(G138 18/05/2012 BG - JF(GM) , AP , ON)

DAY 134 (24th Flamerule) (July) cont...

They had chosen the place for the trap well, a tree choked gully. They chopped
back the undergrowth and built platforms in the taller trees for everyone to
shoot from. The donkey hauler and spike trap were set up in a deep part of the
gully. The gully itself was cliff sided to a depth of about 20ft except for
either end where some of the sides had collapsed into slopes of scree.

It was decided that Oz would captain the militia while Alduin captained the
mercenaries.
The militia included :
Militia Captain - Elem Oats
Militia Sergeant - Ostler Gundigoot - The Innkeeper
Militiaman - Elmo Oats - a ranger
Not a Militiaman, but here anyway, Black Jay the herdsman and his three dogs.
There were five others.

So, the began to wait. Lunchtime came and went, dinner came and went. It began
to get dark and they spent the whole night in the tree tops.

DAY 135 (25th Flamerule) (July)

They spent all night and all morning in the trees, eating, sleeping and
relieving themselves from the branches. Many became fatigued and stuff, but
they felt sure the beast would come eventually.

At eight in the evening, the Bullette finally struck.

It burrowed out of a scree bank and sunk its teeth into a pig that had been
rooting around in the base of the gully. The crossbow bolts began to fly,
although most of them bounced of its iron hide. The mercenaries fired their
ballista bolts, but the weapons proved to be very ineffective.

It then rushed down to the donkey which was hoisted out the way. No one had
counted on how high the creature could leap though and it easily caught the
lower half of the donkey in its massive jaw. This did give the other cattle
and pigs time to run off though.

The druid, Jaroo, was the most effective person to fight the bullette, casting
spells from overhead as he glided around the battlefield in the form of an
eagle. Oz did manage to get in a good sneak attack with his sling early on, but
the others found that their bolts mainly just bounced off.

The air was thick with arrows from the militia and the mercenaries.

Just as the beast appeared to be defeated, another one leapt from the ground,
above the gully and killed a cow. There were two bullettes!

But luckily Jaroo caught this one with a 'Sudden Stalagmite' spell, pinning
it to the ground just as it was shaking men from a nearby tree.

Then the first one was killed by Jaroo with an Ice Lance spell.

The only man to die today, was a mercenary who it badly injured and who fell
to his death, out of the tree and into the gully.

Under a hail of bolts and magic though, this one died too, finished off by a
Salt Ray from the druid, just after it destroyed a ballista with a single full
attack.

Both bullettes were now dead at the cost of two pigs, one donkey, one cow, one
mercenary and one ballista.

Jaroo landed and advised to cut the creatures open as they ate anything and
often digested things that could be considered treasure. They must have broken
into a bank vault or something anyway as among other things their belly's were
full of gold coins. Not only that but a magic wand also survived.

Oz organised the cutting off of the creature's heads and bringing back to the
village. It would be a good celebration tonight he hoped!

On arrival at Hommlett, a letter was given to him. Opening it he read :

*Sealed with an Official Waterdeep Crest*
*Addressed to Osbourne, staying at the Inn of the Welcoming Wench*
(24th Flamerule)(DAY 132)

Greetings Osbourne, I hope I find you in good health.

I thought it might be an idea to let you know what has been happening
in the city during your absence.

First some minor news before I get onto the important stuff;

Do you remember I told you that the OJB was being watched by a bearded
scruffy gentlemen but that before I could get at him, he'd drifted
away again?

In the end I traced him to Emmer Jundhyl, he was a wizard by the name
of Ytlet Merfnurt and was the one that organised the kidnapping of
Giselle.

I know this because I went back to the kidnapper's house and caught a
gnomish rogue called Queenie who I got to spill the beans. In return
I've promised that we will not attack her house again. In fact she may be
useful to you at some point, you never know, since she is very good at
making people disappear.
I enclose her address in Dock Ward for you.

I am just back from talking to her today.

Now on to the important news;

Seven days ago, Jesker Smint attempted to kidnap a member of the
Thunderstaff family and failed.

Two days after that he tried again, with the help of a bribed
insider and managed to kidnap the twelve year old boy Zoltan
Thunderstaff. I was contacted by Elsdon, the boy and Fenrir's
father two days ago.

Yesterday we made contact with the kidnappers and they revealed
that they would give up Zoltan in return for the monk, Jade. Since
Fenrir is in prison though and I have no idea about the location of
the monk we can only stall them until such time as the situation
changes.

Some good news though, Raya has located the house that Wathuss and
Jesker are in. It is a large house in Castle Ward. Raya is currently
watching it and I will let you know more when she reports back.

At some point they will threaten to kill the boy and at that time we
will have to raid the house as the boy must surely be there.
I'll probably get hold of a watch squad, my cousin Silvia and perhaps
Gharlie for the raid.

If you want to be part of this though, I suggest you hurry back.

Yours faithfully

Corum GSL

Also this day Fredorrick gave Oz and Alduin his clue to the location of the
Sword and the Ephod. It was 'Upper Yard'. He also knew that Barndal had gone
on a quest and was known to be somewhere in Waterdeep. Marten he knew, was in
Candlekeep, and that he would have more information on the exact location of
Barndal.

He also gave them a letter for Marten and Barney to say that they could be
trusted.