Grunthor's Log
The Gamehole




This history is being compiled by me, Larius, under cleric of the Temple of the Big Gamble because Grunthor, the subject of this log, is illiterate. The following has been created faithfully from Grunthor’s descriptions, without embellishment or alteration on my part:


53rd day of the 22nd year of the 2nd age – In part and parcel with Grunthor’s initial fighter training, he hired on as a mercenary in a regional dispute. In the course of one of many battles, Grunthor killed a female warrior named Telvara. This has apparently greatly displeased her brother, Telvar, who lives in the ruins of Bone Hill. His displeasure is so great that he has placed a 1000 g.p.s contract on Grunthor’s head.

Since this contract has come to light, Grunthor has been pursued rather relentlessly by every sort of ruffian and nare-do-well in an attempt to collect the reward. Grunthor has decided that the only possible course of action is to go to Bone Hill and kill Telvar and, thereby, void the contract. To that end, Grunthor then set out for the region in and around Bone Hill.


7th day of the 23rd year of the 2nd age – On this day, Grunthor arrived at the Fat and Ugly Inn in the Restenford Wilds in the general vicinity of Bone Hill. There, Grunthor met a human named Monty who offered him a ride in his cart to a temple in the Dweomer Forest. Because the Dweomer Forest lay on the path to Bone Hill, Grunthor accepted. Much to Grunthor’s rue, Monty made the same offer to several other fellows at the Fat and Ugly Inn. Accompanying Grunthor on his night time ride to the Dwoemer Forest would be a human named Pilo, another elderly human named Loras, a human dressed all in black named Thoran, a human cleric named Luther and two elves.

In the middle of this night time ride, Grunthor discovered that the human, Pilo, was trying to pick his pocket. After slaying Pilo, Grunthor unceremoniously threw his body out the back of the cart. Grunthor spent the rest of the trip exchanging barbs with the two elves.

The party then arrived at the Temple of the Big Gamble and met me, along with several others. After taking part in the Temple’s services, Grunthor along with the two elves, Thoran and Luther agreed to attempt to rid the area of a band of thieves on behalf of the Temple. This task was carried out with great dispatch, due largely to Grunthor’s valour in battle. However, Grunthor was struck by a poison needle while attempting to open a chest, resulting in his immediate death. Grunthor’s body was quickly carried back to the Temple where he was resurrected. Grunthor is now extremely upset about this misfortune as well as by the continued presence of the two elves.


20th day of the 23rd year of the 2nd age – After some much needed training that was generously provided by the Temple, Grunthor and companions set off to the west to investigate claims of some ghost sightings in the area. The party did not come across any ghosts, but did encounter a few stray adventurers. Grunthor quickly dispatched a female half-orc and the party then returned to the Temple with a wizard in tow. Grunthor simply cannot abide the presence of any sort of orc.

The party was then dispatched to the Pebble Hills in the south in order to deal with reports of a tribe of Knolls and a pack of Wolves which were harrying the area. After an extended pitched battle which included Grunthor going against an Ogre in solo combat, the party ultimately triumphed. However, at one point in the midst of the battle, Grunthor lost his axe and it was then picked up by Thoran. Instead of immediately returning it to Grunthor, Thoran attempted to negotiate a cash payment for the return of the axe. After threatening serious bodily harm to Thoran unless the axe was not returned post haste, Thoran turned to axe over to Grunthor and the battle was quickly concluded.

After the battle with the Knolls, Wolves and Ogre, Grunthor claimed the Ogre’s club, a new axe and a potion along with his share of the other treasure. Grunthor and party have now returned for rest and more training before once again setting out on the road. The author continues to be concerned with Grunthor’s relationship with the elves in the party. While no actual violence has taken place yet, I fear for the worse.


35th day of the 23rd year of the 2nd age – After a couple of weeks of rest and training at the Temple, Grunthor and his party were finally ready to set out for the town of Restenford. The prospect of this trip greatly excited Grunthor because in Restenford there is a consider population of Dwarves. Grunthor was very much looking forward to spending some time with his own people after sharing company with elves.

