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<blockquote data-quote="wsclark" data-source="post: 69050" data-attributes="member: 97"><p><strong>Session XVI – Eww, What's That Smell?</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Black Chancery'"><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Snowfall 9th, 744 YND</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">It is early afternoon when Lulla and Pug hear the sound of drums.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>10:00</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Lulla, Shaedra and Thalen head back up to the eighth floor to join Pug, Rufio and Daloren in the room adjacent to the one they found the scroll in. Shaedra lays on hands to mostly heal Rufio while Lulla takes care of the remainder of healing Rufio and the others.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>9:30</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">A discussion ensues. What should the group do? After talking things over for a minute and a half, they decide to try and determine if they can find out where the drum noise is coming from, before heading downstairs to possibly prepare for trouble. Daloren and Rufio suggest shutting themselves into the throne room and letting the attackers come to them. Lulla somewhat agrees with this as she wants to get Marty to safety. Shaedra suggests that they utilize the balcony overlooking the great hall of the first floor as the best vantage point for controlling the flow of battle. Thalen chimes in suggesting that it would be better to have maneuvering room and to prepare things to be able to performing a fighting withdrawal, possibly leading the attackers after them up the lone set off stairs to the second level and eventually doubling back down from the fourth floor using the stairs in the west tower which are only accessible through a secret door. Pug agrees with Shaedra and Thalen. It's decided that they will use a fighting withdrawal defense after checking things out from the roof.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>8:00</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">The entire group heads back into the stairwell and climbs up to the roof.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>3:00</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">After spending 5 minutes looking out into the jungle and listening intently, they come to the conclusion that, although they do not see anything out of the ordinary, the drums are getting louder and the sound is coming from the south. The group heads back into the castle and follows the stairs down to the third floor.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>2:30</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Upon reaching the third floor, they cross the castle from north to south to get to the stairway in the south tower that leads down to the second floor and down they go. Daloren and Rufio briefly consider locking up the throne room so the attackers don't get the gold throne, but Daloren figures it will take him about 4 minutes to do so and feels that it is too long a time to do it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>2:18</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">The group reaches the second floor landing that also leads to the balcony that overlooks the great hall on the first floor. Since they have not explored any of this floor except for the west tower, which they didn't find a way out of to access this floor, they take a few moments to look around. A solid stone balcony with an ornate stone railing circles most of the great hall below. A few doors lead off on the east wall. There is a huge chandelier over the great hall that is held up by a rope which can be raised and lowered by a winch on the northern end of the east side balcony.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>2:00</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Lulla and Thalen start to go down to the first floor in order to get Marty who is in the east tower. The rest of the group heads over to a pair of adjacent doors in the east wall. On the northern of the two doors supported by a primitive looking spear is a skeleton, still held together by a few leather-like ligaments and muscles. It releases itself from the wall and spear to attack Shaedra and Pug who are in front of the southern door 5 feet away.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>1:54</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Lulla and Thalen head over to the door to the east tower room on the first floor. Upstairs, Pug drops his greataxe, pulls out his mace and with a mighty swing smashes the skeleton into tiny, tiny pieces.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>1:48</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Lulla and Thalen enter the east tower and get to Marty. Meanwhile, Daloren checks the southern door for traps, finding none.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>1:42</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">On the first floor, Lulla gathers up Marty while Thalen heads over to the entrance doors to the castle to check them out. On the second floor, they open the door to find a single bed, teak wardrobe and a teak chest of draws.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>1:36</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Lulla leads Marty into the southern tower to bring him up stairs. Thalen checks the entrance door, hears nothing and moves to the center of the great hall. Upstairs, the group searches the bedroom, finding nothing.