Crescent Valley: The Story So Far
Volume 1: All in favor, say, "Pie!"
- here entries are needed from the start of the campaign where the first players set out on the beer run ***
- the writing below is from Inge who added this to her character sheet. It was written from Airin's perspective but I tried to adapt it a bit - it is of course open for changes!! ***
The Forming of the Group
(From Kendry Leafwin Pipewood's perspective)
Back at home for a bit after helping on the last wood-gathering trip to the Culverwood, Kendry was thinking he would like to join with some of his friends in adventure, as some other relatives have done before him. He wrote a letter to Duncan & Polly suggesting such. Here's a paragraph from that letter:
"You know, I was thinking we ought to get some of our friends together sometime soon, and go on an adventure. Like search for dragon's treasure, or rescue a princess, or foil some brigands who harry travelers, or the like. What do you say to that, good Duncan? It could make for some rollicking good stories, eh? And I think that my sister Selithe is getting antsy to get out and see more of the Wold, too. Maybe Nalfein, my second-eldest brother, could come along. And Shale, and Polly. Can you think of anyone else?"
Kendry's adventures began, with delivery with Nalfein, Selithe, cousin Willoughby, Shale, Polly, Duncan and Mayzie of rumberry pies from Grandmother Eglantine in support of the candidacy for Burgomeister of Aunt Marigold Pipewood Pastna. Negotiating their way past, and later through some toughs, finding themselves directly involved in the political process (who knew Marigold would be quite so high-strung?), with all three candidates vying for their support, the team is sent on a 'quest' to pick up some beer for the party, at the behest of Calfast Rowgold Tunnelly, who is running for the Adventure's Party.
Beer Run - Version 1 (Airin) - A great synopsis
Following the others Airin Moondancer Turnbell and Olo Thistlefoot head out to find their friends who have already embarked on the Beer Run. However it was not Airin or Olo who found their friends, but the other way around! The young adventurers had been caught by fairies and were fast asleep when they stumbled onto their friends. From then onwards they traveled all together. Kendry and his sister Selithe, Mazie, Polly, Shale, Airin and Olo.
The others had just been robbed by a group of Goblins and the beer was stolen. Going after them to retrieve the beer was their only option. They would not be able to show themselves anymore in town if they would go back without it. So into the dark Culverwoods they went, following the tracks of the Goblins.
This time our young adventurers set up an ambush to surprise the Goblins with great success. The goblin leader Bob died with 4 bolts and arrows in his torso and fell to the ground before he was able to speak. There they found Patterson ... stripped to his undies, tied to a tree. Another Halfling joined the party! Airin looted Bob's remains and found 4 interesting signet rings.
Yet luck was not on their side as the barrels of beer were sent to the ogres in the mountains ... off they went again. Yet they stumbled upon a few goblins that were about as flat as a pancake ...
It was the Half Ogre Mage Lomar, who later became their friend, his doing. Even though they managed to tie his toes together hoping to capture the huge creature, Lomar did not hurt the little Halflings. Thanks to the halflings Lomar was able to get his drum back. He was a fantastic bard! With his help our friends managed to bring back the beer to town and win the elections for Calfast.
Beer Run - Version 2 (Kendry) - longwinded
The Cart & Boat Trip to Brock, And Negotiations
This involved a one day cart ride to the ferry landing (where Willoughby chose to stay behind to care for Biscuit the pony), then a record-setting one day boat trip - with Kendry attempting to ride on a shield as he hung on to a long rope, pulled behind the sternwheeler down river. After a few dips below the water's surface, he managed to get back up on the boat without drowning. Polly dubbed this new sport 'water chariots.'
At Trader's corner, they tried to bargain with Brock, a big half orc known far and wide for the high quality of his brewed beverages. Nalfein put his foot in it by muffing Calfast's instructions on the exact password to use for Brock. After the brother of Kendry and also Selithe got the wind knocked out of him, the rest of the party managed to calm Brock down. They bought a cask of Brock's Delicious Hard Cider, and three casks of Brock's Best Beer. To pay for Brock's aggravation, Duncan, the mute halfling monk, stayed behind to help with chores for an undetermined amount of time.
Heading Back - It Seems (Pesky Goblins!)
Transporting the beer back upstream seemed to be an uneventful, yet attainable task. While sleeping at one of the captain's favorite spots along the shore at the end of the first day, the party spotted what seemed to be a lady gnome being chased by a band of goblins. Rising to her rescue, the group was pulled into a ruse. The goblins' purpose was to steal the boat. They killed two crew members, almost did in the captain, and many members of the party were badly wounded. Kendry managed to get at least one barrel of Brock's Best Beer to shore, but the goblins escaped back downstream with the boat and all that was left on it.
Polly came upon a cowering goblin. In the meantime, a lady and her guardian - also passengers on the boat - held a discussion. He wanted to take her away. She insisted they stay and help. He expressed concern for her discovery.
