Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
Part 2
Once healing has been dispensed, items and gold collected, and bodies disposed of, the group makes an early start on their way to Crisqui town, arriving in the early evening. After a short conversation with the guard gates, they are admitted and find the Laughing UnicornInn. Speaking with the owner reveals that the first merchant caravan will be leaving tomorrow, and it's owner is...Ghyssk the Hobgoblin, former warband leader and previous kidnapper of - The Margravine. Things immediately become tense.
The Margravine refuses point blank to travel with Ghyssk, and is on the verge of asking Aos to duel him to the death. Aos manages to talk her round, over time, and he and Xiang go over to Ghyssk to talk over details. Tarquin and Leo go up immediately to rest and relearn spells, whilst the rest of the group makes themselves comfortable in the bar.
Aos intimidates Ghyssk into accepting the party as guards, and the two groups converge and talk. Well, exchange comments is more like it. Sol does not react well to being called 'elfy' by Ghyssk. Xiang threatens Ghyssk when he starts asking questions about the Spear, defensively holding it to him. With a great show of restraint, all sides move away from each other and peace resumes. Aos finds a pretty barmaid on his lap, and Titania tells Cho that she's much nicer than he is. Cho is still baffled by Titania's apparent infatuation with her, but manages to respond politely.
Xiang, who is sleeping in the room next to Aos and Titania, hears them arguing in low voices when they finally come up to bed. He groans, stuffs the pillow over his head, and tries to sleep.
The next day dawns, and caravan starts it's slow meander south. Leo has his prying eyes spell active, and the day is punctuated by occasional floating eyes coming back to report to him. It's almost funny how the rest of the group take no notice. Some of the other hangers on that are part of the caravan are a little surprised to see magic being used so openly.
Kanuu is reached within two days. Ghyssk managed to stay civil long enough to mention that he'd heard some funny rumours about the place. Apparently a previous caravan owner had lost half his guards there, they had simply broken their contracts and stayed after participating in some sort of religious festival.
Arriving at Kanuu, the group quickly notices that the peasants in the fields are listless and slow. In fact, with the night drawing in it's a little surprisingly to still see them out there.
The Margravine goes straight to the Manor House. A relative of hers, the local Lord, is in charge. However, his guard refuses us entry, and after some wheedling and persuasion agrees that the Margravine and two others are permitted inside. Leo, and several others, are dead set against this. A polite withdrawl occours.
Meanwhile, the peasants start building a bonfire. They appear to be using the Church pews. Looking across, the Church itself seems somewhat disused, and the guards are trying to keep the group out. Saphie uses her weasel familiar to take a look inside, but sees nothing unnusual.
While plans are discussed, Sol makes a terrible mistake. Keeping an eye on everyone, he wanders nearer to the bonfire, and notices the flames are burning blue. He also spots several members of the Caravan guards standing around it. He moves in for a closer look, calling for Leo to come see, when suddenly...
Turning to see what Sol is shouting about, Leo and the others see him suddenly stop shouting, turn, and stare listlessly into the flames. Getting the idea with comendable speed, the group as one takes several steps away from the fire. More words are exchanged, more plans discussed. The Margravine is persuaded to go back to the caravan with Titania. Ghyssk offers to look after them, and Xiang mentions to Titania that if he tries anything he should be dominated. Eventually, it's decided that the best thing to do is to go in the back entrance of the Manor House and find out what's going on. Two guards that are watching the party are swiftly despatched by Aos, and with the use of a bit of stone shape by Tarquin, they are in.
A short corridor with a door leads to a ladder. Aos starts to climb it as Xiang stands guard below. Flipping open the door and moving up, Aos is not too surprised to be attacked by three guards, and is hit several times. The Greatest Duellist in Gaxmoor is not concerned, however. Hearing the sound of fighting, Saphie casts Mage Armour, and Xiang starts looking for more stairs upwards, since Aos is currently blocking the way. Aos is returning the blows, fencing as best he can from the top of a ladder.
But his foes are striking him, working together in uncanny unison, and more are arriving. Aos' eyes widen as Sol enters, twin swords drawn and begins to attack him! Downstairs, Leo hears the sounds of running feet and readies a spell, warning Cho not to step outside the door. Saphie, having learnt from her previous fight about the power of defensive magics, casts Shield. Aos carries on fencing, dropping one guard and moving off the ladder, clearing a space for Xiang to begin to climb up and force his way into the room.