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>1:24</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Rufio heads to the northwest corner of the balcony around from the south tower to where a wall is blocking the way into the west tower. Shaedra, Pug and Daloren head to the door adjacent to the room they have just searched. Lulla starts leading Marty up the stairs in the south tower. Thalen begins brings chairs and wooden debris in the south tower and piles it around the bottom of the stairs.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>1:18</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Rufio decides to check the west wall for secret doors, finding none. Shaedra, Pug and Daloren listen at the door, hearing nothing. Lulla is continuing to lead Marty up the stairs. Thalen is still throwing debris into the south tower.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>1:12</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Rufio takes some time to analyze the vantage he has from the point he is at on the second floor overlooking the great hall. Shaedra, Pug and Daloren open the door they are at revealing a room just like the one they were just in. Lulla and Marty reach Shaedra, Pug and Daloren. Thalen begins to tear down the tapestries along the walls of the great hall and pile them up, stretching from the center of the room south to the southern tower and southeast to the castle entrance doors. Daloren searches the room while Shaedra and Pug head north. Pug stops at the winch realizing that if he lowers the chandelier, Thalen could light it giving them plenty of light to see by instead of using torches which would give away their positions. Shaedra continues on to the corridor that runs along the northern balcony, seeing another pair of adjacent doors.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>1:00</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Rufio decides to go to the stairwell in the southern tower and spread caltrops over the length of the stairs, from the bottom on the first floor to the top on the second floor. Lulla places Marty in the southern bedroom they first searched and joins up with Daloren after he finishes up with the second bedroom. Shaedra listens at the east door of the two adjacent ones in the north wall of the corridor, hears nothing and kicks the door in revealing a room that has been obviously ransacked, with a chest of drawers even toppled over, but shows no signs of habitation for years. Thick dust covers the bed, wardrobe, desk, chair and chest. She begins to search the room. Pug is lowering the chandelier to the first floor, while Thalen continues to pull the tapestries down and spreading them around.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>0:42</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Rufio has finished placing the caltrops all over the stairs in the southern tower and, for good and even better measure, starts pouring oil all over the stairs as well. Lulla and Daloren follow the balcony all the way around to the northwest corner where they start to prepare for the attack. They have a direct line of sight to the entrance doors on the first floor. Shaedra searches the long unused bedroom, finding nothing. While Pug waits, Thalen lights up the chandelier, finally giving a great deal of illumination to the great hall and allowing everyone to forget about using torches.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>0:24</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Rufio has finished preparing the southern tower's stairs with caltrops and oil and heads back to the southwestern corner of the balcony to prepare for an attack. Shaedra comes out of the bedroom and, since there is not much she can do to help with the preparations (paladins of The Speaker of the Word do not use ranged weapons) goes over to the door adjacent to the one she just entered. She listens, hears nothing, finds the door unlocked and opens it, only to find the door won't budge. Lulla prepares her light crossbow while Daloren pulls out his mighty composite shortbow. Both train their weapons on the front door, prepared to shoot the first thing that comes through them. Pug hauls the chandelier back up providing plenty of illumination for the entire area. Thalen goes back to moving the tapestries around and then starts spreading oil on the debris in the southern tower.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>0:06</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Upstairs, Lulla, Daloren and Rufio all wait for the inevitable. Shaedra tries to kick the door in and feels the sting of pins and needles go up her leg as the door doesn't move (she actually rolled a 20 on a strength check which still wouldn't open the door). Pug goes to another door behind him in the east wall and opens it, looking into a typical linen closet full of rotting linens. Thalen moves toward the entrance doors, spreading oil on the tapestries as he goes.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>0:00</strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">BOOM! There is a huge pounding on the entrance doors to the castle. Lulla, Daloren and Rufio are ready. Pug goes over to Shaedra and the two of them try to bash their way into the room, only ending up hurting their shoulders. Thalen heads toward the center of the great hall finishing spread oil on the tapestries and the huge broken table in the center of the room.