I've made these notes available for other GM's (especially newer GM's) so they can get an idea of what a more experienced (and hopefully halfway decent) GM is thinking and working with when running an adventure.    I decided to include this bit after another GM on a Buffy the Vampire Slayer list postively commented on Young Children and Elder Gods (which is written up mostly like this).  Even though this is D&D - Dungeons and Dragons D20, the concept and framework is purposefully left so that game mechanics are a minimal portion of the idea.  You should be able to adapt this to GURPS, MERP, or whatever you care to run.

A week has passed since "In Distress"


Jallarzi and Emma have been making the cure for Father Mamulius, though rather unsuccessfully.  The first time, while making it in Emma's home, the chickens (still running around in there since Nuts!) came down with something gastro-intestinal.  On top of the cauldron.  Without a lid.  The second try, at the church, became the victim of Pes and friends, as it tipped while they were running about "like hellions".  Whose fault, exactly?  All five kids pointed at each other and said "Them!".  The third try has just begun the two-day process of simmering needed.

Banunu has a multiple-day dream.  It is progressive, with more revealed each night.  There are spheres of light there - not planets, they're too uniform, and much too big - and he sees a tendril of light extend from a blue one, extend towards a green one - but fall short.  As it whips back, it touches briefly upon another sphere off to the side, like a whipping snake-tail.

Jimmy finds himself questioned (and paid thirty silver) by Ernesto, with both Uvares and the tall spectacled gentleman there.  They still are asking about Banununu;  what has Jimmy seen?  The spectacled gentleman is taking notes, which makes Jimmy start to suspect that something odd is afoot.  Still, he tells them what he's seen, and takes thier money.

The theme begins. mp3

• "Oh, I forgot to put the nail in there... and there... and there." - Banununu

Serena, youngest daughter of Serrer, a trapper who lives up in the mining settlement, comes begging Emma for help.  She and her father come into town frequently - but missed thier last regular shopping visit with Emma.  Serena had been a recipient of Emma's aid during Inari's Night, so that's who she turned to.  The mountain village (primarily miners and a few trappers) have been under attack by monsters for a few days, first some of the gear at the mine being damaged at night, then a person or two disappearing, then out and out raids and attacks on anyone trying to get to or from town.  She managed to slip out, 'cause her daddy taught her how to sneak through the woods.  She left during YESTERDAY day, so it's been a night and a day since she left (since she was hiding and sneaking).  Everyone gets together quickly, having Capt Sobiabia (who actually asks to be a deacon-type person) take care of things at the church and make sure the potion gets stirred, and leaving a message for a guard to take to Manuel (the captain of the guard).

"Can I lay down?" - Serena  "Absolutely, you're not Pes." - Emma
"Big ones, scaley ones, little fuzzy furry ones?" - Emma  "Yes yes no." -  Serena
"And she's at my house, guarding it against Pes." - Emma  "Does it pay well?" - Jallarzi
"Monsters up the hill, wanna go?" - Banunu  "Sure!" - Jimmy  "I don't remember making this decision." - Jallarzi
"Shouldn't we go get the city guard?" - Emma  "He is the city guard." - Banunu  "He's a rentacop!" - Jallarzi
"Shouldn't we let them know we're going, so they can send a rescue team?" - Jallarzi  "Recover our bodies?" - Emma 
"We're on our own, aren't we guys?"  - Jallarzi

As the heroes go into the mountains, they see a largish rat, so they shoot it.  Jimmy manages to wing it across the back, and shortly thereafter, Banunu's back begins to ache...

Otherwise, the trip into the settlement is uneventful.  The settlement is silent, abandoned in the tall pine woods.  Many of the buildings are half-burnt.  Many of the windows had the shutters fastened - either still that way, or burned in place, or broken.
Arrows litter the roofs.  Things have been sifted through - trash (and rough-worked) items have been left.  Gems have been prized out of cheap settings, etc.  Serrer's house, however, has many of his items gone... almost as if they were packed. 

One of them hears the faint sound of a male yell in the far distance, and a "ching" or two of swords before silence falls.
There is a trail to the mine, though they do not explore.  There are trapper's trails - hard to find, but partially visible when Jimmy climbs a tree.  He also sees a bit of campfire smoke.  With no other ideas, they head in the direction of the smoke.

