To Gneissvale and Back Again (Greyhawk campaign)

PART 8: FROM HOMMLET TO GNEISSVALE – AND BACK AGAIN

8.1 Back in the Inn of the Welcome Wench (Flocktime 13^th)

 

The stalwart adventurers — Erik (the mountain dwarf fighter from the Lortmils), Althaea (the high elf wizard from the city of Tringlee), and the brothers Godric (the human rogue from the Barony of Shiboleth) and Cedric (the human cleric of St. Cuthbert) – have returned to Hommlet after clearing the Moathouse of Lareth (the golden-haired follower of Iuz) and his vile followers. The party is accompanied by Spugnoir, a squeaky dagger-wielding wizard of Suel descent, and Knarf, a gnome of Gneissvale, who had been captured by the Moathouse brigands days ago. After reaching the inn of The Welcome Wench, Knarf is granted a room and collapses into a deep slumber. 

 

Upon learning of Zert’s treachery, the innkeeper Ostler Gundigoot tells the party that they may take possession of any goods remaining in Zert’s rented room. In addition to some saddle bags and other sundries, the party finds a small chest, which they unlock with Zert’s key. The box clicks open – and out spurts a cloud of vile green mist! Everyone but Cedric flees the room before breathing in any of the dangerous gas. Cedric coughs badly but somehow avoids major harm. Erik then checks out the chest and finds within some platinum and gold pieces, as well as an shiny black pearl. The party moves the chest to their chamber, relocks it, and returns to the inn’s common room for some further drinking.

 

8.2 The Council of Hommlet rewards the party (Flocktime 14^th)

 

The next day, a village council meeting is held. In attendance are: Jaroo Ashstaff, the Druid of Hommlet’s Old Faith Grove; Canon Terjon, head of Hommlet’s Church of St. Cuthbert; Hroth, Captain of the village militia and father of the now-deceased Elmo; Ostler Gundigoot; Mytch the Miller; Burne the wizard; Rufus the warrior (and leader of “Burne’s Badgers”); and the town elder Kenter Nevets. 

 

Cedric recounts the party’s convoluted cleansing of the Moathouse and the subsequent nefarious sneak attack by Ranos Davos and Greemag. Upon learning of the traders’ allegiance to the Lareth and the followers of Iuz, the council grants the party the village trading post and everything within it.

 

The party also receives the following rewards from the council:

·    Althaea asks to study with Burne to learn a few more spells (including “Suggestion,” “Misty Step,” and “Levitation”). Burne agrees, though she will have to pay for the special inks herself.

·    Erik asks for the location of the Tomb of Serten, as part of his ongoing quest for the Helm of Laga Vulin. Recognizing that the party is furthering the goals of St. Cuthbert – in particular, opposing the followers of Iuz – Burne tells him. The wizard notes that the symbol of St. Cuthbert will be needed to enter the tomb, but this should not be an issue with Cedric in the party.

·    Cedric asks to be permitted to continue to serve St. Cuthbert. (Godric rolls his eyes.) Canon Terjon gives the stoical cleric three potions of healing to help with his efforts.

·    Godric asks for any information pertaining to the manor of the renowned mage Quesse the Quick. Burne has heard legends of her manor in the Gnarley Forest. Jaroo knows of some sylvan elves who range throughout the woods and likely know its location – he tells them where to find the elves and agrees to write a letter of introduction for them.

·    Spugnoir asks if he can apprentice to Burne. Burne agrees, albeit with a manifest lack of enthusiasm. 

 

8.3 Taking Care of Business in Hommlet (Flocktime 14^th – 17^th)

 

After the council meeting the party goes to their new trading post. It looks to have been cleaned out by the malevolent Rannos Davl and Greemag. However, hidden away, the party finds a small black scarab, engraved with the letters “TZGY”. Cedric cannot discern its meaning, but believes that it has something to do with the Temple of Elemental Evil.

 

Knarf finally awakens from his slumber. He tells the party that his friend in Gneissvale, Zeno Zacklington, might be interested in purchasing the trading establishment from them. (Zeno belongs to the gnomish Zacklington trading house – with which the party previously interacted back in Hookhill, when they were travelling through the Gran March.) Given his tragic experiences, Knarf is keen to return to his family in Gneissvale and offers the party 100 gold pieces to escort him home. 

 

To the gnome’s frustration, the party insists on spending a few more days in Hommlet in order to take care of the following matters:

·    Erik commissions Smyth the smith to rework the plate armour that they had looted from a dead cultist to dwarf-size. The party pays the smith with Lareth’s magical armour, which none wish to use because of its dark nature and evil symbol. 

