The undead menace
How strange...
even if the stench of rotten flesh came to our nostrils, I thought that it would come from far inland, where is rumoured some unread activities. But in the end, we had to fight undead pirates on this very same peninsula.
This feel so wrong that pirates and undead would be together... unless a stronger power leads them both.
I do not see that happening, and that would mean that an undead force took over fort constance during the 4 days the pirate ship that attacked us set sails.
That would be far better for us that fighting a combined force, but I dread for the captives, if any, that were kept in the fort.
The group is holding so far. But I known nothing best that a common enemy to erase the internal conflicts. However, Leonardo refuses healing from Vistra and does not inspire us the way he did. I can only hope that the future will improve his behaviour.
[4 lines for auto gratification]
By the way, I feared that the poisonous sword I got would be useless against undead, but in the end, they just can't bear my awesomeness (one hit crit + 5 hit killing fire blast power + 1 kill by teleport/lightning power...man, I am good!)
[/4 lines for auto gratification]
even if the stench of rotten flesh came to our nostrils, I thought that it would come from far inland, where is rumoured some unread activities. But in the end, we had to fight undead pirates on this very same peninsula.
This feel so wrong that pirates and undead would be together... unless a stronger power leads them both.
I do not see that happening, and that would mean that an undead force took over fort constance during the 4 days the pirate ship that attacked us set sails.
That would be far better for us that fighting a combined force, but I dread for the captives, if any, that were kept in the fort.
The group is holding so far. But I known nothing best that a common enemy to erase the internal conflicts. However, Leonardo refuses healing from Vistra and does not inspire us the way he did. I can only hope that the future will improve his behaviour.
[4 lines for auto gratification]
By the way, I feared that the poisonous sword I got would be useless against undead, but in the end, they just can't bear my awesomeness (one hit crit + 5 hit killing fire blast power + 1 kill by teleport/lightning power...man, I am good!)
[/4 lines for auto gratification]
Session 30: Death and Decay
Scouting the Constance Peninsula leads to a troubling discovery - the presence of undead creatures West of the Cairngorm Peaks. How serious is the threat? And how is it linked to Bloodghost and the pirate gang?
Session 29: Constance and Prudence
The decision is made: if there are captives at Fort Constance, they must be rescued before the trail grows cold. Pressure, however, does not preclude prudence...
And you call that justice?
Today is one of those days in which the world does not make sense any more and a person you considered your friend and your ally backstabs you. And as an excuse, he says he does it in the name of justice.
After a mediocre interrogation of some of the pirates, Tyrion felt he had neither the skill nor the courage to obtain any information from their captain, so he decided to let this difficult task to a more skillful person: Leo. I myself would not have been able to go into the room of that monster, the animal who attacked the village where I lived merrily with my sisters and my mother, slaved my neighbors and friends, and talk to him as if nothing had happened. And I would not consider my friend anyone who could. Leo went there, obtained a valuable information about the origin of the attack to our village and showed him that he would not get away with what he had done. During the process, the cries of pain of that criminal could be heard all over the ship.
After he had finished, Leo came to us to inform us of the results. When Tyrion heard that he had killed the captain, he went mad, muttering some incoherent sentences about justice and lack of remorse. Then he went to the captain of the ship and asked him to judge Leo for murder... MURDER? He had simply administered justice. He had avoided that a pirate and slave trader would go to court and would not pay for his crimes simply because he has the gold (by the way, stolen gold) required to bribe one of those corrupt halflings at Marshport, the same halflings that did not move a finger when we told them that the pirates had attacked our village, the same halflings that had bought the slaves against their own law, simply because a wizard was paying well. Sorry, but in a place like that justice cannot prevail. A judge in Marshport or even the captain of our ship are not the right people to judge and condemn the pirate for his crimes.
Now the captain is going to judge Leo for being a good elf. And this trial (which is not only unfair, it is also dangerous for the peace on the ship) has been instigated by Tyrion. I am starting to wonder why a person that lives by the sword is suddenly so interested in the halfling legal system.
After a mediocre interrogation of some of the pirates, Tyrion felt he had neither the skill nor the courage to obtain any information from their captain, so he decided to let this difficult task to a more skillful person: Leo. I myself would not have been able to go into the room of that monster, the animal who attacked the village where I lived merrily with my sisters and my mother, slaved my neighbors and friends, and talk to him as if nothing had happened. And I would not consider my friend anyone who could. Leo went there, obtained a valuable information about the origin of the attack to our village and showed him that he would not get away with what he had done. During the process, the cries of pain of that criminal could be heard all over the ship.
After he had finished, Leo came to us to inform us of the results. When Tyrion heard that he had killed the captain, he went mad, muttering some incoherent sentences about justice and lack of remorse. Then he went to the captain of the ship and asked him to judge Leo for murder... MURDER? He had simply administered justice. He had avoided that a pirate and slave trader would go to court and would not pay for his crimes simply because he has the gold (by the way, stolen gold) required to bribe one of those corrupt halflings at Marshport, the same halflings that did not move a finger when we told them that the pirates had attacked our village, the same halflings that had bought the slaves against their own law, simply because a wizard was paying well. Sorry, but in a place like that justice cannot prevail. A judge in Marshport or even the captain of our ship are not the right people to judge and condemn the pirate for his crimes.
