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<blockquote data-quote="amethal" data-source="post: 4152719" data-attributes="member: 22784"><p><em>Scene 4 – Banqueting Hall</em></p><p><em>March 2nd – 8 pm</em></p><p></p><p>The banqueting hall is a large room, with nine tables arranged around the walls. Each lord and his retinue is has their own table. The King’s table is opposite the entrance doors. King Steppengard is accompanied by his bodyguard, a mail clad figure known only as the Blade of the Kingsguard, and his gnome assistant, Nina Glibglammer.</p><p></p><p>King Steppengard looks up as our heroes enter. “The first course, at last. We have been waiting an inordinate amount of time.” Then he realises the newcomers are actually a bunch of adventurers, and his expression darkens.</p><p></p><p>Nina heads over to intercept them, but Lord Gallo intervenes just as she reaches the door. “My apologies, Your Majesty, but these people are with me.”</p><p></p><p>“What is the meaning of this intrusion?” demands the king.</p><p></p><p>“I will attempt to find out,” replies Lord Gallo, and beckons the party over to him. Solsus quickly fills him in on the day’s events, and Lord Gallo gives a wry smile. “I should have known things wouldn’t go smoothly; nothing in Dassen ever does these days.”</p><p></p><p>Lord Gallo gets to his feat, and addresses the king. “Your Majesty, it appears that my retainers have defeated a plot to neutralise the Book of Eight Lands and poison yourself and this noble company.”</p><p></p><p>“Preposterous,” says one of the other lords. “Who would do such a thing?” There are mutterings from the rest of the audience, and King Steppengard holds up a hand for silence.</p><p></p><p>“Poison!” he says in a harsh voice. “Poison. Let me tell you of poison. Truly vile is the poison that clutches at my heart, day and night. You slew my wife, my children, you ended my line in blood and terror.</p><p></p><p>“I created this land, brought together the eight petty, squabbling domains, and this is how I am repaid…. In the blood of my family … Well, I have vowed they shall not die alone. What I have created, I can also destroy. This land will die with them.”</p><p></p><p>King Steppengard gets to his feet, reaches behind his chair and pulls out a wickedly barbed flail. He then strides menacingly over to Lady Namin’s table. “And you, you harlot. You sought to replace my wife, as if anyone could. You will be the first to die!”</p><p></p><p>Lady Namin’s retainers step between her and the king. The Blade of the Kingsguard, is clearly bemused by this turn of events, but steps forward to protect his royal charge from Lady Namin’s men.</p><p></p><p>However, the king does not need his help. With a howl of frustration he wades into combat. Lady Namin’s retainers are no match for his battle frenzy, and his ferociously whirling flail sweeps them out of his way like so much wheat. Lady Namin tries to flee, but there is nowhere to go. The retainers of the nearby nobles have locked shields around their masters, and refuse to offer her any protection. With a wolfish grin the king brings round his flail once more and dashes out her brains.</p><p></p><p>The King’s guards outside the banqueting hall make as if to enter, but the king waves them back. “You men, stay out of this. This is between me and the lords. It is not for the likes of you to get involved. Merely stop these cowardly so called “nobles” from fleeing my just wrath.”</p><p></p><p>Utterly confused by this turn of events, the soldiers do as he says.</p><p></p><p>“I can’t see any magical auras around the lords,” says Agatha. “The protection of the Book must be working again.”</p><p></p><p>“Me neither,” says Caryk, his divination spell also still active. “However, it looks like the Book isn’t much use against old fashioned violence ….”</p><p></p><p>Nina Glibglammer, still stood by the entrance, starts to laugh. It is a deep, horrible, booming sound that seems completely incongruous coming from such a small person. Then she begins to change before their very eyes. She grows larger and more and more insubstantial, until the doorway is being blocked by a huge, smoky, serpentine, multi-headed monster of nightmare. Somewhere writhing its heart here is still the rough outline of a gnome, but it is hard to make out any details as the creature somehow seems to be in several places at one – and also nowhere.</p><p></p><p>Heroic Caryk heads towards this terrifying apparition, whilst trying to make out more details using his magically enhanced sight. Unfortunately, the sensory input is too much for his mortal mind to cope with, and it is forced to take refuge in insanity …</p><p></p><p>Agatha briefly also descends into madness, but is able to shake off the effect and tear her eyes away from the creature.</p><p></p><p>Gribron acts quickly. He gestures, and a cloud of roiling black smog engulfs both King Steppengard and his elite bodyguard. From within the cloud comes the sound of choking and spluttering. “That ought to hold them for a while,” he says.