Sol attacks Aos relentlessly, scoring a remarkable number of hits. In the crowded room, Aos can't move around as much as he'd like, and it's costing him.
At the back door, Leo's cunning spell goes off. As guards and villagers run to attack the party, a number of Black Tentacles burst up from the ground. The villagers are all grabbed and crushed immediately, and the guards fair little better. Cho holds back as Saphie readies a spell to throw at anyone coming down the ladder.
Back upstairs, Aos kills another guard and moves further into the room, as Xiang gains a foothold into the room and starts to try and knock out his former ally Sol. They can hear the yelling of the guards downstairs as the tentacles continue to squeeze them.
Saphie is surprised to find the door next to her is thrust open, and more guards pour into the small corridor. Now the party is trapped all around, by guards and the spell! Three of the guards manage to get through Saphie's magical defenses, wounding her severly. She responds with a
Mirror Image spell, as the other man that finds himself on the front line, Tarquin, casts Sanctuary. Cho then proves her acrobatic prowess as she almost floats across the room, dancing between sword thrusts and ending up behind the new influx of guards, standing at the bottom of the ladder.
Upstairs, Aos takes yet more damage from swords and Sol, but Xiang, in a flurry of blows, manages to KO the security chief. Things seem to be turning up here, as Xiang also helps to wound another guard. The guards up here are working with incredible precision, stepping in and out of combat to maximise their attacks, and focusing exclusively on Aos, who is being rapidly worn down. He does manage to strike back again.
The tentacles finally kill the guards downstairs, apart from one who is quickly destroyed by Leo's Magic Missiles. Saphie's protective magics are doing the trick as her opponents all miss her, and Cho manages to evade her opponent. Saphie backs off and starts casting her most powerful spell - one of summoning. Cho attacks, stunning her opponent and hitting him twice.
Yet more attacks on Aos, and he's beginning to really feel them. Backing off for a second, he drinks a potion of curing, feeling his wounds clear up for a second. Xiang, his Spear spinning, finishes off two more guards upstairs and settles into a defensive stance.
As the battle continues, Leo also casts a Mirror Image of his own. The guards knock out one of Saphie's images, and four guards move around Cho in an intricate pattern, allowing all of them to hit her. She manages to duck all but one attack, however. Tarquin casts Fly, ready to go to the aid of the two upstairs, as Saphie's Hound Archon appears in a blaze of glory and immediately steps to work, slashing with it's greatsword and then biting down with it's huge dog-jaws, almost ripping a guards head off. Saphie herself fires a volley of Magic Missiles into a guard, and then in a flurry of movement Cho kills one guard, moves forwards and kills another, her hands and feet a blur of motion.
In the room above, Aos dodges yet more blows as several more reinforcements arrive, including a menacing figure in black armour holding a large waraxe. Aos cries a challenge, kills the man in front of him and steps forwards to kill another, opening a gap for Xiangs attack. He doesn't waste it, bringing the Spear across to jab into the Black Armour's arm and then thrusting it clean through the chestplate and out the back! The figure jerks as the Black Spear eats his soul...
[NOTE - 3rd critical of the session!]
The battle is now firmly in favour of the heroes. Leo's Scorching Ray kills another guard as the Hound Archon strikes. A guard strikes Cho, but Saphie fires yet another Scorching Ray and burns him in return, and he drops to the floor. Now the area is clear, Cho takes a second to clear her mind and heal her wounds.
Xiang comes under sustained assault from three guards, being hit twice, as Tarquin flies up the ladder and heals Aos. Encouraged, Aos steps forwards and drives his rapier through the guard's heart, leaving just two left. Xiang reduces that to one with a few swift motions. As the guard makes one final attempt to kill Xiang, Tarquin heals him too and the Aos steps up and finishes it.
The Hound Archon steps into the side room and is commanded to open the trapdoor that Xiang found earlier. Magical darkness is revealed below, and the decision is made to hold off for a moment.
Healing spells are cast, mostly on Aos and Xiang, and then just as Aos and Xiang are about to go downstairs, Aos spots a man hiding across the hallway. Running across to stab him, Aos smells the blue smoke! A second man had thrown a pouch on to the open flame! But he resists it's deadly effects and backs out again. The Hound Archon is sent upstairs to kill the man, and does so easily before disappearing again, back to it's home on another plane.
The company convenes around the trapdoor, taking a moment to think what may be lurking down there...