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">BOOM! There is another huge pounding on the entrance doors. Shaedra starts hacking her way into the room she's been trying to get into. Pug heads over to the winch and pulls out his great axe. Thalen goes to the door in the north wall of the great hall that leads into the kitchen. The others wait in anticipation.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">BOOM! The pounding continues. Shaedra continues to hack at the door, it slowly giving way. Thalen pulls out his bow, prepared to shoot the first thing that comes through the entrance doors. The other wait.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">BOOM! The doors comes crashing open and a human figure dressed in a loincloth steps into the great hall. THWANG! Daloren lets loose with a shot, sending an arrow in the native. TWONG! Lulla lets go with a bolt which goes way wide and sticks into the open door. THWANG! Thalen lets loose with another arrow which appears nicely in the native who falls to the ground. So much for surprise.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Daloren and Thalen both reload and wait while Lulla prepares to cast a spell. Rufio grabs his torch and heads to the top of the stairs in the southern tower. Another native enters the castle hearing a THWANG as Thalen plugs him with an arrow, pulls the door to the kitchen shut and starts to piton the door closed. Daloren rapidly follows suit with another THWANG and the native falls down in the entrance way with his fellow warrior. Shaedra continues to hack at the door and gets it open, seeing that every piece of furniture in the room has been piled up against the door. Teak wardrobe, chest of drawers, chest and even the big bed are all pushed up to form a barricade behind the door. In the far corner of the room lies a skeleton clad in the remains of fine clothing, s pear by his side, and a ring on one of his fingers. Then the hoards rush in. Four natives head to the center of the room, two on either side of the huge, broken table. A group of three run into the castle heading into the southern tower. A group of six head to the door Thalen is behind. Another group of six head into the southern tower. Lulla casts the spell Spiritual Weapon and tries unsuccessfully to hit the lead native trying to go up the stairs in the southern tower. Still another group of six head to the door leading into the eastern tower where Marty use to be. Two more groups of six come into the castle, both groups heading to the southern tower. There are now 37 natives in the castle, 4 in the center of the great hall, 6 in front of the northern door to the kitchen where Thalen is, 6 in front of the eastern tower door where Marty was and 21 trying to head up the stairs in the southern tower. All of a sudden, the chandelier comes crashing down as Pug cuts the rope holding it with his greataxe. The tapestries and broken wooden furniture, covered in oil, burst into flames and there are now over a dozen and a half natives on fire. A group of three natives come into the castle, see the conflagration and start trying to roll the tapestries up to put the flames out. One of them suffers burns as he catches on fire. Another group of three natives come in and start helping roll the tapestries up.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Shaedra climbs over the furniture blocking the door, goes over to the skeleton and removes the ring. Daloren reloads and shoot one of the natives at the kitchen door directly below him. Rufio takes his torch and ignites the oil on the stairs adding more fire to the fuel. Lulla swings her Spiritual Weapon hitting the lead native. Thalen finishes with the door and pulls out his greatsword. Natives are now running al over the place, especially the ones on fire who head to various places in the great hall and southern tower where them attempt to put themselves out. Most don't succeed before dying. Several natives in the southern tower attempt to bull rush their way up the burning stairs. Several catch on fire and all but one are stung by the caltrops on the steps. The last one reaches Rufio who smashes him with sum Stunning Fists putting the native out of his misery. The natives burst into the eastern tower only to find it empty. The natives in front of the kitchen door break it down and start attacking Thalen who takes some minor damage. Pug takes out his new mighty composite longbow an kills one of the natives by the kitchen door. The six natives continue to roll up the tapestries, smothering the fire as they go. Another group of six natives enter the castle and rush over to the southern tower.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Shaedra retreats from the room and starts heading over to help out Rufio who has cried out for help, drawn his sianghams and killed a native at the top of the stairs. Lulla attacks another native at the bottom of the stairs with her Spiritual Weapon. Daloren reloads and shoots another native directly below him. Thalen returns the attack of the native with his greatsword, taking a native down and positions himself better in the room so he can no longer be flanked easily. Most of the burning natives are dead, but those that remain have managed to put themselves out. More natives rush up the burning stairs with one trying to bull rush Rufio who dispatches him easily, but there are two more at the top of the stairs facing him. Other continue to push into the kitchen with one hitting Thalen again who is now pretty well bruised up. The natives in the east tower exit it and head back into the great hall. Pug pulls out his greataxe, has the odd sensation that more than his greataxe came off his back and jumps over the balcony, executing a perfect landing on the first floor. Suddenly, red arrows start appearing in the backs of natives rolling up the tapestries and three of them drop dead. The other don't notice right away and push the tapestries close to the center of the room.