Lifting the Vale

22nd August 2023

## Adventurers Attending

* Horatio Hammerfell
* Renestrae 'Rain' Larenthanil
* Grrder
* Drake Younger
* Ivar Indiana

## Mission Notes

Summoned to Otha's Rest Adventurer's Guild, our party meet Beefington in one of the rooms - accompanied by Ivar Indiana, a freelance treasure hunter, and 'Arry - a dwarven miner. 'Arry came with a quest that would lead our adventurers to the northern reaches of the East Ridings. His company had found a large door, and they believed a small box to be located inside.

'Arry guides the party two days north, leaving them outside a door and promising payment if they are able to get inside safely. 'Arry then headed a short distance south-east, returning to Lady Felicity's Manor. After a short discussion, the group were able to make short work of a door, with Horatio giving it a good pull and heading inside. Immediately hit by a chill, the party continued into the depths of the mountain - finding a pair of trolls herding goats. Thanks to Rain's liberal use of 'Pass Without Trace', they were able to get by quickly and without incident.

The part continued into the mountains - making note and avoiding a number of rocky areas that did not fit the roughly hewn aesthetic, eventually locating a second, much-larger, door. Horatio was unable to open it this time, unable to grip the door, and the group opted to forgo the element of surprise and take the door off the hinges. As the door fell to the ground with a crash, smoke poured out of the room - which appeared to be a forge of some kind.

After a short discussion with the giants found within, the group chose to steal the box rather than pay the suspiciously high asking price. A short fight ensued, which ended in the group apologising and offering 1,000 gold compensation. Rain, however, had other plans - turning invisible and grabbing the box after it had been handed over. She ran past the ensuing chaos and back towards the trolls - while Horatio followed, demanding she dropped the box.

Once clear of the forge, Ivar was able to spend an hour solving the sliding puzzle that prevented access inside. When they were able to see into the box, they saw endless blue-white flames, and a strong smell of burning flesh - and chose to lock it once more, with Rain teleporting the box to Cassidy, who might have further answers. satisfied with a mission well-done, the party travelled to Lady Felicity's manor, where 'Arry refused to pay the group, as they didn't return with the box.

Unsatisfied with a lack of payment, Horatio headed to see Lady Felicity herself - who said she'd have no problem in paying the group, and promised them that 'Arry would pay for his misdeeds. When Horatio enquired further, it became clear that Lady Felicity intended to kill 'Arry - so he headed downstairs to give the dwarf chance to escape.

## Loot

* Standard Level Gold and Experience
* Infernal Puzzle Box

## Player Diaries

### **Grrder**

Grrder returned to guild life and also immediately felt like they were being set up for something. This mission involved doors and goats. Both things that Grrder is just not good at. Our instructions were to get through a door and to get a box. We managed both in a way. There was a big door we were dropped at. This led to some trolls we sneaked past. So far so good. Then there was another big door. This got reduced to a size still too big for Grrder and we went through it. A big fiery giant was on our path. The new dwarvish guy decided we had talked enough and attacked. I knew I couldn't hurt a big fiery giant so I just tried to be a distraction. With varying results. Rain disappeared at this point. We escaped to the first door for Rain and Horatio to have a long argument about ethics. Technically we had stolen a box. The new guy Ivar then opened the box and there was a portal to a fiery dimension in there. Which is not good. Rain disappeared with the box. Said something about Karn. We went to get paid only for a drunken dwarf to say we wouldn't get paid. We met the lady who was paying us. We got paid. Lots and lots of fire here. Not good for a metal man. I did meet Drake for the first time at least. I hope the fiery giant doesn't want revenge. It would be easy to find an autognome if he wanted to. The forge doors are not suited to giants.