The Rise of Ishana Storm-Showdown at Gnoll Rock.

So, I’ve finally had time to sit down and get on with some scribblings. It’s been a busy few weeks for me working through the pandemic on my big yellow fun bus (I work on an emergency ambulance for one of the UK’s NHS ambulance services). A mixture of childcare (the lad is off school for now) and working in the new must have fashion items otherwise known as “PPE” has left me knackered and not really in the mood for writing.

But! I got there in the end and I’m really looking forwards to putting the tales of Ishana Storm down into word form. So who the hell is Ishana Storm? Ishana Storm is my current player character in a Dungeons & Dragons 5E game who along with her companions, is currently trying to stay alive in a long abandoned underdark mansion of the Drow. Thus far they have managed to cling onto life although its been a close call most of the time and we are normally only a hairs breadth from getting wiped out as a party. I have mentioned Ishana’s background in this post so it gives a little bit of an idea of our budding sorceress. So let us begin!

Those Gnolls had it coming. Disgusting creatures. If that Merchant had employed more competent guards then he could have avoided losing his treasure chest. I got to test out what I’d been working on with Silas though. Using my focus I was able to charge the air as if it was lightning. Using it as a crackling bolt of energy made me think of how good I am at tapping into the fabrics of “magic” as they call it. And the target of my crackling bolt of raw energy? One of those vile Gnolls. I made short work of it. Once I hit it, all I had to do was keep on focusing and the lightning did the rest. I saw the Gnoll that had grabbed the merchants chest and I went after him. I must’ve been distracted by my previous efforts as the bolt went wide this time and he made good his escape.

The attack is thwarted, wrecked tents and pavillions, Gnoll bodies scattered about. Some of the merchants guards are dead. My fellow travellers seem to have performed adequately. I have to say it’s an odd bunch this merchant has chosen to keep his caravan safe. A shifty looking human who looks like he got on the wrong end of a spell, a Dragonborn who bombastically claims there is only one god. A Halfling, I think it’s a female although it’s hard to tell underneath all that plate armour. I mean, how do you even make steel armour that small? The Halfling keeps harping on about some ahem, “noble” cause. Whatever. Now the next one I’m about to describe dear journal is one I’d heard about but never seen until now. It’s a birdcreature. Again, hard to tell if its male or female but it looks like a bird with human arms and legs. I’d heard stories of the “Owlbear” which they say was the result of some insane experiment of sorcery. Perhaps this creature is the same? A mistake let loose on the world by some dabbler in sorcereous arts. Finally we have the other human. A jolly chap, not as sullen and cutthroat looking as the other one. I haven’t quite got the full measure of him yet. He appears unarmed but thats not to say he’s useless. I’m pretty sure I saw him finish a Gnoll or two earlier with bare hands. Impressive, I’ll have to watch him.

So that’s it. My travelling companions. It’s a means to an end as they say. Looks like we are all headed to the city with this caravan. There I can continue the hunt for my bitch sister who robbed me of my heritage my father had entrusted to Silas. Silas had been given instructions to pass it onto father’s favourite daughter, me! Somehow though, that scheming sibling of mine got wind of it and swiped it. I’ll find her and when I do…

There seems to be a heated discussion going on. The Merchant is worried about further Gnoll attacks, fair point. Not far from where we are the road continues straight. I believe that goes to our destination the city. However, there is concern that a much larger Gnoll warband is on our tail and perhaps we should try and seek shelter some place else.

As soon as I heard that idea I thought it was preposterous. We’re in the middle of nowhere! Whip the horses I say! Let us travel faster by any means to the city. The wounded would probably die anyway. Leave them here, it means we would outrun the Gnolls! As I mulled this over in my mind, the strange man who fights unarmed ( I think his name is Kirin) spotted in the distance what appears to be a Castle. How strange, I didn’t spot it earlier. Clear as day. There it is, down another road. It’s still a way off but looks to be nearer than our original destination.

After much wrangling, our Merchant friend seems to have seen sense that we could maybe seek shelter at the Castle until the Gnoll’s give up. Not ideal as I’d rather press on and start looking for my sister but even I would struggle on my own against a large number of these raiders. Better stick with this outfit for now then. To the castle then!

Stu our DM can be found here at his facebook page!

Credits to the following: Ki’rin – The Human Monk

Sheva- The Halfling Cleric

Boreff-The Human Rogue

Kayan-The Dragonborn Paladin

Kena-The Aaracokra Rogue

And to Stu for keeping it deadly and on our toes!

Thanks to D&D5E for an awesome game.