The Biscuits	Dollin - Druid 6th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/1st (PC)
Locale	East of Diamond Lake
Date	4th day of Richfest, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	afternoon

The road east of Diamond Lake was hard packed and the miles went by quickly, which was fortunate since the weather was, in the words of Nicola, "damn hot".

A patrol of the Greyhawk Militia left town just before the Biscuits. The military regulars quickly out-paced the adventuring party and were over the horizon by mid-morning.

Of course, that wasn't saying much since the horizon in question was contained within the eastern portion of the Cairn Hills. The road wound a bit, taking the easiest path between the various rises and valleys.

Nicola	What about you, Yodavan, do you know of any mysteries in this area?
Yodavan	I have heard stories of the Great Barrows, hmmm? Perhaps Gimar is more qualified to tell, however.
Gimar	Oh, are the Great Barrows near here? Sure, I've heard those stories.
Rheaphlyndar	Well it's a long ride, Gimar, let's have it.
Gimar	What I've heard is that the Great Barrows are within the Cairn Hills, but they are much newer than those ancient burial mounds. I've also heard rumours of great buried ships that sail the sky and stars, the so-called "spelljamming" ships. But the most reliable information, as I understand it, is that the Great Barrows are the burial sights of hill giant chieftans.
Dollin	So there's hill giants in this area?
Gimar	If our greenish friend is right. Woe to them if they tangle with us, though.
Little John	Here here!

Shortly after lunch, the biscuits came to a fork in the road. Wed indicated that his map showed the southern branch leading to Blackwall Keep, a garrison of the Greyhawk Militia charged with keeping an eye on the Mistmarsh.

The Biscuits	Dollin - Druid 6th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/1st (PC)
Locale	On the Urnst Trail
Date	5th day of Richfest, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	midday

The biscuits camp for the night went unmolested. In the morning they continued east down the road, and the sky showed hints of rainclouds. In fact, they had seen no other travellers on the great Urnst Trail since the previous afternoon when a potseller's wagon ambled by.

About midday they spied a great copse of trees south of the road.

Dollin	There's water over there for sure.
Gimar	I don't think the horses need it, but you would be the best judge of that, Dollin.
Dollin	No, I agree with you, I was just commenting on how green those trees are in this weather.
Nicola	Good point.
Wed	It's probably one of those streams running down into the Mistmarsh. There are so many I didn't mark most of them on my map.
Jaron	One thing I know, where there's water, there's . . .
Rheaphlyndar	(charging west on the road) Monsters!
Gimar	(readying his axe) What kind?
Rheaphlyndar	(slowing his mount) Some sort of many-headed dragon.
Jaron	(knowingly) Hydra.

The paladin drew his longsword, knowing it would do more damage than the broadsword Scather. Dollin readied the lightning spear, knowing he could probably do more damage with his bow if not for Little John's quarterstaff, which attracted all missiles. Gimar had already hopped to the ground and waited grimly, his battleaxe held ready. Rheaphlyndar leapt from his mount and headed for high ground, hoping all of the hydra's many eyes would not see him as he tried to maneuver behind the beast. Nicola readied her mace, Yodavan stayed back with the horses, and Wed also stood back, a thoughtful expression on his face.

The twelve-headed thirty-foot long monstrosity charged over the rise with unnerving speed, and the battle was joined.

 * [*] John Quarterstaff :16-|4+4|:7: miss
 4 [1-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:9: hit, 1d12+4=16, lopping off a head
10 [7-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:18: hit, 1d12+4=11, lopping off a head
11 [2+9] Hydra head :9-|-2|:2: misses Jaron
11 [4+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:9: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=12, lopping off a head
12 [3+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:4: misses
12 [3+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:12: hit, 1d10=8 points to Gimar
12 [8-2+6] Dollin Spear of Lightning :18-|4|:5: miss
13 [6+7] Nicola Mace :18-|4+2|:16: hit, (max) 17, smashing a head
15 [6+9] Hydra head :9-|5|:11: hit, 1d10 = 3 points to Nicola
15 [6+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:6: miss
17 [10+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:13: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=17, lopping off a head
17 [8+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:6: miss
18 [9+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:3: miss
18 [9+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:4: miss

Gimar	Keep it up, people. Little John, go for the heads!
Jaron	Wed, we need some fire over here!
Wed	Hmmm, isn't that the Lernaean hydra he's thinking of?
Yodavan	Fire we must make! Hurry, hurry!

