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(Cydra) The Final City
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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 7585826" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p>The Iron Patriot shoves his face up as close to Yarrfurr's as he can, though the gnoll is over two feet taller than him, and shakes a finger. He berates the gnoll in a loud, incomprehensible voice.</p><p></p><p>“Is he giving him a warning?” Morsado whispers to Hungus, who shrugs, as mystified as everyone else. Yarrfurr looks at Dzedz for guidance. </p><p></p><p>“Uh, that's right,” he says. “You better listen to the Iron Patriot!”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Yarrfurr leads them to the north out of Red Bank. He explains that the Hacker's hideout is about a day and a half away from the little village. </p><p></p><p>“Don't try anything funny,” Carl Hungus warns him, “or you'll regret it.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah,” Dzedz adds, “remember what the Iron Patriot said!”</p><p></p><p>Yarrfurr seems cowed, but he's a gnoll; by nature, he is bound to be treacherous, cunning, and cruel. The party keeps their eyes peeled for any sign that he is leading them into a trap. But by the time they bed down for the night, the party has ascended through several ridges of hills, and the land is becoming rougher and higher. Brightly-colored lichens cling to rocks, and small wiry plants clutch the thin soil like desperate fingers. Birdsong is constant, though as they ascend, the types of birds gradually change. Small lizards and scorpions scuttle from the group's path. Several times during the day, they spy goats bounding away, and twice griffons soar through the air within a few thousand feet of them. At one point, they pass a large ruined water storage tank, and another time a toppled monument is visible on a neighboring hill, but otherwise, the day is uneventful.</p><p></p><p>Hungus shackles Yarrfurr to a low branch on a sturdy oak at the edge of their campsite for the night. “I wouldn't run away,” the gnoll protests. </p><p></p><p>“You definitely won't,” Hungus agrees.</p><p></p><p>The party sets watches, declining Yarrfurr's offer to help. The night passes uneventfully, though the night is full of the sounds of nocturnal animals. Bats wheel through the sky, black silhouettes against the stars. The hooting of an owl sounds intermittently through the night; the distant scream of some kind of big cat is followed by the sounds of a brief struggle. But nothing disturbs the group.</p><p></p><p>Yarrfurr is, indeed, still there in the morning, leaning uncomfortably against the tree, arm suspended by the shackle. Morsado prods him awake and wordlessly gives him a strip of dried meat and a hunk of bread from his rations. </p><p></p><p>The Iron Patriot shakes his head and speaks again, uttering a long string of grumbling words that nobody can quite make out. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Early in the afternoon, Yarrfurr tells the party that they are approaching the hideout. “It's on the next hilltop over the ridge. But the Hacker probably has sentries watching for trouble. Last I knew, he was working with orcs, but I haven't seen him lately. Not for the last couple of weeks.” He looks hopeful. “Can I go, now?”</p><p></p><p>Dzedz shakes his head. “Not just yet. You're gonna help us take him.”</p><p></p><p>“That wasn't part of the deal!”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, well, it is now.”</p><p></p><p>Iron Patriot yells at length in the gnolls face.</p><p></p><p>“That's right!” says Morsado. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>The Hacker does indeed have sentries out on patrol. A group of six orcs stumbles upon the party as they advance, and there is a swift, furious skirmish. The engagement quickly turns in the favor of the party, and two of the orcs try to flee. Dzedz slays one with a <em>flame bolt,</em> but the other darts into the brush. The others delay the party just long enough for him to make good his escape. </p><p></p><p>Yarrfurr curses. “They'll know we're coming now for sure.”</p><p></p><p>“And they'll know that you're guiding us,” Morsado points out in his raspy voice. “Now you've got nothing to lose by helping us take them out. In fact, if you do, it may help you preserve your reputation!”</p><p></p><p>Yarrfurr stares at him for a moment, nonplussed, then sighs. “This way.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Iron Patriot is a gibbering lunatic in battle, becoming even harder to understand. He seems to be triggered by strange things, perhaps certain words or creatures. </p><p></p><p>“I'm starting to suspect he doesn't understand himself, either,” Rorin mutters to himself after the second group of orcs is dispatched. He squats down and begins cutting the dead orc's belly open.