20031220 Brighton01

<H1> Brighton County: Werewolves in Brighton </H1>
<H2> Roll Call </H2>
<TABLE>
<TR>
 <TD> Mirto </TD>
 <TD> 8th Human Wizard (Evoker) </TD>
 <TD> Mark Whisler </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Elverie </TD>
 <TD> 7th Half-Elf Druid </TD>
 <TD> Robert Giedt </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Bimblefin Candytuft </TD>
 <TD> 4th Pixie Rogue </TD>
 <TD> John Speck </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kha'Narek </TD>
 <TD> 5th Githzerai Monk </TD>
 <TD> Matt Miller </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Paxus </TD>
 <TD> 7th Human Cleric </TD>
 <TD> Ray Chiang </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Colin </TD>
 <TD> 16th/6rd Human Fighter/Hospitaler </TD>
 <TD> Jim Yonemura </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Foradun </TD>
 <TD> 4th/2nd Githzerai Psionic Warrior/Soul Knife </TD>
 <TD> Rick DiRicco </TD>
</TR>
<TR>
 <TD> Kristoff </TD>
 <TD> 7th Elf Druid </TD>
 <TD> Keith Farrar </TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<H2> Session Summary </H2>
Farendil is a 3rd Fighter/3rd Cleric/4th Warpriest and is capable of casting Create Food and Water, but not Heroes' Feast. So the party munches on hardtack that they were carrying.
Kristoff knows the lay of the land of Brighton County. The sinkhole is roughly egg shaped, running north-south. There is a small range of hills at the north end of the sinkhole, and it is where the mine entrance is located. There is a small spring fed pond at the bottom of the sinkhole. Most of the sinkhole is forested and the town of Brighton is at the edge of the pond. During the heavy rains, the lake's water levels rises as much as five feet and doubles the area of the lake. There is a druid's grove is north of the town near the base of the hills away from the mine.
This area was overrun by a force of orcs and goblins with some giants. They also appear to have had some undead help. The battles in this area was the first appearance of giants in the war. The mine was mostly worked by humans with some dwarven help. The town was mostly humans and elves. The town was set up with the cooperation of the druid's grove. All contact with the druid's grove has been lost since the battle.
Colin decides to examine the town area to see what has happened. First to try and make contact with the townsfolk. Then, to make contact with the druids. Bimblefin annoys Colin with his opinions.
Common threats in the area included the following:
<UL>
<LI> Owlbears were a common threat.
<LI> There was a fire-breathing hydra in the area. It was flushed out of the mines, but not killed.
</UL>
Elverie knows that there was pretty powerful Thieves' Guild. They mainly were useful for getting some black market mithril.
Bimblefin flies ahead of the party. He sees the town and nearby the town, he sees some smoke. As he flies closer, it looks like there's a big clearing (several hundred yards across). There appear to be 40-50 goblins and several big pit fire roasting some animals. Nearby are some log bunkers, almost a combination of pit and houses. He heads over to the town and sees. The houses in the village appear to be more watchtowers than houses. Bimblefin thinks "only humans would chop down trees to build trees." The people still appear to be living there, but well-armed.
They decide to start moving parallel, but off the road. After about half an hour of moving along, the party is sufficiently impaired to tell that travelling off the road will take too long. Just then, Bimblefin returns.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Bimblefin:</B> I know something you don't know.
<B>Colin:</B> Would you be willing to share something from your hoard for that?
<B>Bimblefin:</B> Do you know what I am? I'm a pixie. Do you think it couldn't get any worse?
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> I think she wants more than a copper piece.
<B>Bimblefin:</B> The town's gone, but there's a bunch of goblins.
<B>Kristoff:</B> How do you define gone?
<B>Bimblefin:</B> Nothing's there.
<B>Kristoff:</B> Okay, so what is there?
<B>Colin:</B> Explain what you mean by gone?
<B>Bimblefin:</B> Okay, the towns still there, but the goblins are nearby. But what's more important, talking to the people who will tell you nothing, or taking out the goblins?
<B>Colin:</B> I'd prefer to check in on the town. They might be able to provide us some assistance with the goblins.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The party proceeds along the road to the town. Some (DC15 Listen) party hears some significant movement from a different directions than the druids. Others hear (DC20) something heavier moving from the party.
