Keep On The Borderlands Chronicles
The History of the Order of the Cleansing Fire, as recorded in the IC threads for this game.
1th In Character Thread In which the King of Khazan summons adventurers to the Keep on the Borderlands in the hopes or establishing security in the area and eventually opening the trade route east. Among those who answer the call: Knuckle Sarnie, the halfling; Brother Milak, the cleric; Richie Lemons, the thief; Athrella Finas, the cleric; Dayrell Goldenbrow, the dwarf; Gnaarl, the mage; Joe, the mage; Edward, the thi-- erm, scout; and Seb, the fighter. They establish a quick semi-rivalry with Pharis, the elf, who gets her own crew together for the same goals.
Our heroes head to the Caves of Chaos and tangle with some goblins (where Edward procures his lucky dice) and learn that fire is a great tool for fighting goblins in caves. They also fight a massive ogre, and parley with the remnants of the goblin tribe to get out of the caves. After encountering a sleeping bear, they discover that it was just a bear skin draped over an ogre's bed, and return home with their loot and to mend their wounds (post #201).
While back in town, they are joined by Pearl, Knuckles's Moth... erm, 'Sister'. They set back out again (#258) and deal with kobolds, the group rallying to save Edward after a stupid idea. Knuckles falls into a pit. Joe is struck by an arrow as the group meets the bulk of the kobold clan in their lair. After some arguing, they let the women, children, and a few males flee to find a new home. In exchange, they gain information about the other inhabitants of the caves. While looting the kobold cave complex, the group fights some rats, and then some orcs before returning back to the Keep (#419).
The second week begins (#433) with a return to the caves to finish exploring; they find the goblin chief's quarters and loot them. They also encounter hobgoblins, a running battle that ends in a wild, fiery melee that leaves Seb near death and claims the life of Gnaarl, the first of the group to die. After the battle, they loot the hobgoblin armory and find a number of prisoners, whom they free and escort back to the Keep (#597).
Pharis tries to join the group, but is rebuffed. Brother Milak and Seb both leave, Milak deciding to stay at the temple and Seb not enjoying his brush with his own mortality, but they are joined by Elgar, a dwarf who was among the rescued captives. The group returns to the Caves (#612), continuing their exploration of areas that they think are somewhat cleared out. They encounter green slime; Dayrell calls for fire, and Edward responds with "Oh, come on now, that can't be our solution for everything!" They also encounter a peaceful tribe of neanderthals. The group earns the neanderthals' trust by helping them defeat an owlbear, and Knuckles is disappointed when he is not rewarded with a mate. More peaceful exploration occurs, during which time they group notices Pharis' crew entering another cave. Heading into an orc cave, the group is taken by surprise by a net trap, but still survive an orc ambush mostly unharmed until a second wave nearly kills Elgar. Felling run down, the group returns to the Keep (#738).
While at the Keep, the group learns that Pharis' crew was ambushed; all but Pharis herself were killed or taken prisoner. The team heads back the next day, presuming it's best to strike while the ambushers are still healing their wounds. This is also the first time the phrase 'cleansing fire' is used (#750). They encounter some large spiders, signs of battle, and ambush some orcs. Once more, the group decides to negotiate, allowing the tribe to leave with their women and children. Another tribe is encountered, and put to sleep. Looting occurs, along with a small skirmish with beetles. Edward makes the first dramatic boast: "We burn ogres and owlbears to their deaths. We put armies to sleep. We move unseen unless we wish to be seen. We are the Cleansing Fire. To oppose us is foolish. To take up arms against us is death. Drop. Your. Weapons." (#882) On their way out after dealing with the orcs, the group encounters spiders; Dayrell nearly falls to poison, but is able to fight it off. The group returns to the Keep, and discover they have found a magical climbing rope (#898).
While recuperating, the group is joined by The Red Walker, an elf, while Elgar stays behind. They decide their next goal is a bit of a break from cave-diving, and go to seek lizardmen in the marsh. The group builds a raft to cross the river, and finds the lizardman lair -- but realizes it's a dark water-filled hole, and they are wearing heavy armor and have no way to keep their torches dry enough to use once inside. After this bit of a let-down, they return to the Keep and have some drinks and bond over backstories before deciding to escort Yeadon, a local cleric, and his two acolytes to the Caves to seek out and destroy an evil altar.
They set out again (#962) and discover a cave with recruitment signs around the opening. They enter and encounter hobgoblins, who offer them food before attacking.
The goblins are handily defeated, and Knuckles claims the dinner gong as loot. After getting a chance to stage an ambush of their own, the Order takes a large room of hobgoblins by surprise; but they Order is betrayed by Yeadon, and the ensuing battle finds several of them injured... but still triumphant.
