Date: 4th May 2024
Star Wars day is here! It's a Saturday May the fourth and we're in Aldershot for the eight part of the Evils of Illmire Campaign.
It started out so well but Things take a turn for the worse during a deadly encounter.
Star Wars day is here! It's a Saturday May the fourth and we're in Aldershot for the eight part of the Evils of Illmire Campaign.
It started out so well but Things take a turn for the worse during a deadly encounter.
Unhappy wife, unhappy life
Wendelaine was the name of the carpenter's wife.
It was late at the Inn of the Weary Wagoner and Wendaline had been in a quiet corner waiting for the arrival our heroes after they had spoken with her son. When they entered, Wendelaine approached them and explained that something had happened to her husband and son, had changed them and she wanted our heroes' help to return them to normal.
Our heroes asked when this had taken place, Wendelaine wasn't so sure, it had not been obvious, she had not noticed. They asked if her husband had any friends or places he regularly went to but Wendalaine said he mostly kept to himself. Our heroes agreed to help.
Wendaline thanked our heroes and returned home. Our heroes retired for the night.
Dawn sunlight radiated over Illmire and through east facing windows as the farmers, fishermen and hunters strode off to their daily toils, belying the town's dismal nature.
Our heroes had recently investigated the boarded-up stonemason's house to no avail. They knew of one other establishment in Illmire that was also boarded-up; the gem cutter's shop.
That was where our heroes chose to visit in the morning, posing as possible buyers.
At the gem cutter, the board covered door cracked open an inch after our heroes knocked on it. The merest sliver of a face cautiously eyed them from the other side. A man's voice asked their business.
Our heroes said they were hoping to look at the gem cutter's inventory of precious stones with option to buy. They sensed a moment of hesitancy as he weighted it up, a few seconds later the door swung wide.
Inside, it was quiet, subdued and gloomy, lit only by slim shafts of light filled dancing motes while streaming through gaps in the boarding.
As evidenced by a thin layers of dust, the store's shelves had been empty for a while.
The gem cutter introduced himself as Kellen and his wife as Maidelle, our heroes could see she was pale, a sign of trouble to come?
They asked the couple why the store was closed, Kellen explained that they were fearful of the balding fever and that trade had dried up. They asked the couple if they knew anything of the carpenter or stonemason but they did not provide any information that was unknown to our heroes. With that, Kellen went in the back of the store, returned with a tray of jewels and presented them to our heroes who went through the pretence of assessing them and stating none of the stones interested them.
Kellen was disappointed but did not complain. Our heroes thanked him and took their leave.
Wendelaine was the name of the carpenter's wife.
It was late at the Inn of the Weary Wagoner and Wendaline had been in a quiet corner waiting for the arrival our heroes after they had spoken with her son. When they entered, Wendelaine approached them and explained that something had happened to her husband and son, had changed them and she wanted our heroes' help to return them to normal.
Our heroes asked when this had taken place, Wendelaine wasn't so sure, it had not been obvious, she had not noticed. They asked if her husband had any friends or places he regularly went to but Wendalaine said he mostly kept to himself. Our heroes agreed to help.
Wendaline thanked our heroes and returned home. Our heroes retired for the night.
Dawn sunlight radiated over Illmire and through east facing windows as the farmers, fishermen and hunters strode off to their daily toils, belying the town's dismal nature.
Our heroes had recently investigated the boarded-up stonemason's house to no avail. They knew of one other establishment in Illmire that was also boarded-up; the gem cutter's shop.
That was where our heroes chose to visit in the morning, posing as possible buyers.
At the gem cutter, the board covered door cracked open an inch after our heroes knocked on it. The merest sliver of a face cautiously eyed them from the other side. A man's voice asked their business.
Our heroes said they were hoping to look at the gem cutter's inventory of precious stones with option to buy. They sensed a moment of hesitancy as he weighted it up, a few seconds later the door swung wide.
Inside, it was quiet, subdued and gloomy, lit only by slim shafts of light filled dancing motes while streaming through gaps in the boarding.
As evidenced by a thin layers of dust, the store's shelves had been empty for a while.
The gem cutter introduced himself as Kellen and his wife as Maidelle, our heroes could see she was pale, a sign of trouble to come?
They asked the couple why the store was closed, Kellen explained that they were fearful of the balding fever and that trade had dried up. They asked the couple if they knew anything of the carpenter or stonemason but they did not provide any information that was unknown to our heroes. With that, Kellen went in the back of the store, returned with a tray of jewels and presented them to our heroes who went through the pretence of assessing them and stating none of the stones interested them.