Now the captain is going to judge Leo for being a good elf. And this trial (which is not only unfair, it is also dangerous for the peace on the ship) has been instigated by Tyrion. I am starting to wonder why a person that lives by the sword is suddenly so interested in the halfling legal system.
Session 28: Sins of One, Sins of Many
When Tyrion raises the uncomfortable question of Szakeem's death at the hand of Leonardino, Captain dell'Fargo finds himself in a difficult position. Ultimately, the half-elf is forever tainted - paying the toll for everyone's uneasy consciences...
What a waste.
I thought Leonardino was a potential great leader with the warrior's code of conduct. Alas for us, he revealed himself as a violent psychopath lead by ego and emotions.
Our pirates captives started to talk. We had informations about the location and the organisation of their base and the fact that the enslaved elves had been taken there.
Although the pirates were receptive to logic and self-preservation, I feared their Captain was a different matter, specially because where I have no issue to free fishermen wanting an extra gold for food in exchange for information on a criminal organisation, I find impossible not to give the Captain to justice to answer to his heinous acts.
I thought that having bested the Captain and forced him to surrender, Leonardino would be able to extract more information despite any counterparts from us.
I believed in him and I trusted him.
For once, I was a bad judge of heart. His history caught up with him. I do not known whether what happened to him, the pirate attack on his village or his enslavement, made him do it, or as I suspect, he is following is own path.
But in the end, the Captain died by his hand. Several times stabbed to death... with obvious traces of torture.
I was shocked. Shocked by his lack of repentance, his lack of remorse and his lack of judgement: It seems the Captain asked for death in exchange for information. A Captain that had lost everything: boat, crew, freedom, reputation... and a Captain that was already heading to the hangman managed to escape justice.
Maybe I am even more shocked by the lack of reaction from Vistra who clearly heard the scream of pain of the Captain...and remained still. My dear Vistra, protector of the poor, the sick and the defenceless, what happened to you? What is this awful poison in your heart? What have you become? Did the horrors of this world taken your resolve? I hope not.
As I said, it seems that Leonardino is walking his own path... and that is not one I want to share.
I stated my case to the halfling captain:
"Captain,
I'd like to report that the pirate captain has been tortured and killed while handcuffed under the supervision of Leonardino. This is against all laws I known and recognise: this was murder and an insane parody of justice. Maybe here it is different but, as the only competent person about ship law, I call upon you to judge this case. I will respect and enforce any sentence you will see fit."
I do hope that Leonardino will see his errors and grow from them before it is too late. I dread the sentence that the captain will call upon him: either I will kill him or he will walk free and we will part ways..
I can only pray the gods we can avoid these two paths.
Our pirates captives started to talk. We had informations about the location and the organisation of their base and the fact that the enslaved elves had been taken there.
Although the pirates were receptive to logic and self-preservation, I feared their Captain was a different matter, specially because where I have no issue to free fishermen wanting an extra gold for food in exchange for information on a criminal organisation, I find impossible not to give the Captain to justice to answer to his heinous acts.
I thought that having bested the Captain and forced him to surrender, Leonardino would be able to extract more information despite any counterparts from us.
I believed in him and I trusted him.
For once, I was a bad judge of heart. His history caught up with him. I do not known whether what happened to him, the pirate attack on his village or his enslavement, made him do it, or as I suspect, he is following is own path.
But in the end, the Captain died by his hand. Several times stabbed to death... with obvious traces of torture.
I was shocked. Shocked by his lack of repentance, his lack of remorse and his lack of judgement: It seems the Captain asked for death in exchange for information. A Captain that had lost everything: boat, crew, freedom, reputation... and a Captain that was already heading to the hangman managed to escape justice.
Maybe I am even more shocked by the lack of reaction from Vistra who clearly heard the scream of pain of the Captain...and remained still. My dear Vistra, protector of the poor, the sick and the defenceless, what happened to you? What is this awful poison in your heart? What have you become? Did the horrors of this world taken your resolve? I hope not.
As I said, it seems that Leonardino is walking his own path... and that is not one I want to share.
I stated my case to the halfling captain:
"Captain,
I'd like to report that the pirate captain has been tortured and killed while handcuffed under the supervision of Leonardino. This is against all laws I known and recognise: this was murder and an insane parody of justice. Maybe here it is different but, as the only competent person about ship law, I call upon you to judge this case. I will respect and enforce any sentence you will see fit."
I do hope that Leonardino will see his errors and grow from them before it is too late. I dread the sentence that the captain will call upon him: either I will kill him or he will walk free and we will part ways..
I can only pray the gods we can avoid these two paths.
Berronar forgive me
Vistra, in prayer to The Mother Goddess:
"Berronar, Mother Goddess, guide me in these troubled times. I have taken a road I am not sure I can follow, crossed a bridge that is now burning behind me. "
The screams of Szakeem echo in Vistra's mind.