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Shaedra reaches Rufio and with a mighty swing, cuts one of the natives in half, causing him to fall dead to the first floor. Rufio attacks the other and send him downstairs in the same condition. Lulla uses her final attack with her Spiritual Weapon on another native at the bottom of the southern tower, causing him to drop to the ground, dead. Daloren reloads once again and fires at the natives rolling up the tapestries, hit one but not bringing him down. Thalen takes a big swing with his great axe and kills another native. The natives in the great hall that are left start converging on Pug, almost completely surrounding him with one of them actually hitting Pug with his club, causing some very minor damage. More natives try to rush up the stairs, but the only one that reaches the top is cut down by a well place attack of opportunity by Shaedra. SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, Pug looks down to find a black cat trying to attack him. THWANG, THWANG, THWANG, more red arrows appear in the backs of the natives that were rolling up the tapestries and they are now all dead. Pug turns to one of his attackers, kills him and cleaves his way right through another.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Shaedra and Rufio ready themselves for any others that decide to come up the stairs. Lulla picks up her light crossbow and reloads. Daloren reloads and fires again, kill another native below him. Thalen kills another native in front of him. The last native in the southern tower decide to leaves and runs out the front door. The last native in front of Thalen decides to do the same, but is cut down by Thalen. The natives surrounding Pug attack again but it is the cat that bites him for some damage. One of these natives takes off out the front door. Pug attacks and cleaves through the two remaining ones. There are no more natives left inside the castle.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Cleanup starts while the cat continues to attack Pug. Pug kills it out of hand. The cat then appears in front of Pug again. This time, Pug bludgeons it into unconsciousness and stuffs it back into the sack. He then goes with Thalen to the front entrance doors and looks out seeing a different group of 10 natives who are cautiously approaching the castle. They also see the two escaped natives face down in front of the castle with red arrows sticking out of them.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">The natives reach the two adventurers and Pug greets them and thanks them for their help. They respond in broken Reanaarian, that they were happy to help. Pug asks them why they did and why they are here. They tell him that the other natives are bad, evil, man eating humans who they have been warring with and losing to. They are looking for help to awaken their guardian and thought the adventurers could help. Would they being willing to help them?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">The group decides to help the natives out, who they find out are called the Belsona and the evil ones that attacked are called the Hachita. They first do a couple of things in the castle. They take the sack holding the cat back to the throne room, throw it in and relock the doors to the room. Hopefully it will keep the cat in there. They also get Marty. After that the Belsona lead them to their village/city to the north of the castle to meet their chief.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">They arrive in a part of the jungle, at what used to be the heart of the city of Belsona, entering a large area that has been restored to its former glory, it's a beautiful sight. Polished flagstones form a giant mosaic of a golden eagle in whose eye has been built a great reflecting pool. Belsona women use the pool for washing and many children play in the shallow pool during the day. The cool water in it is remarkably clean and pure. They are then brought before the chief and introduced. They ask how can they help. The chief leads them to a temple which they enter.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">They open a door into a room where, standing before them is a 9-foot-tall bipedal creature. It takes a moment for them to realize that this is simply a great statue built of stone. Off runes, shaped like dancing men in different positions, are carved on the statue's chest. A circle is etched on the floor, arcane runes evident around the edges. In one corner of the room a small tent has been sent up. They hear a muttering coming from within. The chief directs them to help the man in the tent.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">They go over to the tent and the man there looks up asking "Who are you?". They tell him that they have been asked by the chief to help him however they can. They also ask him what his name is and he tells them "Halaan. What are you doing in this jungle?" They almost leap for joy and tell Halaan that they came here looking for him. Halaan asks why and they relate the entire tale leading up to where they are now. Halaan is deeply distressed at the death of Arowain and tells them he must get back to Zoa immediately in order to make a countering Coin of Power. The only problem is the Belsona won't let them leave until they awaken their guardian. The group asks Halaan what information he has. He tells them that he has just finished translating the inscription but can't figure it out. He tells them that the inscription reads:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">"It's sought by all but found by few; Sum of the law combined with truth; Often twisted and often missed; Fair when kept with disinterest."