Once healing has been dispensed, items and gold collected, and bodies disposed of, the group makes an early start on their way to Crisqui town, arriving in the early evening. After a short conversation with the guard gates, they are admitted and find the Laughing UnicornInn. Speaking with the owner reveals that the first merchant caravan will be leaving tomorrow, and it's owner is...Ghyssk the Hobgoblin, former warband leader and previous kidnapper of - The Margravine. Things immediately become tense.
The Margravine refuses point blank to travel with Ghyssk, and is on the verge of asking Aos to duel him to the death. Aos manages to talk her round, over time, and he and Xiang go over to Ghyssk to talk over details. Tarquin and Leo go up immediately to rest and relearn spells, whilst the rest of the group makes themselves comfortable in the bar.
Aos intimidates Ghyssk into accepting the party as guards, and the two groups converge and talk. Well, exchange comments is more like it. Sol does not react well to being called 'elfy' by Ghyssk. Xiang threatens Ghyssk when he starts asking questions about the Spear, defensively holding it to him. With a great show of restraint, all sides move away from each other and peace resumes. Aos finds a pretty barmaid on his lap, and Titania tells Cho that she's much nicer than he is. Cho is still baffled by Titania's apparent infatuation with her, but manages to respond politely.
Xiang, who is sleeping in the room next to Aos and Titania, hears them arguing in low voices when they finally come up to bed. He groans, stuffs the pillow over his head, and tries to sleep.
The next day dawns, and caravan starts it's slow meander south. Leo has his prying eyes spell active, and the day is punctuated by occasional floating eyes coming back to report to him. It's almost funny how the rest of the group take no notice. Some of the other hangers on that are part of the caravan are a little surprised to see magic being used so openly.
Kanuu is reached within two days. Ghyssk managed to stay civil long enough to mention that he'd heard some funny rumours about the place. Apparently a previous caravan owner had lost half his guards there, they had simply broken their contracts and stayed after participating in some sort of religious festival.
Arriving at Kanuu, the group quickly notices that the peasants in the fields are listless and slow. In fact, with the night drawing in it's a little surprisingly to still see them out there.
The Margravine goes straight to the Manor House. A relative of hers, the local Lord, is in charge. However, his guard refuses us entry, and after some wheedling and persuasion agrees that the Margravine and two others are permitted inside. Leo, and several others, are dead set against this. A polite withdrawl occours.
Meanwhile, the peasants start building a bonfire. They appear to be using the Church pews. Looking across, the Church itself seems somewhat disused, and the guards are trying to keep the group out. Saphie uses her weasel familiar to take a look inside, but sees nothing unnusual.
While plans are discussed, Sol makes a terrible mistake. Keeping an eye on everyone, he wanders nearer to the bonfire, and notices the flames are burning blue. He also spots several members of the Caravan guards standing around it. He moves in for a closer look, calling for Leo to come see, when suddenly...
Turning to see what Sol is shouting about, Leo and the others see him suddenly stop shouting, turn, and stare listlessly into the flames. Getting the idea with comendable speed, the group as one takes several steps away from the fire. More words are exchanged, more plans discussed. The Margravine is persuaded to go back to the caravan with Titania. Ghyssk offers to look after them, and Xiang mentions to Titania that if he tries anything he should be dominated. Eventually, it's decided that the best thing to do is to go in the back entrance of the Manor House and find out what's going on. Two guards that are watching the party are swiftly despatched by Aos, and with the use of a bit of stone shape by Tarquin, they are in.
A short corridor with a door leads to a ladder. Aos starts to climb it as Xiang stands guard below. Flipping open the door and moving up, Aos is not too surprised to be attacked by three guards, and is hit several times. The Greatest Duellist in Gaxmoor is not concerned, however. Hearing the sound of fighting, Saphie casts Mage Armour, and Xiang starts looking for more stairs upwards, since Aos is currently blocking the way. Aos is returning the blows, fencing as best he can from the top of a ladder.
But his foes are striking him, working together in uncanny unison, and more are arriving. Aos' eyes widen as Sol enters, twin swords drawn and begins to attack him! Downstairs, Leo hears the sounds of running feet and readies a spell, warning Cho not to step outside the door. Saphie, having learnt from her previous fight about the power of defensive magics, casts Shield. Aos carries on fencing, dropping one guard and moving off the ladder, clearing a space for Xiang to begin to climb up and force his way into the room.
