The game thus far:

The Game Thus Far

Experience: No Experience given or earned - we spent this game session drinking too much beer and arguing about polymorph other, polymorph self and polymorph any object. The DM got a headache and we had no more of this game for 7 months

A'Ha the Leopard (6th Level) - 771xp - was at 17,036xp - puts him at 17,807xp - needs 21,000 for 7th level
Coderick (8th Level) - 771xp - was at 35,679xp - puts him at 36,450xp -

Congratulations on 9th level!
El'Fross (8th Level) - 921xp - was at 35,037xp - puts him at 35,958xp - needs 36,000 for 9th level
L'Wehn the human (7th Level) - 771xp - was at 21,899xp - puts her at 22,670xp - needs 28,000 for 8th level
Snf'L (10th Level) - 771xp - was at 45,189xp - puts him at 45,960xp - needs 55,000 for 11th level
S'Part the wolverine (was 6th Level) - DIED! - was at 16,401xp - puts him at the beggining of 5th level with an additional 771xp for a new total of 10,771xp - needs 15,000 for 6th level
Thoravald (8th Level) - 771xp - was at 29,706xp - puts him at 30,477xp - needs 36,000 for 9th level

4th Sunsebb

Batle with Hill Giants.

5th Sunsebb

S'Part reincarnated as an eagle.

From the diary of El'Fross:

Another death today. Have they become so common place that we don’t even stop to mourn our fallen comrades? The maddening thing is that SnF’l caused yet another death in our little group, this time indirectly through his complete disregard for the safety of his companions and frankly, his cowardice.

We were attacked by a pair of giant creatures from the top of a hill. They began by hurling rocks at us from a distance. Although a number of us managed to stay out of their sight, the young (now grizzly) Siroth and our newest companion the Druid, Thoravald were spotted… imagine a druid not being able to hide in the forest…

I waited for someone to lead the charge. Normally, I would. But carrying the fate of the world in my back sack, I decided to not be the first to charge headlong into danger as I usually do. Unfortunately, without my leadership, Snf’L had an attack of cowardice as I watched him sprint off in the opposite direction of our foes.

Finally, the Grizzly Bear charged, followed by L’Wehn to engage the giants. As one of the beasts swung violently at L’Wehn’s head, I sprang into action. Fate of the world or not… she was in danger and I wasn’t about to let her face these things alone.

I introduced our foes to “my little friend” frosty and the battle was on. Coderick joined in the fight as did A’ha the Leapard and S’Part the Wolverine. The battle was ferocious. These creatures did massive amounts of damage. We finally managed to defeat them, but not before S’Part was dead and L’Wehn lay within a hair’s breadth of dying herself.

Shortly after the last giant teetered and fell (on top of me as I attempted to shield L’wehn) SnF’L strolled out from behind some trees and joined the group. Apparently he had been lobbing arrows at the beasts from a distance, while the rest of us had rushed to attack at close range. What an ineffective tactic!!! Even after we all had surrounded the beasts, SNf”l refused to join the fight, apparently willing to let one or all of us die rather than put himself in danger.

A’Ha and I immediately called him on his choices. He sputtered and stammered on, rationalizing this act of self-preservation. I tried to explain to him that once one of the party members had put themselves in danger, the only action was to join them. Had Coderick and A’ha and I stayed back and used ranged weapons, then L’Wehn and Siroth would have certainly been killed along with S’Part. In fact, if not for S’Roth’s new found fighting skill, we all likely would have perished. Had that happened, I suppose SnF’l could have spent the next few hundred years wandering through the forest muttering on about how “it wasn’t my fault anyone died… I was just saving myself”

This is NOT the first time something like this has happened. It seems to me that SNf’L makes a snap judgement of any given foe and if he feels like he might be in danger, he will purposefully and unnecessarily endanger others, including women and children (L’Wehn and Siroth), to ensure his personal safety. I’m not sure what I want to do about this. I’m not sure there’s anything I can do about it. I will certainly not be counting on SnF’l (likely our most capable fighter) to step up and meet his obligations to the group in future. It is apparent to me that when the “going gets tough… SNf’l gets going… in the opposite direction.

Blessed be Sehanine… thought I’d throw that in since I’m wearing S’Parts holy symbol… I’m feeling a tad pious and certainly holier than Snf’L today.

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Session One Hundred and Seven

Experience: 20 Goblins worth only 25% of their experience because of the level difference between them and yourselves, but good worg experience (125%) because you basically got ambushed, and it was touch and go for a bit there. 150xp to El'Fross for El'Fross' Diary. I've changed the status on Thorivald and S'Part as "cohorts", giving them only 1/2 the experience of the others. This reflects their lack of participation. Note that I should have added Siroth as a full experience participant, but I already did all the calculations and I ain't changing it now. As of next game, Siroth is a full party member gaining experience, which will either take him to a Barbarian or Fighter level.