When the party reached the outskirts of Restenford, Grunthor immediately proceeded to Falco’s Tavern, an establishment run by a Dwarf from Grunthor’s clan named Falco. After being reunited with his friends Falco and Gap, Grunthor proceeded to get extremely drunk. Grunthor continued in this blissful haze all afternoon and evening until he was disturbed by Thoran. Apparently, Thoran needed help as a result of some sort of botched burglary attempt. Because Grunthor was so intoxicated, his recollection of the events of the rest of that evening are not very clear.

The next morning, Grunthor awoke with a pounding headache. He was quickly gathered up by the rest of the party and they then went immediately to the Duke’s castle in response to a summons. Apparently, there was a murder in the middle of the night. The town’s blacksmith met his end from a knife in the dark. En route to the Duke’s, Thoran gave Grunthor a shiny ring which Thoran stated that he was holding onto for Grunthor from the night before. Again, Grunthor does not have much recollection of the events of the evening before and has no memory of this ring, but Grunthor is not one to turn down something shiny.

Once before the Duke, the party was informed that they were suspected of the murder the evening before, but that this crime would be forgiven if a task were completed for the Duke. The assigned task was to clear out an old guard house of a giant rat infestation. Apparently, Thoran was the prime suspect in the killing.

Although Grunthor did not understand what exactly the problem was, he was none-the-less willing to take on this task. (Grunthor does not understand that killing someone is generally frowned upon in most communities.) The party then set out for this guard house after making a few stops along the way and quickly cleansed the entire structure. It turned out that the derelict building was inhabited by much more than just rats. Several varieties of undead were residing there as well. Grunthor quickly carved through the ranks of these vile creatures and finished this small campaign relatively unscarred. He also acquired another shiny ring which turned out to be a ring of free action. Grunthor is greatly pleased with this find, despite the fact that he has no idea what it is.

Grunthor’s relationship with the party has improved somewhat. Thoran is now Grunthor’s favourite because he gave Grunthor some food. Also, Grunthor is not as belligerent with the elves because they did their best to help out with the recent combat. Grunthor is very cognizant of their limitations and only expects that they try. It remains to be seen if this is just a temporary truce or the beginnings of a lasting friendship.


40th day of the 23rd year of the 2nd age - The time had finally come for Grunthor and "friends" to approach Bone Hill. Grunthor had keenly anticipated his final confrontation with Telvar and so was very much in favor of pressing on to Bone Hill immediately. The rest of the party was still unaware of Grunthor's very personal interest in going to Bone Hill.

The journey to Bone Hill was relatively uneventful. Just another hot day trudging along the road. The party finally reached the environs of Bone Hill early that same evening. There, they decided to camp. Grunthor took first watch. It was during that watch when Grunthor's first brush with a skeleton took place. Naturally, Grunthor was able to quickly and summarily dispatch these antagonists.

The next day dawned bright and crisp and the party moved towards Bone Hill itself. Once on the hill, the party discovered the remains of a dilapidated keep. The initial search of the ruins resulted in some minor skirmishes with skeletons and bugbears, but no sign of Telvar was to be found. During one of these minor conflagurations, Grunthor delightedly relates that Ionel, "took a munching in the knackers." The author can only assume that the unfortunate Ionel sustained some sort of incisor related injury to his testicles. Poor Ionel seems hardly able to defend himself.

Alas, the trials and travails of Ionel were not limited to the above. After a series of encounters, the party finally caught up to the object of their mission, Telvar. It was obvious that Telvar was knew the party was coming. He ambushed the party with a particularly nasty fireball spell. After the firery explosion, only Grunthor and Luther were left standing. With the help of Luther, Grunthor was able to slay his nemesis Telvar and bring this adventure to a close. Everyone was able to survive the encounter except poor Ionel. Grunthor gleefully describes Ionel as being "crisped up real good" May Ionel rest in peace.

Grunthor, Thoran and Dino have now formed a loose partnership after their adventures in Bone Hill. It is the author's concern that this triumvirate has recently been engaged in substantial criminal activity. Ionel's death seems to have assuaged most of Grunthor's hostility towards the rest of the party. It remains to be seen whether or not this alliance will last. Regardless, it is clear that Grunthor and "friends" are in store for more adventures in the future.

Copyright The Gamehole 2001
Updated on 20 October 2001