</p><p></p><p>Iron Patriot stares at him and says something. He sounds disgusted. </p><p></p><p>“That's why they call him the Butcher of Fandelose,” Carl Hungus says.</p><p></p><p>They have attained the hilltop, fought their way through another half dozen orcs. But once again, the Hacker isn't there. </p><p></p><p>“I swear, this was his place a few weeks ago,” Yarrfurr exclaims.</p><p></p><p>“I believe you,” Hungus replies. “These guys are definitely the Hacker's type, and he's a half-orc himself. I know he has worked with orcs before. So my guess is that he's just not here right now.” He turns to the others. “I say we wait and see if he comes back.”</p><p></p><p>“It's getting a little late to head back anyway,” Dzedz responds. “And there's already a camp made up here.” True enough; though the hideout is primitive, merely tents and a series of large lean-tos for a combination of shelter from the elements and camouflage, there is a large stock of firewood near a large firepit edged with large stones. There are already large stones and chunks of wood, suitable for use as seats, around the firepit.</p><p></p><p>So the party settles in, staying alert but preparing to spend a night at the Hacker's hideout. And, as Hungus guessed, the Hacker returns home that evening, his own coterie of orcs with him.</p><p></p><p>The party hits them hard, and several of the orcs fall before they even know what is hitting them. The last thing they had expected was to be attacked from within their own camp. But the Hacker recovers his wits quickly and leads a charge against the party. </p><p></p><p>“I <em>hate</em> orcs,” Dzedz Orcslayer shouts, hammering the Hacker and two of his lackeys with a <em>shattering pulse.</em> One of the orcs is blown from his feet by the power of the magic. Iron Patriot, Carl Hungus, and Yarrfurr counter the orcish charge with a charge of their own, and the two groups smash into one another. Arrows whizz past, striking several orcs, and Rorin chortles as one collapses. Morsado hurls insults and taunts, demoralizing the Hacker. </p><p></p><p>It doesn't take the party long to take out the orcs, but the Hacker is a tougher customer. He weathers a series of blows from Hungus and the Patriot, returning the favor with surprising strength and accuracy. He does his best, but alone, he is no match for the party. </p><p></p><p>Then Hungus crushes the Hacker's chest with a blow from his maul, and the fight is abruptly over. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Yarrfurr claims that the Hacker's treasure is the treasure he said he would lead the party to. While it's not a huge amount of loot, there are 6 platinum pieces in the mix, and the total worth is just over 90 gold pieces. Since the gnoll was so helpful in the fight, the party decides not to quibble. They let him go, not without misgivings. Once his shackles are removed, he runs away, vanishing into the hills.</p><p></p><p>The Iron Patriot seems disinterested in the loot, so the party splits what they have amongst the rest of the group. Then they return to Red Bank. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>When they reach the small village, it is abuzz with distress. Very quickly, the party hears what happened. </p><p></p><p>Someone's heart was, quite literally, stolen. Ripped from her chest. </p><p></p><p>“That sounds strangely familiar,” Rorin says. “Remember that flying deer thing that we saw? That ripped out the heart of that gnoll and flew off with it?”</p><p></p><p>The Iron Patriot speaks wildly, gesturing for emphasis.</p><p></p><p>“Let's go see that old guy, the village elder,” suggests Morsado.</p><p></p><p>“Pursadin,” Rorin says.</p><p></p><p>When they see the old man, his eyes are bloodshot from grief. “What's worse,” he tells them, “this isn't the first time this has happened. This is the seventh person we've lost this way in the last six months.”</p><p></p><p>The party draws out the details. The killings have all happened outside the village proper, on the hills surrounding it. “Foolish young lovers,” Pursadin laments. </p><p></p><p>The Iron Patriot makes a rousing speech to Pursadin that nobody can understand. It takes him several minutes, and when he finishes, the elder nods gravely and says, “Thank you for your service.”</p><p></p><p>“Did you understand him?” asks Morsado. </p><p></p><p>Pursadin shrugs. “I may not understand his words, but I understand his heart. He is our greatest protector, and he wishes to protect us.”</p><p></p><p>The Patriot speaks again, decisively.</p><p></p><p>“Listen,” says Hungus, “I have a plan.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>It's a classic. They bait the trap with a volunteer- a matronly woman named Matilda, who sits with Rorin on Lover's Hill, feigning a romantic embrace. Meanwhile, the rest of them lurk in the bushes and trees nearby, waiting for anything to take the bait.