Category: Musings (Page 5 of 9)

Our colonists, fresh from saving the lumberjacks from the Kobold scourge, next followed a map found in the Kobold lair to perhaps find a cure for the Bloody Pox. Added to the map was information giving by the sole survivor of the previous colony, Jacob Bluecastle. He let it be known that the Bloody Pox could be cured, and the cure perhaps found in the far off Kobold King’s demense.

So our colonists set out south, towards a tower as indicated on the map. Through snow, across the flat plains, the party journeyed for days until they found a mysterious tower, 80 feet high and alone in the plain. It’s manufacture odd, with technology lost to the current times. The party entered the tower, and almost immediately fought a scouting party of Kobolds who had taken up residence in the Tower. The battle was close, but the colonists prevailed. After finding out information about the bloody Pox and it’s possible origin, the party went upstairs, to find Kobold Artificers had fled, and a strange portal on the top floor. It appeared to be a teleportation device, maybe linked to many others. The cure seemed closer all of a sudden, and yet, wrapped in danger.

Our intrepid colonists tracked down the kobold force, and the five lumberjacks that had been absconded with and taken to the kobold hold. The trail stayed warm, and as the party turned the corner, they were blasted by three kobold Fire casters. After a close battle, the party continued into the depths of the kobold caves, where they found the foul dragon kin had made it their home. Exploring ever deeper into the caves, they finally came upon three kobold alchemists, and a blue Dragon Wyrmling on a collar with the Kobold Chieftain. A nasty fight ensued, but the partyy was victorious.

The luberjacks were rescued, as was a longtime settler from the Gothic Empire, Jacob Bluecastle. jacob let the party know about a cure for the bloody pox, and that a map found in the caves contained the way to the kobold King’s hold. The party looked around the caves, and decided to return at some future time. But for now, they returned back to Vidorville as heroes, lifting the spirits of the settlers. the lumberjacks had been rescued and safety returned to the Colony.

Josiah, Mandella, and Harcourt were among the crew of lumberjacks working hard to fell trees for the lumbermill. Winter was fast approaching and there was no time to waste building shelters. Each had signed up not to cut trees, but to start a new life in the new world. But on an early November morning, with a slight dusting of snow collecting on the leaves of the forest they worked in, suddenly, a party of scaly lizard like creatures burst out of the thicket, chattering and hissing, and attached their party. The soldiers quickly responded, but three went down with spear wounds, and the others wavered against so many. soon, the reptilian creatures rushed the workers, and but burlap sacks over the three workers heads. Each were roughly picked up, and hauled to some distant base. They had been kidnapped.

Our brave colonists responded by forming an expedition, tracking the tracks left on a river trail, until reaching some strange base. On the way, they fought off an ambush of the scaly creatures, with few wounds. When they came upon the Kobold base, it was clear the Kobolds hadn’t built it, but instead whatever predecessor species had come before. Perfectly hewn walls, smooth pillars, this was no Kobold den. The party crept ever inwards, until confronted by fire breathing kobolds. A tough skirmish ensued, but the party was victorious. Looking over the bodies of the three fire breathers, a long, dark hall continued downward. What lay before the colonists? More kobolds, or something worse?

Beric’s Blessing and Baron’s Revenge headed south from Constantine’s Land, in search of better weather and a larger land mass.  (Also putting some distance from the clockwork Automoton). A sheltered Bay revealed a small river delta, with a deep water estuary.  The two carracks sailed upriver for an hour, until they came upon a point where the delta forks met up to become one river.  In the distance to the east lay a vast forest, while at the river fork point, flat, solid ground stretched as far as the eye both to the north and south.  The party decided that providence had brought them to the right spot, and the colony was founded on October 10, 1115 (YOTE).

Soon, lumber parties went into the forest to fell the resources needed, while tenements and a palisade were quickly raised.  A chill hit the air the next week, and the workers redoubled their efforts to house the settlers. Captain Rannic of the Baron’s Revenge asked to take his leave, but put off his journey when convinced his departure would be futile. His deferral was timely, as activity and arrow flight was spotted in the forest.  The party was dispatched, until confronted by a party of green scaled lizard like short creatures, armed with spear and cross bow.  Attempts to parlay were for naught, and battle ensued.  the party was victorious, but not before the “Dragon Kin” leader spoke threats to the party in broken Gothic.  Odd.

The next week brought the first snowfall, and the dispatching of the ships to the Bay.  Two days later, Beric’s Blessing returned, and announced that Baron’s revenge had departed early, back to the Old World.  A second encounter with the Dragon Kin was more successful, and ended in a stand off.  Later that week, the entire settlement was surprised by a large floating object coming towards the Settlement. An Airship of some kind perched just above the entrance to the Settlement, and three “Lizardmen” repelled down ropes.  led by a fine speaking Aristophenes, the Party learned that the Lizard Empire had been in contact with the Gothic Empire for some 200 years, and had invited the Gothic Empire to settle the new world in a fulfilment of an alliance. The party, perplexed by the lack of intelligence provided to them by their own government, pondered their next moves, in an ever more hostile land.