</p><p></p><p>He is half right. King Steppengard emerges alone from the fog, a wild look in his eye, but there is no sign of the Blade of the Kingsguard. The King strides towards the nearest noble, Lord Megadon. Again the lord’s retainers seek to bar his way, and again they are shattered by the king’s flail. “I never liked you Megadon,” says King Steppengard absently as he caves in the lord’s skull. “Now, who is next, I wonder …”</p><p></p><p>“To me, to me!” yells Lord Gallo. “Everybody, over here in the corner. If we do not stand together, we will fall separately.” The remaining five lords and ladies hesitate for a moment, then make a mad rush for the apparent sanctuary Lord Gallo is offering.</p><p></p><p>Ambar moves forward to protect their retreat, the sword of Anyariel in her hand. As if sensing her need, the sword is suddenly bathed in flame. King Steppengard steps toward her. “I have no quarrel with you, girl, but you are in my way.”</p><p></p><p>Ambar’s sword slips through his defences, and leaves a burning gash in his arm. The king merely smiles at the pain, and his return blow crashes into Ambar. Her magical protections stand up to the king’s flail, but only just. Battered and bruised, she has little option but to withdraw.</p><p></p><p>Solsus vanishes from sight and heads towards her, his healing wand at the ready.</p><p></p><p>Agatha elects to target the nightmare creature, but it is not where she expects it to be, and her blasts pass harmlessly through it.</p><p></p><p>Caryk, caught in the depths of insanity, lashes out at the nearest foe. As luck would have it, it is the monster. He seems to have no difficulty finding the creature’s location despite its ever shifting form; it is as if his madness is giving him additional insight.</p><p></p><p>The monster lets out another howl of glee, and suddenly the threads start running in the room’s tapestries. In seconds each one has been reduced to a pile of multi-coloured yarn, which then flies towards the monster and is absorbed. As each piece of material is absorbed, the creature becomes more and more solid, until it is fully corporeal.</p><p></p><p>“Thanks a lot,” says Agatha. “I can hit you now.” She pours several blasts into the now solid creature.</p><p></p><p>The beast recoils in pain. “Yesss,” it hisses, the voice seeming to come from all the snake heads at once. “And now I can hit you too …” The creature darts forward and strikes out with all its heads. Agatha is grievously bitten, and collapses to the ground. She looks to have taken a mortal wound, and her comrades look on in disbelief. Then her body twitches slightly, and they remember Indomitability’s boon. That strange creature’s power has protected her from the attack of something even stranger. Agatha will survive this fight – if any of them do ….</p><p></p><p>Caryk’s head clears briefly, and he aims some more blows at the creature. His aim is true, but he cannot bring down the beast. Its devastating counter-attack brings him to his knees. Its poison races through his veins, and the clouds of madness descend once more upon him.</p><p></p><p>Gribron conjures orb after orb, which he hurls at the creature, seeking out its vulnerabilities. To his surprise, all the elements seem to have an effect. That is all the cue Jonathan needed, and he joins the attack with fiery bolts of his own.</p><p></p><p>The monster is driven back, with gaping holes in its body. Then it gathers itself, and springs forward to finish off Caryk.</p><p></p><p>“What shall I do,” calls out Ambar. “Go for the king, or the beast?”</p><p></p><p>“The beast,” says Gribron. “Concentrate on the beast!”</p><p></p><p>Ambar nods, and bolts of force flow from her hand towards the creature. She half expects them to fizzle out, but they strike home. This is too much for the beast. Its form collapses in on itself, leaving a pile of thread on the floor. However, its ghostly outline remains. “We will meet again,” it hisses. Then even the ghost is gone.</p><p></p><p>Solsus busies himself healing his injured friends. Jonathan and Gribron, still uninjured, turn their attention to the King.</p><p></p><p>King Steppengard, however, has dropped his flail, and is staring into space. “What have I done?” he whispers. “What have I done …” He starts to weep.</p><p></p><p>Slowly things begin to return to a semblance of normality.</p><p></p><p>The King, his face sunken in horror and disbelief, removes the crown from his head. “I let that creature control me, tie me in a knot, imprison me in my own grief.” He moves to throw away the crown, only to be stopped by Gribron.</p><p></p><p>“You can’t give up now,” says Gribron. “The Ragesians are on the border, your people need you. You have to stay, and try and clean up your mistakes.”</p><p></p><p>The King glances at Lord Gallo and the five other nobles. Lord Gallo nods slowly, and with a sigh the king puts the crown back on his own head.