Episode 23
"The Wight Stuff"
(c) Matt Grossman and J. Sage Schreiner

Tron Malkaszar, an irreverant elf -- Matt Grossman
Norel Bolderdash, hulking woodsman of the Adri forest -- Tom Morin
Nigil Palom, noble from a far-distant land -- Kevin Osborn
Aran, a newly remade Paladin from Tenh -- AJ Drexel
Sapphire nee Tika, a courageous gnome -- Corey Paganucci
Rhahid, a mysterious spell-crafter -- Eric Kruller 
Thorwolf Lokhold, Yar! -- Jerry "?"
All others -- Sage Schreiner

The party has taken refuge from the storm in an old barrow.  The
chamber they are in contains a rotted ship.  There are several exits:
A door on the west wall, an open door in the southwest corner, a
doorway on the north wall, a doorway on the east wall, and a hole in
the floor.

Rhahid: (checks out the southwest door, and finds the passage beyond
mostly blocked by a large stone, with a pair of bony feet sticking out
from under it) It looks like a trap got someone here, guys.  We should
be careful.
Sapphire: (checking out the east passage) Just a room with a symbol on
the wall.
Tron: The hole in the floor leads down into a room, but I can't see
what's in it.
Aran: (checking out the north passage) Just some stairs... AAAGH!
[thump]

As the paladin leans through the door, the mummified corpse of a blonde
woman in a blue dress strikes him down, and is now trying to drag his
unconscious body down the stairs.

Sapphire: No you don't! (grabs Aran's legs and pulls back)
Wight#1: (lets go and disappears back into darkness; A mumified hand stays
attached to Aran's foot)
Rhahid: What is going on guys?  AAAAGH!

A second walking corpse suddenly springs up from behind the block of
stone and strikes the mage. This one is also wearing a flowing, light
blue dress, but has raven-dark hair coming away in patches from her decrepid
scalp. Her throat smiles eerily where it was slashed centuries previously,
and there are rusty stains on the front of her dress.

Rhahid: Ooogh... I feel weakened. Time to use my magic (turns invisible).
Wight#2: (stalks towards the invisible mage)
Rhahid: Help!
Tron: [twang twang] I don't think normal weapons will stop this thing!
Norel: [twang twang] I think we're hurting it...
Wight#2: (Writhes as several arrows are buried to the fletching in it body).

Suddenly a man leaps into the chamber from the hole in the roof the
party had entered by.

Thorwolf: (in Fruztii) In the name of Kord, begone!
Jola: Eeek! A heathan!
Skanda: Err... Begone, creature of darkness!
Wight#2: (turned, it flees down the passage)
Thorwolf: (in Fruztii) Face my blade, monster! (runs after the fleeing
wight)
Norel: I think he's on our side. (runs after Thorwolf)
Tron: Wait for me! (runs after them)

Skanda: (heals Aran)
Aran: I feel... weak, somehow. (heals himself) Strange, I still don't
feel so good.
Skanda: Your soul has been diminished by these monsters.
Aran: Then let's pay them back!

Nigil: Hmm, I wonder what's behind this door. (starts pushing at the
west door, which remains closed)
Rhahid: I'll just, umm, guard the rear.

The passage wight#2 fled down ends in a dead-end, where the creature
cowers on a pile of rubble.

Norel: It's so scared it won't attack us! [chop]
Thorwolf: Gnyarr! [hack]

Suddenly there is a piercing scream from the central chamber.

Tron: (runs back) What happened?
Jola: One of those creatures came out of the hole in the floor and
took Ulrik!
Eute: My... my husband! [sob]
Boy: Dadddddyyyy!
Rhahid: (drops his light-stone down the hole, then jumps down after
it)
Tron: I guess if the mage is leading the way, it's ok. (follows)

They find themselves in an empty chamber with no apparent exit, and
begin searching for secret doors.

Meanwhile, Norel and Thorwolf have succeeded in dispatching the turned
wight. The black haired corpse falls motionless, and they continue hacking
it for several moments.

Norell: And stay down!
Thorwolf: My name is Thorwolf.  I did not realize you were southerners
at first.  I speak your language.  I am of the Fruztii people.
Norel: The fruitsy people?
Thorwolf: Fruztii.
Norel: Anyway, thanks for your help.  What do you do?
Thorwolf: I am a priest of Kord.  This past summer I was viking in
Rognvald's band.  That is why I am on this island.