"I knew what would happen, the screams echoing from the lower decks just psychic screams hammering my mind confirming what I already knew. Szakeem was being tortured, and I tried to ignore them. Szakeem, a lawless pirate, murderer, kidnapper and who knows what other crimes could be laid at his feet, a hob-goblin rotten to the core and still the screams plague me. My pilgrimage was interrupted to aid in bringing the kidnappers of the elves at Leavendale to justice and free the elves that had been torn from their lives. But is this justice... we all knew Szakeem's crimes, we knew the gallows waited for him and so too would he have taken the information we needed to find the elves with him to his grave. "
Flashback: Vistra arrives with the others to where Leo has brought Szakeem, entering the room she is shocked to find Szakeem bleeding from several cut wounds, clearly dead. Turning to Leo she finds him covered in Szakeem's blood giving a grim image of what must have transpired.
Leo turns to the group and says "I have the information regarding the elves, Szakeem's request for the information was for me to kill him before he is hanged in Marshport."
"He wasn't lying, I knew from the way he said it and the predicament Szakeem was in that it was true, he had taken no pleasure from killing, but neither had he shown regret. But Szakeem was supposed to face justice in Marshport for his crimes. Leo isn't an evil man, his goal to free the elves is a noble sacrifice on his part but can we be the judges and the executioners. Had it not been one of the evil races that plague our world I know I would have stood against any form of torture, but can I condone such an act even against one such as a hob-goblin? Can I be angry at his death, while standing idle during torture? This is the bridge now burning behind me, have I turned from everything you stand against? It is in this I seek your guidance Berronar, and more I seek forgiveness and mercy if my path has strayed. "
The cost of honor
I stood there in front of the captain, as he nervously asked me once again why I had done it.
He did not seem able to grasp the meaning of my words when I told him once again that I had to stand by my word.
Obviously, the concept of honour and respect of the given word was extremely foreign to a halfling merchant, but I still found it surprising that he was so unable to understand my actions.
I would never break my word, and I had given my word to the pirate.
That very morning, Tyrion had looked at me and said:
"There are things I cannot do and I fear must be done. Do what you want with him, but get the information we need. The elves' lives depend on this. I'll be on the other side of the ship, out of ear range."
And he had walked away.
The priest had looked nervously around and simply muttered something about looking for something upstairs.
Adolfiel had held my stare and simply had said she would prevent the rest of the crew from coming below deck.
So after they had all left I slowly walked to the pirate's cell. The same pirate that had enslaved and killed my people. He had sold me to work and die in the mines. He had tried to kill all of us on this very ship. And he had almost succeded.
I knew that he would try to retain his pride, to remain defiant and to steal from us the only thing he had left, the information about the elves. He had lost everything and would seek at least some form of revenge.
I could only do one thing to stop that from happening.
I would make a deal with the devil.
I came in fully prepared to offer things that would have appalled my friends, because it would have meant betraying them.
After hearing my proposition, he proposed his own deal.
Sometimes, different minds reach the same conclusions. The pirate knew we needed the info, and he wanted something from me.
His deal was simpler, faster, very much his style.
If he gave me the information I needed, I would save him the trial, torture and hanging that was waiting for him in Marshport. He had no doubt that he would be hanged because he knew he was a thousand times guilty.
I accepted and gave my word.
Without hesitation, he told me who had the elves, why they had been taken, where and where I would find at least some of them. And stood there, waiting for me to do my part of the deal.
He knew I would not break my word.
And I didn't break it.
As soon as the rest of the group learnt about my actions, hell broke loose.
Tyrion threw a fit, gave a looooooong speech about morals, justice and ethics and walked away.
He came back later with a piece of news, he had made a formal accusation against me in front of the halfling captain.
For murder.
Technically, we had become his employees in the moment the pirates had attacked his ship.
I was bound again by my word and by accepting this contract I had to respect the halfling's word as justice.
Without a second of doubt, I accepted the trial. To do otherwise, I would have broken my word.
All this I explained once again to the halfling captain, but it was obvious that he did not like the responsability, he wanted nothing to do with it.
He had already proven to be too much of a coward to do justice himself on the pirate and now he had to decide on my future. He had heard everyone else's statements, but there was actually no dispute about what had happened. He had to punish me as he saw fit.
I stood there while the captain made up his mind, waiting for judgement.
I would not break my word.
He did not seem able to grasp the meaning of my words when I told him once again that I had to stand by my word.
Obviously, the concept of honour and respect of the given word was extremely foreign to a halfling merchant, but I still found it surprising that he was so unable to understand my actions.
I would never break my word, and I had given my word to the pirate.
That very morning, Tyrion had looked at me and said:
"There are things I cannot do and I fear must be done. Do what you want with him, but get the information we need. The elves' lives depend on this. I'll be on the other side of the ship, out of ear range."
And he had walked away.
The priest had looked nervously around and simply muttered something about looking for something upstairs.
Adolfiel had held my stare and simply had said she would prevent the rest of the crew from coming below deck.
So after they had all left I slowly walked to the pirate's cell. The same pirate that had enslaved and killed my people. He had sold me to work and die in the mines. He had tried to kill all of us on this very ship. And he had almost succeded.