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Garamond'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Pug thinks for a couple of moments before saying, "It must be justice. I don't know what else it might be." Rufio agrees and goes to the circle, stands in it and says the word "Justice". Nothing happens. All are puzzled and discussion ensues about other possibilities. That is, until Rufio asks the chief how to say justice in their langauge. The chief tells Rufio that he doesn't understand the word he is using. Rufio and the others spend some time trying to described the word justice. The chief tells them that there might be two words that are close in meaning and heads to the circle. He says the first word and nothing happens. He says the second word, "Delakka", and still nothing happens. Then all hear a low rumble and the stone statue comes to life. The chief gets really excited, thanks everyone for awakening their guardian and tells them there will be a big feast in the honor.</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="wsclark, post: 69050, member: 97"] [b]Session XVI – Eww, What's That Smell?[/b] [FONT=Black Chancery][SIZE=6][b]Snowfall 9th, 744 YND[/b][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Garamond][SIZE=4] It is early afternoon when Lulla and Pug hear the sound of drums. [b]10:00[/b] Lulla, Shaedra and Thalen head back up to the eighth floor to join Pug, Rufio and Daloren in the room adjacent to the one they found the scroll in. Shaedra lays on hands to mostly heal Rufio while Lulla takes care of the remainder of healing Rufio and the others. [b]9:30[/b] A discussion ensues. What should the group do? After talking things over for a minute and a half, they decide to try and determine if they can find out where the drum noise is coming from, before heading downstairs to possibly prepare for trouble. Daloren and Rufio suggest shutting themselves into the throne room and letting the attackers come to them. Lulla somewhat agrees with this as she wants to get Marty to safety. Shaedra suggests that they utilize the balcony overlooking the great hall of the first floor as the best vantage point for controlling the flow of battle. Thalen chimes in suggesting that it would be better to have maneuvering room and to prepare things to be able to performing a fighting withdrawal, possibly leading the attackers after them up the lone set off stairs to the second level and eventually doubling back down from the fourth floor using the stairs in the west tower which are only accessible through a secret door. Pug agrees with Shaedra and Thalen. It's decided that they will use a fighting withdrawal defense after checking things out from the roof. [b]8:00[/b] The entire group heads back into the stairwell and climbs up to the roof. [b]3:00[/b] After spending 5 minutes looking out into the jungle and listening intently, they come to the conclusion that, although they do not see anything out of the ordinary, the drums are getting louder and the sound is coming from the south. The group heads back into the castle and follows the stairs down to the third floor. [b]2:30[/b] Upon reaching the third floor, they cross the castle from north to south to get to the stairway in the south tower that leads down to the second floor and down they go. Daloren and Rufio briefly consider locking up the throne room so the attackers don't get the gold throne, but Daloren figures it will take him about 4 minutes to do so and feels that it is too long a time to do it. [b]2:18[/b] The group reaches the second floor landing that also leads to the balcony that overlooks the great hall on the first floor. Since they have not explored any of this floor except for the west tower, which they didn't find a way out of to access this floor, they take a few moments to look around. A solid stone balcony with an ornate stone railing circles most of the great hall below. A few doors lead off on the east wall. There is a huge chandelier over the great hall that is held up by a rope which can be raised and lowered by a winch on the northern end of the east side balcony. [b]2:00[/b] Lulla and Thalen start to go down to the first floor in order to get Marty who is in the east tower. The rest of the group heads over to a pair of adjacent doors in the east wall. On the northern of the two doors supported by a primitive looking spear is a skeleton, still held together by a few leather-like ligaments and muscles. It releases itself from the wall and spear to attack Shaedra and Pug who are in front of the southern door 5 feet away. [b]1:54[/b] Lulla and Thalen head over to the door to the east tower room on the first floor. Upstairs, Pug drops his greataxe, pulls out his mace and with a mighty swing smashes the skeleton into tiny, tiny pieces. [b]1:48[/b] Lulla and Thalen enter the east tower and get to Marty. Meanwhile, Daloren checks the southern door for traps, finding none. [b]1:42[/b] On the first floor, Lulla gathers up Marty while Thalen heads over to the entrance doors to the castle to check them out. On the second floor, they open the door to find a single bed, teak wardrobe and a teak chest of