</p><p></p><p>“Very well, I shall do as you suggest. The land needs to be rebuilt, and it will need brave heroes if we are to survive the dark days ahead. And so my first act will be to bestow knighthoods on the five brave adventurers who have saved me from myself.”</p><p></p><p>Solsus re-appears and gives a slight cough. “Um, actually Your Majesty, that should be six brave adventurers!”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="amethal, post: 4152719, member: 22784"] [I]Scene 4 – Banqueting Hall March 2nd – 8 pm[/I] The banqueting hall is a large room, with nine tables arranged around the walls. Each lord and his retinue is has their own table. The King’s table is opposite the entrance doors. King Steppengard is accompanied by his bodyguard, a mail clad figure known only as the Blade of the Kingsguard, and his gnome assistant, Nina Glibglammer. King Steppengard looks up as our heroes enter. “The first course, at last. We have been waiting an inordinate amount of time.” Then he realises the newcomers are actually a bunch of adventurers, and his expression darkens. Nina heads over to intercept them, but Lord Gallo intervenes just as she reaches the door. “My apologies, Your Majesty, but these people are with me.” “What is the meaning of this intrusion?” demands the king. “I will attempt to find out,” replies Lord Gallo, and beckons the party over to him. Solsus quickly fills him in on the day’s events, and Lord Gallo gives a wry smile. “I should have known things wouldn’t go smoothly; nothing in Dassen ever does these days.” Lord Gallo gets to his feat, and addresses the king. “Your Majesty, it appears that my retainers have defeated a plot to neutralise the Book of Eight Lands and poison yourself and this noble company.” “Preposterous,” says one of the other lords. “Who would do such a thing?” There are mutterings from the rest of the audience, and King Steppengard holds up a hand for silence. “Poison!” he says in a harsh voice. “Poison. Let me tell you of poison. Truly vile is the poison that clutches at my heart, day and night. You slew my wife, my children, you ended my line in blood and terror. “I created this land, brought together the eight petty, squabbling domains, and this is how I am repaid…. In the blood of my family … Well, I have vowed they shall not die alone. What I have created, I can also destroy. This land will die with them.” King Steppengard gets to his feet, reaches behind his chair and pulls out a wickedly barbed flail. He then strides menacingly over to Lady Namin’s table. “And you, you harlot. You sought to replace my wife, as if anyone could. You will be the first to die!” Lady Namin’s retainers step between her and the king. The Blade of the Kingsguard, is clearly bemused by this turn of events, but steps forward to protect his royal charge from Lady Namin’s men. However, the king does not need his help. With a howl of frustration he wades into combat. Lady Namin’s retainers are no match for his battle frenzy, and his ferociously whirling flail sweeps them out of his way like so much wheat. Lady Namin tries to flee, but there is nowhere to go. The retainers of the nearby nobles have locked shields around their masters, and refuse to offer her any protection. With a wolfish grin the king brings round his flail once more and dashes out her brains. The King’s guards outside the banqueting hall make as if to enter, but the king waves them back. “You men, stay out of this. This is between me and the lords. It is not for the likes of you to get involved. Merely stop these cowardly so called “nobles” from fleeing my just wrath.” Utterly confused by this turn of events, the soldiers do as he says. “I can’t see any magical auras around the lords,” says Agatha. “The protection of the Book must be working again.” “Me neither,” says Caryk, his divination spell also still active. “However, it looks like the Book isn’t much use against old fashioned violence ….” Nina Glibglammer, still stood by the entrance, starts to laugh. It is a deep, horrible, booming sound that seems completely incongruous coming from such a small person. Then she begins to change before their very eyes. She grows larger and more and more insubstantial, until the doorway is being blocked by a huge, smoky, serpentine, multi-headed monster of nightmare. Somewhere writhing its heart here is still the rough outline of a gnome, but it is hard to make out any details as the creature somehow seems to be in several places at one – and also nowhere. Heroic Caryk heads towards this terrifying apparition, whilst trying to make out more details using his magically enhanced sight. Unfortunately, the sensory input is too much for his mortal mind to cope with, and it is forced to take refuge in insanity … Agatha briefly also descends into madness, but is able to shake off the effect and tear her eyes away from the creature. Gribron acts quickly. He gestures, and a cloud of roiling black smog engulfs both King Steppengard and his elite bodyguard. From within the cloud comes the sound of choking and spluttering. “That ought to hold them for a while,” he says. He is half right. King