I knew that he would try to retain his pride, to remain defiant and to steal from us the only thing he had left, the information about the elves. He had lost everything and would seek at least some form of revenge.
I could only do one thing to stop that from happening.
I would make a deal with the devil.
I came in fully prepared to offer things that would have appalled my friends, because it would have meant betraying them.
After hearing my proposition, he proposed his own deal.
Sometimes, different minds reach the same conclusions. The pirate knew we needed the info, and he wanted something from me.
His deal was simpler, faster, very much his style.
If he gave me the information I needed, I would save him the trial, torture and hanging that was waiting for him in Marshport. He had no doubt that he would be hanged because he knew he was a thousand times guilty.
I accepted and gave my word.
Without hesitation, he told me who had the elves, why they had been taken, where and where I would find at least some of them. And stood there, waiting for me to do my part of the deal.
He knew I would not break my word.
And I didn't break it.
As soon as the rest of the group learnt about my actions, hell broke loose.
Tyrion threw a fit, gave a looooooong speech about morals, justice and ethics and walked away.
He came back later with a piece of news, he had made a formal accusation against me in front of the halfling captain.
For murder.
Technically, we had become his employees in the moment the pirates had attacked his ship.
I was bound again by my word and by accepting this contract I had to respect the halfling's word as justice.
Without a second of doubt, I accepted the trial. To do otherwise, I would have broken my word.
All this I explained once again to the halfling captain, but it was obvious that he did not like the responsability, he wanted nothing to do with it.
He had already proven to be too much of a coward to do justice himself on the pirate and now he had to decide on my future. He had heard everyone else's statements, but there was actually no dispute about what had happened. He had to punish me as he saw fit.
I stood there while the captain made up his mind, waiting for judgement.
I would not break my word.
Session 27: Blood Stains
Tyrion and Leonardino take turns to question the captured pirates about the elves' whereabouts. Some useful leads emerge, but are they worth the price?
The Legend of Leonardino
Here is the strange story of Leonardino,
Leader amongst leaders,
Defying Dragons, Demons and the Shadow.
But maybe he was only a tiger of paper,
Because in him was mainly Bravado,
And the deeds were perhaps done by others.
Half breed of pure elf and purest human,
Lost between these two bloodlines,
Just made himself a fisherman,
To prove everybody that he could shine,
Amongst the ducks, he would be a swan,
But in reality, was he worth a dime?
We shall see
His first shot at being a hero,
Was when pirates attacked his village.
But he could only weep in sorrow,
Caught between violence and pillage.
He fell down without a blow,
And carried away like a bunch of sausage.
Taken captive in the pirate ship,
He cried for days below the deck,
Wobbly knees and trembling lip.
Having enough of this sobbing wreck
The pirates sold him for just a tip
It was either that or cut his neck.
Enslaved to do a wizard's bidding,
In a cave below his evil tower,
Everyday digging and digging,
Thought he was doomed forever.
But hope came anew in a bright morning
With those soon to be known as his followers.
A bearded dwarven priestess in a barrel
An elven wizard thirsty for knowledge
Akin to an ugly ranger named...something with "el"
Escorted by an aged drunken swordmage
All now shrouded in mystery's mantle
Whose sole use was the coming of a new age.
In awe of his mere presence
They fell for Leonardino's leadership.
Like their life found at last their balance,
A new goal: to follow his lordship,
Now known for his legendary sentence:
"Gentlemen, I am taking their ship"
His destiny was at last revealed,
His greatness in a word: Inspire
Against him, no evil stays undefeated,
Around him, every act becomes wonder.
Dragons, Demon and even Illithids,
Tremble in their skin and shiver.
He walks the earth and brings justice
Evil be warned! and be careful,
As from him you'll have no kiss,
His wrath and strength never restful,
Defying those who threatened peace,
He charges and shouts
(deep male voice) "you're beautiful"
WHAAAAAAAAT?
It does not sound right,
let's try it this way:
(gay style, singing)
You're beautiful, you're beautiful
I love your skin, its just too smooth!
Your fangs are white, be merciful!
Please don't kill me, I'm in my youth!
You're wearing silk, that's wonderful!
I'm just a worm, I offer truce!
Oh shit, oh shit, I'm gonna die!
Why did I charge, they never follow!
I would attack, but I'm just too shy!
That's too risky, I'll take a blow!
The boat is close and I believe I can fly!
Why do they laugh, it's not for show!
(normal flux)
Alas for the poor Leonardino,
Wanting to write a line in History
With the well deserved title of hero!
But nobody can change his destiny,
When Fate "blesses" you with Bravado,
You should just stick to comedy!
Leader amongst leaders,
Defying Dragons, Demons and the Shadow.
But maybe he was only a tiger of paper,
Because in him was mainly Bravado,
And the deeds were perhaps done by others.
Half breed of pure elf and purest human,
Lost between these two bloodlines,
Just made himself a fisherman,
To prove everybody that he could shine,
Amongst the ducks, he would be a swan,
But in reality, was he worth a dime?
We shall see
His first shot at being a hero,
Was when pirates attacked his village.