 * [*] John Quarterstaff :16-|4+4|:13: hit, 1d6+4=7 to one head
 4 [1-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:8: miss
 7 [4-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:18: hit, 1d12+4=7 to one head
 9 [2+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:3: miss
10 [1+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:5: miss
10 [3+7] Nicola Mace :18-|4+2|:12: hit, (max) 17, smashing a head
11 [2+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:10: hit, 1d10=10 to Little John
11 [2+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:17: hit, 1d10=3 to Little John
14 [5+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:5: miss
14 [7+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:9: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=15, lopping off a head
17 [8+9] Hydra head :9-|-2|:17: hit, 1d10=3 to Jaron
19 [10+9] Hydra head :9-|-2|:5: miss

Dollin, Wed, and Yodavan moved forward and began applying fire to the writhing stumps and severed heads.

Little John	Shouldn't we hit the body now?
Gimar	Stay on target!

 * [*] John Quarterstaff :16-|4+4|:18: hit, 1d6+4=10, smashing one head
 5 [2-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|4+2|:10: hit, 1d12+4=13, lopping off one head
10 [1+9] Hydra head :9-|2|:12: hit, 1d10=10 to Little John
11 [2+9] Hydra head :9-|0|:19: hit, 1d10=1 to Gimar
12 [5+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:8: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=14, lopping off a head
14 [5+9] Hydra head :9-|-2|:9: miss
16 [9+7] Nicola Mace :18-|4+2|:18: hit, (max) 17, smashing a head
17 [10+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|4+4|:6: hit, 1d8+1d2+7=10, lopping off a head

Rheaphlyndar	I have a brilliant, beyond brilliant, idea. Dollin, care to ride with me?
Dollin	Right with ya, 'cuz.

Dollin and Rheaphlyndar headed off the direction the hydra came from, seeking the lair. Nicola and Jaron and Yodavan tended to the wounded, and the rest of the hydra's massive body was burned.

Jaron	Hey, Nicola, nice hits with that mace. I think you took out a quarter of the heads.
Nicola	And it's about time, too.

The druid and rogue returned to the smell of burning meat with a small chest carried between them.

Gimar	Now how did the hydra carry that?
Rheaphlyndar	It looks like the hydra moved in on another lair.
Dollin	We couldn't find any trace of the former occupant, but we did find this.
Nicola	Did you open it yet?
Rheaphlyndar	Nope, but I did check it for traps. I'll just need to work the lock . . .

The rogue sprung the lock easily, but it took a sword edge to pry open the old chest, probably because of the rusted hinges. Contained within were a small mound of gold and silver coins, along with a flask and a small metal-tipped rod.

The Biscuits	Dollin - Druid 6th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/1st (PC)
Locale	Fort Leman
Date	6th day of Richfest, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	late afternoon

Near the end of Richfest the Biscuits reached Fort Leman. This was one of the "spinal garrisons" which marked the old border of the Domain of Greyhawk.

Jaron	(riding up to the main gate) Ho, there.
Militiaman	Welcome travellers. Headed east to the Duchy of Urnst or south to Fort Gellner?
Jaron	East to the Duchy and beyond. What news?
Militiaman	Hill giants spotted to the northwest, and rumours of harpies to the southwest. Nothing brewing here, though.
Jaron	Good thing we're headed northeast.
Militiaman	Care to join us for a meal?
Jaron	I believe our party would be delighted.
Militiaman	Good, the stables are just to the left inside the gate.

While the rest of the Biscuits ate in the small dining hall, Wed retired to the room early with a small plate of meats and cheeses. He then made ready to cast the identification spell which would leave him exhausted for the evening. Yodavan came with him, to watch and learn.

Disclaimer

This is not an authorized site for material relating to AD&D (© TSR).
AD&D (Advanced Dungeons and Dragons) used to be a trademark of TSR, which held exclusive rights on the material associated with the game.