Steppengard emerges alone from the fog, a wild look in his eye, but there is no sign of the Blade of the Kingsguard. The King strides towards the nearest noble, Lord Megadon. Again the lord’s retainers seek to bar his way, and again they are shattered by the king’s flail. “I never liked you Megadon,” says King Steppengard absently as he caves in the lord’s skull. “Now, who is next, I wonder …” “To me, to me!” yells Lord Gallo. “Everybody, over here in the corner. If we do not stand together, we will fall separately.” The remaining five lords and ladies hesitate for a moment, then make a mad rush for the apparent sanctuary Lord Gallo is offering. Ambar moves forward to protect their retreat, the sword of Anyariel in her hand. As if sensing her need, the sword is suddenly bathed in flame. King Steppengard steps toward her. “I have no quarrel with you, girl, but you are in my way.” Ambar’s sword slips through his defences, and leaves a burning gash in his arm. The king merely smiles at the pain, and his return blow crashes into Ambar. Her magical protections stand up to the king’s flail, but only just. Battered and bruised, she has little option but to withdraw. Solsus vanishes from sight and heads towards her, his healing wand at the ready. Agatha elects to target the nightmare creature, but it is not where she expects it to be, and her blasts pass harmlessly through it. Caryk, caught in the depths of insanity, lashes out at the nearest foe. As luck would have it, it is the monster. He seems to have no difficulty finding the creature’s location despite its ever shifting form; it is as if his madness is giving him additional insight. The monster lets out another howl of glee, and suddenly the threads start running in the room’s tapestries. In seconds each one has been reduced to a pile of multi-coloured yarn, which then flies towards the monster and is absorbed. As each piece of material is absorbed, the creature becomes more and more solid, until it is fully corporeal. “Thanks a lot,” says Agatha. “I can hit you now.” She pours several blasts into the now solid creature. The beast recoils in pain. “Yesss,” it hisses, the voice seeming to come from all the snake heads at once. “And now I can hit you too …” The creature darts forward and strikes out with all its heads. Agatha is grievously bitten, and collapses to the ground. She looks to have taken a mortal wound, and her comrades look on in disbelief. Then her body twitches slightly, and they remember Indomitability’s boon. That strange creature’s power has protected her from the attack of something even stranger. Agatha will survive this fight – if any of them do …. Caryk’s head clears briefly, and he aims some more blows at the creature. His aim is true, but he cannot bring down the beast. Its devastating counter-attack brings him to his knees. Its poison races through his veins, and the clouds of madness descend once more upon him. Gribron conjures orb after orb, which he hurls at the creature, seeking out its vulnerabilities. To his surprise, all the elements seem to have an effect. That is all the cue Jonathan needed, and he joins the attack with fiery bolts of his own. The monster is driven back, with gaping holes in its body. Then it gathers itself, and springs forward to finish off Caryk. “What shall I do,” calls out Ambar. “Go for the king, or the beast?” “The beast,” says Gribron. “Concentrate on the beast!” Ambar nods, and bolts of force flow from her hand towards the creature. She half expects them to fizzle out, but they strike home. This is too much for the beast. Its form collapses in on itself, leaving a pile of thread on the floor. However, its ghostly outline remains. “We will meet again,” it hisses. Then even the ghost is gone. Solsus busies himself healing his injured friends. Jonathan and Gribron, still uninjured, turn their attention to the King. King Steppengard, however, has dropped his flail, and is staring into space. “What have I done?” he whispers. “What have I done …” He starts to weep. Slowly things begin to return to a semblance of normality. The King, his face sunken in horror and disbelief, removes the crown from his head. “I let that creature control me, tie me in a knot, imprison me in my own grief.” He moves to throw away the crown, only to be stopped by Gribron. “You can’t give up now,” says Gribron. “The Ragesians are on the border, your people need you. You have to stay, and try and clean up your mistakes.” The King glances at Lord Gallo and the five other nobles. Lord Gallo nods slowly, and with a sigh the king puts the crown back on his own head. “Very well, I shall do as you suggest. The land needs to be rebuilt, and it will need brave heroes if we are to survive the dark days ahead. And so my first act will be to bestow knighthoods on the five brave adventurers who have saved me from myself.” Solsus re-appears and gives a slight cough. “Um, actually Your Majesty, that should be six brave adventurers!” [/QUOTE]
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