draws. [b]1:36[/b] Lulla leads Marty into the southern tower to bring him up stairs. Thalen checks the entrance door, hears nothing and moves to the center of the great hall. Upstairs, the group searches the bedroom, finding nothing. [b]1:24[/b] Rufio heads to the northwest corner of the balcony around from the south tower to where a wall is blocking the way into the west tower. Shaedra, Pug and Daloren head to the door adjacent to the room they have just searched. Lulla starts leading Marty up the stairs in the south tower. Thalen begins brings chairs and wooden debris in the south tower and piles it around the bottom of the stairs. [b]1:18[/b] Rufio decides to check the west wall for secret doors, finding none. Shaedra, Pug and Daloren listen at the door, hearing nothing. Lulla is continuing to lead Marty up the stairs. Thalen is still throwing debris into the south tower. [b]1:12[/b] Rufio takes some time to analyze the vantage he has from the point he is at on the second floor overlooking the great hall. Shaedra, Pug and Daloren open the door they are at revealing a room just like the one they were just in. Lulla and Marty reach Shaedra, Pug and Daloren. Thalen begins to tear down the tapestries along the walls of the great hall and pile them up, stretching from the center of the room south to the southern tower and southeast to the castle entrance doors. Daloren searches the room while Shaedra and Pug head north. Pug stops at the winch realizing that if he lowers the chandelier, Thalen could light it giving them plenty of light to see by instead of using torches which would give away their positions. Shaedra continues on to the corridor that runs along the northern balcony, seeing another pair of adjacent doors. [b]1:00[/b] Rufio decides to go to the stairwell in the southern tower and spread caltrops over the length of the stairs, from the bottom on the first floor to the top on the second floor. Lulla places Marty in the southern bedroom they first searched and joins up with Daloren after he finishes up with the second bedroom. Shaedra listens at the east door of the two adjacent ones in the north wall of the corridor, hears nothing and kicks the door in revealing a room that has been obviously ransacked, with a chest of drawers even toppled over, but shows no signs of habitation for years. Thick dust covers the bed, wardrobe, desk, chair and chest. She begins to search the room. Pug is lowering the chandelier to the first floor, while Thalen continues to pull the tapestries down and spreading them around. [b]0:42[/b] Rufio has finished placing the caltrops all over the stairs in the southern tower and, for good and even better measure, starts pouring oil all over the stairs as well. Lulla and Daloren follow the balcony all the way around to the northwest corner where they start to prepare for the attack. They have a direct line of sight to the entrance doors on the first floor. Shaedra searches the long unused bedroom, finding nothing. While Pug waits, Thalen lights up the chandelier, finally giving a great deal of illumination to the great hall and allowing everyone to forget about using torches. [b]0:24[/b] Rufio has finished preparing the southern tower's stairs with caltrops and oil and heads back to the southwestern corner of the balcony to prepare for an attack. Shaedra comes out of the bedroom and, since there is not much she can do to help with the preparations (paladins of The Speaker of the Word do not use ranged weapons) goes over to the door adjacent to the one she just entered. She listens, hears nothing, finds the door unlocked and opens it, only to find the door won't budge. Lulla prepares her light crossbow while Daloren pulls out his mighty composite shortbow. Both train their weapons on the front door, prepared to shoot the first thing that comes through them. Pug hauls the chandelier back up providing plenty of illumination for the entire area. Thalen goes back to moving the tapestries around and then starts spreading oil on the debris in the southern tower. [b]0:06[/b] Upstairs, Lulla, Daloren and Rufio all wait for the inevitable. Shaedra tries to kick the door in and feels the sting of pins and needles go up her leg as the door doesn't move (she actually rolled a 20 on a strength check which still wouldn't open the door). Pug goes to another door behind him in the east wall and opens it, looking into a typical linen closet full of rotting linens. Thalen moves toward the entrance doors, spreading oil on the tapestries as he goes. [b]0:00[/b] BOOM! There is a huge pounding on the entrance doors to the castle. Lulla, Daloren and Rufio are ready. Pug goes over to Shaedra and the two of them try to bash their way into the room, only ending up hurting their shoulders. Thalen heads toward the center of the great hall finishing spread oil on the tapestries and the huge broken table in the center of the room. BOOM! There is another huge pounding on the entrance doors. Shaedra starts hacking her way into the room she's been trying to get into. Pug heads over to the winch and pulls out his great axe. Thalen goes to the door in the north wall of the great hall that leads into the kitchen. The others wait in anticipation. BOOM! The pounding continues. Shaedra continues to hack at the door, it slowly giving way. Thalen pulls out his bow, prepared to shoot the first thing that comes through the entrance doors. The other wait. BOOM! The doors comes crashing open and a human figure dressed in a loincloth steps into the great hall. THWANG! Daloren lets loose with a shot, sending an arrow in the native. TWONG! Lulla