Having returned from the Orc adventure, to our little tower outside this small town, we spend some time exploring it a bit. We find a secret door to rooms below and encounter a PsuedoDragon, which we befriend... well, most of us befriend, my character, the Wizard was too busy going through the library looking for ritual books. During my search, I discover books speaking of a Temple lost to man for ages, which is rumored to hold great treasure and greater evil. Apparently, the pre-owner of this tower had done much research on the Temple, and even had it figured out, roughly, where it was located in the world, and had chosen this particular town to settle in due to it being the closest in proximity to that part of the world. A mere 4 to 8 day trip by horse. We buy some Horses, and begin a trek through the Forest to the East, heading for a distant Swamp-like jungle where the Temple is suppose to exist.
The first 2 days are uneventful, short of the toils of hacking away underbrush as we force our way through this relatively untouched woodland area. The 3rd night we are plagued by rats, swarms of them keep coming through the camp until eventually, the mother of all rats appears, and he's standing on his hindlegs with a weapon in his paws....
Encounter 1: 1 WereRat + 6 Rat Swarms
The battle creates a huge ruckus as the WereRat howls and screeches, and in its dying throws, lets out a screech so hideously loud that we all cover our ears, opening our eyes in time to see a man laying where the WereRat had fallen. The loud push through the underbrush around us has us prepared for more combat as more of these creatures and more assault us.
Encounter 2: 2 WereRats + 5 DireRats
Dispatching the last of these things, called forth by the original WereRat, we decide to press forward a few more hours before making camp. Not alot of good it did us, half way through the night we are attacked by more Rat Swarms and those huge Rat things.... Fortunately, we all wake up from the first Rat Swarm that we're prepared a bit for battle, only.... without Armour.
Encounter 3: 4 Dire Rats + 4 RatSwarms
We eat Rat for dinner the next couple of nights. Our Cleric and Ranger notice, on the 2nd afternoon after our Rat problem, that we're being hunted. Slacking back, the 2 Rangers hide into the underbrush as the rest of us push forward to a clearing we notice up ahead. Back to back we prepare for a battle. We are engaged shortly by another Were looking creature... a WereHyena? And his brethren.
Encounter 4: 1 Gnoll Huntmaster + 5 Hyenas
Trekking forward a bit more watchful now, we are fortunate to locate some sort of Outpost in the woods before we our noticed ourselves. 3 creatures similar to the one before are standing around, unaware of the dangers. So we attack.
Encounter 5: 1 Gnoll ClanFighter + 2 Gnoll Marauders
We follow some trails we find, and come across another, similar outpost.
Encounter 6: 2 Gnoll ClanFighters + 1 Gnoll Marauder
This is enough for us to know which direction to avoid, and we attempt to bypass any further potential attacks as we delve back into the woodlands, away from the strange creatures to our rear. However, we are set upon within the hour by someone seeking revenge. It's an Ambush, and only our Cleric isn't surprised.
Encounter 7: Gnoll Demonic Scourge + 2 Gnoll Marauders
Suffering a small amount of damage, we continue to flee the area, heading Easterly until it's dark enough that we feel it's safe to stop and rest. For the next 3 days, things are uneventful, and we make good time. But all things do come to an end, and we barely hear the next attack in time to prepare against it. The biggest wolves I've ever laid eyes upon come charging at us with a man-wolf
Encounter 8: 1 Werewolf + 2 DireWolves
We stand there, waiting for any additional attacks, but none come. After a bit, we continue forward until we come to a cave that seems decent for setting up camp. As we prepare camp, we discover that the cave has occupancy already. They come back from a night of hunting...
Encounter 9: 2 Werewolves
We look forward to a night of rest as many of us are winded from the battles. Come morning, we continue our trek until we come across a small encampment of half-men, half-animal beings. We attempt to circumvent them, heading to a stream nearby and crawling through it, but one hunting party from the encampment finds us and attempts to end our lives, we defend.
Encounter 10: 2 Longtooth Hunters + 2 Dire Wolves
Finally the stream widens, and moss hangs down from the trees above. It appears that the Woodland is turning into a bit more Jungle than Woods as we progress. We hear something approaching us ahead which sounds like a Rhino or Elephant. The heavy stampeding of a solo creature has us all hiding behind trees with weapons drawn when we encounter a
Encounter 11: 1 Minotaur Cabalist
-- End Game --
We cut it short there, and take some XP for advancement. This is where I got my Sylvan Leather +1 (LongTooths), and where the Ranger got alot of her garb (Flameburst Longbow +1, Bracers Perfect Shot, Sylvan Hide), and some other things from the Demonic Scourge, but I don't recall what precisely. I've written down 2400 gold for this adventure, most from the Demonic Scourge and the Longtooths.
Tags: 4th 4e Dnd Dungeons Dragons Module