<B>Round 1:</B> Several party members ready. A large owlbear bursts out of the forest and attacks Mirto. This owlbear looks to be a composite out of several owlbears (much like a flesh golem). It hits him for 16 points. Colin does his dire charge on the owlbear--it swings at him on the way in, but misses. Colin hits 3 of 4 for 18, 22, and 16. The magical fire of his sword slows it down. The creature does not appear to be bleeding. Some of the spellcasters note that this appears to be a berserk flesh golem. Bimblefin shoots it with a silver arrow (3 pts), but it doesn't appear to do much damage.
<B>Round 2:</B> Foradun swings and misses. Kha'Narek hits once (AC 21) for 8 points. Mirto flees. The owlbear hits Colin for 20 points. Colin hits for 19 (APA), 22, and 25, after which it collapses.<BR />As the body is killed, it falls apart unlike the death of a living creature. This appears to be the body of several owlbears and it appears to have the tail of a troglodyte. From the size of it, it would have to be about 12-15 feet tall--meaning nearly 100 years old.<BR />After some discussion, the party decides to follow the line that the golem had been running. After several hours, they run into some dead bodies. There are about 10 or 11 goblin corpses. Kristoff spots signs for about 30 goblins and mixed in among the prints are some very large prints, much like giants. The strange thing is that there are signs of the giant's appearance in this location, but not its coming or leaving. Paxus surmises is that it might be some kind of giant spellcaster that would have magically fled after the discovery that the owlbear was golem. The party examines the goblins belongings, but they have various small weapons. Ox collects the weapons to give to the local townspeople.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Bimblefin:</B> This is so nice. (Sniffs)
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The party follows the golem trail further. Again, it turns. Around the area, there appears to be some small fire damage in the area. It appears that a party of humans or human sized beings chased it away. Since it was chased away, it was either under control or not yet berserk. The party follows the golem's path to the road. Once they hit the lake's outer edge, it appears as though the road is still maintained. From the road, they get to the lake's edge and see that someone has starting a path along the road going the other directions. By the end of the day, the party reaches Brighton.
The town itself looks like huts on stilts. There are ladders and rope ladders that lead up to each. There don't appear to be bridges between huts. As the party approaches, various people stop what they're doing. They see a boat that pulls up and are unloading fish. One of the guys is an orc and another is an elf--very strange.
The orc looks to be possibly half-orcish. The human looks a big raggedy. The orc has a giant axe, the human a longsword. Under their cloaks, both are wearing armor--the orc a chain shirt and the human studded leather. The
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Colin:</B> Hail.
<B>Villager:</B> (Waves) Hail.
<B>Colin:</B> Greetings from Prince Donner. We are
<B>Villager:</B> You're looking at it
<B>Colin:</B> The orcs had invaded. We're here to see if there's still trouble.
<B>Villager:</B> Well, except for the deserters (elbows his companion)
<B>Orc:</B> Hey!
<B>Colin:</B> Well, we're
<B>Villager:</B> It's been a rough few years, I'll tell you that!
<B>Colin:</B> The war is over and...
<B>Villager:</B> The war's over? And you're here to tell us this?
<B>Colin:</B> Well, there is some cleanup is going on for the last pockets of resistance. But we're mainly here to see what's going on here.
<B>Villager:</B> Like this town?
<B>Villager:</B> Goblins give you any trouble?
<B>Colin:</B> Well, we did run into a strange construct.
<B>Villager:</B> Oh! The terror! How'd you do?
<B>Colin:</B> We took care of it!
<B>Villager:</B> Great! That'll save us some torches.
<B>Colin:</B> We took care of it!
<B>Villager:</B> Yeah, there are a couple of abandoned houses if you need
<B>Colin:</B> Is there any leadership
<B>Villager:</B> We had a mayor and he's still technically the mayor, but we haven't seen him for weeks.
<B>Colin:</B> Is there some reason?
<B>Villager:</B> He's the kind of guy who doesn't leave his house much.
<B>Villager:</B> It's over there, it's not on stilts.
<B>Kristoff:</B> Is it his house?
<B>Villager:</B> Guests don't have to go up steps.
<B>Kristoff:</B> So how are you guys dealing with the goblins?
<B>Villager:</B> They're pretty easy to scare. A few years back, they all came in here. But after a year or so, most of the orcs took off. So, except for the deserters--I mean the retirees, stayed us behind and helped us rebuild.
