Into the Great Wide Open

Richard started a new Fantasy campaign to trial our new rules: A fantasy skills-based system called FSS (Fantasy Skill System) written by Andrew and Richard. Most of the session was spent on character creation.

Dramatis Personae

Elvan Rockblaster

Elvan Rockblaster

Chris

Dwarf Fighter

 

Balder Dash

Jamie

Gnome Wizard

Sophia Beauchamp

Sophia Beauchamp

Ian

Half-elf Priestess of Luck

Donk Platebreaker

Jeff

Human Fighter

Slim Jim

Darryl

Human Rogue

Walton Formalin

Walton Formalin

Andrew

Half-elf Mystic

Elvis Ghenna

Shane

Human Bard

Marmalading: Kevin

Elvan waited 'til he finished dwarf school

He went to Toluene, got a tattoo

He met a group out there with a tattoo too

The future was wide open

They went to look for work they all could afford

They found Apothec'ry of Dimble the gnome

He had a job for them; he wanted vervain

The sky was the limit !

Into the great wide open

Under them skies of blue

Out in the great wide open

A party without a clue

We were in the city Toluene.

Vervain 

Dimble's Apothecary owner, the gnome Dimble and his wife Slopbags, needed a herb called vervain. Vervain was used in all manner of potions. It had anti-inflammatory effects, had minor anti-evil efficacy, and had other obscure powers (like protection from solipsism and detection of shibboleths). He offered us a heap of cash.

In the previous weeks, Dimble had sent a bunch of other collectors (adventuring parties) to the Oble ranges, but none of them had returned. So there was some risk. We took the job.

Dimble gave us a rough map. It was two days travel to the Oble foot hills and to thence to the verbena area. 

First night was spent in a barn (no way-stations). The nice farmer's wife gave us a hot meal.

Next day, in the wilderness, just after light, we came across a dead horse with four goblin bodies freshly burning in the sunlight.

ghoul

The second night, two rotting creatures attacked - ghouls. Donk was hit and he was paralyzed. Sophia cast a Slow Poison in him, and that gave him time for the paralysis to be kept at bay.

Around noon the next day, as we progressed deeper into the mountains, we came across a patch vervaine plants next to a mountain stream, but they were all dead. There was something in the water poisoning them.

Upstream there were some more ghoul bodies in the water, but we weren't sure if it was them that contaminated the water.

According to Dimble's map, this was the only patch of the rare vervain near us.

So, stuck we were.