
Off the boat jump a Task Master Demon and a Lensman. Grimes tries speaking to the Demons with his magic ring, but he only speaks Drekissin. William kills the last Thung.
:Lensman: 6'5" 100 lbs. Hardened chitin shell black exoskeleton. Its joints have sharp protruding plates. A single eye in the middle of its forehead with no other facial features. Each hand and each foot contains an eye as well. The abdomen opens up into a tall thin mouth filled with sharp teeth, with an elongating opening jaw.
The Lensman levitates 10 feet above the ground, but stays back and observes the battle. The Warrior Demons clash blades with William and Grimes, each side getting some hits in, but it seems the Warrior Demons aren't being damaged. The Task Master Demon comes into the fray.
:Task Master Demon: Towering 9 feet tall, their hunched over composure masks it to only 7 feet. Their appearance resembles a scaly humanoid covered in small spikes while its face has a pair of large curved bony plates that extend from the ridges where the eyes meet the nose. From its small palms extent 3 long, lightly elongated, webbed claws. Its legs are vaguely canine, with the knees doing the backward loop posture. Its feet are broad, equipped with short talons. From its back sprout large bat wings without any membrane. In one hand it wields an obsidian sword, in the other ... a whip.
Grimes and William withdraw back into the Lighthouse, creating a choke point where only ever one of the Warrior Demons may engage with them while also staying out of reach of the Task Master Demon. The Lensman continues to merely observe. William holds off the demons at the door while Grimes climbs up the lighthouse stairs to take shots at the Lensman from an elevated position. The Lensman Demon gets hit and almost immediately dies, lowering itself back to the ground.
The Lensman then lets out a reverberating low sound, like a foghorn, in different pitches very quickly. Then the Lensman starts stalking towards the shoreline. The other Demons fall back, all but one that stays at the doorway where William is, securing the retreat. Grimes climbs further up the lighthouse and takes two more shots, killing the Lensman, with it turning into small motes in the air as well.
William tackles the last Warrior Demon at the lighthouse to the ground, but gets thrown off. Grimes then restrains the Demon from behind and William attacks it. This time he manages at last to get a hit in (The Demon Warrior still has AC 26 while held) but makes the observation that the demons possess an inherent resistance to fire, only doing half of his normal damage. Grimes shouts for William to use his Phase Blade which fell to the ground (as it does double damage) and William uses it to strike hard, splitting the demon in two.
Grimes lets go of the demon, but William manages to hold onto it before he does so, preventing its dissipation. William goes on to inspect the body - It has no skin, but instead a second layer of armor beneath the first, inside the split open body a skeleton can be made out. As before in the battle with the tree, the party gets another harsh reminder that their effectiveness in combat seems to be severely reduced while not on their home plane.
* Days here refers to the perceived passage of time, not actual days 
Category:Homeward Bound Episodes