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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dark Dragon" data-source="post: 3751380" data-attributes="member: 1115">end of chapter ITwo sessions have passed, here's a brief update.The party was unsure on how to hunt down Ajuntis and his lot after the fight in the castle. Alanor told the group that he is not allowed to interfere with the group's private problems. However, he is willing to guard the baby.Jasmina pointed out that there is little time left for her to raise her bodyguard (who was killed by the blackguard in the ruined manor). She located the bodyguard (now a zombie) by magic means in Two Stars.The monk proposed to meet a guy from the small local thieves' guild to get some info about what's going on in Two Stars. He has met that person earlier and as far as he could tell, the guy seems to be somewhat reliable. The guild was not happy about the Shadow Masters' presence, but the thieves were too weak to fight the intruders. So he, Alanor and Estanala went to Two Stars. The two dragons disguised themselves and would try to buy some food and potions, and the monk would organise a meeting. This succeeded, and the monk learned that the local prison and house of the city guard is ruled by the Shadow Masters...When the three returned to the camp, a quick plan for a silent assault on the prison was made. Jasmina has found out that Ajuntis is somewhere in Two Stars (Circle Dance is a quite useful spell...).Next evening, the party was back in town. Invisible and gaseous (Jasmina had cast Wind Walk, but she didn't accompany her friends for she and the dragons stayed in the camp), they entered the prison from the roof. The two guards on the roof were no problem, but when the party entered the building, they encountered four more guards. Three guards were finished off quickly, but the fourth raised an alarm. The adventurers now made they way through increasing resistance, but they didn't kill most of the guards since they didn't know who is a guard and who a rogue...At least they found Ajuntis, his TWF bodyguard and second-in-command, the doppelganger, plus five rogues 8, and a clr 5/rog 5. A short hard fight erupted, mainly between the tempest (who was eager to end the hunt) and the monk (seeking revenge for Ajuntis' deeds) on one side and the Shadow Masters on the other side. Since there was little space for good positioning, the rest of the group was forced to deal with the remaining guards. Both the monk and the tempest were badly wounded, but with the help of two summoned dire bears, they finished off Ajuntis and his guards. Only the doppelganger teleported to safety in time.After the fight, the group barred all entrances and looted the place. In the meantime, Lady Gallidy and the cleric of Shaundakul were alerted. They mobilised the rest of the guard and the militia and took a position around the prison. They ordered the attackers to surrender and set all hostages free (they didn't know that the adventurers were in the building) but of course, the party refused. The adventurers didn't reveal themseleves, but they were willing to negotiate within the building. At first the Lady refused to negotiate with murderers, but when the party set most hostages free, she allowed the cleric to enter the prison as a messenger. After some talking he was allowed to cast some spells to find out the truth and finally he was convinced. He reported what he has found out. The Lady now entered the prison alone to talk to the group. However, there was tension and bitterness, because the party had the impression that Lady Gallidy has not done enough to protect the party from the Shadow Masters, instead she had asked the group to leave the town (hopefully along with all trouble). The Lady told the group that she had little means against a foe that even the adventurers could not handle properly. She granted a free way out of the prison, but nevertheless, the party now has little confidence in the ruler of Two Stars. As Ajuntis has ruined the party's reputation among the common townsfolk, there are no reasons to live or stay in Two Stars...The monk told the cleric where his student is most likely held (at Karelam's arena) and that, if the opportunity arises, the group would free him.The party then returned to the camp and divided the loot. In the meantime, Jasmina has found out that her mother was probably replaced by a doppelganger. She had cast a Sending for her mother, but she didn't get an answer. Then she cast a second Sending to her father and asked about the family's situation. Her father answered that everything is ok and that his wife is well...To fulfill Jasmina's bidding to bring back the body of her bodyguard, and to remove the rest of the Shadow Masters in Two Stars, the adventurers returned (again disguised) to the town in the evening of the next day. In an old dirty pub, they stayed for a while and asked about thugs 'collecting' money from shop owners. Luckily for the group, two guys entered the pub and ordered the innkeeper to hand out the weekly 'tax'. This was noticed by the group. The half-dragon was close to provoke the two into a fight, but the guys stayed calm and left the building (fighting a stranger with a flaming great sword needs a better preparation... <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":]" title="Devious    :]" data-shortname=":]" /> ). They entered a second building close-by.The house is a second hide-away for the Shadow Masters. The monk used a potion of invisibility and entered the building before the door was closed. But he was heard by one of the thugs (who were ftr 10...) and quickly a fight broke out. However, the resistance (a wiz 6, a clr 9, 4 rog 8, and two ftr 10 plus 1 human zombie) was quickly overcome, mainly by the alienist's powerful spells (time stop, sphere of ultimate destruction, summon monster...). The zombie was destroyed by the monk. The corpse was the former bodyguard of the hathran Jasmina. The city guard showed up, asked about the incident and noticed that two of the thugs was searched for. The party received the ransom and a scroll with a sending spell. After packing the stuff, the adventurers left the town again for the camp in the wilderness.The next morning, Jasmina raised the bodyguard and introduced him into the situation._____________________________Here ends the chapter about the Shadow Masters.However, some 'loose' ends are still there:The Aspect of Tiamat and his lot, especially his aide, the half-dragon wizard Talaran. However, they know that the tempest has given birth to a half deep dragon. They also know that an Aspect of Bahamut is protecting the baby. The Aspect of Tiamat searches for a powerful dragon that would be able to kill the Aspect of Bahamut so that the party will loose its protection. It assembles an army of savage humanoids and monsters somewhere east of Rashemen. Talaran will harass the party with spells like demand, called monsters, and magic jar sporadically. The Thayans. Jasmina still wants revenge for being attacked and tortured by Red Wizards. The Thayans will attack (and assassinate) the Iron Lord of Rashemen next, in addition, a magic warship will attack the western coast of the country to cause terror and distract the hathrans. Karelam is not involved in that directly, but he will supply the ship with slaves, food, and spell support.Ranus, his aide, now fears the adventurers most, and stays close to his master. He keeps the student of the cleric of Two Stars alive, as some sort of insurance...Something is going on in Rashemen, but Jasmina does not know exactly what. Her mother was replaced by the durthan Chaul, ruler of Fortress Rashemar...Since Jasmina is bound to the area of Lake Murthil, she cannot go to Rashemen and get a closer look. Also, she could not raise herself from the dead (DM's ruling) but that must be done by someone else.</blockquote>

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