Rhahid: Guys, get down here!  We found a secret door!
Norel: Gotta go.
Thorwolf: Hmm, I will help the others.


Aran and Skanda are exploring to the north of the main chamber, while
Nigil and Sapphire are trying to open the closed door.

Nigil: Push!  Push!  Gnyarr!
Sapphire: Urrgh!
Thorwolf: Let me help.  Urggh!

Slowly the heavy stone door scrapes open, showing a passage heading into darkness.
Sapphire advances cautiously, and barely leaps out of the way when a huge stone
block falls from the ceiling.

Sapphire: We should have expected that...

They find two empty chambers behind the door.

Meanwhile, Tron, Rhahid, and Norel are preparing to open the secret
door.

Tron: There's this weird cold draft coming from around it. (opens the
door)

They see a corridor heading down into the earth.  Two walking corpses charge out of
the darkness... another woman in blue with a cut throat, and the unfortunate Ulrik!
This time he adventurers are prepared, and hack down both undead as they enter the room.

Norel: That could have been worse.

Aran and Skanda find a rough hole in the floor leading down.

Aran: The creature must be down there.  Hieroneous guide my hand!

He enters the hole, and is immediately attacked by wight#1.

Aran: Have at you! Ouch! Ow! Agh!

Nigil: I can hear something... it sounds like Aran fighting behind this
wall!

(starts pushing at the wall)

Sapphire: I see the catch!  Up there!  No, you fool, there! (tries to
climb up the fighter to reach the catch)
Nigil: (pulls the gnome off him) I see it, I see it. (push) [click]

They see a small room containing wrecked coffin.  From a hole in the
floor they can hear the sound of Aran fighting something.

Nigil: Hmmm, you go in the hole Sapphire.  I'll check out this
coffin.  Looks like there's treasure in it.

Thorwolf, meanwhile, has run back to the other end of the hole, just
in time to help Skanda pull Aran's unconscious body out.  The wight follows.

Skanda: In Pholtus name, I command you to leave!
Thorwolf: By the power of Kord, begone, foul monster!
Wight#1: (wordlessly hisses and moves towards them)
Sapphire: (runs up behind the wight and swings at it) Oops.
Wight#1: (turns on the gnome and hits her)
Sapphire: Oogh... you'll have to do better than that, bitch! [stab]
Thorwolf: (to Skanda) Stand aside, woman. [hack]
Nigil: Let me through!

They quickly dispatch the wight, and the party gathers in the central
chamber.

Nigil: Say, where's Desh?
Desh: (stands up from inside the boat, where he had been hiding) No
food here, just bones.
Nigil: Gold?
Desh: No good shiny here.

They relocate to the lower chamber.

Eute: Aaa!  Ulrik!  You've killed him!
Norel: He, umm, died bravely.  Both times.
Eute: Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!

The passage behind the secret door ends in a throne room.  Tron finds
a secret door in the north wall, which when opened reveals a treasure
chamber.  There are a number of gold armbands scattered on the floor,
as well as an unrusted hauberk, a bundle, and a greatsword.  This last
is hung on the wall opposite the door, and an unnatural cold radiates
from it, such that frost forms on the blade.

Tron: Finally, some of the good stuff!
Thorwolf: "Gold under gravel, gone to earth, as useless to men now as
it ever was..."
Tron: Whatever.
Rhahid: The sword, the armor, and that bundle are magical.  I'll just
check out the bundle... huh?

The bundle contains a large rock, badly blacked on one side.

Rhahid: Well, it is magic, so I guess I will hang onto it for now.
Aran: I want that sword. (grabs the hilt) Oww!

The hilt of the sword is so cold that it burns whoever wields it.

Nigil: I call dibs on the armor.  Oh, and we found a silver broach and another
gold arm band in that coffin.

They wait out the remainder of the storm underground.  After several more
days the wind dies down and they emerge to find that the island has
been devastated. Enormoous waves still break over the headland. About half the
population has been killed, either by the storm or by the trolls.

Rhahid: But at least Hooter survived!
Hooter: Hooo.
Rognvald: We killed a troll! Yar!
Aran: We killed three.  And some wights.
Thorwolf: And I killed a troll as well.
Eute: [sob] It is true. I witnessed it all.

The party helps the people of the island rebuild and gather food for
the winter.  They also find the "Osprim's Will" overturned in a sheltered area. It
somehow survived the storm almost intact, the only boat left on the island. Of the ship's
crew, only Cormak, Bonden and Killick the Purser survive. Bonded is silent -- he has never
seen such a storm.