</p><p></p><p>Matilda and Rorin are far enough from everyone else that the others don't hear her as she attempts to seduce the young ranger. </p><p></p><p>But nothing else comes of that night.</p><p> </p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Iron Patriot waggles his finger warningly at Rorin as everyone settles in to sleep the day away. It was a long, fruitless night, and it gets cold waiting motionless in the bushes. </p><p></p><p>“We'll try again tonight,” Dzedz says. “We just have to be persistent.” </p><p></p><p>Morsado turns to Matilda. “Are you sure you're willing to keep doing this? You are risking your life.”</p><p></p><p>“It's for my people,” she answers. “If I can help stop this monster from killing more of them, I have to. Besides, you are the ones who are really at risk. You're the ones actually trying to slay it.”</p><p></p><p>“It's what we do,” Hungus declares.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>That night, they do indeed try again. And this time, they have better luck. </p><p></p><p>An hour past midnight, the thing arrives, swooping in almost silently to attack Matilda. But Rorin is prepared. His bow is hidden in the grass. When the deer-headed winged monster swoops into view, he snatches it up and looses an arrow in a blur of motion.</p><p></p><p>The creature shrieks.</p><p></p><p>The rest of the party reveals themselves in a flurry of ranged attacks, including a <em>flame bolt</em> that illuminates Dzedz's location.</p><p></p><p>The monster slaps the air with its wings and seems to leap upward, banking and flying away. “Get it!” cries Rorin, loosing another few arrows, but it escapes into the darkness. </p><p></p><p>“Damn!” Hungus steps out of the woods and pulls his maul. “Is it coming back?”</p><p></p><p>The party waits, but- no, it isn't coming back. At least, not yet.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>They discuss trying again the next night. </p><p></p><p>Dzedz opines, “It's too smart. It knows we're after it now. It's not going to come back.”</p><p></p><p>Morsado shrugs. “Maybe not. But think about this: it's only taking the hearts. Why? It must need them for something.” He spreads his hands. “And where else is it going to get hearts? Fandelose?”</p><p></p><p>“Besides, what's our alternative?” Carl Hungus drums his fingers on Matilda's table. “Give up and go back to Fandelose? Then it comes back and we aren't here to help?”</p><p></p><p>“We can at least try for a few nights,” Dzedz says.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>That evening, as they are preparing to set out, a dirty figure with leaves in his hair and beard walks into town. He has the characteristic horns of a tiefling, and when Morsado sees him, he does a double take. “Uncle Stranger?”</p><p></p><p>The dirty tiefling stops and peers at him. “Morsado? Little Morsado? Is that you?”</p><p></p><p>“Stranger Danger!” cries Morsado, and the two embrace. “Uncle Stranger! I haven't seen you in years!”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, I've been, uh, exploring my mind in the wilderness.” The tiefling's eyes come unfocused for a moment before resuming eye contact with his nephew. </p><p></p><p>“Guys, this is my Uncle Stranger Danger the Ranger.”</p><p></p><p>There is a flurry of introductions. It turns out that Uncle Stranger has been another of Red Bank's defenders, though more of a scout and watcher than a warrior. </p><p></p><p>“But I'm ready to take up arms to save our hearts,” he adds. </p><p></p><p>“Well,” Morsado grates, “in a couple of hours, we're going to head out to a trap we're setting, if you want to come in case we lure the monster in again.”</p><p></p><p>“A couple of hours, you say? There's still time! All right, I'll be back.” With that, he turns and lopes off into the woods, only to return about half an hour later with a bag full of psychedelic mushrooms, which he tries to press on everyone.</p><p></p><p>“We're maybe fighting a nasty monster tonight,” says Dzedz. “Maybe another time.”</p><p></p><p>By way of reply, Uncle Stranger eats a few more mushrooms.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Though his reasoning was sound, Dzedz's prediction is incorrect. Where he went wrong was in assuming the monster's response. </p><p></p><p>It knows they are hunting it, now- but instead of biding its time, when it returns, it brings friends. </p><p></p><p>Three of the frightful bird-deer creatures swoop in this time, and when the party springs their 'trap,' it's really halfway toward falling into the monsters' trap. Nonmagical weapons barely hurt them, and nobody has a magic weapon. With three of the monsters to deal with, the adventurers have their hands full. </p><p></p><p>They can't properly guard Matilda. </p><p></p><p>She cowers behind a large boulder, but one of the winged monsters disengages from the party and leap-flies over the rock. A moment later, the party hears her dying wail, and sees the monster ascend into the sky, a dripping heart held in its teeth.