MERP: Trolltastic

In 'last weeks' episode we had seen our heroes gain their first bittersweet experience of the real world after getting their various apprenticeships. Greedy brother Dwarves Saul & Laus, cheerful Hobbit Syrus Rowbottom, quiet (silent?) Beorning Nurn, nice-boy Silvan Elf Takanor and angry Dunadan Ranger Roth Breedweller had set off to investigate mysterious occurances in the vicinity of a certain Baron Caldwell's hunting lodge. The Baron had recently disappeared, whilst at the same time goblin raids on the farms in the area around the hunting lodge had become more and more daring. The group investigated and with some style and panache had wiped out the goblins based at the lodge. They had also determined that the Baron was in league with these foul creatures and had so fallen into shadow that he had murdered his own wife and son. Unfortunately the group were injured in various ways during the battle and Roth Breedweller had died on an orc-blade, ending his philanthropic quest before it had begun.

And last night......

The Princess Branded: Episode One

The heroes return from the hunting lodge in mixed mood. Their comrade in arms lay dead in the woods, but they had succeeded in their mission. These mixed feelings fled when they were given a warm welcome in Gonnyk and presented with their reward of 30 gold, along with on-the-house beer in the tavern.
Little time passes before a new opportunity for mayhem arises for the group. A local fighter named Gattin comes over and congratulates the group and then tells the latest gossip from the road. An elven princess from Lorien as been captured whilst travelling home along the Elven Way. Her guards were routed, by many orcs they say, and both she and the legendary Crystal of Lorien were captured. It is thought that she is now in Kurstone Keep and will be executed in a week's time - the time of the dark of the moon. Others say she will be taken before the Necromancer in Dol Gulder, or worse.
An envoy from Lorien is trying to organise a rescue from the town of Olkar not far from the Keep. When asked what the reward is, Gattin says that he doesn't know - "I'm not that stupid that I would undertake such a quest!"

Saul and Takanor decide to set off immediately to Olkar to determine the details of the quest while the more injured members of the party rest for the night. After their departure, a robed and not very impressive looking Dundan also asks about the quest. Syrus cheerfully invites the stranger into the group and onto the mission, promising him great riches. The stranger names himself "Ermm........Darramon".

The next day, slightly sore of head, the group engage in a little haggling and manage to purchase a used wagon and slightly used donkey, Ben, from a farmer who is bamboosled by Syrus and enraged by Laus. They waste no time in heading off.

Late in the afternoon that day they come upon 3 bandits attacking a young priest called Tomas. After a short battle two of the bandits lie unconcious following heavy blows from Laus' war hammer, and a third, heavily wounded by one of Syrus' arrows is pursued into the bushes by Darramon, before he comes to his senses and gives up the chase. Nurn has taken quite a beating in the fight and he uses his healing magic to ease both his and Tomas's injuries. The group gain some small change from the bandits and a bottle of Holy water from Tomas, along with his friendship. He says that they will be welcome at his temple in the Ashgar Marshes should they ever be in that area. Syrus offers Tomas a lift in the wagon, which he greatfully accepts.

That night the heroes make a cold camp for fear of attracting more bandits with a fire. Most of the night passes uneventfully before, on Syrus's watch a loud rustling of bushes is heard heading his way. He wakes Saul, just in time for them to see a large wild boar burst out of the bushes and head straight for them. Syrus manages to roll out of the way and under the wagon, but the half-asleep dwarf is winged by the boar, though he does manage to give it a glancing blow with his hammer. Syrus then heads over to wake up Darramon, in case the fearsome beast turns around, whilst Saul goes to wake Nurn.

At that point they realise what the boar was running from as a young Troll comes running into the clearing from the same direction. It pauses, stunned by the scene before it and the heroes jump to the defence. A wall of fire slows down the brainless monster, a sleep spell fails to affect it and then it is attacked from both sides by Nurn and Saul, with Syrus and Darramon raining arrows into it. The fighters take turns to parry the creatures huge club while the other hacks chunks out of its back. It feels like a lifetime, but in fact in less than a minute the Troll collapses under the onslaught. The group take its foul-smelling money pouch and (after a brief argument) agree to share it equally. Saul sees that the obsenity will trouble no further travellers by slicing its throat. The next morning there is a stone body where the Troll fell. They use a rope to haul it upright against a tree - a single to other such creatures to beware.

More fun and frolics next week......?