·    Althaea copies some spells from Burne. She lets Spugnoir copy “Shield” from her spellbook into his. She also practices her Draconic with Cedric.

·    Cedric spends time at the Church of St. Cuthbert. There he is reminded by Canon Terjon that the body of Serten no longer resides within his original tomb, as it was moved to the City of Greyhawk a few years after the Battle of Emridy Meadows. However, Terjon believes that there are some important items of power left in the tomb to be used by those who follow St. Cuthbert.

·    Godric gambles a bit and gets to know the village better.

·    The party commissions the village tailor to repair the rip in their Cloak of Elvenkind. 

·    When not trying to “help” Smyth work on his plate mail, Erik drinks vast quantities of Umberdeep Ale.

·    The party stocks up on rations and treat Vick the mule to many carrots and apples.

 

8.4 From Hommlet to Gneissvale (Flocktime 18^th – 22^nd)

 

The party follows the caravan road through the Kron Hills to Gneissvale. The journey is seventeen leagues. After a couple of days, the party encounters a caravan travelling to Verbobonc. The adventurers exchange pleasantries with merchants, Toby, Alphonse, and Lady Violet. 

 

Halfway through their journey (Flocktime 20^th) Godric notices a flying creature high above. The party discerns that it is a griffon! Knarf panics over Vick the mule, as griffons are known to snatch beasts of burden away for consumption in their nests. Althaea casts “Invisibility” on Vick and eventually the griffon loses interest in the party and flies away to the north. 

 

Later that evening Cedric finds a lovely campsite. During the night, though, the party is attacked by a band of scruffy gnolls. After a heated battle, six hyena-headed ne’er-do-wells lie dead. Knarf congratulates the adventurers on dispatching the humanoids with such ease.

 

During the remainder of their trip the party encounters only some mildly belligerent goats.

 

8.5 Spending quality time in nice Gneissvale (Flocktime 22^nd – Wealsun 16^th)

 

Finally, in the early afternoon of Flocktime 22^nd, the party enters the valley of Gneissvale. As they approach the town, the travellers see the following carved upon a stone sign: “Earth & Stone, Man & Gnome, Together Forever!” There are caves up the sides of the valley, while the village lies below. 

Knarf tells the adventurers about the village: it is a mix of peoples, most of whom live in peace; however, there is a split between those who want to join with Verbobonc, while others wish to remain neutral. The town (like many others from the Kron Hills) was allied with the forces that overthrew the Temple of Elemental Evil at the Battle of Emridy Meadows almost a decade ago, at much cost to itself.  Knarf also tells the party about the various pubs in town and recommends the Belching Brownie as a place favoured by adventurers and travellers. 

 

The band goes with Knarf to meet his wife and wee gnomelings. The grateful gnome merchant rewards the party with ten platinum pieces. He also gives Althaea an enchanted waterskin – it refills with fresh water every morning. Knarf reminds the adventurers to meet with Zeno Zacklington about the trading post in Hommlet. He also tells them that they are welcome in his household anytime.

 

The party secures lodgings at The Four Winds Inn, and then sets out on a pub crawl. They drink at the Murky Mead Pub(favoured by gnomes), the Green Tea Tree Inn (favoured by elves), the Sleepy Forge (favoured by dwarves), and finally the Belching Brownie (favoured by all people who enjoy high quality alcoholic beverages). The bartenders at the Belching Brownie are all halflings. The party is seated at a table by the window, overlooking the valley. Althaea orders a glass of the inn’s best wine. Erik orders a glass of wine and two pints of ale. Godric orders a Rocky Hills lager. Cedric orders a glass of milk.  

 

Althaea notices a striking high elf with silver hair sitting with a flamboyantly dressed gnome. She introduces herself and offers to buy them a round. They accept a glass of the finest wine and a mead. The haughty elf tells the waitress to bring a bottle. He then introduces himself as Eleric, of the Faerie Kingdom of Celene; the gnome is Hilfo. Eleric explains that he has come to Gneissvale because Hilfo told him that the Kron Hills is where gryphon eggs are to be found. Eleric seeks to establish a force of gryphon riders in Courwood, but gryphons can only be trained if they are taken straight from hatching. Eleric offers to pay 50 pp per egg. He has a magical “Bag of Incubation” for egg hunters but does not know where the eggs are to be found. Eleric suggests that if the party is willing to help him in his endeavour that they inquire with gnomish scouts in town. 

