The Road to Norin

Session XIV-XV Travel to Norin 6/4-6/28

The highlights of the journey are as follows:
A goblin patrol that was easily handled.

A pair of sea hags had a dangerously sticky trap which took Dagny for a ride. If not for a great feat of strength and some strong lungs, Dagny would have been deep-sixed.

An aranea (shape changing spider-lady) who laired in a cabin surrounded by her spider and ettercap minions. This fight was pretty exciting with poison and webs flying all over the place. The most dramatic moment was the casting of Doc's first fireball, which blew a huge portion out of the second level of the cabin. The party took captive the lady Anera (her name) and Cadman set out to redeem her from her evil ways, teaching her the tenets of good.

A group of shocker lizards living in a watery grotto was a bit of a challenge, but the party fared rather well, recovering the remains of a poor soul who wandered too close to their lair.

Another visit from our impish observer resulted in the acquisition of an ebony fly sitting in the road. Its presence, and the purpose of the devillish imp would prove to be mysteries for another day.

Perhaps the mightiest of challenges on the little-used trail to Norin started out innocently enough. Xavier decided during camp on the shores of the lake to go fishing on some gnarly old tree with great roots coming up out of the water. Much to his and the party's surprise, the tree is in fact a Dark Tree. A horrifying battle ensues pushing the party to its limit. The tree is resistant to Doc's fire spells, and rends people with its long claw-like branches. Xavier, Dagny and Cadman fight the plant in the shallows, but that almost proves their undoing. They lure it to shore were the odds are a bit more even. Dagny's animal companion trips the tree as it strides onto the bank, and they all alternate hacking the thing up, warfang getting the killer blow.

Finally, Norin is within a day's journey, and Xavier gets a visit from a pair of his deceased siblings. It seems his sorceress sister is about to be attacked. A frantic break of camp ensues, and the race is on to get to Fiona's manor. The party arrives as the attack commences, and a grand melee ensues. A large number of hired thugs are accompanied by a handful of wererats, led by a very tall, dark cloaked, black-haired wererat. The 6'10 ruffian attacks Fiona at the door. It is Erasmus the Black, the notorious scoundrel, second to none other than Garonis, the head of the Guilders of Norin. Also in the attack are other members of Erasmus's Rat Pack, including an evil follower of Wee Jas with clerical and sorcerous abilities. Doc is mortified by what he sees as a perversion of the worship of Wee Jas. Dagny unleashes some of her druidic ability by sending the pet dire rats off away from the battle. Doc blinds Erasmus just in time to save Fiona from the black wererat's deadly twin knives. As the battle concludes, Erasmus uses some item to turn invisible and flee into the knight, and Fiona shows her dark side by ending some of the attacker's lives on the spot.

Her servants had been killed and Fiona showed annoyance at having to get a new staff. Fiona fills Xavier in on family politics (a considerable portion of the evening) and the group retires as her guests.

Xavier Cle4Rog2 20,947
Doc Sor6 21,976
Dagny Bar5Dru2 23,831
Lume Rog1Sam2Ftr2
Cadman Pal7 24,006