Borderhold is a small trade town sandwiched between the dangers of both the Winding Wood and Wooly Swamp. Trade is the only reason for its existence, and even its distant and dangerous location cannot prevent it from thriving. Doing business with other towns in the area, as well as people from the desert, the town is vital to the area.
Our mission is simple: Travel to Borderhold and take care of the Gnoll forces in the Winding Wood. While the Gnolls are usually not much of a problem, they have been increasingly active and violent as of late. People have been disappearing in far greater numbers than usual, and this has everyone worried. These beasts must be taken care of, and quickly.
Arriving in town, we realize that we are dangerously undersupplied for what may lie ahead. Terrance leads us to a man named Sisel, the only alchemist in Borderhold. Sisel is an old and cranky man, who does not take kindly to strangers in his town. I requested potions of healing, and while he did have them, his prices were much more than any sane person would be willing to pay. I attempted to barter with the man, but he would not listen to reason. This is when Terrance spoke up.
While I believe that every craftsman deserves fair compensation for his work and wares, sometimes they must be persuaded to volunteer themselves to the greater good. Terrance made me very aware of the fact that the Legion can commandeer goods for military use. With the threat of destruction of his shop, and the wrath of The Red Legion, he gladly handed over his potions of healing. A little persuasion can go a long way.
After leaving the alchemists, we headed into the woods to search for the Gnoll tribes. Terrance is an amazing scout and tracker, and was hot on the trail of the Swordrust tribe in no time. We all realized that this could be very dangerous, and keeping the element of surprise could mean the difference between life and death. However, no matter how I tried, I could not keep myself quiet. My armor betrayed me, clanking and creaking, with every step. The noise was so much that Terrance gave me his Boots of Elvenkind in hopes of quieting me down. It was a noble gesture, but in the end, had little effect.
We continued through the woods toward the Gnoll camp, when from ahead Terrance shouted: “To The Left, Fifty Feet!” Letting loose a volley of arrows. The Gnolls were easily dispatched with minimal casualties, and we continued on to the village. Terrance managed to lead us straight to the center of the Swordrust tribe.
The situation was better than we thought, and there are eight human captives caged in the middle of the village. The cage is loaded on a wagon and the Gnolls are already moving out. Terrance thinks he knows where they are headed, and can lead us ahead of them. We set up an ambush, using me as the bait. As the caravan moves to the designated location, I step out of the bushes and drop the lead Gnoll with a single blow. After that, everyone executes their roll perfectly. The Gnolls lay dead and the prisoners are free in no time. Now we have a problem… eight problems.
These people are not soldiers, they are farmers. They cannot fight and they will slow us down, or give us away if they stay with us. We have a decision to make, and I think I have a solution. Terrance leads us to a cave near our destination, a place called “The Amphitheater.” We arm the farmers with any spare weapons we have; daggers, crossbows and maces. We cover the enterance and leave them with simple instructions. "If we do not return by mornings light, run for all you are worth back to town. Run. For all your lives will depend on it."
The trek to the amphitheater does not go as we had planned. After all we have been through, we encounter yet more Gnolls. Worse are the Gnolls pets, which happen to be a pair of Trolls. We all fight for our very lives, felling several Gnolls in the process, but it is in vain. The Trolls are just too strong, and one by one, we fall under their crushing, tearing claws. I cannot believe that it all ends like this. (The world goes black)
I awake in hell. A huge pool of blood, parts and other foulness stands before me. Someone is shouting something in some horrible language, which burns my ears with every syllable. After a few seconds, I am able to figure out what in Aesias name is going on. Along with my comrads, I am tied to a stake. A Gnoll, dressed in some sort of robes, is chanting a horrible chant over a huge pool of sacraficial blood. This must be a summoning circle of some kind, and my friends and I seem to be the final sacrifice. I have heard of such atrocities before, and never hoped to witness one. Let alone be part of it.
After a few seconds, things begin happening very quickly. The shaman finishes his chant. The pool of blood begins to churn and boil. A cheer comes from the distance. Apparently the remainder of the Swordrust tribe have come to watch this spectical. What a spectical it is. From the depths of the pool reaches forth an immense arm. The arm is followed quickly by the rest of the beast. A Gnoll. A Gnoll to rule all others. The mighty demon god Yeenoghu rises before us. As if things were not strange enough... things really get wierd.
Yeenoghu, ripped from his home in the depths of The Hells, goes berserk. Yeenoghu hungers, hungers for the flesh of those who would dare disturb him. The Gnoll shaman becomes a little snack for the demon god. The rest of the Swordrust tribe, busy watching the summoning, are caught off guard when they become the target of their gods anger. I watch this spectical in slack-jawed amazement, until Adrianna cut loose my bonds.
Adrianna had slipped from her ropes nearly as soon as she was bound. However knowing she could do little on her own, she had bided her time. When the gnoll god went berserk, the time had come. Adrianna cut everyone loose, and Terrance quickly spotted our equiptment piled up beside the alter. We grabbed all we could, and made haste back toward the cave.
The Swordrust tribe is routed. Mission accomplished. But what now? |