</p><p></p><p>“Oh no!” cries Dzedz. “Not Matilda!” He tries to slay the monster with a volley of <em>magic missiles</em>, but it keeps going. </p><p></p><p>The other two press the party hard, but they manage to take the monsters down after a significant amount of work. Since Morsado and Hungus can both heal, even when Uncle Stranger drops, the fight doesn't grow too dire. </p><p></p><p>But Matilda...</p><p></p><p>After it's over, the party stands over the matron's corpse. “She gave her life for her community,” Morsado sighs.</p><p></p><p>“We need to track those things to their lair,” Uncle Stranger says, “and kill them.”</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> The party attempts to do just that!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 7585826, member: 1210"] The Iron Patriot shoves his face up as close to Yarrfurr's as he can, though the gnoll is over two feet taller than him, and shakes a finger. He berates the gnoll in a loud, incomprehensible voice. “Is he giving him a warning?” Morsado whispers to Hungus, who shrugs, as mystified as everyone else. Yarrfurr looks at Dzedz for guidance. “Uh, that's right,” he says. “You better listen to the Iron Patriot!” *** Yarrfurr leads them to the north out of Red Bank. He explains that the Hacker's hideout is about a day and a half away from the little village. “Don't try anything funny,” Carl Hungus warns him, “or you'll regret it.” “Yeah,” Dzedz adds, “remember what the Iron Patriot said!” Yarrfurr seems cowed, but he's a gnoll; by nature, he is bound to be treacherous, cunning, and cruel. The party keeps their eyes peeled for any sign that he is leading them into a trap. But by the time they bed down for the night, the party has ascended through several ridges of hills, and the land is becoming rougher and higher. Brightly-colored lichens cling to rocks, and small wiry plants clutch the thin soil like desperate fingers. Birdsong is constant, though as they ascend, the types of birds gradually change. Small lizards and scorpions scuttle from the group's path. Several times during the day, they spy goats bounding away, and twice griffons soar through the air within a few thousand feet of them. At one point, they pass a large ruined water storage tank, and another time a toppled monument is visible on a neighboring hill, but otherwise, the day is uneventful. Hungus shackles Yarrfurr to a low branch on a sturdy oak at the edge of their campsite for the night. “I wouldn't run away,” the gnoll protests. “You definitely won't,” Hungus agrees. The party sets watches, declining Yarrfurr's offer to help. The night passes uneventfully, though the night is full of the sounds of nocturnal animals. Bats wheel through the sky, black silhouettes against the stars. The hooting of an owl sounds intermittently through the night; the distant scream of some kind of big cat is followed by the sounds of a brief struggle. But nothing disturbs the group. Yarrfurr is, indeed, still there in the morning, leaning uncomfortably against the tree, arm suspended by the shackle. Morsado prods him awake and wordlessly gives him a strip of dried meat and a hunk of bread from his rations. The Iron Patriot shakes his head and speaks again, uttering a long string of grumbling words that nobody can quite make out. *** Early in the afternoon, Yarrfurr tells the party that they are approaching the hideout. “It's on the next hilltop over the ridge. But the Hacker probably has sentries watching for trouble. Last I knew, he was working with orcs, but I haven't seen him lately. Not for the last couple of weeks.” He looks hopeful. “Can I go, now?” Dzedz shakes his head. “Not just yet. You're gonna help us take him.” “That wasn't part of the deal!” “Yeah, well, it is now.” Iron Patriot yells at length in the gnolls face. “That's right!” says Morsado. *** The Hacker does indeed have sentries out on patrol. A group of six orcs stumbles upon the party as they advance, and there is a swift, furious skirmish. The engagement quickly turns in the favor of the party, and two of the orcs try to flee. Dzedz slays one with a [i]flame bolt,[/i] but the other darts into the brush. The others delay the party just long enough for him to make good his escape. Yarrfurr curses. “They'll know we're coming now for sure.” “And they'll know that you're guiding us,” Morsado points out in his raspy voice. “Now you've got nothing to lose by helping us take them out. In fact, if you do, it may help you preserve your reputation!” Yarrfurr stares at him for a moment, nonplussed, then sighs. “This way.” *** Iron Patriot is a gibbering lunatic in battle, becoming even harder to understand. He