New beginnings, Of Keys and Islands

Well we played as per usual. The last series of adventures I didn't do an actual play log/review. As I was using modules and such. That and quite frankly I was a little burned out doing the reviews. But now, we have started the part of the campaign that is all my creation. So with no further ado...

Of Keys and Islands
We picked up where we left off at Sandpoint. The characters reunited with Hudson the master thrower. They then sought out a ship to take them to their next destination, Erlands Keep. Erlands Keep is an island about a week and a half's journey north into the sea.

Well they finally find a ship willing to take them. They negotiate a price, and actually save some gold on the deal. (Phineas, actually had a really good diplomacy roll) Well they were a couple days into the journey when they were attacked by pirates. They spotted a ship with black sails, which promptly intercepted them. Their was a limited exchange between the ships ballistas, and catapults. The ships then grappled and the pirates invaded their ship. The group fought a variety of evil humaniods. Goblins, hobgoblins, bugbeears, orcs, gnolls, and ogres. They successfully and quickly fought them off.

The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful, finally reaching Erlands Keep. Erlands Keep is basically a small island consisting of a small mountain. The Keep its self is carved out of the mountain. With a small walled off area, protecting the entrance to the keep. Outside the wall is a town composed of shacks, shanties, and tents. A den of scoundrels, pirates and thieves. The dwarves have very little to do with the town. They protect their interests. (The docks, the keep, and shipping.) Other than that the town is on its own.

Any ways the characters arrive here. They immediately head for the center of town, where the action is. As they do. They see a huge earth elemental walk out of the ocean. It starts to smash tents, and shacks. Sifting though the ruins. Looking for something. Well being of the heroic sort. They attack the elemental. It is a long battle. At first the elemental ignored them, continuing its search. But annoyed by their attacks it starts to fight them directly. Hudson didn't engage the elemental. He went looking for help. He found a Skullcrusher Ogre named Grunt. He immediately flailed his way through the crowd running from the elemental. Helping the characters fight the elemental. They damage it a great deal. It (the elemental) finally decides to retreat. They characters (the barbarian brothers, in particular) strike the final blows. Killing it. It collapses in to the surf in a heap.

They are surrounded by grateful folks. They inquire about how they can make some money. As they will need gold to buy passage to the next island. (The Suzes Island) It is suggested to them. Being as powerful as they are that they try their hand at the arena. Before they go though. They are approached by a half elf named Kiev. He asks them to deliver a package to the Suzes Island. He promises them 500 gold pieces on delivery. He gives them a potion of cure moderate wounds as a gesture of good faith. He tells them to meet a contact. At thepig rock hill when they arrive at the islands. They then go to the arena. There is one slot left open. Barnaby volunteers to fight in the arena.
The only rules to the arena are this. No throwing the match, no healing between rounds, and no spells/potions. Other than that anything goes.

The brackets shake out like this.
Barnaby (3rd lvl barbarian/3rd lvl fighter)[odds 2-1] vs. Kutter (regular, goblin)[2-1]
Sark (3rd lvl Darfellan, barbarian)[3-1] vs. Fitz (4th lvl Ork barbarian)[2-1]
Bansh (3rd lvl Hadozee, ranger)[2-1] vs. Bark (2nd lvl Gnoll, Ranger)[3-1]
Steeb (3rd lvl Human Fighter)[3-1] vs. Grunt (Skullcrusher Ogre)[2-1]

The other characters bet on the fights and the results are pretty much what is expected. Their were varying odds on the fighters as well.

The winners were,
Barnaby
Fitz
Bansh
Grunt

The battles outside of the players was decided like so. A 1d4 was rolled for each fighter the highest roll won the match. Ties were rerolled till a winner was found. Then a d4 for was rolled to see how many times the winner was struck in the fight. Then a d6 was rolled for each hit. This damage was taken off the fighters remaining hit points.

The next battles were,
Barnaby [2-1] vs. Fitz [3-1]
Bansh [3-1] vs. Grunt [2-1]

The winners were,
Barnaby
Bansh (Who was a supprise winner. One of the players had bet on Bansh and made out well.)

It was down to Barnaby [2-1] and Bansh [3-1]. Barnaby made quick work of the Hadozee ranger.

He won the grand prize, 2000 gold pieces. They then found lodging for the night. At the best "Inn" they could find. I use that term loosely as it was a wooden shack. The next day they booked passage with a ship to the Suzes Islands. This time they were not very successful at negotiating with them. Paying full asking price.

They have a very uneventful journey the seas are a little rough. But not to bad. They arrive at the Suzes Islands. It is a tropical island. Primarily consisting of different grasses. The main export is sugar. As there are large sugar cane plantations here. As they pull up to the docks. They see a large stepped circular pyramid. Which at the top has a bright light shining in all directions. Its referred to as the light house. Its an ancient fixture. That no one remembers the origin of. As they depart the boat they encounter the primary race on the island. The "Wild Elves". Imagine skinny native Hawaiians, with pointy ears and blond hair. They welcome them with flower leas. As they approach the village a leopard charges them. The villagers seem indifferent to it. Saying things like "Shoo!", "Go, away". Talking to it like it was a house cat. Well as the cat charges, the druid Gaylen casts charm animal on it. Immediately befriending it.

Well being mid day they ask of the location of the pig rock hill. They are told where to find it, and head their immediately. To meet the contact. The pig rock hill is a large hill that had several large rock formations protruding from the earth. The natives carved them into giant pig statues. Their they find a short man in a hooded cloak. He is half goblin, half red dragon. They quickly exchange their items. The players giving him the gems. While he gives them a sack of 500 gold pieces. He then turns from them walking away. Suddenly his cloak turns into a set of bat wings and he flies off. As he does this. From behind some rocks two Dracotaurs, reveal themselves and attack. The group battles them defeating them. They then return to the town. Where they talk about eh dracotaurs in the inn. They are told that the dracotaurs live on the island across the straights. That occasionally a couple will find their way across and attack. But they never have been able to cross en,mass. The characters then go to bed for the night. This is where we ended the session for today.

Next week,
Onward to the top, into the black.