<B>Orc:</B> The goblins moved into the mine. After a few years, they ordered us to attack. A few of us decided it wasn't the best thing and so we stayed. Some of us aren't cut out for certain kinds of war. I don't mind a straight up fight I don't mind, but those vampires, ghosts, undead. So, me and a bunch of my buddies, we up and quit.
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> I'm am pleased to see you
<B>Orc:</B> The goblins are a problem
<B>Kristoff:</B> How many?
<B>Orc:</B> When we came here, there was about 3 or 4 battalions.
<B>Colin:</B> How many?
<B>Orc:</B> About 500-700. So 2000 total. But the fight wasn't so kind to the goblins, so I'd be surprised if there were half that many left. You might want to talk to Caleb.
<B>Colin:</B> Who is he?
<B>Orc:</B> He's just the guy you talk to.
<B>Paxus:</B> Does he live here?
<B>Orc:</B> He's the guy you usually talk to.
<B>Colin:</B> We heard there was a druid's circle.
<B>Orc:</B> Oh yeah, they're all dead. We killed 'em all. We were under orders. We burned down that whole area of the forest.
<B>Colin:</B>
<B>Orc:</B> Burn the area, fight anything that comes out.
<B>Colin:</B> What are your feelings about restoring the area.
<B>Villager:</B> Not big on taxes and orders, but if that's gone it'll be
<B>Colin:</B>
<B>Villager:</B> Talk to Caleb, he'll tell you what the problems are. If you solve the problem, then the people here would be much happier.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Walking through town, the party gets the layout of the city. There appear to be a few dozen huts in the villages. The group heads to the mayor's home. There are various villagers doing miscellaneous chores. The mayor's house is three stories. The bottom floor is all sealed masonry and the door appears to be like a bulkhead door. The house looks like it has had repairs recently--like shortly after the invasion. Colin goes up and knocks on the door and has to make a save. Colin hears a voice inside the building shouting "Unauthorized! Unauthorized!" and he appears to be held. Paxus casts Remove Paralysis on him.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Woman:</B> You guys are friends of the mayors?
<B>Colin:</B> Not exactly.
<B>Woman:</B> I wouldn't go in if he didn't ask you in?
<B>Colin:</B> A mage of some power?
<B>Woman:</B> I guess so. I just know that
<B>Colin:</B> We heard he hasn't been seen for weeks.
<B>Woman:</B> Ah, yup.
<B>Paxus:</B> How long has he been mayor?
<B>Woman:</B> He's been mayor since before the war
<B>Woman:</B> But he used to be a lot friendlier
<B>Woman:</B> He got a lot worse after the orcs took over. They made him do things that he didn't want to do.
<B>Colin:</B> Like what?
<B>Woman:</B> Yeah, he used to be a lot friendlier. A few weeks ago, maybe he left? Maybe he did something different.
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> What was his name?
<B>Woman:</B> His name was Jurgen Merril.
<B>Mirto:</B> What did he look like
<B>Woman:</B> A tall lean guy. About 6 feet.
<B>Woman:</B> Why don't you guys come on up for tea? We'll talk a little bit.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The woman lowers a rope ladder. The party climbs up. There is a crude table and two teenage kids helping.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Woman:</B> He didn't like what the orcs were telling him to do, but he changed his mind after a while.
<B>Mirto:</B> Like?
<B>Woman:</B> Some people got killed. Some got tortured in public.
<B>Woman:</B> We
<B>Woman:</B> Caleb's the one who turned things around later. He's the one who got us back in charge of our lives. When the orcs left, he still thought he still needed to be doing what they needed him to do. There will still shipments in the mine. We were still providing food to the goblins.
<B>Colin:</B>
<B>Woman:</B> No, Caleb told us to stop giving them food. I guess it's why they moved out into the forest.
<B>Colin:</B> How did Caleb come about?
<B>Woman:</B> I don't know. Heroes happen. I'll tell you he's not above doing some hard things when they have to be done. I won't say he's the best, but he's the strongest and the wisest.
<B>Woman:</B> The mayor, though. I don't think he's even home. Some of those, I think Caleb took care of 'em.
<B>Mirto:</B> When did the Terror show up?
<B>Woman:</B> I guess it was last week when we first saw it. It seemed to particularly like killing goblins, so I guess that was good.
<B>Woman:</B> Caleb told us that it didn't like fire, and the goblins weren't smart enough to use it.
<B>Woman:</B> That's about all I know. What are you fellows doing here?