A'Ha the Leopard (6th Level) - 1,026xp - was at 17,807xp - puts him at 18,833xp - needs 21,000 for 7th level
Coderick (9th Level) - 1,026xp - was at 36,450xp - puts him at 37,476xp - needs 45,000 for 10th level
El'Fross (8th Level) - 1,176xp - was at 35,958xp - puts him at 37,134xp

Congratulations on 9th level!
L'Wehn the human (7th Level) - 1,026xp - was at 22,670xp - puts her at 23,696xp - needs 28,000 for 8th level
Snf'L (10th Level) - 1,026xp - was at 45,960xp - puts him at 46,986xp - needs 55,000 for 11th level
S'Part the Eagle (5th Level) - 427xp - was at 10,771xp - puts him at 11,198xp - needs 15,000 for 6th level
Thoravald (8th Level) - 427xp - was at 30,477xp - puts him at 30,904xp - needs 36,000 for 9th level

9th Sunsebb(continued)

The party resumes their trek through the forest to find the southern edge and head out onto the plains. Thorivald uses up almost all of his curing spells before they head out for the day. The party is ambushed by goblins, and most of them play a "joke" on Snf'L and pretend to be afraid. Siroth follows El'Fross' lead and stays out of the fight for a few extra seconds, which allows the elves to almost become overwhelmed by the goblin cavalry, riding worgs. The goblins prove no big problem, but the worgs are most deadly. The party manages to come out of the fight without casualties, but only barely. The worgs were weakened by El'Fross' cold staff and a few of them were rent to bits by Siroth.

From the diary of El'Fross:

We were attacked by Goblins riding ferocious wolfy things ( I think the Druid called them Worgs or somethin’) today! I had suggested to some in the party that I was going to hide behind a tree during our next battle to make a point to SNF’l about participating in a battle…and that they could follow their consciences. Seeing a goblin ahead of us… I rushed left and drew my bow, feigning fear… most everyone followed my lead and it was briefly amusing. However, as (my usual bad) luck would have it I found myself surrounded by goblins and worgs. Drat!… oh well, better that then SNf’l being completely surrounded and overwhelmed…. I’m afraid such an event would have caused my waffling friend to blow an elf gasket.

Suddenly we found ourselves in the midst of a ferocious battle… With Siroth, A'Ha and myself fighting MOST of the beasties and L’Wehn, Snf’l and Coderick battling a few also.

L’Wehn soon joined her brother and I in our fight leaving Snf’L to mop up the last few goblins that attacked him. It was nice to see L’Wehn come over to help. I wondered if it was me or A’Ha she was concerned for. I expect she must be feeling a bit protective of her older and death-prone brother. It was also nice to see Snf’l swinging his large sword again. Frankly, as archers go - Snf’l is a great swordsman.

We managed to defeat the beasts, but not before I had sustained some rather nasty wounds…. I don’t think anyone came out unscathed… but we were alive.

Again, I found myself wishing for a toad familiar.. as I understand they make you much tougher… But could I handle the responsibility??? Was I giving in to conformity…?? Didn’t all powerful wizards have a familiar?? Am I being stubborn by not summoning one?? Am I being silly for wanting one??

And what would I name one? Toad? Toadie? Toa? Charles?

Its not easy being me.

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Session One Hundred and Eight

Experience: Party fought 4 Ettins. It was a good fight. 600 xp for each surviving party member. (Everyone survived but Siroth, right?)

A'Ha the Leopard (6th Level) - 600xp - was at 18,833xp - puts him at 19,433xp - needs 21,000 for 7th level
Coderick (9th Level) - 600xp - was at 37,476xp - puts him at 38,076xp - needs 45,000 for 10th level
El'Fross (8th Level) - 600xp - was at 37,134xp - puts him at 37,734xp - needs 45,000 for 10th level
L'Wehn the human (7th Level) - 600xp - was at 23,696xp - puts her at 24,296xp - needs 28,000 for 8th level
Snf'L (10th Level) - 600xp - was at 46,986xp - puts him at 47,586xp - needs 55,000 for 11th level
S'Part the Eagle (5th Level) - 600xp - was at 11,198xp - puts him at 11,798xp - needs 15,000 for 6th level
Thoravald (8th Level) - 600xp - was at 30,904xp - puts him at 31,504xp - needs 36,000 for 9th level

9th Sunsebb

S'Part was reincarnated as an eagle. El'Fross decides to use his toad familiar kit to gain a familiar. He does not know what to call his new pal.

10th Sunsebb

The party encounters 4 ettins. It is a bloody battle, and at the end of it all, Siroth lies dead.

11th Sunsebb

Siroth reincarnated as a Cheetah. A few days are spent healing, and then the party travels to the sough of the Fellreev to investigate the Weird Woods of Baron Orchid.

From the diary of El'Fross:

Well, I did it. I summoned a familiar. After much consternation and soul searching, I decided it was time. If for no other reason, then to make myself a bit stronger for the next time that Snf’l loses his mind and leaves us all standing in the face of great danger, while he climbs a tree or digs a hole, or does whatever his somewhat….er….odd tactics dictate at the time.

We started south with Thoravald to help him find his kidnapped lover. Apparently her father had betrothed her to a rather nasty character and we were off to rescue her. Ah… the old “betroth your daughter to some ugly dude for a favour and then have her true love try to save her or die trying” story…. If I’ve seen it once, I’ve seen it a hundred times.

One day into our 5 day journey we came across FOUR very large Ettins who attacked us in an unprovoked manner. One of them squished our Grizzly Bear friend, Siroth which unnerved L’Wehn causing her to retreat. As I watched her run past me in terror, I began to wonder whether Snf’l was having an undue bad influence on the group. SNF’l soon after tried to retreat also, but tripped over the halfling and was forced to remain in the fray.

Shaking my head, I sprang into action… literally. I’ve developed an interesting fighting technique, allowing me to dodge in and out of battle….. and it looks really cool too. I was everywhere on the field, smacking ettins with my staff, blasting them with cold… ah, it was a thing a beauty.

My new found friend… the yet to name himself toad, was very helpful and I got the feeling that had he not been around during the battle, I likely wouldn’t have been after the battle, as one of the beasties clipped me, and very nearly chopped my head off.