[D&D 5e 2024] Heroes of the Borderlands

[Lazybones]

Well, self-published, anyway. My fiction is available at Smashwords and the Amazon Kindle store.

 

[Lazybones]

Chapter 43


Greghan shook his head, looking around at the chaotic aftermath of the temple battle. His eyes finally focused on Leana, who had grabbed Folgar’s healing kit and was using its to stabilize the stricken dwarf. “I… that woman, she… are you all right?”

“I will be,” Leana said without looking up. “We don’t have much time.”

“Yeah, get it together,” Ravani said. “We still have undead here. Leana, how long will that magic of yours last?”

“Not much longer,” she said. “Be sure to take on one at a time; once you hit them, the turning will end. Start with the skeletons.”

The two men did just that; Ravani shooting first and then letting Greghan draw them to him. By the time that they’d shattered the two remaining skeletons and started on the zombies Leana was able to join them, using her sacred flame to blast through their undead fortitude. The last zombie got within a few feet of Greghan before the warrior took its head off. “Now… what?” he asked, breathing hard.

“We need to get Folgar somewhere…” Leana said, but she abruptly trailed off, her head coming up.

“What is it?” Greghan asked, looking around warily. He didn’t hear anything, but Ravani nodded and said, “We’ve got company. Protect them,” gesturing toward Leana and Folgar.

Walking stiffly, his leg still bleeding where the skeleton had stabbed him, the elf walked over to the limp and bloody form of Ivlis. Her robe had concealed the bloodstains from her many wounds, but Leana’s final blow had left her face covered in a mask of blood.

A moment later, the curtain along the east wall parted, revealing four cultists clad in red with the short, sickle-shaped blades they’d encountered in the woods. They took in the scene of destruction: the hacked up undead, the toppled bell, the mangled corpse of Narthus next to it. They saw Leana and Greghan, standing protectively in front of their fallen friend, magical light shining brightly again from the halfling’s sigil.

And they saw the bloody form of Ivlis, which Ravani pulled up by her hair, his magic sword in his other hand. “You’re a bit late to the party,” he said. “I suggest you get the hell out of here, if you don’t want to join your dead bosses here.”

The four cultists shared a look, and then they ran.

“Are you sure we should just let them go?” Greghan asked once they were gone.

Leana let out a tired sigh, grimacing as she touched her acid-seared cheek. “The cult is broken,” she said. “And as Folgar would say, if he were awake, we’re in no shape for another fight.” She looked toward Ravani. “Make sure they left.” The elf nodded and followed the departing cultists, sliding his sword back into his scabbard and readying his bow as he went.

“You can’t heal him?” Greghan asked, looking down at the hastily-bandaged form of Folgar. His robes were seared black where Ivlis’s fiery blast had struck him.

“I’m completely tapped out,” Leana said. “But he’ll be all right. Once I’ve taken a short rest, I should be able to channel more of the Lightbringer’s power, enough to bring him around.”

“And heal yourself,” Greghan said.

She smiled as she settled to the floor next to the unconscious dwarf. “Yes,” she said. “Don’t worry, Greghan. We’ve won.” She leaned back, settling her head against Folgar’s leg.

Greghan didn’t look like he fully believed her, but as she closed her eyes he took up a position behind them, ready to keep watch for as long as was needed.


Game Notes:

I decided that Ravani’s Intimidation check would get advantage due to the circumstances; he rolled a natural 1 and a natural 20. Though I expect they could have defeated the remaining cultists, if it had come to it. At this point Greghan had 15hp, Ravani 10, Leana 2, and Folgar 0.

Next week: wrapping up.