<B>Colin:</B> Prince Donner of Aquitaine designated me as protector here. I thought I'd come here and see. I thought I'd see
<B>Woman:</B> Did you bring an army?
<B>Colin:</B> Not yet. I thought I'd check it out with a smaller group first.
<B>Woman:</B> Well you brought quite a few, but I'm not sure you should have brought all of them (looking towards pixie playing pranks on the kids).
<B>Mirto:</B> He attached himself to us like stirges.
<B>Woman:</B> Oh, you've got to watch out for them. They've infested the old stone circle.
<B>Woman:</B> Well, I wish you luck. You should talk to some people and see what they think.
<B>Woman:</B> I don't think you should be out after dark. There are lots of things that could enter the village at night. We pull up the ladder and
<B>Woman:</B> I can't say that I'd miss him if he did fall upon hard times. We haven't had a mayor for weeks, but we
<B>Colin:</B> You might already have a mayor in Caleb already.
<B>Woman:</B> Yeah, but if we ask. He doesn't lord it over you.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Caleb's (six man) boat pulls up to dock.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Dockworker:</B> Can I help you guys?
<B>Colin:</B> I'm lookin' for Caleb
<B>Dockworker:</B> Guttin' fish over there.
<B>Caleb:</B> I'm Caleb
<B>Colin:</B> We're told that you're the man to talk to about what's going on, what's needed. Prince Donner sent me to protect this area.
<B>Caleb:</B> You work for Donner? You some kind of knight or something?
<B>Colin:</B> Yup.
<B>Caleb:</B> Great. Got a name Mr. Knight?
<B>Colin:</B> Colin.
<B>Caleb:</B> Colin, I've heard that name? Didn' you die?
<B>Colin:</B> Didn't stick
<B>Caleb:</B> I fought for the Kingdom of Aquitaine. Did my time in the army. So, are we supposed to be your subjects now?
<B>Colin:</B> Yes, he did give me title to this land, but we heard that there were all sorts of orcs, goblins, and giants around. We thought we'd clean up around first.
<B>Caleb:</B> If you're looking to make a mark for yourself, if you could mop up all them goblins, it'd sure be nice. I'd watch out, they've got some tricks. There's something funny about their leaders.
<B>Keith:</B> Funny?
<B>Caleb:</B> Well, they pulled giants out of their pockets. I don't know where they did that.
<B>Caleb:</B> They're all over. They've got a lot of camps and they're all empty. They were driven out of the mines a few weeks back. Suddenly, there were
<B>Colin:</B>
<B>Caleb:</B> We stopped given them food a year ago now.
<B>Caleb:</B> I think they moved out of the mine. They used to have a few hunting parties, but
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> Does this coincide with the mayor disappearing?
<B>Caleb:</B> Around that time...
<B>Caleb:</B> The Terror! That's been running around about the same time. I think something changed big time a few weeks back. I don't know where the mayor is, there's a bunch of goblins in the forest, and there's something out there killing them.
<B>Caleb:</B> So, what'd you do? Scare it off? Wave some fire at it?
<B>Colin:</B> The lady was telling us about a nest of stirges at the old druid's cricle.
<B>Caleb:</B> Oh yes, they're out there. Most people have the sense to stay away from that area. It's really dangerous over there.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
During this time, Colin has been sizing up Caleb's abilities. He appears quite competent using his knife. By his estimation, Caleb seems at least equal to an owlbear.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Colin:</B> I went to knock on the mayor's door and
<B>Caleb:</B> Well, that house was built a long time ago and it's had a lot of mayors. There's been a lot of stuff to build it, enhance it, etc. When each new mayor was chosen, the old mayor would give him a tour of the place and tell him all the passwords, and so on.
<B>Colin:</B> Even
<B>Caleb:</B> I never liked him.
<B>Colin:</B> Even before the goblins came?
<B>Caleb:</B> The problem is... Some bitches are too hard to kill.
<B>Colin:</B> Really?
<B>Caleb:</B> I don't know much, but a devil stays dead.
<B>Kristoff:</B> How do you know this?
<B>Caleb:</B> Well, we've had a few serious altercations. The kind that end up with a funeral. And we're both still around. So we both have a kind of respect on that level. But I don't like him a bit.