"Let's see if you want to skin this one or not!"  - Jallarzi
"It's a ghost town." - Banunu  "Shall we NOT use that word?" - Jallarzi
[Shuffling in tracks] "Hey guys, there' s been a mighty battle here..." - Banunu
"If I act wierd..." - Banunu  "I'll just shoot you." - Emma
"Can't you put him to sleep?" - Jimmy  "I can hit him really hard..." - Jallarzi
"Don't know the problem but like the solution - violence always works." - Banunu

The heroes quickly find a campsite.  There are four canvas tents arranged in a semi-circle.  Seven horses are tethered nearby.  There is a campfire, by which 5 men, 3 women, and three kids are bound and gagged.  There are also three dead men nearby (miners all), who upon closer examination have had thier necks bitten.  There is another tied seperately;  it is Serrer (who was just recently captured trying to rescue his friends).  Near them are barrels of supplies stolen from the town.

Grunnhild is hiding in the barrels (DC 25 to notice), when she surprise attacks, arrows come from outside of town from the rest of the group.  (DC20) to note some birds flying off beforehand and be able to react to the arrows.

The Banunu use "open/close" to open Serrer's bonds, as Emma sneaks up to help rescue the settlers.  Jallarzi starts with an obscuring fog, and then combat begins.  All the raiders are wearing masks made up as dragon faces.   The heroes are victorious, though there's a few close moments.  The large rat from before shows up again, and attacks some of the raiders using a modified monk martial arts move, then situates himself with Banunu (who figures out that this might just be his familiar after all... though quite an odd one.)

There are 6 women missing from the group - last night, the prisoners say, *something* arrived, killed three of the men, and took the women.

• "How did I know you could talk to a rat?" - Jallarzi  "Cause I talk to spiders. I should know, those two languages are closely related....." - Banunu

[We were all getting tired and slap-happy;  these are all out of character quotes]

• Can I use your buns as props?  - Steve
  
• Can I point out that you're hiding behind a glass tree? - Brigit
• I suck in my gut as I hide sideways beside a sapling - Adam
• Pistashio shells float in butter - Lucas
• Rodentia sapiens.  Just what the world needs. - Brigit
  

After they return, it is time to try the potion.  As they're giving it to Fr. Mamulius, who begins to stir, the spectacled gentleman strides in, followed by Ernesto, and points at Banunu.  "I am Deone Artano, and we know what you are, my lord."

Banunu looks at the rat.

Cue the credits.  mp3

 an original adventure by Steven Saus
  Played 02/04/05
  Experience Awarded - 1537 xp each

Leader of the Raiders:
Vash, female human Rog2/Ftr2:  CR 4; Size M (5 ft., 1 in. tall); HD 2d6+4 + 2d10+4; hp 34; Init +4 (+4 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 18 (+4 Dex +4 leather); Attack +7 melee, or +7 ranged; SV Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +2; AL NE; Str 19, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 12.
Skills and feats:  Decipher script +6, Disguise +6.5, Escape artist +4.5, Forgery +6.5, Gather information +2, Hide +4, Innuendo +7, Intuit direction +7, Jump +6, Listen +7, Move silently +4, Pick pocket +9, Profession +7, Sense motive +6, Speak language +2, Spot +2.5, Swim +5, Use magic device +3;
Two-Weapon Fighting, Dodge, Expertise, Ambidexterity, Weapon focus (sickle).


Raiders:
Hlif, female human Rog3:  CR 3; Size M (5 ft., 4 in. tall); HD 3d6; hp 11; Init +3 (+3 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 17 (+3 Dex +4 Leather); Attack +0 melee, or +5 ranged; SV Fort +1, Ref +6, Will +2; AL LE; Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 13, Cha 12.
Dodge, Skill focus (disable device), Weapon finesse (dagger).
Leather
Daggers (lots)
-----------------------------
 Grunnhild, female human Rog3:  CR 3; Size M (5 ft., 7 in. tall); HD 3d6-3; hp 11; Init +2 (+2 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 18 (+1 shield +2 Dex +5 Breastplate); Attack +1 melee, or +4 ranged; SV Fort +0, Ref +5, Will +2; AL LE; Str 9, Dex 14, Con 9, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 12.
Weapon Finesse (Short Sword), Combat reflexes, Shield proficiency.
Short Sword
Breastplate
Shield
-----------------------------
Vigdis, female human Rog3:  CR 3; Size M (5 ft., 1 in. tall); HD 3d6+3; hp 13; Init +3 (+3 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 17 (+3 Dex +4 Leather); Attack +3 melee, or +5 ranged; SV Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +1; AL LE; Str 12, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 10.
Ambidexterity, Dodge, Point blank shot.
Shortbow
Dagger
-----------------------------
Alia, female human Rog3:  CR 3; Size M (4 ft., 9 in. tall); HD 3d6+6; hp 20; Init +8 (+4 Dex, +4 Improved initiative); Spd 30 ft.; AC 18 (+4 Dex+4 Leather); Attack +2 melee, or +6 ranged; SV Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +2; AL LE; Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 9.
Alertness, Improved initiative, Weapon finesse (sap).
Sap
Shortbow
Leather armor