Episode 71 - Downriver

Episode 71
Downriver

The Biscuits Dollin - Druid 7th 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/3rd (PC)

Locale Within the Gnatmarsh
Date 21st day of Reaping, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time late evening

After travelling two days down river, the Biscuits left the mighty trees of the Celadon behind them. The river meandered a bit, and the party finally entered the Gnat Marsh late on the third day. The Nesser River wound around even more after that, sometimes even heading back towards the forest.

It was easy to lose track of time on the small barge as it drifted down river. Dollin spent a lot of time identifying the various local flora and fauna to any who asked.

Gimar Well what do you call these, then?
Dollin Oh, I'd say that was the Green Cask fly.
Rheaphlyndar (swatting another insect) What do they live on when they can't have adventurers?

By the second full day in the marsh, most of the company sported many red welts, the results of countless stings and bites. Occasionally the gnats rose up in such a thick cloud that they blotted out the sunlight.

Dollin cast a spell to ward off the insects for a short time whenever anyone was badly bitten. On the third morning of the trip, Yodavan found some mud that seemed to keep some of the insects away.

Gimar I don't care how well it is supposed to work; keep that gunk away from me.
Jaron Like a dwarf covered in mine dust is any less noble.
Gimar This is no mine dust. The whole thing smacks of something a gully dwarf would do.
Nicola Gully dwarves? What are those?
Wed The Duergar; they live underground and are generally thought of as the bottom rung of dwarven society.
Gimar (chiming in) Not even on the same ladder.
Wed (continuing) I suppose you might compare them to the drow elves or the deep gnomes.
Dollin The Svirfneblin? I've heard of them.

Wed continued, discussing some of the more obscure races of humanoids he had read about. As he talked, he found himself thinking of the great library of Chendl, and how he would be far more comfortable there.

Wed (under his breath) . . . and less insect bitten.

The party still drifted on, going roughly south the whole time. Usually the bargeman tied his boat off for part of the evening while he slept. It was one of these times when the giant toads came blurping out of the muck.

Dollin Beware, they are poisonous.
Jaron Jaron Ho, you won't take us by surprise!
Gimar Ready weapons!
Rheaphlyndar My master always used to say, "Initiative comes to thems that wait."
Little John (charging) Bah, attack!


 * [*] John Quarterstaff :16-|7+4|:7: hit 1d6+4=9 to Toad "A"
 1 [1] Poisonous Toad B :19-|2|:12: miss
 1 [1] Poisonous Toad C :19-|0|:8: miss
 2 [2] Poisonous Toad D :19-|0|:11: miss
 3 [3] Poisonous Toad E :19-|5|:14: hit 1d4+1=2 to Nicola(3)
 4 [4] Poisonous Toad F :19-|1|:2: miss
 5 [5] Poisonous Toad G :19-|2|:7: miss
 5 [2-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|7+3|:8: hit 1d8+4=5 to Toad "B"
 5 [4+1] Yodavan ~ Magic Missile :1: 1.5*(2d4+2)=11, slaying Toad "G"
 5 [5-3+3] Rheaphylander Jambiya :17-|7|:8:  miss
 6 [6] Poisonous Toad H :19-|0|:8: miss
 7 [7] Poisonous Toad A :19-|0|:4: miss
 7 [7] Jaron Shield Punch :15-|7+2|:6: hit 1d6=5, slaying Toad "B"
 9 [8+1] Wed ~ Magic Missile :10: 3d4+3=13, slaying Toad "C"
10 [6-2+6] Dollin Spear :18-|7|:11: hit 1d6=2 to Toad "D"
10 [7-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|7+3|:1: fumble(17) no further effect
16 [9+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|7+4|:13: hit 1d8+1d2+7=16, slaying Toad "E"
16 [9+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|7+4|:15: hit 1d8+1d2+7=13, slaying Toad "F"
16 [9+7] Gimar Battleaxe :13-|7+4|:12: hit 1d8+1d2+7=13 to Toad "H"
16 [9+7] Nicola Mace :18-|7+2|:7: miss

Nicola was bitten firmly by one of the four foot toads, and she collapsed where she stood. The party closed ranks around her prone form, and Yodavan attempted to drag her toward the middle of the boat. However, the Biscuits seemed to have the three remaining toads well handled.


 * [*] John Quarterstaff :16-|7+4|:8: hit 1d6+4=5, slaying Toad "A"
 3 [3] Poisonous Toad D :19-|0|:5: miss
 7 [4-2+5] Jaron L.Sword :15-|7+3|:18: hit 1d8+4=9 to Toad "D"
 8 [8] Jaron Shield Punch :15-|7+2|:7: hit 1d6=5, slaying Toad "D"
 9 [9-3+3] Rheaphylander Jambiya :17-|7|:13: hit 1d4=3, slaying Toad "H"

Dollin pronounced the poison to be pretty nasty, so Gimar broke out a dollop of Keoghtom's Ointment and fixed the cleric up. The toads had no form of treasure, but the boatman was relieved to see them gone.

The Biscuits Dollin - Druid 7th 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/3rd (PC)

Locale South of the gnatmarsh.
Date 26th day of Reaping, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time later afternoon

Another few days journey saw the biscuits out of the marsh at last. There were small trading settlements, and according to Wed the Nesser joined with the Duntide not far downstream. Another day or two beyond that was the river delta and the town of Nessermouth.

Gimar I think that by then we should be able to hire a larger ship to get us across the bay.
Jaron Isn't that bay controlled by the Brotherhood?
Nicola Sure, they signed the Treaty of Greyhawk, right?
Dollin Umm, yeah. My folks have heard that the incidents of "monster attacks" are way up. Also, there are pirates whose ships aren't sworn to any nation.
Gimar At least visibly. I'm really not looking forward to this.

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Quote: Gerb

The Biscuits	Dollin - Druid 7th 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/3rd (PC)
Locale	Within the Gnatmarsh
Date	21st day of Reaping, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	late evening

Gimar	Well what do you call these, then?
Dollin	Oh, I'd say that was the Green Cask fly.
Rheaphlyndar	(swatting another insect) What do they live on when they can't have adventurers?

Gimar	I don't care how well it is supposed to work; keep that gunk away from me.
Jaron	Like a dwarf covered in mine dust is any less noble.
Gimar	This is no mine dust. The whole thing smacks of something a gully dwarf would do.
Nicola	Gully dwarves? What are those?
Wed	The Duergar; they live underground and are generally thought of as the bottom rung of dwarven society.
Gimar	(chiming in) Not even on the same ladder.
Wed	(continuing) I suppose you might compare them to the drow elves or the deep gnomes.
Dollin	The Svirfneblin? I've heard of them.

Dollin	Beware, they are poisonous.
Jaron	Jaron Ho, you won't take us by surprise!
Gimar	Ready weapons!
Rheaphlyndar	My master always used to say, "Initiative comes to thems that wait."
Little John	(charging) Bah, attack!

Gimar	I think that by then we should be able to hire a larger ship to get us across the bay.
Jaron	Isn't that bay controlled by the Brotherhood?
Nicola	Sure, they signed the Treaty of Greyhawk, right?
Dollin	Umm, yeah. My folks have heard that the incidents of "monster attacks" are way up. Also, there are pirates whose ships aren't sworn to any nation.
Gimar	At least visibly. I'm really not looking forward to this.