But he could only weep in sorrow,
Caught between violence and pillage.
He fell down without a blow,
And carried away like a bunch of sausage.
Taken captive in the pirate ship,
He cried for days below the deck,
Wobbly knees and trembling lip.
Having enough of this sobbing wreck
The pirates sold him for just a tip
It was either that or cut his neck.
Enslaved to do a wizard's bidding,
In a cave below his evil tower,
Everyday digging and digging,
Thought he was doomed forever.
But hope came anew in a bright morning
With those soon to be known as his followers.
A bearded dwarven priestess in a barrel
An elven wizard thirsty for knowledge
Akin to an ugly ranger named...something with "el"
Escorted by an aged drunken swordmage
All now shrouded in mystery's mantle
Whose sole use was the coming of a new age.
In awe of his mere presence
They fell for Leonardino's leadership.
Like their life found at last their balance,
A new goal: to follow his lordship,
Now known for his legendary sentence:
"Gentlemen, I am taking their ship"
His destiny was at last revealed,
His greatness in a word: Inspire
Against him, no evil stays undefeated,
Around him, every act becomes wonder.
Dragons, Demon and even Illithids,
Tremble in their skin and shiver.
He walks the earth and brings justice
Evil be warned! and be careful,
As from him you'll have no kiss,
His wrath and strength never restful,
Defying those who threatened peace,
He charges and shouts
(deep male voice) "you're beautiful"
WHAAAAAAAAT?
It does not sound right,
let's try it this way:
(gay style, singing)
You're beautiful, you're beautiful
I love your skin, its just too smooth!
Your fangs are white, be merciful!
Please don't kill me, I'm in my youth!
You're wearing silk, that's wonderful!
I'm just a worm, I offer truce!
Oh shit, oh shit, I'm gonna die!
Why did I charge, they never follow!
I would attack, but I'm just too shy!
That's too risky, I'll take a blow!
The boat is close and I believe I can fly!
Why do they laugh, it's not for show!
(normal flux)
Alas for the poor Leonardino,
Wanting to write a line in History
With the well deserved title of hero!
But nobody can change his destiny,
When Fate "blesses" you with Bravado,
You should just stick to comedy!
Announcement
Please heed notice,
the famous bard Aquilonius will present a once in a lifetime live performance!
(his perfomance will be posted after the representation).
A first time ever song titled: "Legend of Leonardino"
Follow by a debate: "Leonardino: real or fake?"
Free booze, no dress code. Come numerous.
the famous bard Aquilonius will present a once in a lifetime live performance!
(his perfomance will be posted after the representation).
A first time ever song titled: "Legend of Leonardino"
Follow by a debate: "Leonardino: real or fake?"
Free booze, no dress code. Come numerous.
Session 26: Walking the Plank
After a vicious and desperate struggle, Szakeem is vanquished and his ship captured - but both it and Veronika's Fortunes are ablaze with flames...
Gentlemen...
It was difficult to believe that barely some minutes had passed since the attack had come.
Even though we expected it, the attack still had caught us by surprise. We did not expect the pirates to be so bold as to attack under a storm, we did not expect the flame throwing machines and we certainly did not expect an assault so brutal.
In the first moments of the combat, all seemed lost. They approached very fast and assaulted the ship in two places at the same time. The goblin tried to stop the first wave coming on the bow, but he was unable to resist. I moved in to help him while Tyrion, Vistra and Adolfiel faced the attack on the stern.
They were too many, too strong and too organized. The flame throwing machines sent huge waves of flame on our deck and very soon the sails were burning, most of our sailors has fled under the deck and the pirates were on our ship's deck.
We fell under their blows as they worked together to isolate us and make us easy targets. Very soon Vistra, Tyrion and me were helpless and on the edge of dying. Although Adolfiel was shooting as fast as she could and hit many enemies, they kept coming. The goblin had retreated under the deck and was nowhere in sight. Only the captain of our ship stood still defiant, protecting the helm.
The pirates pushed on, thinking that this was going to be an easy combat. The thugs pushed on and moved in for the final blow. All seemed lost...
But the gods would not let us fail, our quest was too important. The slaves HAD to come back to the village.
So in that moment, slowly the wind changed direction.
The fire in the sails started blowing towards the stern and the smoke gave Adlofiel cover from the javelin throwers on the other ship. Tyrion and Vistra got breathing space and the cleric invoked on Berronar to help her protect the group. With her help, I was able to go back to the stern and get in formation with Tyrion and Vistra. Adolfiel kept shooting arrows in all directions.
The pirate thugs hesitated, they had lost the momentum that they had had at the beginning, but very soon with their captain coming along with them, they moved in for the kill.
The clash was monstrous. Arrows, swords, spells, manouevers, it took all we had just to stay alive and resist the wave.
Once and again Tyrion was hit, fell and got back up to stand firm his ground.
Once and again Adolfiel let herself exposed to attack as she kept on shooting arrows at the ranks of pirates.
Once and again Vistra gave healing to the wounded while blows were falling on her continously.
And we stopped the wave.
The thugs started falling, dying. The attack got weaker.
