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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 961031" data-attributes="member: 6294">"The Burning Plague" by Miguel Duran (WotC Free Adventure) - Part 11The adventurers scatter, most of them avoiding the noxious fumes.  Only Mantreus and Twinkle are caught in the cloud, falling to their knees as their eyes begin to burn and their throats fill with bile.  The green fumes carry a stench so foul that it is all they can do to try and stagger free.Even for those who have avoided the stinking cloud of fumes, the trouble is only just beginning.  They have no option but to splash through a pool of ice-cold water, then try to scramble over the smooth, wet stones that surround the stream.  These prove dangerously slippery, forcing any movement to be painfully slow, unless they are willing to risk a heavy fall.  At one point Padre even throws pride to the wind and resorts to crawling over the rocks, so determined is he to avoid further painful tumbles.The next few seconds are a maddening time of frustration, as the adventurers lurch and scramble from rock to rock, unable to spare any attention for the orc, which produces two potion vials, quickly swallowing one.  The creature smirks as it immediately fades out of sight, lifting the other vial to its lips as it does so.With many muttered curses - not least about this profligate use of potions they could have used themselves - the adventurers press forward resolutely, favouring safety over speed.  Though they are unable to target their foe, they know that he is not be likely to risk the slippery rocks over which they climb: his own armour is too heavy and cumbersome for such work.When the orc blinks back into sight, it is to hurl a green ray of energy at the Padre, who has managed to get closest to the broad rock on which the creature stands.  The beam strikes him squarely, and the cleric staggers as it leeches the strength from his muscles.  The armour he wears suddenly seems five times as heavy as it did before, nearly driving him to his knees.Weakened so much that he can barely stand, let alone lift a weapon, the Padre summons a crackling black energy to his hand, and tries to lift himself onto the rock to strike the orc.  His strength fails him, however, and he slides back, before gathering himself for another attempt.Mantreus unleashes another magic missile at the orc, which seems completely recovered from its earlier wounds - evidently the second potion it drank was a curative of some kind.  The white bolt of energy strikes home, but is more than answered when the orc loads and fires a crossbow at the sorcerer.  The bolt flies with deadly aim, striking Mantreus high on the chest and dropping him instantly to the ground.Faced with a higher priority than attacking the orc, the Padre allows the black energy around his hand to dissipate, and moves to Mantreus’ side.  Despite the difficulty of movement in his wet clothes and armour, he invokes his healing magic, managing to restore the sorcerer to consciousness.  Mantreus celebrates by unleashing another magic missile at the orc, which snarls a defiant curse, pulling a scroll from its belt as it does so.Their enemy unrolls the scroll and reads the mystical words upon it, chanting for several long, drawn out seconds.  As the sound of the chanting fades, there is at first no visible effect."Watch out for the pool!" Twinkle suddenly cries, pointing into the deep, icy water.  Looking where she points, the other spot movement below the surface: a black octopus has suddenly appeared there, its red-banded tentacles writhing around it.Wanting to give the summoned creature a wide berth, the adventurers move away from the edge of the water, to a distance that they hope lies beyond the reach of the beast's tentacles.Slowly, more and more of the group are reaching the stones on which their adversary stands.  However, he is proving a fierce opponent, delivering crippling blows to both the Padre and Anastria, as each tries to reach him, without success.  The elf crumples to the floor, knocked cold by the heavy mace the creature bears, while the Padre clings to consciousness only by sheer stubbornness, as he staggers over to try and bind Anastria's wounds.The Company resorts to ranged attacks; the orc is plagued not only by arrows from Twinkle, but also rays of crackling ice, hurled by Mantreus, who still sways slightly from blood lost to the crossbow injury he recently suffered.Tiring of this distant harassment, the orc rushes forward, striking a mighty blow against the sorcerer.  Mantreus staggers, slips, and then falls, sliding down over the rocks, his body limp as the injury plunges him once more in unconsciousness.And then suddenly Rose appears beside the orc, her sword flicking out and through a gap in his armour.  Dark red blood flows from the wound, and the creature’s injuries finally overcame it.  It topples heavily to the ground, leaving five exhausted adventurers: most reduced to the very last of their strength.Within seconds of the orc’s collapse, the water in the stream – which had been murky and cloudy – becomes clear and sparkling.  Though they still feel the affliction of the disease in their own flesh, the group now know that they have at last destroyed its source.</blockquote>

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