lets go with a bolt which goes way wide and sticks into the open door. THWANG! Thalen lets loose with another arrow which appears nicely in the native who falls to the ground. So much for surprise. Daloren and Thalen both reload and wait while Lulla prepares to cast a spell. Rufio grabs his torch and heads to the top of the stairs in the southern tower. Another native enters the castle hearing a THWANG as Thalen plugs him with an arrow, pulls the door to the kitchen shut and starts to piton the door closed. Daloren rapidly follows suit with another THWANG and the native falls down in the entrance way with his fellow warrior. Shaedra continues to hack at the door and gets it open, seeing that every piece of furniture in the room has been piled up against the door. Teak wardrobe, chest of drawers, chest and even the big bed are all pushed up to form a barricade behind the door. In the far corner of the room lies a skeleton clad in the remains of fine clothing, s pear by his side, and a ring on one of his fingers. Then the hoards rush in. Four natives head to the center of the room, two on either side of the huge, broken table. A group of three run into the castle heading into the southern tower. A group of six head to the door Thalen is behind. Another group of six head into the southern tower. Lulla casts the spell Spiritual Weapon and tries unsuccessfully to hit the lead native trying to go up the stairs in the southern tower. Still another group of six head to the door leading into the eastern tower where Marty use to be. Two more groups of six come into the castle, both groups heading to the southern tower. There are now 37 natives in the castle, 4 in the center of the great hall, 6 in front of the northern door to the kitchen where Thalen is, 6 in front of the eastern tower door where Marty was and 21 trying to head up the stairs in the southern tower. All of a sudden, the chandelier comes crashing down as Pug cuts the rope holding it with his greataxe. The tapestries and broken wooden furniture, covered in oil, burst into flames and there are now over a dozen and a half natives on fire. A group of three natives come into the castle, see the conflagration and start trying to roll the tapestries up to put the flames out. One of them suffers burns as he catches on fire. Another group of three natives come in and start helping roll the tapestries up. Shaedra climbs over the furniture blocking the door, goes over to the skeleton and removes the ring. Daloren reloads and shoot one of the natives at the kitchen door directly below him. Rufio takes his torch and ignites the oil on the stairs adding more fire to the fuel. Lulla swings her Spiritual Weapon hitting the lead native. Thalen finishes with the door and pulls out his greatsword. Natives are now running al over the place, especially the ones on fire who head to various places in the great hall and southern tower where them attempt to put themselves out. Most don't succeed before dying. Several natives in the southern tower attempt to bull rush their way up the burning stairs. Several catch on fire and all but one are stung by the caltrops on the steps. The last one reaches Rufio who smashes him with sum Stunning Fists putting the native out of his misery. The natives burst into the eastern tower only to find it empty. The natives in front of the kitchen door break it down and start attacking Thalen who takes some minor damage. Pug takes out his new mighty composite longbow an kills one of the natives by the kitchen door. The six natives continue to roll up the tapestries, smothering the fire as they go. Another group of six natives enter the castle and rush over to the southern tower. Shaedra retreats from the room and starts heading over to help out Rufio who has cried out for help, drawn his sianghams and killed a native at the top of the stairs. Lulla attacks another native at the bottom of the stairs with her Spiritual Weapon. Daloren reloads and shoots another native directly below him. Thalen returns the attack of the native with his greatsword, taking a native down and positions himself better in the room so he can no longer be flanked easily. Most of the burning natives are dead, but those that remain have managed to put themselves out. More natives rush up the burning stairs with one trying to bull rush Rufio who dispatches him easily, but there are two more at the top of the stairs facing him. Other continue to push into the kitchen with one hitting Thalen again who is now pretty well bruised up. The natives in the east tower exit it and head back into the great hall. Pug pulls out his greataxe, has the odd sensation that more than his greataxe came off his back and jumps over the balcony, executing a perfect landing on the first floor. Suddenly, red arrows start appearing in the backs of natives rolling up the tapestries and three of them drop dead. The other don't notice right away and push the tapestries close to the center of the room. Shaedra reaches Rufio and with a mighty swing, cuts one of the natives in half, causing him to fall dead to the first floor. Rufio attacks the other and send him downstairs in the same condition. Lulla uses her final attack with her Spiritual Weapon on another native at the bottom of the southern tower, causing him to drop to the ground, dead. Daloren reloads once again and fires at the natives rolling up the tapestries, hit one but not bringing him down. Thalen takes a big swing with his great axe and kills another native. The natives in the great hall that are left start converging on Pug, almost completely surrounding