Suddenly, the pirate captain gave a shout and the remaining thugs moved back to the other side of the boat. They were getting back in formation, getting reinforcements before launching the final attack...
With a flourish, Tyrion struck the dying bugbear that had not retreated and as it died, it fell overboard.
As smoke filled my lungs and stang into my eyes, I paused to take a breath and looked around me.
I saw the deck covered with blood and bodies, the cries of pain of wounded pirates and sailors were coming from all around us.
From where I was, just behind the main mast, I could barely glimpse the bow of our ship. Szakeem and his thugs were retreating that way, trying to get space to fall in formation and launch a second attack. They were far from defeated, they still had many tricks ready for us and we had barely survived the last wave.
I looked to my left and saw the pirate ship on our starboard side. It loomed there still intact after all this combat, dark, menacing and huge compared to our own ship. More pirates were coming from its bowels to make a new attack.
It was beatiful.
I turned around, looked at my friends, smiled and said:
"Gentlemen, I'm going to take their ship"
And I ran.
Even though we expected it, the attack still had caught us by surprise. We did not expect the pirates to be so bold as to attack under a storm, we did not expect the flame throwing machines and we certainly did not expect an assault so brutal.
In the first moments of the combat, all seemed lost. They approached very fast and assaulted the ship in two places at the same time. The goblin tried to stop the first wave coming on the bow, but he was unable to resist. I moved in to help him while Tyrion, Vistra and Adolfiel faced the attack on the stern.
They were too many, too strong and too organized. The flame throwing machines sent huge waves of flame on our deck and very soon the sails were burning, most of our sailors has fled under the deck and the pirates were on our ship's deck.
We fell under their blows as they worked together to isolate us and make us easy targets. Very soon Vistra, Tyrion and me were helpless and on the edge of dying. Although Adolfiel was shooting as fast as she could and hit many enemies, they kept coming. The goblin had retreated under the deck and was nowhere in sight. Only the captain of our ship stood still defiant, protecting the helm.
The pirates pushed on, thinking that this was going to be an easy combat. The thugs pushed on and moved in for the final blow. All seemed lost...
But the gods would not let us fail, our quest was too important. The slaves HAD to come back to the village.
So in that moment, slowly the wind changed direction.
The fire in the sails started blowing towards the stern and the smoke gave Adlofiel cover from the javelin throwers on the other ship. Tyrion and Vistra got breathing space and the cleric invoked on Berronar to help her protect the group. With her help, I was able to go back to the stern and get in formation with Tyrion and Vistra. Adolfiel kept shooting arrows in all directions.
The pirate thugs hesitated, they had lost the momentum that they had had at the beginning, but very soon with their captain coming along with them, they moved in for the kill.
The clash was monstrous. Arrows, swords, spells, manouevers, it took all we had just to stay alive and resist the wave.
Once and again Tyrion was hit, fell and got back up to stand firm his ground.
Once and again Adolfiel let herself exposed to attack as she kept on shooting arrows at the ranks of pirates.
Once and again Vistra gave healing to the wounded while blows were falling on her continously.
And we stopped the wave.
The thugs started falling, dying. The attack got weaker.
Suddenly, the pirate captain gave a shout and the remaining thugs moved back to the other side of the boat. They were getting back in formation, getting reinforcements before launching the final attack...
With a flourish, Tyrion struck the dying bugbear that had not retreated and as it died, it fell overboard.
As smoke filled my lungs and stang into my eyes, I paused to take a breath and looked around me.
I saw the deck covered with blood and bodies, the cries of pain of wounded pirates and sailors were coming from all around us.
From where I was, just behind the main mast, I could barely glimpse the bow of our ship. Szakeem and his thugs were retreating that way, trying to get space to fall in formation and launch a second attack. They were far from defeated, they still had many tricks ready for us and we had barely survived the last wave.
I looked to my left and saw the pirate ship on our starboard side. It loomed there still intact after all this combat, dark, menacing and huge compared to our own ship. More pirates were coming from its bowels to make a new attack.
It was beatiful.
I turned around, looked at my friends, smiled and said:
"Gentlemen, I'm going to take their ship"
And I ran.
Sessions 24-25: Szakeem's Assault
After a week of tedious sailing, a massive storm in Thunder Bay heralds the arrival of captain Szakeem Wormblade - the hobgoblin pirate responsible for the raid on Leavendale. The pirate onslaught fills the decks with fire and blood - but the Gods have their say and the tide slowly begins to turn...
Bahamut, be prepared for thy servant
(A wobbly shadow in the dark streets of Mashport, it is nearly dawn and everything is calm... actually, not quite as asleep citizen are awaken by a shouting voice)
My Lord! Yes, you flying over there, hear my words!
*hips*
I do not pray often, but when I do, prepare your tavern girls and show your gold!
*hips*
Tyrion is in town ... and he needs to be emptied.
*hehehe*
We left this cursed halfling town and are prepared to bait pirates on their hunting grounds. I am accompanied by youngsters that never put a foot on a deck and not a hand on a dick!
(shut up, we are sleeping)
You shut up, bitch!
Damn ground, why isn't it flat?
I am likely to die, surrounded by midgets and unfuckables in cold waters, but bear witness...
