Lars Frehse
First Post
Struggle for the Serpent Amphora part 4 of 4
The harpies folded back their wings and shot down, their scythes ready to mow down the young heroes, but they merely inflicted fleshwounds.
After the initial attack, the friends took up a defensive formation. Niklas, Torn and Jan held their melee weapons ready in case that the winged women should dive down again and Eochaid, Ben and Trepat pulled out their bows and slings and shot at their airborne targets.
The harpies dived down again, but the combination of Niklas reach with his glaive and Torn’s highly trained reflexes made it impossible for the women to swing a good hit, while they, in turn, were forced to loose feathers.
Now, back to a height of 30 feet, they changed their tactics and threw javelins down at them, hitting Niklas and Torn, but both were still able to stand, even though they were heavily wounded by now. But Eochaid proved to be a good marksman and hit one of the winged women straight into the chest. Mortally wounded, she crashed into the lake, dead.
Furious that their opponents proved to be so tough and out of weapons to throw, the three remaining harpies dived down again. Niklas put up his glaive, and one of the women impaled herself with all the force of her dive, so that the blade of the weapon stuck out of her back. Jan scored a good hit, but was then hit himself and the impact knocked him out.
Torn, who had missed with his first swing now backhanded into another harpy as she flew by to gain height again, and he hit her square in the abdomen. While the other harpy flew up to hover over the group again, the wounded one tried to flap her wings twice, but then she lost her strength, and, bleeding heavily, she crashed into the lake as well.
Now, there was only one harpy left. Ben took care of the wounded Paladin and Trepat and Eochaid shot arrows at the rangers, and hit one wing and her neck. The harpy furiosly flew down to attack again, but because of the wounded wing, she missed her target and shot into the lake.
After minutes, she hadn’t surfaced again, and the adventurers were pretty certain, that she was now dead as well.
Niklas used his boot to free his glaive of the harpy, and after sufficient wriggling and pulling, he had torn his weapon out of her body. Jan helped him toss the corpse overboard and asked: “What in the name of all heavens were those creatures?”
Niklas watched the dead fiend slowly submerge in the calm waters of Adurn’s tear and said: “My master William once told me about those creatures… To tell you the truth, I never thought I would really meet a creature like that.”
He scratched his chin, and continued: “They are called harpies. Once, two hundred years ago, there was a female cult called “The Sisterhood of the sickle moon”. They worshipped Belsameth, and mostly specialized in Assassination and espionage for their goddess. But then came the titanswar, and it soon became clear that the time of subtle approaches was over for a while.
“So, they prayed the Slayer to give them a gift that would enable them to serve her better in rough times like those. And Belsameth gave them talons and vulturelike wings- turning them into a new species: The Harpies.”
“Belsameth, eh?” Torn said, “Looks like Radraan called some friends, after all.”.
Eochaid nodded:” Yes. And the problem is, if he called some friends, he could have called more. I am only glad they got no better aim at us with those scythes.”
Torn smiled wryly and rubbed his neck. Turning to Jan, he said:” There are still some hours of night left. Go to sleep now, it is my turn.”.
And with that, they went back for the night’s rest.
During the next two days, nothing remarkable happened. Even though they feared another attack, they were able to enjoy two more beautiful days on the lake, while the sun was shining, the water was placid and the fish was plenty. As the day passed by, they relaxed a little and enjoyed the beauty of those summer days.
Then, on the evening of the second day after the attack, they reached a small village at the northern edge of the lake. To the east of it, the lake was going over into marshland and to the north were the Kelders.
“This is it!” said Eochaid, “From here we will either have to make a raft or march on by foot.”
They secured their boat at a small wooden quai and then jumped on the wooden planks. Just as they were about to enter the village, small dark figures stepped out of the shadow and blocked the way, grinning viciously.
The creatures were Belsamaugs: four feet tall goblinoids with long and narrow implike features. Each of them was holding a dagger and they were wearing skintight black leather costumes.
Before either the adventurers nor the imps could say anything Radraan stepped up behind them. He was now wearing half plate armor and next to him was Paransala, a beautiful dark haired wizardress from Trela.
Radraan was wearing his haughtiest smile for the occasion:” So, we meet again, dear gentlemen. Well, I think I will rephrase the deal I had offered you before. Hand over the amphora, and you will live.”.
Jan’s only answer was that he pulled his bastardsword from it’s scabbard on his back.