Sol attacks Aos relentlessly, scoring a remarkable number of hits. In the crowded room, Aos can't move around as much as he'd like, and it's costing him.
At the back door, Leo's cunning spell goes off. As guards and villagers run to attack the party, a number of Black Tentacles burst up from the ground. The villagers are all grabbed and crushed immediately, and the guards fair little better. Cho holds back as Saphie readies a spell to throw at anyone coming down the ladder.
Back upstairs, Aos kills another guard and moves further into the room, as Xiang gains a foothold into the room and starts to try and knock out his former ally Sol. They can hear the yelling of the guards downstairs as the tentacles continue to squeeze them.
Saphie is surprised to find the door next to her is thrust open, and more guards pour into the small corridor. Now the party is trapped all around, by guards and the spell! Three of the guards manage to get through Saphie's magical defenses, wounding her severly. She responds with a
Mirror Image spell, as the other man that finds himself on the front line, Tarquin, casts Sanctuary. Cho then proves her acrobatic prowess as she almost floats across the room, dancing between sword thrusts and ending up behind the new influx of guards, standing at the bottom of the ladder.
Upstairs, Aos takes yet more damage from swords and Sol, but Xiang, in a flurry of blows, manages to KO the security chief. Things seem to be turning up here, as Xiang also helps to wound another guard. The guards up here are working with incredible precision, stepping in and out of combat to maximise their attacks, and focusing exclusively on Aos, who is being rapidly worn down. He does manage to strike back again.
The tentacles finally kill the guards downstairs, apart from one who is quickly destroyed by Leo's Magic Missiles. Saphie's protective magics are doing the trick as her opponents all miss her, and Cho manages to evade her opponent. Saphie backs off and starts casting her most powerful spell - one of summoning. Cho attacks, stunning her opponent and hitting him twice.
Yet more attacks on Aos, and he's beginning to really feel them. Backing off for a second, he drinks a potion of curing, feeling his wounds clear up for a second. Xiang, his Spear spinning, finishes off two more guards upstairs and settles into a defensive stance.
As the battle continues, Leo also casts a Mirror Image of his own. The guards knock out one of Saphie's images, and four guards move around Cho in an intricate pattern, allowing all of them to hit her. She manages to duck all but one attack, however. Tarquin casts Fly, ready to go to the aid of the two upstairs, as Saphie's Hound Archon appears in a blaze of glory and immediately steps to work, slashing with it's greatsword and then biting down with it's huge dog-jaws, almost ripping a guards head off. Saphie herself fires a volley of Magic Missiles into a guard, and then in a flurry of movement Cho kills one guard, moves forwards and kills another, her hands and feet a blur of motion.
In the room above, Aos dodges yet more blows as several more reinforcements arrive, including a menacing figure in black armour holding a large waraxe. Aos cries a challenge, kills the man in front of him and steps forwards to kill another, opening a gap for Xiangs attack. He doesn't waste it, bringing the Spear across to jab into the Black Armour's arm and then thrusting it clean through the chestplate and out the back! The figure jerks as the Black Spear eats his soul...
[NOTE - 3rd critical of the session!]
The battle is now firmly in favour of the heroes. Leo's Scorching Ray kills another guard as the Hound Archon strikes. A guard strikes Cho, but Saphie fires yet another Scorching Ray and burns him in return, and he drops to the floor. Now the area is clear, Cho takes a second to clear her mind and heal her wounds.
Xiang comes under sustained assault from three guards, being hit twice, as Tarquin flies up the ladder and heals Aos. Encouraged, Aos steps forwards and drives his rapier through the guard's heart, leaving just two left. Xiang reduces that to one with a few swift motions. As the guard makes one final attempt to kill Xiang, Tarquin heals him too and the Aos steps up and finishes it.
The Hound Archon steps into the side room and is commanded to open the trapdoor that Xiang found earlier. Magical darkness is revealed below, and the decision is made to hold off for a moment.
Healing spells are cast, mostly on Aos and Xiang, and then just as Aos and Xiang are about to go downstairs, Aos spots a man hiding across the hallway. Running across to stab him, Aos smells the blue smoke! A second man had thrown a pouch on to the open flame! But he resists it's deadly effects and backs out again. The Hound Archon is sent upstairs to kill the man, and does so easily before disappearing again, back to it's home on another plane.
The company convenes around the trapdoor, taking a moment to think what may be lurking down there...