Kellen was disappointed but did not complain. Our heroes thanked him and took their leave.
What's mine is mine
Our heroes decided that the mines north of the town would be worth a visit and the day was still young.
For a couple of hours they walked. Beyond the arable plains that encompassed Illmire was an uninhabited, undulating wilderness of rippling grassy foothills populated with clusters of thinly treed copses and beyond them, hazy blue-grey silhouettes of distant mountains could be see rising over a far horizon. Further beyond that even, was a scarring of strange impenetrably black clouds gathered against the cumulous filled cerulean sky.
Our heroes found themselves navigating inclines and hillsides or traipsing through dells and vales.
After a couple of miles, one of the numerous hillsides caught their eye.
There was a rock-filled way into the slope which was reinforced by a weather beaten timber frame and props. A mining entrance from the looks of it, Bertha stepped forward, her experience told that it was likely the mine had suffered a cave-in, getting through would be risky and cost time.
Our heroes decided to press on.
A while later and they noticed a speck of sunlight glinting off something amongst the long grass and lush vegetation, clearing it away, they discovered some rails and sleepers.
It had to be a minecart track now swallowed by the passage of nature. It must lead to a mine eventually, our heroes realised and began following it.
Their premise was correct! After a mile or so it ended at the entrance of a mine that went under adjoining hill, only this mine was not blocked by a cave-in, instead is was blocked by manmade obstacles.
Heavy wooden boards had been hammered into place across the mine entrance, sturdy chains had then been criss-crossed over those boards, kept in place by a padlock.
Someone was serious about keeping people from going into the mine... or coming out of it...
It took some effort but our heroes managed to smash through all the boards and break the padlock. They then entered.
The day's light quickly receded to a undefined white haze behind them as our heroes found themselves in a rocky yet obviously manmade corridor. Shadows from their swaying lantern danced mockingly across uneven walls and ceiling, seemingly twisting and changing form as our heroes walked on.
Soon, they found themselves sloshing through a thin layer of rank, stagnant water, disturbed water rippled briefly, gleaming dully in lantern light. Then, something forward of them caught their attention, some area ahead was lit up in what seemed a blaze of fantastically bright silver-white illumination.
Advancing, our heroes found themselves in a rocky chamber.
From a perfectly square, smooth walled vertical shaft in the ceiling streamed rays of afternoon radiance that engulfed the area in light; there were two exits, both inky black due to the bright room. The shaft went up through the entire hill to the azure sky above, it also continued downwards a small way but to an unfinished state.
Before our heroes had time to reflect upon this, flickers of movement from the two other tunnels caught the light, shuffling in came two zombies from each passageway.
A battle ensued and our heroes emerged victorious without mishap.
Our heroes decided that the mines north of the town would be worth a visit and the day was still young.
For a couple of hours they walked. Beyond the arable plains that encompassed Illmire was an uninhabited, undulating wilderness of rippling grassy foothills populated with clusters of thinly treed copses and beyond them, hazy blue-grey silhouettes of distant mountains could be see rising over a far horizon. Further beyond that even, was a scarring of strange impenetrably black clouds gathered against the cumulous filled cerulean sky.
Our heroes found themselves navigating inclines and hillsides or traipsing through dells and vales.
After a couple of miles, one of the numerous hillsides caught their eye.
There was a rock-filled way into the slope which was reinforced by a weather beaten timber frame and props. A mining entrance from the looks of it, Bertha stepped forward, her experience told that it was likely the mine had suffered a cave-in, getting through would be risky and cost time.
Our heroes decided to press on.
A while later and they noticed a speck of sunlight glinting off something amongst the long grass and lush vegetation, clearing it away, they discovered some rails and sleepers.
It had to be a minecart track now swallowed by the passage of nature. It must lead to a mine eventually, our heroes realised and began following it.
Their premise was correct! After a mile or so it ended at the entrance of a mine that went under adjoining hill, only this mine was not blocked by a cave-in, instead is was blocked by manmade obstacles.
Heavy wooden boards had been hammered into place across the mine entrance, sturdy chains had then been criss-crossed over those boards, kept in place by a padlock.
Someone was serious about keeping people from going into the mine... or coming out of it...
It took some effort but our heroes managed to smash through all the boards and break the padlock. They then entered.
The day's light quickly receded to a undefined white haze behind them as our heroes found themselves in a rocky yet obviously manmade corridor. Shadows from their swaying lantern danced mockingly across uneven walls and ceiling, seemingly twisting and changing form as our heroes walked on.
