SIMCON XXV (Event ID DND303)

The bards have been telling stories of the difficulties the champions faced in the Del Bourne Valley during their search for the Fires of Purification. The champions were unusually tight lipped about their success and when they returned, they were changed somehow. Curiosity has gotten the better of a young wanna-be adventurer called Falin. Ordinarily, no one would have noticed the 18 year old was missing. But this time one of his team has returned to Dragons Den and reported that Falin has disappeared down the forbidden well. His father Joe Vooert, a well known merchant, isn't pleased!

Now the average adventurer would say: 'He gets what he gets. Only a fool travels to Del Bourne unprepared.' But then you're not the average adventurer. And did anyone mention that Falin's father owns the trade rights to several regions?

Adventure, profit, and danger await any who step up to the challenge.

The teams met in Dragons Den to gear up for their journey to the Del Bourne Valley. Having purchased what was needed, they proceeded. Along the way, Death from Afar and Lawn filled the other champions in on most of the details of their previous experiences. They were among those that had explored the underground passage to the Fires. On their journey they passed many travelers going to and from the Valley.

Four days into their journey, the champions came across a leopard acting strangely defensive. Situated on a ledge above the path, it remained their growling at passersby, but not attacking. Ruin calmed the animal and Tharivol decided to investigate. The male had been protecting its family and territory. The cave also held the bones of long dead travelers. Evidence showed that the cats gad moved in long after their passing. When Tharivol emerged from the cave, he found himself a little heavier in the purse and wielding a new sword courtesy of these long gone fellows. The blade of this sword emitted a bright pulse when it was struck by sunlight. It's balance was perfect and it was covered with ancient elven runes and sang of music. Whisper and Fadrian reported that several more cats were seen on the ridges. This is significant because it points to the original climate of the region as being almost a rain forest; a far cry from the desert-like conditions that had existed for centuries.

The teams proceeded to the Valley. When they arrived, Tharivol attempted to get the sword identified (apparently +3 Thundering) while the others scouted for information. After meeting up, they joined the search party at the well. The searchers explained that they had explored as far as 150' of the well, but had found nothing. The champions revealed that the well was in fact more than 500' deep and that they could take over.

Travel through the well & passage went pretty much as expected. Fadrian found the young man's signet ring near the oil slick in the first chamber. The last of the pillar traps had been sprung. Only the magic traps, now fully activated, provided an issue. Several champions bypassed these with teleporting while others braved the passage without their magical items.

The young man was found at the end of the passage with no concept of how long he had been missing. The teams found no way to activate the Fires as the diamonds were no longer present (thanks to some quick fingers). The champions left the chamber in gaseous form and by teleport.

While the champions returned the young explorer to the searchers above and collected their rewards, many bystanders were heard to comment that the champions looked ready to publicly pummel the brat. Apparently, money does not equal grace! The teams collected 1,500gp each and the thanks of a father.

1. Team
   Player: Brian Thorpe
   

   Fadrian Blaine (Human Male Cleric 4 / Fighter 1 / Hospitaler 10) made his debut in style. His use of a locator spell helped him to quickly pick up Falin's trail. His ideas on the use of gaseous form provided a needed, if risky, method of escape from the cave allowing several of the champions to bypass the magical traps.

   Team survives to adventure again.

2. Death from Afar
   Player: Jonathan Sternfeld
   

   Tharivol Liaden's (Elf Fighter 6 / Wizard 2 / Arcane Archer 10 / Deepwoods Sniper 2) spelunking proved a profitable venture. The team's knowledge of the passage, and especially Sargen's (Human Rogue 8) knowledge of the traps, significantly reduced the risks involved. Andrinor Agriaba (Human Male Cleric 6) provided the spiritual guidance.

   Death from Afar survives to adventure again.



3. Lawn
   Player: Jennifer Sternfeld
   Roywyn's (Ruin) (Gnome Wizard 9 / Druid 9) knowledge of the Valley was helpful, but her command of nature proved even more useful. A potential for disaster, her calming of the leopard allowed a peaceful ending to what could have been a slaughter for the civilians on the road to Del Bourne.

   Lawn survives to adventure again.



4. Thunder
   Player: Julia McGinnis
   

   Whisper (Human Female Ranger 15) lent her tracking abilities and knowledge of nature to the endeavor. Ready to defend the civilians on the road to Del Bourne, she also helped collect local information to help in the search for Falin.

   Delde (Half-Orc Female Sorcerer 9) was not able to make the adventure due to her recent, and eventful, marriage.

   Thunder survives to adventure again.