Session #1 - Friday, 17th November 2006
Four players were present for the first session of The Red Hand of Doom, which I'm running as a Living Greyhawk adventure: Daniel (William, human Cleric 7), Ben (Roy, human Fighter 7), Adam (Rthfgn, wizard 5) and Rob (Ricros, elf Rogue 4/Wizard 1)

In a recent (unplayed) adventure, the heroes had discovered a treasure map to a cache in Vraath Keep, a ruined fort in the southwest end of Sterich. They had resolved to go and investigate these rumours of treasure. Before setting out, however, William was contacted by the patriarch of St Cuthbert - the patriarch had received a vision of war in Sterich, and wanted Willaim to investigate. So forewarned, the group spent several weeks travelling to the kingdom.

Day 1: As they passed through part of the Witchwood on the way to Drellin's Ferry - the last settlement before Vraath Keep, they were set upon by a group of hobgoblins and hellhounds. After dispatching them, they discovered the remains of several other travellers; obviously this group had been proving problematic for the locals.

This was confirmed when the heroes reached Drellin's Ferry. The local Speaker and head of the Guard both wished to hire the heroes to find the lair of these hobgoblin bandits and to dispatch them. As the heroes were amenable, they were given directions to Jorr, a local woodman who could give them further information on the Witchwood (and where Vraath Keep might be located).

The group rested, and set out for Jorr's cabin and the Witchwood the next day.

Day 2: Jorr proved very amenable at the first mention of goblins, and told the group that the goblins had been everywhere over Dawn Way, and had either come down Old Forest Road from the mountains, or through Skull Gorge - with his money being on Skull Gorge. Directions to Vraath Keep were also forthcoming, with the likelihood of goblins being holed up in it as well. As Vraath Keep was on the way to Skull Gorge, the party resolved to follow the Dawn Way to it.

As the Dawn Way crossed the Swift Creek, Rthfgn became suspicious of an abandoned wagon lying half-buried in the mud, and launched a fireball at it. The wagon wasn't a problem, but the 6-headed hydra behind it took exception to this! The hydra moved up to the group, healing all the damage that Rthfgn had inflicted on it. Rthfgn cast another fireball, Roy and William moved into melee, and Ricros supported them with bowfire. Eventually, the hydra lay dead, and William healed the wounds that he and Roy had taken.

As the day moved towards late afternoon, the group reached Vraath Keep. Although it appeared deserted at first glance, that was definitely not the case! A manticore was lairing in one of the towers, and, disturbed by the party, it flew up to perch on the wall and fire a volley of spikes at Roy. Rthfgn responded with a casting of Tasha's hideous laughter, which so amused the manticore, it did nothing further as Roy climbed up the wall and dispatched it with some solid blows.

The clamour of the fight had alerted some nearby goblin worgriders and hobgoblins, who moved to engage the heroes. The melee was fast and deadly - to the goblins at least, although the heroes took some wounds as well. Finally, the leader of the goblins, a bugbear sorcerer, and his minotaur bodyguard stepped forth!

Rthfgn was immediately incapacitated by a blindness spell, but the minotaur fared little better as well aimed blows from Roy and Rthfgn slew it (criticals both!). The bugbear was tougher, however. Lightning bolts and other magics quickly incapacitated some of the heroes, and potions and spells were employed in resuscitating those who had fallen. Eventually, the bugbear was beaten back and slain - the invaders of Vraath Keep were defeated.

The group holed up in one of the towers and rested. They were disturbed early in the evening by a group of four returning goblin worg-riders; low on spells and wounded, the group still managed to prevail, thanks largely to a timely colour spray from Ricros.

Day 3: William cured Rthfgn's blindness, and the group began to investigate the Keep. Treasure was found, along with the cache of magic items that they had originally come to claim (including a staff of life!). More of interest was the map in the bugbear's chambers, and many coded notes... There ended the first session of The Red Hand of Doom

(At this point, Roy had amassed enough XP to reach level .