Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="James McMurray" data-source="post: 1321729" data-attributes="member: 743">I know I've missed quite a bit here, but its been a while since it all happened, so please forgive me. For instance, I don't cover the introduction of Ru Ton Pe. He is a monk with a Vow of Poverty that St. Solliers introduces to the party. Also, both battles to reclaim Bloodstone involve walking graveyards, and although interesting, I forgot to include them and don't have time to insert them. Nobody in the party was severely hurt by either Corpsegatherer.Farlight asks to meet with Baron Tranth and learns that he already is. It is apparently shortly past the butler’s afternoon nap and the good baron didn’t want to wake the poor fellow up, so decided to answer his own door.Farlight explains much of what has transpired, and that they wish to help defend the town against the bandit army. The Baron is happy to see them but fearful of reprisals if they fight back. When he learns of the mercenary’s fate at the hands of the dragon, and the subsequent battle where the party fights the mated pair off, he is a bit more confident, but still worried.The party sets up a plan wherein they will ambush the troops which come themselves, to show the townsfolk that they can defend them well. They hire several units of mercenaries of their own, and have them hide themselves inside the inn and stores in town square. The feeling is that the troops will not actually be necessary, but that they will help bolster confidence in the villagers.A few days pass and the day of tribute arrives. The party splits up, some moving into the woods outside of the village and the rest hiding inside the village in the hopes of flanking the army. Their plan would have gone off perfectly had it not been shared. The bandit army’s allies in the town manage to leak the word of the plan out, and the party is greatly surprised when troops begin pouring into town through teleportation circles, setting buildings alight.When one of the commoners in the assembled group of “tribute givers” turns upon his allies and begins killing the militia effortlessly with rapier, the party knows hat has happened. They also get their first glimpse of an epic foe in the form of a single assassin. He fights with the party for a short while, disappearing and reappearing to strike and flee. After a short hop to kill the Baron, he leaves, knowing his current gear is not going to work when facing foes with fortified armor.The town still burning around them, but the bandit troops chased away, Bumtin casts a limited wish to track the now inactive teleportation circle back to the bandit camp, and with barely a moment to prepare, the party teleports into battle.They get to the camp and find several troops practicing, and the valley walls lined with giants. Wargs in pens and row upon row of tents gives them some idea of the enemy’s numbers, and they leap into action. Several giants die quickly, but then the party’s offense is forced to redirect itself onto the lesser troops. This happens when Rikus finds out what happens when you get within range of seventy-five third level wizards with magic missiles, and you have neither spell resistance nor a Shield spell handy. He does not survive their assault.The enemy generals begin to appear, and epic battle is joined. The party has very little trouble though, as the true leaders do not reveal themselves, preferring instead to sit back and see what their foes are capable of. Having a clerical ally with Ignore Material Components and True Resurrection is a great fear reducer.The party hits hard, but is driven off to recuperate and hire more troops in preparation for another assault. Unfortunately, several units of bandits (including the warg-riders) take the attack as an opportunity to use the still active circles to teleport to the village and  overcome the little resistance that remains there. The party now finds themselves with two army camps to destroy.They perform the three R’s: resurrection, rest, and recuperation, and then head back to Union where they seek to hire mercenaries. Their search soon point them to the race of Maugs. Sentient constructs created for use in the eternal wars on Acheron, these creature are the ultimate soldiers: loyal, tireless, and capable of transporting themselves into battle with no need for food or supplies.The party hires several units, enough to outnumber their foes two to one. Its an expensive request, but it proves to be very worthwhile, as the maugs easily recapture Bloodstone and route the remaining army. While they fight a battle in the bandit camp, the party fights one high above. Knellick the wizard and his Balor have been resurrected. This time the Balor manages to dominate two party members, making it a very hard fight. Along for the fun is a pair of assassins, and the fabled Grandfather of Assassins. The pair strike down Ru Ton Pe and then finds themselves in difficult positions against Bigby’s Crushing Hands and fortified armor. While they manage to get themselves killed, the Grandfather is not so easily routed. As Banak, the high priest of Orcus also appears to joint he fray, the party finds themselves hurting. Bumtin is killed and Banak driven off, but only the arrival of the mysterious black armor saves Bumtin’s body from the enemy. The Grandfather appears to recognize the armor, and does not try to fight it when it runs up to grab Bumtin’s fallen form and run off with it.Yet again the party retreats. They have struck a hard blow though, and when next they return to the camp, they find it deserted.more to come as time permits</blockquote>

Verification