“Well, I didn’t think so, anyway”, said Radraan and cast a spell.
Torn felt a mental hand grasping for his body, trying to freeze him in, but his stubborness won over the evil magic of the priest, and he remained free. He charged forward, and soon Niklas, Jan and Torn were fighting with the impish creatures, which proved to be exceptionally tough for their small size. Eochaid helped by shooting arrows through any openings, but for now, both the evil priest and the wizardress remained safely in the back.
As the battle raged, the adventurers were able to fell the Belsamaugs, but Niklas, Jan and Trepat got heavily wounded as well, and Ben was busy saving the lives of his friends. As the situation got more desperate, Eochaid hit the wizardress right in the eye, killing her instantly.
Now, the way was free and Torn charged at Radraan who cast a spell and disappeared.
Warily, Torn turned around, trying to anticipate where his enemy would appear again, as he heard the swish of air in his back. He moved sideways just in time to get his head out of the way of the mace that the powerful priest swung at him, but he was hit on the shoulder none the less. Trying to ignore the insane pain in his left shoulder, the half orc turned around, and battled the priest.
Eochaid helped by carefully shooting arrows, and as the priest had to block one arrow with his shield, Torn used the opening to swing his axe between the helmet and the armor at the neck of his opponent. He hit, and after a few seconds, in which Radraan tried to stop the flow of blood out of his neck, the evil priest died.
As the battle had ended, some villagers carefully approached. By now, Ben had healed his friends so that they were at least concious again.
An old man raised his hands in a pacifying gesture and said:” Good gentlemen. We are sorry we did nothing to help you, but we are a small village of merely a hundred souls, and when those six approached us earlier this evening, there was nothing we could do but what they told us to. We are sorry, please don’t punish us.”.
“Don’t worry” Jan answered, “we understand your trouble, so you don’t have to fear us.”.
There was relief in the voice of the villager:” That is very kind of you. My name is Joran, and I am the elder of this village. You are welcome to stay here as our guests until you have fully recovered.”
The heroes thanked the old man and settled down, and for the next three days, all they did was wait until their wounds were fully healed. By then, they were rested and ready for the second part of their journey with the Amphora which would take them through the marshes and through Vesh.
The harpies folded back their wings and shot down, their scythes ready to mow down the young heroes, but they merely inflicted fleshwounds.
After the initial attack, the friends took up a defensive formation. Niklas, Torn and Jan held their melee weapons ready in case that the winged women should dive down again and Eochaid, Ben and Trepat pulled out their bows and slings and shot at their airborne targets.
The harpies dived down again, but the combination of Niklas reach with his glaive and Torn’s highly trained reflexes made it impossible for the women to swing a good hit, while they, in turn, were forced to loose feathers.
Now, back to a height of 30 feet, they changed their tactics and threw javelins down at them, hitting Niklas and Torn, but both were still able to stand, even though they were heavily wounded by now. But Eochaid proved to be a good marksman and hit one of the winged women straight into the chest. Mortally wounded, she crashed into the lake, dead.
Furious that their opponents proved to be so tough and out of weapons to throw, the three remaining harpies dived down again. Niklas put up his glaive, and one of the women impaled herself with all the force of her dive, so that the blade of the weapon stuck out of her back. Jan scored a good hit, but was then hit himself and the impact knocked him out.
Torn, who had missed with his first swing now backhanded into another harpy as she flew by to gain height again, and he hit her square in the abdomen. While the other harpy flew up to hover over the group again, the wounded one tried to flap her wings twice, but then she lost her strength, and, bleeding heavily, she crashed into the lake as well.
Now, there was only one harpy left. Ben took care of the wounded Paladin and Trepat and Eochaid shot arrows at the rangers, and hit one wing and her neck. The harpy furiosly flew down to attack again, but because of the wounded wing, she missed her target and shot into the lake.
After minutes, she hadn’t surfaced again, and the adventurers were pretty certain, that she was now dead as well.
Niklas used his boot to free his glaive of the harpy, and after sufficient wriggling and pulling, he had torn his weapon out of her body. Jan helped him toss the corpse overboard and asked: “What in the name of all heavens were those creatures?”
Niklas watched the dead fiend slowly submerge in the calm waters of Adurn’s tear and said: “My master William once told me about those creatures… To tell you the truth, I never thought I would really meet a creature like that.”