<B>Kristoff:</B>
<B>Caleb:</B> He's tricky and tough. Gets away very easy.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The party is sure that he's holding back something (DC15 Sense Motive). He's almost saying something several times during the conversation, but uncertain. Some of the party is (DC20) sensing that Caleb is sizing up the party, deciding whether to tell them more.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Caleb:</B> Can't really say a lot more about him. I could say more, but I don't know you from anybody.
<B>Caleb:</B> The goblins have a leader. He holds them together. He's the brains of the operation.
<B>Caleb:</B> This one is a problem. He is a serious problem. I don't know what drove him and his boys out of that mine, but whatever it was had to be really freaking tough because he is no slouch.
<B>Colin:</B> If we should take care of this leader, would that gain the amount of the trust you need?
<B>Caleb:</B> I'd say so. If you brought me his head or some proof that he's gone and you know what. And he's got some his bully boys. I don't think he's all goblin. If you can bring me his head and two of his bully boys, I'll believe you.
<B>Caleb:</B> I'm a friendly man, but I'm not a very trusting man unless you bring me some results.
<B>Colin:</B> Fair enough, I like that in a man.
<B>Caleb:</B> I'll tell you right now. There isn't a man, woman, or child in this town that an individual goblin can kill.
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> I just wanted to make sure that you're making a wise decision.
<B>Caleb:</B> You'd better be sure. They'll gladly kill every one of you if they can. Other adventurers have gone in there and they'll do it again.
<B>Colin:</B> (Offers weapons off goblins)
<B>Caleb:</B> Why don't you take that to Rolf's house? Tell him I sent you. Stay away from the smithy.
<B>Colin:</B> Why is that?
<B>Caleb:</B> If you want to drop off weapons, go to Rolf. If you want to talk to a crazy person, go to the smithy.
<B>Kristoff:</B> About the giants...
<B>Caleb:</B> I don't know how they do it. I can tell you that times in the past. We'll be fighting goblins and all of a sudden there's a giant there, beatin' the crap out of us.
<B>Kristoff:</B>
<B>Caleb:</B> Nobody's ever seen 'em leave, but they're there and then they're not there.
<B>Kristoff:</B> You've been in the army. Did they seem like any of the giants you saw there?
<B>Caleb:</B> They fight like giants. They stomp on you.
<B>Kristoff:</B> Did this ever happen when the goblins enter town?
<B>Caleb:</B> Either they can't stay around long or they don't want to stay around long. We've never killed one and they've never hung around long.
<B>Caleb:</B> We've seen shadows, we've seen wights and wraiths. We've even seen the occasional ghost.
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> You speak wise words.
<B>Caleb:</B> It's my job.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
As the party is talking to Caleb, Elverie sees a guy accidentally cut himself while gutting fish, but after a few minutes the wound is gone. Once the party is out of hearing distance, Elverie mentions this to the party. Colin looks back and everyone looks hunched over and shaggy. As the group returns, everybody looks the same way. Various people look like wolf-like.
Colin decides to go to the smithy. He knocks on the door. A slit opens the door chest height and then eye height.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Smith:</B> What do you want?
<B>Colin:</B> I am Sir Colin of Aquitaine. Prince Donner sent me to investigate what's going on here in Brighton County. Caleb says you're crazy, but rather than take a man at his word, I thought I'd come see for myself.
<B>Smith:</B> What's your business here?
<B>Colin:</B> I'm here to clear out whatever evil may be in Brighton County and...
<B>Smith:</B> All right, come in!
<B>Colin:</B> I'm here to clear out whatever evil may be in Brighton County and...
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Inside is a young man, carrying a crossbow with a silver tipped bolt. He's squinting at each person as they walk in. He pulls out a silver coin and tells each person to suck on it. Colin is using the helm and the smith looks like a werewolf.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Smith:</B> I hope you have silver weapons, you're going to need them.
<B>Kristoff:</B> Do you have any weapons?
<B>Smith:</B> Follow me!
<B>Kristoff:</B>
<B>Smith:</B> What do you need?
<B>Elverie:</B> Where'd you get all the silver?
<B>Smith:</B> Goblins. They give me silver
<B>Smith:</B> Plus I give silver weapons to any man who wants to use them.
<B>Colin:</B> The people appear to be lycanthropes.
<B>Smith:</B> They killed my family you know. They'll kill you too.
<B>Smith:</B> They're beasts, murderers, savages. They'll turn into beasts at lunchtime and eat you!
<B>Smith:</B> I've got a mission. I've got to make silver weapons.
<B>Smith:</B> I've got some raw silver, so I can make anything.