Cormac: It has been dismasted and the hull needs repairs. It will take about two weeks
to fix my boat.
Rognvald: No. It will take three days to fix MY boat. There is no food here for us.  We will go
to Thorfinn's hall for the winter.
Cormac: ...

The next day the Earl Thorfinn Bloodaxe himself appears, sailing to the island
alone in a small, wave-tossed boat. He is a tall, black haired man. He is extremely ulgy -- his
face is rough and poorly shaped. From behind his dark eyes this is a sense of great
intelligence and little patience for weakness or stupidity. He quickly gives order to
the remaining villagers, nominating leaders for various tasks and assessing what
is left: people and supplies. He spends a long moment staring at their boat. He appears
intrigued by the name, "Osprim's Will".

Thorfinn: It is the will of Osprem that it survived. Procan may be the god of storms,
but he cannot destroy what Lady Osprem protects.
Rognvald: Southeners came on the boat. They are brave men. You know how hard
I am to impress.
Thorwolf: And a brave man will usually survive, if his luck holds.

Norel: That guy looks familiar...
Aran: Hey!  He's the guy who led the attack on Bellport that we saw,
just when we were coming out of the sewers!
Tron: He gets around, I guess.

They talk briefly with Thorfinn, who invites them to his hall, on
Windy Isle.

Thorfinn: I want to hear the news of the southlands, and the tale of
your voyage.
Aran: One more thing.  When we fought those walking corpses, they
drained our energy somehow.  We have all recovered, except for
Sapphire here.  Do you know if there is a powerful holy man in this
area?
Thorfinn: Hmmm... there is an anchorite who lives on a small island.  He
may be able to help.  Rognvald knows where he is.  Now I must go, I
have other islands to visit.

He sails off, his small boat beating out of the bay and into the enormous surf created by
the storm.

Thorwolf: What a man!

It takes them three days to fix the "Osprim's Will".  At the end of
this time, they embark with Rognvald and his men, including Thorwolf.

Ragnvald: We have enough on board.  Cast off!
Cormac: Hey, wait for me!
Ragnvald: ...
Cormac: Err, have fun!

They sail off, leaving the survivors of the crew on the island.

Norel: Good riddance.
Aran: Hey, this Rognvald guy is all right.

On the voyage, Rhahid uses his magic to identify some of the items
they have picked up.

Rhahid: Ok, the greatsword is powerfully enchanted to strike true and
hard.  The armor is enchanted to be strong and durable.  The stone
will provide a benefit of health to whatever household it is placed in the
hearth of, and the crown seems to aid in casting spells.
Aran: Rhahid, if I see that crown on your head I will take it off, and
your head with it.
Rhahid: Err, it needs more studying.

Aran keeps trying to figure out how to wield his new greatsword
without being burned by it.

Aran: Rhahid, loan me those fur boots, the ones that protect from
cold.
Rhahid:  But... ok.
Aran: (puts on the boots and grabs the sword) Owww! Ok, that's not
it. (gives the boots back)  Tron, you do not follow Hieroneous.  You
try grabbing this sword.
Tron: (grabs the sword) Ow!
Aran: Ok, that's not it...

After a day's voyage they sight the hermit's island.  It is a barren
and rocky ridge, with no vegetation whatsoever.  The party lands and
starts towards the peak of the island. Rognvald and his men watch from the ship.
As they approach it they hear a curious grinding sound, like rock being crushed.
Suddenly, the grinding stops.

Norel: I know of no animal that makes such a sound.
Tron: I'll scout ahead.

The elf moves up to the top of the ridge, which is crowned with a
ruined building, presumably the hermit's cell.  On the other side of
the ridge, and climbing towards the party, is an gargantuan dragon-like
beast, with a long tail and no forelimbs... a wyvern!

Tron: Uh-oh.

He warns the others, and they hide behind rocks as the monster comes
over the ridge.  All except Aran.

Aran: Bah.  Hieroneous does not favor cowards. (draws his sword) Ow!

Wyvern: Bkawk! (comes over the ridge and heads for the paladin)
Norel: (shoots wyvern)
Wyvern: Scrawk! (charges the ranger and stings him)
Norel: Argh!  Poison!  But not strong enough for me!

Tron, Thorwolf, and Sapphire shoot at the wyvern, but their arrows do
not pierce its skin.

