409 - Aug 6
Welcome to Ken whose Warlock proved useful in disarming Firbolgs.
BEGINS
After having arrived at Lugdun Batavocum Dell, using his magic sword to detect magic, attracted the attention of the garrison's mage, a green robed man named Diodorus.
He ordered the fighter to hand over the sword accusing him of spying. Dell refused so the mage cast some sort of spell and Dell was paralysed. He was then tied up and his sword removed.
When Dell recovered Ordo had sharp words with him and gave firm orders that Dell and, indeed, all party members were under Ordo's command not to carry out spying on the garrison including using magic without permission.
Dell promised to behave and the sword was returned.
The following day (August 6), the party attended a briefing meeting in the castellum's great hall. Ordo was there along with the castellum garrison commander - an Equites called Drusus as well as Diodorus and a priest of Jupiter.
The party were instructed by Ordo to deal with Constantine's army which was rumoured to be located in a forest 12 miles to the northeast called the Schwarzwold. Constantine's forces were estimated at 200 Vexillationes (Heavy Cavalry), 400 Franks (Medium Infantry), 300 Hobgoblins and four Hill Giants.
The party were warned that bandits were rampant in the surrounding areas and should be dealt with firmly.
The party were issued with silver badges in the shape of a fern. Ordo said anyone encountered not wearing such a badge should be regarded with suspicion. He said he was happy for the party to be judge and executioner and they could keep any loot they found though any items of a Roman Imperial nature (eg captured Legionary Eagles) should be shown to him.
Scorpius asked to be taught some spells by Diodorus and was allowed to copy Dispel Magic from the mage's spellbook (he had several).
The party left the garrison the following morning (August 7). Three miles out from the castellum the well ordered farmland gave way to a devastated countryside with ruined farm buildings and a number of dead animals and people apparently killed by axes (a favoured weapons of Franks).
After six miles, following the road to Trajectum (40 miles from Batavocum) the party came across a small fort with two large towers. According to the Warlock and Wizard, it was a former headquarters of a cohort, but had been abandoned for over eighty years.
The party investigated and ran into a Firbolg. He seemed puzzled to see the party and asked them to go away as they were trespassing. The party responded by attacking.
From the player's point of view the encounter went as thus:
The party was talking to the Giant while the other party members moved into the courtyard to hear the conversation when the Giant threw a rock at the Mage who was not acting aggressive. First blood was drawn by the giants and the party responded in kind.
The Firbolgs proved to be tough opponents and threw rocks to deadly effect and also delivered vicious attacks with giant Greatswords.
A combination of the Wizard's Fireballs plus Shatter spells delivered by the Warlock, supplemented by heroic sword play by Dell and Taryyn resulted in two of the Firbolgs falling. Using a horn the Firbolgs summoned five Formorians. Upon seeing these, the party beat a hasty retreat to a wooded copse 400 yards away.
While recovering there they met two centaurs. The centaurs were members of a band of 5 that lived in the copse. Their leader (to the extent centaurs have leaders) was named Oriolanus. He was sympathetic to the party and was happy for them to hide in the copse, but advised them to leave the giants alone as the centaurs were anxious not be dragged into a conflict.
Session ended at 1900 on 7 August.
BEGINS
After having arrived at Lugdun Batavocum Dell, using his magic sword to detect magic, attracted the attention of the garrison's mage, a green robed man named Diodorus.
He ordered the fighter to hand over the sword accusing him of spying. Dell refused so the mage cast some sort of spell and Dell was paralysed. He was then tied up and his sword removed.
When Dell recovered Ordo had sharp words with him and gave firm orders that Dell and, indeed, all party members were under Ordo's command not to carry out spying on the garrison including using magic without permission.
Dell promised to behave and the sword was returned.
The following day (August 6), the party attended a briefing meeting in the castellum's great hall. Ordo was there along with the castellum garrison commander - an Equites called Drusus as well as Diodorus and a priest of Jupiter.
The party were instructed by Ordo to deal with Constantine's army which was rumoured to be located in a forest 12 miles to the northeast called the Schwarzwold. Constantine's forces were estimated at 200 Vexillationes (Heavy Cavalry), 400 Franks (Medium Infantry), 300 Hobgoblins and four Hill Giants.
The party were warned that bandits were rampant in the surrounding areas and should be dealt with firmly.
The party were issued with silver badges in the shape of a fern. Ordo said anyone encountered not wearing such a badge should be regarded with suspicion. He said he was happy for the party to be judge and executioner and they could keep any loot they found though any items of a Roman Imperial nature (eg captured Legionary Eagles) should be shown to him.
Scorpius asked to be taught some spells by Diodorus and was allowed to copy Dispel Magic from the mage's spellbook (he had several).
The party left the garrison the following morning (August 7). Three miles out from the castellum the well ordered farmland gave way to a devastated countryside with ruined farm buildings and a number of dead animals and people apparently killed by axes (a favoured weapons of Franks).
After six miles, following the road to Trajectum (40 miles from Batavocum) the party came across a small fort with two large towers. According to the Warlock and Wizard, it was a former headquarters of a cohort, but had been abandoned for over eighty years.
The party investigated and ran into a Firbolg. He seemed puzzled to see the party and asked them to go away as they were trespassing. The party responded by attacking.
From the player's point of view the encounter went as thus:
The party was talking to the Giant while the other party members moved into the courtyard to hear the conversation when the Giant threw a rock at the Mage who was not acting aggressive. First blood was drawn by the giants and the party responded in kind.
The Firbolgs proved to be tough opponents and threw rocks to deadly effect and also delivered vicious attacks with giant Greatswords.
A combination of the Wizard's Fireballs plus Shatter spells delivered by the Warlock, supplemented by heroic sword play by Dell and Taryyn resulted in two of the Firbolgs falling. Using a horn the Firbolgs summoned five Formorians. Upon seeing these, the party beat a hasty retreat to a wooded copse 400 yards away.
While recovering there they met two centaurs. The centaurs were members of a band of 5 that lived in the copse. Their leader (to the extent centaurs have leaders) was named Oriolanus. He was sympathetic to the party and was happy for them to hide in the copse, but advised them to leave the giants alone as the centaurs were anxious not be dragged into a conflict.
Session ended at 1900 on 7 August.