him with one of them actually hitting Pug with his club, causing some very minor damage. More natives try to rush up the stairs, but the only one that reaches the top is cut down by a well place attack of opportunity by Shaedra. SWISH, SWISH, SWISH, Pug looks down to find a black cat trying to attack him. THWANG, THWANG, THWANG, more red arrows appear in the backs of the natives that were rolling up the tapestries and they are now all dead. Pug turns to one of his attackers, kills him and cleaves his way right through another. Shaedra and Rufio ready themselves for any others that decide to come up the stairs. Lulla picks up her light crossbow and reloads. Daloren reloads and fires again, kill another native below him. Thalen kills another native in front of him. The last native in the southern tower decide to leaves and runs out the front door. The last native in front of Thalen decides to do the same, but is cut down by Thalen. The natives surrounding Pug attack again but it is the cat that bites him for some damage. One of these natives takes off out the front door. Pug attacks and cleaves through the two remaining ones. There are no more natives left inside the castle. Cleanup starts while the cat continues to attack Pug. Pug kills it out of hand. The cat then appears in front of Pug again. This time, Pug bludgeons it into unconsciousness and stuffs it back into the sack. He then goes with Thalen to the front entrance doors and looks out seeing a different group of 10 natives who are cautiously approaching the castle. They also see the two escaped natives face down in front of the castle with red arrows sticking out of them. The natives reach the two adventurers and Pug greets them and thanks them for their help. They respond in broken Reanaarian, that they were happy to help. Pug asks them why they did and why they are here. They tell him that the other natives are bad, evil, man eating humans who they have been warring with and losing to. They are looking for help to awaken their guardian and thought the adventurers could help. Would they being willing to help them? The group decides to help the natives out, who they find out are called the Belsona and the evil ones that attacked are called the Hachita. They first do a couple of things in the castle. They take the sack holding the cat back to the throne room, throw it in and relock the doors to the room. Hopefully it will keep the cat in there. They also get Marty. After that the Belsona lead them to their village/city to the north of the castle to meet their chief. They arrive in a part of the jungle, at what used to be the heart of the city of Belsona, entering a large area that has been restored to its former glory, it's a beautiful sight. Polished flagstones form a giant mosaic of a golden eagle in whose eye has been built a great reflecting pool. Belsona women use the pool for washing and many children play in the shallow pool during the day. The cool water in it is remarkably clean and pure. They are then brought before the chief and introduced. They ask how can they help. The chief leads them to a temple which they enter. They open a door into a room where, standing before them is a 9-foot-tall bipedal creature. It takes a moment for them to realize that this is simply a great statue built of stone. Off runes, shaped like dancing men in different positions, are carved on the statue's chest. A circle is etched on the floor, arcane runes evident around the edges. In one corner of the room a small tent has been sent up. They hear a muttering coming from within. The chief directs them to help the man in the tent. They go over to the tent and the man there looks up asking "Who are you?". They tell him that they have been asked by the chief to help him however they can. They also ask him what his name is and he tells them "Halaan. What are you doing in this jungle?" They almost leap for joy and tell Halaan that they came here looking for him. Halaan asks why and they relate the entire tale leading up to where they are now. Halaan is deeply distressed at the death of Arowain and tells them he must get back to Zoa immediately in order to make a countering Coin of Power. The only problem is the Belsona won't let them leave until they awaken their guardian. The group asks Halaan what information he has. He tells them that he has just finished translating the inscription but can't figure it out. He tells them that the inscription reads: "It's sought by all but found by few; Sum of the law combined with truth; Often twisted and often missed; Fair when kept with disinterest." Pug thinks for a couple of moments before saying, "It must be justice. I don't know what else it might be." Rufio agrees and goes to the circle, stands in it and says the word "Justice". Nothing happens. All are puzzled and discussion ensues about other possibilities. That is, until Rufio asks the chief how to say justice in their langauge. The chief tells Rufio that he doesn't understand the word he is using. Rufio and the others spend some time trying to described the word justice. The chief tells them that there might be two words that are close in meaning and heads to the circle. He says the first word and nothing happens. He says the second word, "Delakka", and still nothing happens. Then all hear a low rumble and the stone statue comes to life. The chief gets really excited, thanks everyone for awakening their guardian and tells them there will be a big feast in the honor.[/SIZE][/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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