(<- [[warship|The Warship]]) ([[adventures|Back to Adventures Index]]) ([[Congal's Tomb]] ->) ==== II-N-1) Mountain Crossing ==== == Editor's Note == //This was a [[Good Party]] adventure run some time in 1983. It consisted of a series of unrelated wilderness encounters as the party crossed the pass over the [[Border Mountains]] from the elven city of [[Larinday]] to the [[Sea of Sand]], as they searched for the [[ten_artifacts|next artifact]] in the quest that began in [[Elarion's Castle]].// //The numbers in the text below represent the day number of the crossing (which the party did on foot). The notation "(...)" indicates where the monster's stats were included in parentheses. I just got lazy and didn't want to type them in here.// //I have a vague recollection of this being a boring session -- and a reread of the encounters makes it clear why. There is no rhyme or reason to any of them, and most offer nothing entertaining to the players (or the DM). I will have to assume it was ignorance or politeness that allowed my players to put up with it.// == Page 1 == 1) At the end of the day, 6 SU-MONSTERS (AC 6, MV 9", HD 5+5, #AT 5, D (d4)x4, 2d4, hp 36, 31, 4x25) will approach the party curiously. At the first rude or violent action, all 6 will attack. They have no treasure. 2) Just after lunch, 7 TROLLS (AC 4, MV 12", HD 6+6, #AT 3, D d4+4/ d4+4/2d6, hp 38, 37, 35, 34, 31, 30, 28) will wander by and attack. They have no treasure. See [[#addendum]]. 3) Uneventful day - Reaches edge of forest. 4) First day in mountains. Just after midnight, 12 WOLVES (...) will approach and encircle the campsite. Their howling will be heard several minutes prior to approach. They will not attack unless attacked and will leave after about one hour. If fed some meat, they will leave. No treasure. 5)-7) Continuing in the mountains. Uneventful. 8) In the late afternoon, 5 PERYTONS (...) will be seen atop an 85 foot cliff. They will immediately dive to attack. In their lair is a recently killed human male wearing leather armor, wearing a +1 Ring of Protection, has a Shield, and 2 fire opals (1000 gp ea.). 9) Late in the evening as the party is breaking up to sleep, 4 HIPPOGRIFFS (...) will fly past. They will not attack unless attacked and have no treasure. 10) As the party wakes and prepares to set off, 3 ETTINS (...) will spot them and begin approaching for combat. If tracked back to their lair (a cave nearby), a 190g p wrought platinum necklace and 300 gp will be found. == Page 2 == 11)-15) Uneventful except for completing the dungeon on day __12__. See: Updated [["Cave of the Giants"]] 16) In the Valley of the Gnomes -- Only encounter is with 15 GNOMES early on. They will greet the party peacefully. 17)-25) Uneventful. Mountains getting higher. September arrives. 26) Early in the morning, a GIANT EAGLE (no combat expected) will fly by and stop to talk. He will generally be curious about the party and ask them whether they have anything to do with the "ugly guys that flew by earlier." This refers to the 1/2orc and his gargoyle friends that traveled by here to get to the Tomb (see [[#page_4|day 72]]). The eagle knows only that they were "ugly humanoids with wings." 27)-29) Uneventful. ''Scrying on day 28.''((written in pencil later)) 30) As evening approaches, a WEREBEAR (no combat expected) will wander by to see what's going on. He will be generally rude until the party responds nicely. If attacked, he will fight back, but will not initiate any combat. He knows nothing important and will leave as soon as possible. 31) Late in the morning, 12 OGRES (...) will see the party and decide to have some fun and throw rocks and/or fight them. The leader carries a potion of Healing (but doesn't know it) and they have 500 gp total. 32)-36) Uneventful. == Page 3 == {{ mountaincrossing1.jpg?400|Day 37 Encounter Map}} 37) Near the end of the day (Just after dark), the party will see a "torchlight" or "camp fire" off in the distance. Careful observation will determine it to be moving (just as if it were a torch). If the party follows, they will be "led" to the edge of a 30' cliff where the torch will seem to go out. The point where the light went out is an overhang and is very unstable. Any person approaching will trigger a fall of 30'. If a second person is close behind, he/she must save vs. dexterity or also fall. This torchlight is in actuality a WILL-O-WISP (...) which blanked out just before going off the cliff. As soon as one person falls, it will attack. Nearby is a small cave with another WILL-O-WISP (...) as well as 12 recently dead animals and a dead Half-Elf with 200pp and a magical mace. The mace is +1+2 normally and +2 vs. any form of undead. Also, it functions as a minor mace of disruption (effects undead as if it were a 4th level cleric). Only a good character can wield it properly. 38) Near mid-day, a GIANT GOAT (...) will be seen. It will not attack and most likely will flee from any threat. 39) Fairly late in the evening, 6 WORGS (...) will be encountered. They will begin by howling which has a 50% chance to panic any horses, then they will attack from all sides. 