(silence! somebody calls the gards)
Yeah! call them so they can hear me!
Bear witness!: I will bring so many of them down that their blood will crush open the doors of Walhalla for me. The cries of despair from the sluts of the world will deafened the gods themselves...
*hips...hooo, my head*
Tonight, I fucked without restrains, I drunk without restrains, I have gambled without restrains... that is my life, and Lord Bahamut, give me the same in the afterlife!
*Beuuuuuha* (noise of something liquid splashing on a wall)
But... if you can wait a couple of decades, that is fine by me!
*burp*
My Lord! Yes, you flying over there, hear my words!
*hips*
I do not pray often, but when I do, prepare your tavern girls and show your gold!
*hips*
Tyrion is in town ... and he needs to be emptied.
*hehehe*
We left this cursed halfling town and are prepared to bait pirates on their hunting grounds. I am accompanied by youngsters that never put a foot on a deck and not a hand on a dick!
(shut up, we are sleeping)
You shut up, bitch!
Damn ground, why isn't it flat?
I am likely to die, surrounded by midgets and unfuckables in cold waters, but bear witness...
(silence! somebody calls the gards)
Yeah! call them so they can hear me!
Bear witness!: I will bring so many of them down that their blood will crush open the doors of Walhalla for me. The cries of despair from the sluts of the world will deafened the gods themselves...
*hips...hooo, my head*
Tonight, I fucked without restrains, I drunk without restrains, I have gambled without restrains... that is my life, and Lord Bahamut, give me the same in the afterlife!
*Beuuuuuha* (noise of something liquid splashing on a wall)
But... if you can wait a couple of decades, that is fine by me!
*burp*
Session 23: The Stowaway
Finally setting sail from Fort Eyrie aboard Veronika's Fortune, the group discover an unwelcome guest with a score to settle...
Regrets?
Well, we manage to get out of this thief plagued city with a clear name, saved captives and information to pursue our quest. Unfortunately, the differences of the means to reach our goal that people are ready to use have appears in our group, to such an extend that Sarielle will part ways when we reach Mashport.
I had prepared a letter for the Captain of the guard in the event that we had to flee the city.
This was not the case as we had the opportunity to explain everything to the Captain and leave free of charges.
However, it was such a nice letter that I put it here:
My Dear Captain,
I have the regret to inform you that we have left your city despite your formal order not to do so.
As you may have learned, attempts at our lives have been made in broad daylight. Having been unsuccessful, they kidnapped our comrades staying at the inn, one of them having left dead in one of your street near the inn, while we were investigating to prove our innocence in the matter regarding the assault on the merchant Raukaus.
The kidnappers, a local criminal guild lead by a Halfling named longshamks and reporting to the infamous Rathos aka Bloodghost, threatened us to kill our comrades if we refuse to murder you.
We were cornered in a city that did not trust us and running out of options. We decided to fight. You may have heard about disturbances in the market district two nights ago, there was the guild hideout. We managed to leave with Longshanks but lost another comrade, an innocent renowned builder by the name of Mandin.
I have the regret that Lonshanks negotiated his freedom in exchange for the lives of our remaining comrades and information regarding our quest. As you may remember , we are tracking the pirates lead by Zakim who enslaved the elven villagers of Leavendale. I regret this because I could not bring this Halfling to justice. But you will surely agree that if our word is not good enough to prove our innocence in a merchant assault, it would have been unsufficient to bring down a notable of this city as a criminal guild master.
I have nothing to gain in explaining you this. I am truly ashamed that I cannot stay to clear my name because I have a higher motive right now. In the eventuality of me freeing the slaves without dying, I will come back and respond to whatever charges you will still hold against me.
As last words, I beg of you to be careful for your life. If the guild asked us to make a move against you, they will surely not stop there, especially if you intend to pursue your cleaning of your city.
In this, be wary of the sergeant that guarded the gate the day of our arrival and his crew, they are Longshanks men.
To conclude, we found the pirates contact in your city: the harbour master. he hides a list of possible target boats in a notebook hidden in a secret cache of his desk. We have discovered that the boat we intended to take is in this list. We are hiding in it and hope to repel a pirate attack and learn more to find the remaining elves.
With the hope that justice will prevail and honour regained,
Yours truly,
Tyrion
I had prepared a letter for the Captain of the guard in the event that we had to flee the city.
This was not the case as we had the opportunity to explain everything to the Captain and leave free of charges.
However, it was such a nice letter that I put it here:
My Dear Captain,
I have the regret to inform you that we have left your city despite your formal order not to do so.
As you may have learned, attempts at our lives have been made in broad daylight. Having been unsuccessful, they kidnapped our comrades staying at the inn, one of them having left dead in one of your street near the inn, while we were investigating to prove our innocence in the matter regarding the assault on the merchant Raukaus.
The kidnappers, a local criminal guild lead by a Halfling named longshamks and reporting to the infamous Rathos aka Bloodghost, threatened us to kill our comrades if we refuse to murder you.
