Fraudulent Beginnings
April 18th
GM: EvilTables
Players: Zando, phoenixwolf, guybrush3pwood
Characters: Medrick (Thief 1. Plagiarized a biology book), Damien (Cleric 1. Power comes from dark forces), Kaelin (Fighter 1. Preparing for end times)
Region: Scholar’s Tower
Arrival at the Scholars’ Tower
Damien and I travel as protection for “Professor” Medrick. We look to sell “his” manuscript, ‘The Origin of Species’ to the scholars at the tower.
We arrive at the Scholars’ Tower. We are directed to the third floor, noting steps leading to a cellar or basement and the second floor containing a variety of plants. We reach the 3rd floor, full of taxidermied animals and beasts, and strike up a conversation with a nearby professor. Professor Dir is quite impressed with “Professor” Medrick’s (stolen) ideas on biology. She offers 1,000 gold for the manuscript, which we decline for the moment.
We learn of a beast 20 miles northwest with ancient antlers that guards the signs of it’s lost lover. Professor Dir sends with us a student, Morissa, who wields a sword and rides a sled, to take notes of our travels and assist us.
We stock up on rations, firewood, torches, and snowshoes for each. We also acquire a sleigh and two reindeer.
The Valley of Cow Stones
As we travel northwest into the tundra, there appear strange cow-shaped rocks in the distance. On approach, rhythmic drumming is heard underground. Two small bipedal creatures with horns and scholars are seen. I stupidly push one of the rocks over and the drumming stops. We decide it’s best to retreat as we are clearly outnumbered, so we return to the sleigh and continue northwest.
Cave of the Beast
We make camp close to where the antlered beast is rumored to be. During the night the cries of a wounded and dying animal are heard.
The following morning, we search the area and map it out. Birds seem to be circling something in the distance, and after investigating, a dead ox is found. Something has bitten huge chunks from the side of the animal and the kill is fresh. After salvaging a little meat for rations, we track large animal tracks to a cave. Inside, a stone pot lays in the middle of the first chamber, and in the pot we find cold water, moss, a dead bird and an ornamental goblet.
Two passages lay ahead, heavy breathing or snoring coming from the wider passage. We explore the narrower passage first and find a semi-preserved wolf’s head on an altar with three candles. On the wall, the word “flesh” is written with tally marks below. After lighting the candles, feeling a presence, and hearing howling on the wind, we place the rations of ox meat into the wolf’s mouth. The rations shrink as the wolf’s head grows.
The Ancient Elk
We sneak down the other passage toward the snoring and find a large elk-like creature resting. We awaken the creature and attempt to communicate with it. It isn’t hostile and seems to somewhat understand us. We convince it to follow us so we can help it, and take the wolf head, believing it to be the “lost lover” and an artifact of sorts.
On the trail back to the tower, we avoid the cow rocks. As we near the tower, the elk appears hesitant to approach. Merrick and Morisa take the sleigh to bring professor Dir back to the creature for study.
Damien and I make camp and wait. In the night Damien sees a group of 6 men approaching from the Northwest, so we quickly flee and wait. The men investigate the camp, slashing a tent and stealing our bedrolls. Once they leave, we return to camp and spend a cold night without firewood.
Professor Dir pays us 500 for our discovery and we sell the goblet for 100. ( 1,000 exp gain for each player.)
Rumors:
• The halfling village will pay for religious artifacts.
• The Geometer Lords will pay for mapping unexplored regions.
• The scholars will pay 500 for minor discoveries and 1,000 for significant contributions.
• 4-5 days of travel to the west from the tower, there is a dwarf Thranril that “sings the song of a sentient tree with strange humor.”
Gold & XP: +600 gold & 3,000 exp (1,000 per player)
Special or Magic Items: Wolf’s Head
Written by: Kaelin