40)-51) Uneventful. Reaches half-way point. 52) Mid-afternoon: 4 STONE GIANTS (...) will wander by on a hunting expedition. They will be spotted at 18" distance and will take great sport in throwing rocks at the party. Besides their clubs, they carry 1000 sp and various boring giant-like items. == Page 4 == 53)-54) Uneventful. October arrives. 55) Around noon, 3 suspicious WERETIGERS (...) will be encountered. They will not, however, attack (Nor will they talk). 56)-67) Uneventful. 68) Soon after noon, 3 PEGASI (...) will fly past. They will not attack and will generally take no notice of the party. 69)-71) he party will find a well-worn trail, that appears unused, heading in their direction. It leads all the way into the desert and goes directly where the party wishes to go. 72) In a narrow pass between two steep ridges is a 2000 year old (at least) shrine to pay homage to the dead. It is, in actuality, a tomb and has a fair amount of undead. See the detail: [[Congal's Tomb]] 73)-77) Uneventful. ''73=17 December''((written in pencil)) 78) Late evening (just around nightfall), a single HIERACOSPHINX (...) will attack the party. 79)-80) Uneventful. 81) Just before noon, the party will pass within 6" of a small cave opening. At this point they will be attacked by 7 GOBLIN GUARDS with slings and stones. No goblins will emerge from their cave into the sunlight and all have 50% cover thus giving them an armor class of 2. This is actually a complete GOBLIN lair with 190 males, 114 females, 190 young, 20 warrior types (hp 7, HD 1), and the chief (hp 8, HD 1+1). See map for day 81. See [[#addendum]]. == Page 5 == 82)-86) Uneventful. November arrives on Day 84. Desert entered on day 84(*) 87) About mid-day, a huge PURPLE WORM (...) will attack from beneath the sands. It has no treasure. 88) Late in the evening, the party will spot an "oasis". Unfortunately, it is guarded by 3 LIONS (...) who will be offended at the parties//(sic)// intrusion. They will not, however, attack, unless threatened directly. 89) About mid-day, 2 GIANT SPITTING COBRAS (...) will be found near a weathered pyramid. The pyramid is detailed in the mini-dungeon: [[pyramid_tomb|Antal's Cloak]]((The index refers to this adventure by the name "Pyramid Tomb")). ''The snakes cause permanent blindness unless saved. If the save is failed, save again or die. On a bite, however, they simply kill if the save is failed.''((This text apparently added later)) (*) This is the ruins of the city of [[Domal]] with two large stone pillars (mostly crumbled) and an ancient road pointing out into the desert toward the mountain of [[Arral]]. == Page 6 == RETURN TRIP -- On carpet : flight time = 8 days 1) Across desert. No encounters. 2)-4) Uneventful. Flying over mountains at a "tremendous" rate. 5) After nightfall. Party has misfortune of encountering 7 WIGHTS (...). If turned, the ones with fewer hit points will flee first. Nearby, there is a lair with 9 more WIGHTS (as above, hp 2x25, 3x23, 20, 19, 17) with 2500 cp, 500 gp, and 2 gems (Chrysoberyl: 100 and Sardonyx: 50). 6) Uneventful. Arrive in Gnome Valley. 7) Early in the day, 12 DWARVES will be seen. No combat. 8) No encounters of interest -- due to the fact that the party is flying. ---- BACK IN [[LARINDAY]] ---- == Addendum == 2) Just after lunch, 5 TROLLS (AC 4, MV 12", HD 6+6, #AT 3, D d4+4/d4+4/ 2d6, hp 38, 35, 34, 30, 28) and a GIANT TROLL (...) will wander by and attack. They have no treasure. {{ mountaincrossing2.jpg?400|Day 81 Encounter Map}} 81) Just before noon, the party will pass within 6" of a cave opening where they will be attacked by 2 GOBLINS with slings. They are hiding behind small boulders and have AC 2. If approached, they will flee into the first cave and join up with their friends to fight. Thus, the party will have to fight 12 GOBLINS (hp 6 ea.) first. In the next area (alerted to danger and impossible to surprise) are 6 OGRES (hp 2x22, 18, 2x15, 14). In the common room are 181 GOBLINS (hp 3 or 4 ea.) plus 102 FEMALES and 188 YOUNG. 3 more FEMALES + 2 YOUNG are in the adjoining kitchen and 3 MALES (hp 5 ea.) are in the "blacksmiths" area. The leader of the goblins is an OGRE MAGE (...) who has with him 5 more OGRES (hp 24, 23, 18, 17, 16, 15). As treasure, the OGRE MAGE has a potion of Flying, 1000 gp in a locked poison-needle trapped chest, as well as a 170 gp platinum ring and a 6 gp moss agate. == Addendum for Wilderness Adventure == 1) 3 GRIFFONS (hp 39, 29, 26) will fly past (not interested in party) early on. Shortly thereafter, a small group (11) of humans will be met. They know nothing and are just a group of hunters from [[Larinday]]. 2)-3) Uneventful. Through forests 4) Hills, 10 WOLVES will be encountered about dusk but will not attack. -> After dusk, 10 ORCS (hp 6 ea.) will have a campfire off in the distance. They are armed with Battle Axes and carry 2 gp ea. 5)-12) Uneventful 13)-2571) Same 26) The Giant Eagle knows nothing 27)-71) Same 72) See addendum for [[Congal's Tomb]]. 73)-89) + Return Trip) Same. \\ (<- [[warship|The Warship]]) ([[adventures|Back to Adventures Index]]) ([[Congal's Tomb]] ->)