Kendry, after seeing the goblin was tied up - and with a bit of a rebuke from Polly for trying to handle something that she had under control - spoke with the him. The goblin's name was Bobbles.
Soon, the lady told those there to gather about her. Her shape changed from that of a beautiful woman into a unicorn. In a flash of light, healing spread out to all who were near her. The captain, the members of the crew who had not been killed, and the group of young halflings stood amazed, and well.
Three Woes!
During the Election party three witches came to disturb the party. They were flying on broomsticks warning everyone for imminent danger. In the meantime it seemed the 2 moons of the Wold were about to align!
Volume 2: Family Trees
The group went to see Aunt Marigold (clearly one of the three witches). As they came to her house, 3 strange and very hostile dogs were guarding the garden. They were able to sneak past the dogs up to the house and peak through the window. Only to see Aunt Marigold and two other ladies tied up to their chairs !! In front of them a wolf-man !
With a bit of luck the party was able to sneak around the back of the house and surprise the wolf-man with a well thrown tangle foot bag (Crescent's favorite weapons). Before this came to an end there was a bright white flash ... and dazed they all woke up the next morning.
Once again they all went to see Aunt Marigold. This time the three dogs were nice and friendly and neither Auntie nor her 2 friends wanted to talk about last night. In fact they refused to hit the topic. While the group was having lunch with pie at Aunties they were joined by Morpth. Later they all rushed out to see Ellise and his wife Penelopee who was giving birth. They needed to get into the Culverwoods to give birth in there the way it is supposed to happen with Halflings.
Before they reached Penelopee's house they were ambushed by a Bird Elemental - this "lady" was composed of only birds. The group quickly made an end to this. (Fioni was a member of that bird flock. She was knocked unconscious by Airin)
Birth of a King
The trip to the Culverwoods was pretty calm, but once they arrived they were ambushed by a group of druids. 2 druids were killed and the group managed to get inside the old oak. Penelopee should have given birth inside the Oak but she left the oak and walked on her own towards an ancient druidic circle. There she gave birth to the Fey King - Ebryon !! A Satyr !! The group fought the Fey King untill he eventually disappeared in the earth when the Wold cracked open. But was the Fey King, Ebryon, really destroyed ?!?
With Ebryon gone it was time to lick their wounds. They returned to the Whistler Oak to congratulate Ellis and Penelopee with their new born baby girl, and were asked to help naming the little child. It was in front of the whistler oak that the Crescent Valley gang met Savoulus the Druid, Clover, a druid from the Secret Circle of the Culverwoods, and Mirridan, a member of the Gold Dragons !
They all wanted to know what had happened in the past hours, and tales were told. During this conversation the Crescent Valley halflings were invited to visit the Castle of the Gold Dragons ! There, Podo was nearly squashed by Valdor who felt insulted by Podo's comments :-) While visiting Plateau City, the Halflings searched for the Woldian League of Adventurers, and joined up.
Once back in the Crescent Valley it appeared nature had gone wicked, and foul plants grew in Aunt Marigolds back yard ...
Visiting aunt Marigold to find some explanations, the bold adventurers discovered something hidden in auntie's backyard. Some odd crystalline sunflower started to use our friends for target practice! Quickly this strange plant was turned to rubble, and our friends discovered a trail of rotten fruit and vegetables leading into the CulverWood Forest.
Steadily our friends followed this odd trail leading them through the thick forest towards the River. There they met the strange character Mungo Hardbottle. This strange figure helped our friends as he assumed the trail would lead them to Lawni's Lens. An old Castle that was used to observe the stars. Their little tracking adventure was suddenly interrupted by a strange dream - too real and they all shared that same dream. It showed them how Queen Maab defeated the Fey King Ebryon! It also showed the fate of Ebryon as he divided into several Avatars to be spread all over the Wold.
At Lawni's Lens
Upon their arrival at Lawni's Lens they encountered the Avatar of Ebryon that was hidden in the Crescent Valley. He was no match for the brave group of young adventurers, and they conquered him offering them to judge the fate of Ebryon, the Fey King... Kill... Reform ... Sleep...
There inside Lawni's Lens, the group encountered Aya, the newest member of the group. Mungo told them stories of the Lens and it was especially Kendry who wanted to explore the seemingly abandoned Castle. A family of ghosts and a deceitful Gargoyle were met along this exploration. It was somewhere in the Library that they met Thobias! Another relative of Kendry.
The strangest thing happened as they explored the Castle's library and when Podo tried to inspect an ancient looking Tome of Magic, the entire group was suddenly teleported to the gates of Angel Springs
There, in the capital of their gorgeous valley they met Zardock and Calfast. Look like trouble's brewing as the Giant Towers seem to be in trouble... Time for a new adventure...
- more should come here. Since the Towers a lot happend but Inge left shortly after this I think.