NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 2812701" data-attributes="member: 1210">The Traitor RevealedFive years ago, Jorgen’s sister Reedia ran away.  She was never seen again. Until now.Now, rescued at last, she sobs into Jorgen’s arms.  Pulled from this unlikely dungeon in a crypt in the cemetery of Kamenda City, a dungeon held by a demon- a succubus- Reedia Boatwright tells her story.She had run away in a burst of childish anger, but not long after dark she ran into Dalgen, a relatively new arrival in town.  He encouraged her to go back with him, and he promised her he would intercede with her parents for him.  But when they returned surreptitiously to his house, he knocked her unconscious and shackled her in his basement. For five years.Jorgen resolves instantly to bring him to justice as soon as possible.  “Thinthe we have rooted out the demon’th lair, we might be able to catth the true traitor,” Sir Cedric suggests.“Yeah, perhaps he checks in here,” nods Goer.“But what about Sir Galadon?” queries Otis.  “He appears to be the traitor.”“I don’t think so,” opines Dahlia.  “I think it’s Harth.”“Let uth wait, and we thall thee,” repeats Sir Cedric.“We can’t leave your sister here,” protests Dahlia.  “I’ll take her back to Whitewater.”“I shall accompany you,” Otis says.  “Waiting here is a waste of time.  We already have the traitor.”***That very night, as Sir Cedric is on watch in the front of the crypt, he spots movement in the darkness.  Quietly, he nudges his friends into alertness, but the figure seems to sense their presence.  It bolts.  A chase ensues, with our heroes in hot pursuit as the figure darts towards the wall that surrounds the cemetery.  Me moves with incredible speed, and he clambers up towards the top of the wall at the same moment as the dark figure. “Smash traitor!” Me roars, and then his grip slips.  He falls, skidding to a halt at the bottom of the wall, shaking his head to clear it.  Then he points up and shouts a single word.“Harth!”Kyle swears.  “I knew it!”  He unleashes his magical power in the form of a magic missile.  It zips out and blasts Sir Harth.  He glares over his shoulder for an instant, and then Jorgen’s lasso falls around him.  He cries out.  Me gains the top of the wall as Harth struggles with the lasso, and then the big half-orc bull rushes him off the wall.  The knight falls to the ground with a loud thump!  Sir Cedric cries, “Traitor!”- and rides in, swinging his sword at Harth.  The villain ducks the blade and finally manages to burst out of the rope holding him.  Me drops down from above, elbow-smashing Sir Harth.  The knight groans and reels from the blow.  Then an arrow from Kyle sinks into his arm.  He grimaces, tries to rise, and suffers several blows from our heroes, who are clustered around him.  Sir Harth gains his feat, and in a single blow, he brings down Me (who was wounded from earlier).  Then he is taken.***“Of course they could plant false evidence at Sir Galadon’s house,” Jorgen nods.  “The succubus could teleport.  It wouldn’t take long at all.”“Still, it is pretty shocking that one of the advisors would be a traitor for the Tydonians,” Kyle says.“I’m not so sure he was related to the Tydonians except through convenience,” Dahlia comments.  She and Otis have made it back to Kamenda City.  “I think his group is different.”“Well, there really isn’t time to worry about that right now,” says Goer.  “Their forces are almost here.  The battle is going to be tomorrow; we’re to rise just before dawn.”  He pauses.  “I guess we’re going to be a strike force, to deal with problem elements that might arise.”“That’s better than being in the forefront of battle,” Kyle smiles.“Nonthenthe,” snorts Sir Cedric.  “The forefront ith a plathe of honor!”“Of course, you’re right, my lord,” agrees Kyle.“Here, have a drink,” suggests Goer, handing a flask over to Sir Cedric, who gratefully takes a deep draught. ***In the morning, our heroes rise early.  The buzz of activity is everywhere.  Armored men bearing swords and bows and crossbows are rushing about, forming ranks, preparing to move out into the field of battle.  The sun is barely peeking above the horizon when our heroes join the reserve, from which they will be dispatched.  Sir Martin is there, as are Sir Byron and Sir Gygax.  Sir Cedric ebulliently greets his father, then the party is sent off to the wings to await orders.The Kamendan army marches out, 2500 strong.  There are groups of infantry and cavalry, plus a reserve.  The field of battle is several miles south of the city, and by the time the army is ready, offering battle, the sun has ascended and begins to beat down.  It is a plain, with a fenced-in ranch to one side and a wooded area to the other.The enemy is more numerous, being some 5,000 in all, including 600 gnoll mercenaries.  They draw forth, leaving a healthy number in reserve- something the Kamendan forces cannot really afford.  Our heroes watch nervously as the enemy approaches the rude ditches dug between the ranch and the woods to impede them in the little time allowed the Kamendan forces since they arrived.  Then, as they close in, the Kamendans reveal their first surprise: archers hidden in the woods!  They begin raining death down onto the advancing gnolls.  But the Tydonians have archers too, and they begin firing at the Kamendan infantry manning the ditches.  Then a fireball explodes in the woods.  “A fireball!” cackles Otis.A messenger hurries over.“I think we’ve got our first mission,” comments Goer.Next Time: The Battle of Kamenda City!</blockquote>

Verification