Soon, they found themselves sloshing through a thin layer of rank, stagnant water, disturbed water rippled briefly, gleaming dully in lantern light. Then, something forward of them caught their attention, some area ahead was lit up in what seemed a blaze of fantastically bright silver-white illumination.
Advancing, our heroes found themselves in a rocky chamber.
From a perfectly square, smooth walled vertical shaft in the ceiling streamed rays of afternoon radiance that engulfed the area in light; there were two exits, both inky black due to the bright room. The shaft went up through the entire hill to the azure sky above, it also continued downwards a small way but to an unfinished state.
Before our heroes had time to reflect upon this, flickers of movement from the two other tunnels caught the light, shuffling in came two zombies from each passageway.
A battle ensued and our heroes emerged victorious without mishap.
With the battle over, our heroes pushed on ahead along the straight-ahead exit.
Again, the passage way was uneven and rough but clearly manmade. And once more, they spotted a blaze of silver-white illumination. Moving forward, our heroes encountered a second vertical shaft.
Looking upwards, the shaft was again perfectly square and reached the top of the hill, only this time they could see the silhouetted against the sky some kind of apparatus spanning across the shaft. Partway up the shaft, our heroes could see a manufactured opening in one wall of the shaft some twenty-to-thirty feet up.
Finally, our heroes could see that the shaft also continued downwards; at the limits of their lantern light, our heroes could see it descended to deeper level of the mine.
The passageway continued on, so our heroes followed it.
Soon enough, the way opened into a junction; to the left a narrow stone staircase wound its way up a passageway while ahead, it continued into the darkness.
Out of that darkness came staggering even more baleful zombies, a dozen this time, moaning as they advanced on their targets.
There was no time to dally, our heroes formed up into two lines, Berth and Zach in the front, exchanging blows with the surging zombies while Tia and Socks made a second line further back and peppered them with arrows.
For while, the strategy worked but Zach who had yet to fully recover from previous wounds was struck down and a gap had appeared in the front line, zombies flooded through like a cadaverous undead tidal wave. The three heroes still standing were now caught in a melee.
Fighting continued, the zombies were being cut down but it wasn't enough to lessen their onslaught. Tia fell, then did Socks, Bertha took a heavy blow and was staggered. She was at risk of being surrounded but managed to maneuverer herself to the base of the stairs, from there she could only be approached by one zombie at a time. It was unrelenting but eventually, Bertha prevailed, breathing heavily, she barely stood.
She rushed over to Zach, tried to staunch his wounds but it was too much for Berth and it was too much for Zach, who, in a pool of his own lifeblood slipped into the great beyond.
Bertha managed to treat the wounds of Socks and Tia but neither woke again, both succumbing to their injuries and joining Zack.
Bertha desperately needed to convalesce, it was too dangerous to remain here and a march of several hours back into Illmire. There was no other way for it though and Bertha turned south through the hills and sporadic forests that decorated them. Fortunately, the journey was unremarkable and Bertha managed to reach the relative safety of Illmire.
Again, the passage way was uneven and rough but clearly manmade. And once more, they spotted a blaze of silver-white illumination. Moving forward, our heroes encountered a second vertical shaft.
Looking upwards, the shaft was again perfectly square and reached the top of the hill, only this time they could see the silhouetted against the sky some kind of apparatus spanning across the shaft. Partway up the shaft, our heroes could see a manufactured opening in one wall of the shaft some twenty-to-thirty feet up.
Finally, our heroes could see that the shaft also continued downwards; at the limits of their lantern light, our heroes could see it descended to deeper level of the mine.
The passageway continued on, so our heroes followed it.
Soon enough, the way opened into a junction; to the left a narrow stone staircase wound its way up a passageway while ahead, it continued into the darkness.
Out of that darkness came staggering even more baleful zombies, a dozen this time, moaning as they advanced on their targets.
There was no time to dally, our heroes formed up into two lines, Berth and Zach in the front, exchanging blows with the surging zombies while Tia and Socks made a second line further back and peppered them with arrows.
For while, the strategy worked but Zach who had yet to fully recover from previous wounds was struck down and a gap had appeared in the front line, zombies flooded through like a cadaverous undead tidal wave. The three heroes still standing were now caught in a melee.
Fighting continued, the zombies were being cut down but it wasn't enough to lessen their onslaught. Tia fell, then did Socks, Bertha took a heavy blow and was staggered. She was at risk of being surrounded but managed to maneuverer herself to the base of the stairs, from there she could only be approached by one zombie at a time. It was unrelenting but eventually, Bertha prevailed, breathing heavily, she barely stood.