seems to be triggered by strange things, perhaps certain words or creatures. “I'm starting to suspect he doesn't understand himself, either,” Rorin mutters to himself after the second group of orcs is dispatched. He squats down and begins cutting the dead orc's belly open. Iron Patriot stares at him and says something. He sounds disgusted. “That's why they call him the Butcher of Fandelose,” Carl Hungus says. They have attained the hilltop, fought their way through another half dozen orcs. But once again, the Hacker isn't there. “I swear, this was his place a few weeks ago,” Yarrfurr exclaims. “I believe you,” Hungus replies. “These guys are definitely the Hacker's type, and he's a half-orc himself. I know he has worked with orcs before. So my guess is that he's just not here right now.” He turns to the others. “I say we wait and see if he comes back.” “It's getting a little late to head back anyway,” Dzedz responds. “And there's already a camp made up here.” True enough; though the hideout is primitive, merely tents and a series of large lean-tos for a combination of shelter from the elements and camouflage, there is a large stock of firewood near a large firepit edged with large stones. There are already large stones and chunks of wood, suitable for use as seats, around the firepit. So the party settles in, staying alert but preparing to spend a night at the Hacker's hideout. And, as Hungus guessed, the Hacker returns home that evening, his own coterie of orcs with him. The party hits them hard, and several of the orcs fall before they even know what is hitting them. The last thing they had expected was to be attacked from within their own camp. But the Hacker recovers his wits quickly and leads a charge against the party. “I [i]hate[/i] orcs,” Dzedz Orcslayer shouts, hammering the Hacker and two of his lackeys with a [i]shattering pulse.[/i] One of the orcs is blown from his feet by the power of the magic. Iron Patriot, Carl Hungus, and Yarrfurr counter the orcish charge with a charge of their own, and the two groups smash into one another. Arrows whizz past, striking several orcs, and Rorin chortles as one collapses. Morsado hurls insults and taunts, demoralizing the Hacker. It doesn't take the party long to take out the orcs, but the Hacker is a tougher customer. He weathers a series of blows from Hungus and the Patriot, returning the favor with surprising strength and accuracy. He does his best, but alone, he is no match for the party. Then Hungus crushes the Hacker's chest with a blow from his maul, and the fight is abruptly over. *** Yarrfurr claims that the Hacker's treasure is the treasure he said he would lead the party to. While it's not a huge amount of loot, there are 6 platinum pieces in the mix, and the total worth is just over 90 gold pieces. Since the gnoll was so helpful in the fight, the party decides not to quibble. They let him go, not without misgivings. Once his shackles are removed, he runs away, vanishing into the hills. The Iron Patriot seems disinterested in the loot, so the party splits what they have amongst the rest of the group. Then they return to Red Bank. *** When they reach the small village, it is abuzz with distress. Very quickly, the party hears what happened. Someone's heart was, quite literally, stolen. Ripped from her chest. “That sounds strangely familiar,” Rorin says. “Remember that flying deer thing that we saw? That ripped out the heart of that gnoll and flew off with it?” The Iron Patriot speaks wildly, gesturing for emphasis. “Let's go see that old guy, the village elder,” suggests Morsado. “Pursadin,” Rorin says. When they see the old man, his eyes are bloodshot from grief. “What's worse,” he tells them, “this isn't the first time this has happened. This is the seventh person we've lost this way in the last six months.” The party draws out the details. The killings have all happened outside the village proper, on the hills surrounding it. “Foolish young lovers,” Pursadin laments. The Iron Patriot makes a rousing speech to Pursadin that nobody can understand. It takes him several minutes, and when he finishes, the elder nods gravely and says, “Thank you for your service.” “Did you understand him?” asks Morsado. Pursadin shrugs. “I may not understand his words, but I understand his heart. He is our greatest protector, and he wishes to protect us.” The Patriot speaks again, decisively. “Listen,” says Hungus, “I have a plan.” *** It's a classic. They bait the trap with a volunteer- a matronly woman named Matilda, who sits with Rorin on Lover's Hill, feigning a romantic embrace. Meanwhile, the rest of them lurk in the bushes and trees nearby, waiting for anything to take the bait. Matilda and Rorin are far enough from everyone else that the others don't hear her as she attempts to seduce the young ranger. But nothing else comes of that night. *** Iron