 

The next day (23^rd Flocktime) the party meets with Knarf and Zeno Zacklington. They ask about Hilfo, Eleric, and the gryphon egg quest. Knarf tells them that Hilfo is a complete fop, though he does wander through faraway lands and claims to be an elf-friend. Gryphons are a problem for the gnomes, and the explanation for any that go missing. 

 

Zeno is keen to establish an outpost of the Zacklington trading house in Hommlet. After some hard bargaining, the party agrees to sell him their trading post for 290 gold coins plus a potion of healing. Zeno agrees to accompany the party when they return to Hommlet in order to get the shop up and running.  

 

Althaea decides to create a ring of darkvision for Cedric while in Gneissvale, using the ring possessed by Godric (which the party gained from Yorvick the riddle-master back in Veluna City) to guide her efforts. By creating this item, all of the adventurers will be able to see in the dark (Althaea and Erik because of their innate abilities, Cedric and Godric by means of the rings).

 

Althaea’s project will take some twenty days. The cost of the materials to create the ring is considerable. In order to gain sufficient funds, the party sells some of the jewellery they have accumulated over their adventures at the Zacklington goods emporium.  Cedric purchases a simple electrum ring to serve as the target for the enchantment.

 

While Althaea creates the ring in a workshop that she has rented in town, the other adventurers decide to spend the next 20 days pursuing their own interests.

·    Erik carouses his way through the three weeks, mostly at the Sleepy Forge Inn – some nights spent passed out on the floor. During that time, he makes some good drinking buddies and becomes friendly with Ulgor the Gruff, the owner of the establishment.

·    Cedric seizes the opportunity to spread the word of St. Cuthbert, ministering to the town. He is met with nods and faint smiles. He converts no-one but equally alienates no-one – his enthusiasm is widely regarded as charmingly naïve.

·    Godric swans about town, gleaning information and rumours and generally being a social butterfly. He becomes known in Gneissvale as an entertaining and charming fellow.

 

During the three weeks, the party learns the following tidbits of information:

• A troupe of halfling actors is staging a play at the formerly abandoned Gneissvale Theatre. Willy Smallspear, an ambitious halfling playwright, leads the troupe.
• Jegg the Cobbler (a lady gnome) is said to have a special supply of magical boots, available only to those she knows well or who do her a favour. Knarf tells the party that she is reclusive but a very good cobbler. 
• Erik learns that Ulgor serves watered down whisky to non-dwarves.
• The high council of the Kron Hills is debating whether to form a permanent alliance with Viscount Wilfrick of Verbobonc. Ten years ago, the gnomes had fought side-by-side with Verbobonc at the Battle of Emridy Meadows. Some now want a more formal alliance while others wish to remain aloof.

 

Finally, on the 16^th day of Wealsun. Althaea emerges from her laboratory with an electrum ring emanating eldritch power. She gives it to Cedric. He enters a closet to test the ring – and finds that he now can see in the dark!

 

8.6 From Gneissvale back to Hommlet (Wealsun 17^th – 20^th)

 

Zeno Zacklington, his assistant Berta, and two gnomish guards named Fritho and Frothi, accompany the party as they leave Gneissvale. During the party’s journey back to Hommlet they are waylaid by some bandits. Most of the scoundrels are slain with ease by the party; however, the leader and two others flee into the hills. Aside from this unpleasant incident, the party encounters only a gnomish caravan heading to Gneissvale from Verbobonc.

[The Kron Hills are quite gneiss]

Late in the evening of the 20^th day of Wealsun the party returns to the village of Hommlet.

[Links to other instalments in this campaign can be found here.]

 

Credits

 

This log drew heavily from notes taken during the game by one of the players (Marcus K).

 

The colour regional map is from the original World of Greyhawk sets (1980 and 1983) by Darlene. The version used here was fixed up for online use by R Conley. I added Hommlet and the road to Verbobonc (using Preview). 

 

The black and white regional map is from Goodman Games’ revised version of The Temple of Elemental Evil. I added the caravan road to Gneissvale (the thin brown line), and a few other things (the dark green oval is a small forest by Gneissvale; the red hexagon is the sight of the ambush that occurred during the party’s journey from Verbobonc to Hommlet; the blue dot is the Tomb of Serten; the green circle is the wood elf camp; and the purple square is the Moathouse).

 

The map of Gneissvale is from ICE’s old module, The Cloudlords of Tanara (by Terry Amthor). All the names that have been added to the buildings are my own. I also added the “Emridy Meadows” statue. I created the description of Gneissvale and its inhabitants for my campaign (expanding upon the brief notes in the Goodman Games’ book).

 

The photo of gneiss rock was taken in Lake Country, British Columbia.