Wyvern: (stings Nigil)
Nigil: Agh!  It burns!
Aran: (charges wyvern)
Wyvern: (stings Aran)
Aran: (as green froth bubbles from his mouth, he swings the cold
greatsword and lands a mighty blow)
Sapphire: Hang on! (runs towards the fray)
Skanda: (casts Fear at the wyvern)
Wyvern: (turns to flee)
Aran: By the power of Hieroneous! [hack]

The wyvern is sorely wounded.  It runs down the far side of the ridge,
trailing intestines.

Aran: (falls to his knees) Poison... Skanda... the cup...
Nigil: I don't feel so good.
Skanda: No. Not yet.

Rhahid: That monster is a fortune in magical components.  Get back
here! (starts chasing the wyvern)
Tron: I guess if the mage is doing it, it must be wise. (runs after
Rhahid)
Sapphire: Maybe the hermit is in his house? (goes to the house, and
finds a trapdoor leading into a basement)

As Rhahid and Tron reach the crest of the ridge, they see the wyvern
turn around and come charging back up towards them.

Rhahid: Time to use my magic (turns invisible).
Tron: [twang twang]  Err... Pholtus save me?
Wyvern: Squawk! (stings Tron)
Tron: Guess not. (falls)
Norel: [twang]
Rhahid: [bzort bzort bzort]
Thorwolf: [twang]
Wyvern: Squarook! [thud]
Thorwolf: Yes!  I killed it! Me! That was all me!
Aran: (heals Tron)
Tron: Poison... it burns... 

The elf is barely able to stand.  Nigil and Aran are not much better. The
three quickly begin vomiting green bile.

Sapphire: Nope, the hermit's not in the basement.
Aran: Ok, now give us the cup and knock us out...
Nigil: No, wait, lock us in the basement and then...
Tron: Cup...
Norel: We could tie them up and...
Aran: (grabs the cup and gives Nigil a drink)
Nigil: Ahh, that's better.
Aran: (takes a drink himself) Thanks to my faith in Hieroneous I am
unaffected by the cup's curse... this time.
Nigil: (tackles Aran) Give me the cup!
Skanda: (grabs the cup and gives Tron a drink)
Tron: Give... me... the... cup...
Norel: (sits on Tron)
Sapphire: (beats Nigil with the flat of her sword)
Aran: (knocks Nigil down and holds him)

Norel: Ok, now what?
Skanda: If we don't let them drink from the cup regularly, they'll
die.  They may die anyway.

They go back to the ship and get Rognvald and his men ashore to search
for the hermit.  After a few minutes they find an old man hiding in a
cave. He has a flowing white beard, and a milky white eye where a battle
scar from long ago etches his face. He serves Lendor, the Northern god
of patience, study and Wisdom -- and Kord's father.

Thorwolf: Hail great and respected one. I am at your command.
Hermit: I'm glad to see you.  I thought I was a goner for sure when
that monster started eating its way into the cave.
Aran: Old man, we have heard that you are a hermit with mighty healing
powers.  Two of our number are under a curse, and one of us has had
her soul drained by a monster.
Hermit: I cannot help you.
Aran: ...
Hermit: Heh heh heh, I was joking, sonny.  I can easily remove
curses.  To restore drained energy I will need powdered diamond of
great value.

The hermit casts Remove Curse on Tron and Nigil.

Nigil: Unfortunately, we don't have any diamonds.
Hermit: I cannot work without them.

Rhahid has been dissecting the wyvern.

Rhahid: Hey, guys, I found some uncut diamonds embedded in the flesh of one
of its stomachs!
Hermit: So be it. The gods have smiled on you.

He restores Sapphire's lost energy, and the party spends the night on
the hermit's island.  They make merry, celebrating their victory over
the monster.

Thorwolf: Then I shot it, and it fell down! Hic.
Tron: (brooding) That was too close.  If there's one thing I'm afraid
of, it's that cup.
Rhahid: What, are you learning caution in your old age?
Tron: I was following you!
Nigil: It looks like the mage is becoming more reckless.  Your
behavior must be rubbing off on him, Tron.
Tron: Very funny.
Skanda: Pholtus teaches us against rashness. You would do well to follow his
advice, Tron. Death will come to us all, and it better that we choose the way
it come than be its unsuspecting victim.
Thorwolf: Kord teaches us to lift heavy things.

TO BE CONTINUED...