Episode 17
Episode 17
Pogre’s campaign – To Save a Soul
Scapa dug his sword deep into the orc’s abdomen and let out a war cry that even startled his allies. He rushed forward and stabbed deep into another orc and then turned his blade on the remaining enemy. Swirling around the battlefield like a possessed reaper he mowed the enemy down.
Scapa’s rampage.
“Wow!” Johann exclaimed. “First, one of our fighter starts worshipping trees and now are sorcerer turns into a friggin’ barbarian.”
Scapa let his blade drop to admire his handiwork. He gave his compatriots a shrug and meekly said, “I guess we should push on.”
Johann was searching the orcs over. He found that the war chief had a strange medallion and one of the orcs was branded.
“Hey, what is this?” Johann asked.
Bridget moved over to take a look and said, “I do not know, I cannot recall seeing it before.”
“It looks like a holy symbol of Theta. Sign of the death god,” Shannon remarked.
“Why would an orc have that branded on their skin?” Scapa asked.
“That is a great question,” Bridget replied.
“Let’s move on,” Johann stated. “Maybe the answer is ahead.”
…
Nearing the tower, the group saw that it was heavily guarded. A group of soldiers came out to greet them. The adventurers were welcomed and given a bath. They met with Inquisitor Luke Praketon at dinner and then were briefed the following morning.
Lukas Praketon told them, “When we hacked our way to this tower about a month ago we expected to find a small force. It was not. A group of brigands, humanoids, and thugs had taken up residence here. After a savage battle, in which a few of my men died, we captured the tower. I am ashamed to admit Frendais Hert escaped with a handful of thugs. Two bounty hunters who had followed my troops for hire set out after them. That was three weeks ago. These were experienced men and I fear the worst.”
He explained that Frendais Hert was an evil wizard he had been chasing for years. He then unfurled a map and pointed to an abandoned manor house in the middle of the swamp. “I believe this ungodly band has headed here (he pointed to Kleston Manor). Years ago there was a sizeable manor here owned by Farwyn Kleston. I am authorizing you to investigate this site. Return with the bounty hunters or their bodies if possible and report back here to me. You may take as many supplies as you deem necessary for the journey. The doctor has also prepared some things for you.”
Doctor Sertrig then stood up and addressed the group. The Doctor issued a warning about the rise of diseases in the swamp. He pauses and asks if they have heard of the great plague. He then said, “Perhaps you have heard the old children’s rhyme:
Ring around the rosie,
Pocket full of posies,
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!
This rhyme of course was made about the last outbreak of the great plague. It is a deadly disease that spreads very quickly and not only affects the body but the mind and soul as well. You may have noticed we had guards posted over you while you were bathing. I asked these guards to pay particular attention to your skin to see if any of you had signs of the plague. The first sign is a bright red ring around an angry boil; this of course is what the first line of the rhyme is about. If treated quickly at this point the patient may be saved. However, the disease moves very quickly and the patient rapidly goes into a catatonic state.
If death followed perhaps the disease would not be so bad. Three days after going into a deep catatonic state the afflicted rises and begins what is called the Danse Macabre by death cultists. Twirling around like a dervish the diseased patient lashes out to any they find. The result is they infect a great deal of others. The only course of action to pursue at this juncture is to kill the patient and burn their body and clothes completely.
Unfortunately, a pocket full of posies is an entirely inadequate defense against this menace so I will give you these.” The Doctor then handed over four potions to Bridget and told her they would cure most diseases encountered in the swamp, including the plague.
….
The group then set off into the swamp and after two days of travel neared the manor house. They took a circuitous route around the manor to size it up and decided to approach from the rear. As they inched closer to the manor they went through an ancient nut-tree orchard.
“Do you notice something?” Shannon asked
“What?” Scapa inquired.
“I am going to climb this Walnut to try and get a better look around,” Johann announced as he removed his armor.
“Listen,” Shannon answered to Scapa.
“I don’t hear anything,” the sorcerer responded.
“Exactly,” Shannon stated.
The group heard Johann give a cry of surprise a very large spider had descended from the tree and attacked.
Spider attacks Johann.
to be continued…
And Shannon will be (presumably) multi-classed as a fighter, so he can pretty much choose a weapon to suit his mood 