He scratched his chin, and continued: “They are called harpies. Once, two hundred years ago, there was a female cult called “The Sisterhood of the sickle moon”. They worshipped Belsameth, and mostly specialized in Assassination and espionage for their goddess. But then came the titanswar, and it soon became clear that the time of subtle approaches was over for a while.
“So, they prayed the Slayer to give them a gift that would enable them to serve her better in rough times like those. And Belsameth gave them talons and vulturelike wings- turning them into a new species: The Harpies.”
“Belsameth, eh?” Torn said, “Looks like Radraan called some friends, after all.”.
Eochaid nodded:” Yes. And the problem is, if he called some friends, he could have called more. I am only glad they got no better aim at us with those scythes.”
Torn smiled wryly and rubbed his neck. Turning to Jan, he said:” There are still some hours of night left. Go to sleep now, it is my turn.”.
And with that, they went back for the night’s rest.
During the next two days, nothing remarkable happened. Even though they feared another attack, they were able to enjoy two more beautiful days on the lake, while the sun was shining, the water was placid and the fish was plenty. As the day passed by, they relaxed a little and enjoyed the beauty of those summer days.
Then, on the evening of the second day after the attack, they reached a small village at the northern edge of the lake. To the east of it, the lake was going over into marshland and to the north were the Kelders.
“This is it!” said Eochaid, “From here we will either have to make a raft or march on by foot.”
They secured their boat at a small wooden quai and then jumped on the wooden planks. Just as they were about to enter the village, small dark figures stepped out of the shadow and blocked the way, grinning viciously.
The creatures were Belsamaugs: four feet tall goblinoids with long and narrow implike features. Each of them was holding a dagger and they were wearing skintight black leather costumes.
Before either the adventurers nor the imps could say anything Radraan stepped up behind them. He was now wearing half plate armor and next to him was Paransala, a beautiful dark haired wizardress from Trela.
Radraan was wearing his haughtiest smile for the occasion:” So, we meet again, dear gentlemen. Well, I think I will rephrase the deal I had offered you before. Hand over the amphora, and you will live.”.
Jan’s only answer was that he pulled his bastardsword from it’s scabbard on his back.
“Well, I didn’t think so, anyway”, said Radraan and cast a spell.
Torn felt a mental hand grasping for his body, trying to freeze him in, but his stubborness won over the evil magic of the priest, and he remained free. He charged forward, and soon Niklas, Jan and Torn were fighting with the impish creatures, which proved to be exceptionally tough for their small size. Eochaid helped by shooting arrows through any openings, but for now, both the evil priest and the wizardress remained safely in the back.
As the battle raged, the adventurers were able to fell the Belsamaugs, but Niklas, Jan and Trepat got heavily wounded as well, and Ben was busy saving the lives of his friends. As the situation got more desperate, Eochaid hit the wizardress right in the eye, killing her instantly.
Now, the way was free and Torn charged at Radraan who cast a spell and disappeared.
Warily, Torn turned around, trying to anticipate where his enemy would appear again, as he heard the swish of air in his back. He moved sideways just in time to get his head out of the way of the mace that the powerful priest swung at him, but he was hit on the shoulder none the less. Trying to ignore the insane pain in his left shoulder, the half orc turned around, and battled the priest.
Eochaid helped by carefully shooting arrows, and as the priest had to block one arrow with his shield, Torn used the opening to swing his axe between the helmet and the armor at the neck of his opponent. He hit, and after a few seconds, in which Radraan tried to stop the flow of blood out of his neck, the evil priest died.
As the battle had ended, some villagers carefully approached. By now, Ben had healed his friends so that they were at least concious again.
An old man raised his hands in a pacifying gesture and said:” Good gentlemen. We are sorry we did nothing to help you, but we are a small village of merely a hundred souls, and when those six approached us earlier this evening, there was nothing we could do but what they told us to. We are sorry, please don’t punish us.”.
“Don’t worry” Jan answered, “we understand your trouble, so you don’t have to fear us.”.
There was relief in the voice of the villager:” That is very kind of you. My name is Joran, and I am the elder of this village. You are welcome to stay here as our guests until you have fully recovered.”
The heroes thanked the old man and settled down, and for the next three days, all they did was wait until their wounds were fully healed. By then, they were rested and ready for the second part of their journey with the Amphora which would take them through the marshes and through Vesh.
Radraan and Belsamaug! 