She rushed over to Zach, tried to staunch his wounds but it was too much for Berth and it was too much for Zach, who, in a pool of his own lifeblood slipped into the great beyond.
Bertha managed to treat the wounds of Socks and Tia but neither woke again, both succumbing to their injuries and joining Zack.
Bertha desperately needed to convalesce, it was too dangerous to remain here and a march of several hours back into Illmire. There was no other way for it though and Bertha turned south through the hills and sporadic forests that decorated them. Fortunately, the journey was unremarkable and Bertha managed to reach the relative safety of Illmire.
Heroes three
For a few days Bertha confined herself to a room in the inn, nursing her wounds. Little happened in Illmire during that time and anything that did, was mundane.
While Bertha rested though, several singular individuals arrived in town. Drawn by tales of lost civilisations and forgotten treasure, they all hungered for adventure, for fame and glory.
Ari was an elf from a faraway arboreal kingdom.
Cherry hailed from the underground realms within the dominion of dwarven lords.
Brother Steve had been sent by his holy order to find his colleague Brother Jerry who had inexplicably vanished somewhere around the marshlands of Illmire some months ago.
Sensing kindred spirits, Bertha approached the three and recruited them to her cause.
Once Bertha was at fighting strength, our heroes marched out of Illmire, headed north and to the mines again. The journey was without incident and soon, they found themselves at the entrance, now littered with broken wooden boards and chains.
Our heroes entered the mine once again, proceeding cautiously in their lantern's wavering light. They came to the chamber with the first shaft, familiar to Berth but unknown to the others.
Before they had chance to proceed forward, worm-like creatures that had been lurking in shadowy corners of the rocky chamber came into the light. They were sinuous, almost centipede like, moving on dozen of pairs of legs, they waved numerous tentacles in the direction of our heroes before advancing and attacking.
Fortunately, they did not pose too much of a problem for our heroes and were easily dispatched.
For a few days Bertha confined herself to a room in the inn, nursing her wounds. Little happened in Illmire during that time and anything that did, was mundane.
While Bertha rested though, several singular individuals arrived in town. Drawn by tales of lost civilisations and forgotten treasure, they all hungered for adventure, for fame and glory.
Ari was an elf from a faraway arboreal kingdom.
Cherry hailed from the underground realms within the dominion of dwarven lords.
Brother Steve had been sent by his holy order to find his colleague Brother Jerry who had inexplicably vanished somewhere around the marshlands of Illmire some months ago.
Sensing kindred spirits, Bertha approached the three and recruited them to her cause.
Once Bertha was at fighting strength, our heroes marched out of Illmire, headed north and to the mines again. The journey was without incident and soon, they found themselves at the entrance, now littered with broken wooden boards and chains.
Our heroes entered the mine once again, proceeding cautiously in their lantern's wavering light. They came to the chamber with the first shaft, familiar to Berth but unknown to the others.
Before they had chance to proceed forward, worm-like creatures that had been lurking in shadowy corners of the rocky chamber came into the light. They were sinuous, almost centipede like, moving on dozen of pairs of legs, they waved numerous tentacles in the direction of our heroes before advancing and attacking.
Fortunately, they did not pose too much of a problem for our heroes and were easily dispatched.
Our heroes pressed on into the oppressive abyss, kept only at bay by the spark of lanternlight.
Ahead they saw the silver-white blaze from what Bertha knew to be the second shaft. Nothing had changed here. Our heroes continued. Troubled memories swirled in Berth mind as they moved on, our heroes arrived at the chamber with the stairs.
All the bodies that had been here, Bertha's former companions, the zombies, they were all gone?
A search revealed no sign of what had happened them but it did reveal another cadaver.
Garbed in a black cloak was half eaten corpse sprawled on the floor! It clutched a satchel while reaching for something, our heroes saw it, a short piece of cord running through some sort of rotted ear!
Brother Steve immediately picked it up and turned it over in his fingers, there appeared something unusual about it?
Brother Steve held it up to his own ear; nothing happened.
Next Brother Steve held it to his mouth; nothing happened.
Finally while still holding it to his mouth, Brother Steve spoke to it; nothing happened.
Next our heroes examined the satchel, inside the sturdy, dark olive oilskin bag were a pair of scrolls. Ari could tell they were spell-scrolls of Sleep and Detect Magic. Useful items no doubt; they were packed safely away.
Our heroes found nothing else here.
The stairs were the only option from here, clearly manmade, they weaved their way upwards into darkness and were roughly hewn but even so, there was a slippery quality about them, our heroes climbed them with caution and found themselves on a landing of sorts.