Patriot waggles his finger warningly at Rorin as everyone settles in to sleep the day away. It was a long, fruitless night, and it gets cold waiting motionless in the bushes. “We'll try again tonight,” Dzedz says. “We just have to be persistent.” Morsado turns to Matilda. “Are you sure you're willing to keep doing this? You are risking your life.” “It's for my people,” she answers. “If I can help stop this monster from killing more of them, I have to. Besides, you are the ones who are really at risk. You're the ones actually trying to slay it.” “It's what we do,” Hungus declares. *** That night, they do indeed try again. And this time, they have better luck. An hour past midnight, the thing arrives, swooping in almost silently to attack Matilda. But Rorin is prepared. His bow is hidden in the grass. When the deer-headed winged monster swoops into view, he snatches it up and looses an arrow in a blur of motion. The creature shrieks. The rest of the party reveals themselves in a flurry of ranged attacks, including a [i]flame bolt[/i] that illuminates Dzedz's location. The monster slaps the air with its wings and seems to leap upward, banking and flying away. “Get it!” cries Rorin, loosing another few arrows, but it escapes into the darkness. “Damn!” Hungus steps out of the woods and pulls his maul. “Is it coming back?” The party waits, but- no, it isn't coming back. At least, not yet. *** They discuss trying again the next night. Dzedz opines, “It's too smart. It knows we're after it now. It's not going to come back.” Morsado shrugs. “Maybe not. But think about this: it's only taking the hearts. Why? It must need them for something.” He spreads his hands. “And where else is it going to get hearts? Fandelose?” “Besides, what's our alternative?” Carl Hungus drums his fingers on Matilda's table. “Give up and go back to Fandelose? Then it comes back and we aren't here to help?” “We can at least try for a few nights,” Dzedz says. *** That evening, as they are preparing to set out, a dirty figure with leaves in his hair and beard walks into town. He has the characteristic horns of a tiefling, and when Morsado sees him, he does a double take. “Uncle Stranger?” The dirty tiefling stops and peers at him. “Morsado? Little Morsado? Is that you?” “Stranger Danger!” cries Morsado, and the two embrace. “Uncle Stranger! I haven't seen you in years!” “Yeah, I've been, uh, exploring my mind in the wilderness.” The tiefling's eyes come unfocused for a moment before resuming eye contact with his nephew. “Guys, this is my Uncle Stranger Danger the Ranger.” There is a flurry of introductions. It turns out that Uncle Stranger has been another of Red Bank's defenders, though more of a scout and watcher than a warrior. “But I'm ready to take up arms to save our hearts,” he adds. “Well,” Morsado grates, “in a couple of hours, we're going to head out to a trap we're setting, if you want to come in case we lure the monster in again.” “A couple of hours, you say? There's still time! All right, I'll be back.” With that, he turns and lopes off into the woods, only to return about half an hour later with a bag full of psychedelic mushrooms, which he tries to press on everyone. “We're maybe fighting a nasty monster tonight,” says Dzedz. “Maybe another time.” By way of reply, Uncle Stranger eats a few more mushrooms. *** Though his reasoning was sound, Dzedz's prediction is incorrect. Where he went wrong was in assuming the monster's response. It knows they are hunting it, now- but instead of biding its time, when it returns, it brings friends. Three of the frightful bird-deer creatures swoop in this time, and when the party springs their 'trap,' it's really halfway toward falling into the monsters' trap. Nonmagical weapons barely hurt them, and nobody has a magic weapon. With three of the monsters to deal with, the adventurers have their hands full. They can't properly guard Matilda. She cowers behind a large boulder, but one of the winged monsters disengages from the party and leap-flies over the rock. A moment later, the party hears her dying wail, and sees the monster ascend into the sky, a dripping heart held in its teeth. “Oh no!” cries Dzedz. “Not Matilda!” He tries to slay the monster with a volley of [i]magic missiles[/i], but it keeps going. The other two press the party hard, but they manage to take the monsters down after a significant amount of work. Since Morsado and Hungus can both heal, even when Uncle Stranger drops, the fight doesn't grow too dire. But Matilda... After it's over, the party stands over the matron's corpse. “She gave her life for her community,” Morsado sighs. “We need to track those things to their lair,” Uncle Stranger says, “and kill them.” [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] The party attempts to do just that! [/QUOTE]
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