<B>Colin:</B> So how long has the town been infested with werewolves?
<B>Smith:</B> Like a year ago?
<B>Kristoff:</B> Mayor?
<B>Smith:</B> No. But he let my family die, so he's as bad as the rest.
<B>Smith:</B> Who said he doesn't die?
<B>Kristoff:</B> Caleb
<B>Smith:</B> He's a liar! He's a wolf!
<B>Colin:</B> Were the people here originally inhabitants?
<B>Smith:</B> All the poor townspeople here were infected, but now they're bad.
<B>Colin:</B> What about Caleb?
<B>Smith:</B> Caleb? He's the worst of them!
<B>Colin:</B> Did he infect the whole party?
<B>Smith:</B> I don't know where it started, but it got Caleb too. So, he's the worst of 'em.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Bimblefin:</B> I am the ghost?
<B>Smith:</B> Ghost of what?
<B>Bimblefin:</B> Ghost of silver... You've been taking too much of me?
<B>Smith:</B> Pixie? (Scoffs) Werewolf pixie. Whoever you are, show yourself and touch the coin.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
Bimblefin creates an illusion of a werewolf pixie. There is great chaos as the smith chases the illusion for several minutes.
The party decides to stay in the hut they spotted earlier. Paxus casts Mending on the most damaged shutter. The party has three watches. During the second watch, Bumblefin and Elverie see several shapes wandering the street. They appear to be the size of dire wolves. The groups appear to be converging on the party's location. Eventually, a bunch (around 15) settle down and watch the hut where the party is sleeping.
Later than evening, Elverie spots a bunch of werewolves coming back into town some distance away. They look to be carrying some small limp bodies into town.
The party decides to head to the druid's circle first. They decide to follow the river. Along the way, Elverie and Bimblefin spot (DC25) a stone structure in the middle of a non-rocky area. As they approach, there appears to be a statue of a stone goblin. As Bimblefin approaches the first, he spots three more statues. Kristoff examines the area around the statues, and it appears as though a few days have passed since they had turned to stone. He also finds some other tracks--signs of more goblins and large bird tracks. Kristoff believes them to be the tracks of a cockatrice.
As the group gets closer to the stone circle, there are marks on the tree branches. There appear to be several such marks. It looks like there have been several creatures with small claws that are gripping and climbing the trees. Bimblefin flies up. From there, he spots an area of entirely new growth. He also spots the circle of standing stones. Bimblefin reports back, so the druids decide to examine the area closer in eagle form. Kristoff knows that there was an altar that stood over a spring. The altar is still there, but there is only a hole where the pool was. Occasionally, they spot a stirge flying around from tree to tree.
The druids close in and the hole appears to be torn around, as though it's been dug around by a large animal. The hole appears to be plugged by something perfectly flat. Upon closer inspection, it looks like magically conjured stone. As they leave, the see several loose stones lying on the ground. They look like they are stone stirges.
Since they will be unable to get anywhere else, they head back to the town. Colin casts Detect Evil before he heads back to town and he casually inspects the town. Most of the dockworkers appear to be evil. The party goes over and talks to Caleb.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Colin:</B> ...and we figured that it's probably a cockatrice out there in the area with the stirges too. Do you know if anyone has been turned to stone by it?
<B>Caleb:</B> Is that what it is? I haven't found any people that I know turned to stone.
<B>Colin:</B> Well, we're thinking about going out to the goblin camps tomorrow unless you have a better idea.
<B>Caleb:</B> If I were you, I would march down the road straight to the mine, making as much noise as possible. That'll bring them runnin' as soon as possible.
<B>Colin:</B> I see. (Dubiously) Well, that's a possibility.
<B>Caleb:</B> Well, I'd suggest that you hurry. Goblins may be dangerous out here, but werewolves can climb up and kill you in your sleep. Well, it's almost evening, you'd better get back to your hut.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The party makes their way back to their dwelling.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> That was a very strange conversation--he appeared to be threatening you at the end there.
<B>Colin:</B> Yes, I noticed.
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> I got that feeling and wanted to see if you noticed. It was very strange the way he talked about werewolves killing you in your sleep.
<B>Colin:</B> Well, I can understand given how everyone in town is a werewolf?
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> Excuse me? What do you mean by this?
<B>Colin:</B> Sorry, sometimes I forget that I can see things that other people can't. Virtually everyone in this town is some kind of lycanthrope.