Turning left took them west along a passage and to the opening into the second shaft they had encountered earlier. Doubling back, they took the other way.
The passageway heading east opened into a small chamber with no exits, featureless save for the small rubble filled alcove along it's southern edge.
In the weak light, our heroes noticed something amongst the detritus, clearing it away, they found a small barrel. Eagerly, they opened the barrel, a pair of repulsive giant insects sprang out. Our heroes were startled as the giant ticks attacked. Despite the surprise, it was a brief confrontation, our heroes quickly gather their wits and dealt with the creatures.
Inside, the barrel was mostly filled with rocks entwined and threaded with glittering veins of gold, our heroes were ecstatic.
It was time to return to Illmire with their haul, our heroes decided.
First though, they had to navigate the slippery stairs down, it took them some effort to painstakingly shift the heavy barrel down. The task was completed without incident and they departed.
On the way out, our heroes investigated the other passageway they had encountered at the first shaft and quickly discovered it lead to a unremarkable dead end.
The journey back to Illmire was equally unremarkable.
Ahead they saw the silver-white blaze from what Bertha knew to be the second shaft. Nothing had changed here. Our heroes continued. Troubled memories swirled in Berth mind as they moved on, our heroes arrived at the chamber with the stairs.
All the bodies that had been here, Bertha's former companions, the zombies, they were all gone?
A search revealed no sign of what had happened them but it did reveal another cadaver.
Garbed in a black cloak was half eaten corpse sprawled on the floor! It clutched a satchel while reaching for something, our heroes saw it, a short piece of cord running through some sort of rotted ear!
Brother Steve immediately picked it up and turned it over in his fingers, there appeared something unusual about it?
Brother Steve held it up to his own ear; nothing happened.
Next Brother Steve held it to his mouth; nothing happened.
Finally while still holding it to his mouth, Brother Steve spoke to it; nothing happened.
Next our heroes examined the satchel, inside the sturdy, dark olive oilskin bag were a pair of scrolls. Ari could tell they were spell-scrolls of Sleep and Detect Magic. Useful items no doubt; they were packed safely away.
Our heroes found nothing else here.
The stairs were the only option from here, clearly manmade, they weaved their way upwards into darkness and were roughly hewn but even so, there was a slippery quality about them, our heroes climbed them with caution and found themselves on a landing of sorts.
Turning left took them west along a passage and to the opening into the second shaft they had encountered earlier. Doubling back, they took the other way.
The passageway heading east opened into a small chamber with no exits, featureless save for the small rubble filled alcove along it's southern edge.
In the weak light, our heroes noticed something amongst the detritus, clearing it away, they found a small barrel. Eagerly, they opened the barrel, a pair of repulsive giant insects sprang out. Our heroes were startled as the giant ticks attacked. Despite the surprise, it was a brief confrontation, our heroes quickly gather their wits and dealt with the creatures.
Inside, the barrel was mostly filled with rocks entwined and threaded with glittering veins of gold, our heroes were ecstatic.
It was time to return to Illmire with their haul, our heroes decided.
First though, they had to navigate the slippery stairs down, it took them some effort to painstakingly shift the heavy barrel down. The task was completed without incident and they departed.
On the way out, our heroes investigated the other passageway they had encountered at the first shaft and quickly discovered it lead to a unremarkable dead end.
The journey back to Illmire was equally unremarkable.
Profit
Afternoon can come as our heroes reached Illmire, they went into the town carrying the barrel as inconspicuously as possible and made for the blacksmith.
'He was likely to buy the gold' our heroes calculated.
Magnus did indeed look the goods over and offered our heroes one hundred and eighty gold for the lot. They were crestfallen, it wasn't the fortune they hoped for.
However, after some negotiation, they managed to get Magnus to pay two hundred gold.
Buoyed by the influx of cash, our heroes retired to the Inn of the Weary Wagoner, daylight would soon fade before the encroachment of night, leaving little time to do anything with the remainder of the day.
They would have to leave their next adventure to another day
Afternoon can come as our heroes reached Illmire, they went into the town carrying the barrel as inconspicuously as possible and made for the blacksmith.
'He was likely to buy the gold' our heroes calculated.
Magnus did indeed look the goods over and offered our heroes one hundred and eighty gold for the lot. They were crestfallen, it wasn't the fortune they hoped for.
However, after some negotiation, they managed to get Magnus to pay two hundred gold.
Buoyed by the influx of cash, our heroes retired to the Inn of the Weary Wagoner, daylight would soon fade before the encroachment of night, leaving little time to do anything with the remainder of the day.
They would have to leave their next adventure to another day