<B>Kristoff:</B> You mean the smith is right?
<B>Colin:</B> Well, him too.
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> Does he know he's a were?
<B>Colin:</B> I don't know and I didn't want to find out.
<B>Bimblefin:</B> Does this mean that Caleb was threatening you?
<B>Kha'Narek:</B> It sounded like a thinly veiled threat.
<B>Colin:</B> I was looking around as we came back and it appears that everyone in town is not evil. So, there's more to this little village than meets the eye.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
The party sleeps again. That night, a fight breaks out among the wolves. About eight or nine move towards the house, out of nowhere a big one and a couple of other big ones come running in and attack the first group. Bimblefin flies over the group of fighting wolves and uses Detect Thoughts. He starts on one of the weaker ones: "Fresh meat. Kill! Kill! Kill! Ouch!" He tries one of the stronger ones next: " Don't know how much longer we can keep them in check. One or two more tonight. Don't know how much longer we'll be able to hold them back." As he continues scanning, the patterns of thoughts follow the behavior of the two groups.
The next morning Paxus casts Divination with the goal of going after the goblin leader.
<BLOCKQUOTE>
Hunter as hunted. Hunted as hunter.<BR />He feeds on heroes.<BR />Be one.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
As the party heads down the road to the mine, Bimblefin spots a goblin running down the road. He shoots a sleep arrow at him, but the goblin makes his save. The goblin shouts out "I've been shot". He fires again, but misses. The goblin runs off into the forest. Bimblefin hears him shout "Ten of them coming! Armed! There may be loot! And they got some invisible with a bow. Ah, bushes!" As Bimblefin casts Entangle. Colin wanders into the Entangle area and pulls out the goblin.
<B>Round 1:</B> Colin charges up and kills two goblins. Paxus and Foradun delay. Kristoff casts Entangle, catching all the goblins, though several makes their saves. Several of the goblins move out of the Entangle and a large giant rises up and fires a crossbow at Colin, hitting for 18 points.
<B>Round 2:</B> Bimlefin shoots one of the goblins for 3 points of damage. Colin moves back to the group. The giant fires on Colin, hitting him for 20 points. The goblins fire on all the party, lightly wounding Kha'Narek and Paxus. Kha'Narek delays. Elverie begins casting Call Lightning. Mirto casts Fireball on the giant and nearby goblins (24 points). Colin identifies the giant as a spriggan. Farendil casts Prayer on the party. Paxus moves through the Entangle area to Colin and casts Fly on him. Kha'Narek moves up. Foradun moves up.
<B>Round 3:</B> Bimlefin attacks a nearby goblin and kills one with a sneak attack. Colin flies towards the giant. Kristoff moves up. The goblisn fire at sevearl people, wounding Paxus. The giant fires on Colin, hitting him for 21 points. Elverie finishes her spell and summons a bolt on the spriggan for 11 points. Paxus moves towards the spriggan. Foradun does a Psionic Blast on a bunch of goblins and the spriggan.
<B>Round 4:</B> Bimblefin shoots at another goblin, but doesn't kill him. Colin flies up to the spriggan and hits him for 26 points. Kristoff. The spriggan drops his crossbow and pulls out a greatsword. He attacks Colin three times, hitting him twice for 51 points. Elverie casts another bolt on the spriggan. Mirto casts a Lightning Bolt on the spriggan doing 27 points. Ox kills a goblin. Farendil fires two arrows, killing two goblins. Paxus fails his concentration check. Kha'Narek hits the spriggan and Foradun moves up toward the spriggan.
<B>Round 5:</B> Bimblefin shoots twice. Killing the previous goblin, then fires again, missing. Colin hits the spriggan for 21, 19, 19, and 47, killing it. Kristoff keeps shooting goblins in the entangled area. A few of the goblins flee. Mirto delays. Ox shoots two goblins. Farendil shoots two goblins. Paxus heals Colin for 20 points and moves out of the area. 
<B>Round 6:</B> Bimblefin shoots twice, missing one and killing another. Colin moves into a middle of goblins, kill, cleave, kill, cleave, kill, cleave. The remaining goblins that can flee, do. Elverie calls a bolt on one of the fleeing goblins, killing it. Ox shoots the two near Kha'Narek, killing them both.
Colin scoops up the prisoners.
<H2> Foes Fought </H2>
29 goblins<BR />1 spriggan