We were cornered in a city that did not trust us and running out of options. We decided to fight. You may have heard about disturbances in the market district two nights ago, there was the guild hideout. We managed to leave with Longshanks but lost another comrade, an innocent renowned builder by the name of Mandin.
I have the regret that Lonshanks negotiated his freedom in exchange for the lives of our remaining comrades and information regarding our quest. As you may remember , we are tracking the pirates lead by Zakim who enslaved the elven villagers of Leavendale. I regret this because I could not bring this Halfling to justice. But you will surely agree that if our word is not good enough to prove our innocence in a merchant assault, it would have been unsufficient to bring down a notable of this city as a criminal guild master.
I have nothing to gain in explaining you this. I am truly ashamed that I cannot stay to clear my name because I have a higher motive right now. In the eventuality of me freeing the slaves without dying, I will come back and respond to whatever charges you will still hold against me.
As last words, I beg of you to be careful for your life. If the guild asked us to make a move against you, they will surely not stop there, especially if you intend to pursue your cleaning of your city.
In this, be wary of the sergeant that guarded the gate the day of our arrival and his crew, they are Longshanks men.
To conclude, we found the pirates contact in your city: the harbour master. he hides a list of possible target boats in a notebook hidden in a secret cache of his desk. We have discovered that the boat we intended to take is in this list. We are hiding in it and hope to repel a pirate attack and learn more to find the remaining elves.
With the hope that justice will prevail and honour regained,
Yours truly,
Tyrion
Session 22: Leaving Eyrie
In the cover of night, the group manages to board the Veronika's Fortune unseen. In the morning, some revelations offer new hope...
Sessions 20-21: The End of the Line
With Mandin dead and Longshank captured, the group's priorities begin to diverge... will their enemies use it against them?
Disaster at Fort Eyre
It seems wherever we go there is always something that bars our way. After having been able to free the slaves from the Towerat Poisson, through some gruelling trials against the Kruthiks, we planned on going to Fort Eyre with Mandin and his guards, grab a good nights rest before heading to Marshport to drop of the elves and Mandin's group and see where we would go from then on. As soon as we arrived in Fort Eyre things started getting sour, one of the guards at the gate tried to stir up some trouble and apparently we hit a nerve as they 'convinced' one of the merchants we had sold our kart to say we had beaten him and brought those charges to the Guard Captain. He put us under investigation, although with luck I think he was sensing something was up as I had told him that as a Cleric of Berronar I would never condone or allow such action to be undertaken. We weren't permitted to leave town, even after securing a ship that would bring us to Marshport and then further north past the Whitecaps. But it seems Evil forces were conspiring against us. After having talked to the Harbour Master regarding (Zhakiem) and the ship with brown sails, everything went from bad to worse. Ambushes were placed, with helpless women crying for help and turning on us when we came to the rescue, beggers looking at us with more than just eyes for our money, an Elite assasin tried to get rid of Leonardo and Tyrion who only with luck managed to escape and reach the city guards who chased the assasin away, Mandin and his guards were also kidnapped from the inn they were staying at, and worst of all we had to spend time in the sewers of Fort Eyre the smell worse than Gruumsh's own foul breath. Someone was spending a lot of effort to get rid of us, and we still had only an idea of where they would be located, in one of the houses near the market that had been scouted out by Adolfiel. After Mandin's capture we thought enough was enough, we devised a plan to try and get into this house and get back Mandin and his guards and stop this hunting of us once and for all.
Sessions 18-19: Dealing with Longshank
Having traced their troubles to a local criminal underboss, Tolg Longshank, the party agree to meet him. He then makes them an offer he thinks they can't refuse...
Under siege
The criminal gang made an attempt to kill us that very night, by setting up an ambush in an alley near our inn. We reacted well and were able to fend of the attackers, but did not take any prisoners.
As we returned to the inn, we realized that the ambush had been prepared by people who knew of our whereabouts and that we were under vigilance. That very night we setup a strong guard so that we could rest peacefully.
The next day was almost disastrous.
As we woke up we decided to go on investigating and trying to prove our innocence. We knew already that everything that happened in this town was seen by prying eyes and sent as information to a certain house in the marketplace.
Adolfiel decided to use the same methods they were using on us on that very house and spent the day learning about it. What she found out that day proved invaluable and probably saved our lives.
The rest of the group went on investigating around town. Mandin, the elves and the guards were to stay at the inn waiting for the permission for the ship to leave port.
As we had feared, there were spies all around us.
At a certain given moment we split up, with the cleric going to the house of healing and the mage going to the library. Tyrion and me were to go to the marketplace to look for Adolfiel and get the latest information.
At that moment, the assassin hit.
He had been waiting for us to relax our vigilance, split up and find a weaker opponent that he could easily defeat. He made a mistake by attacking us and not the cleric or the mage, because we survived his attack...barely.
As soon as we started fighting him, we realized he was easily powerful enough as to kill us both. Whoever wanted us dead had come to the conclusion that sending weaklings against us would not work and had decided to pay real money for real might. Thus, this assassin and thus, Tyrion and I were outclassed.
The combat tested us both to the limit. We were resourceful and competent, tried to team up, protect the other and profit from being two on one, but it was not enough, not today.
Very soon we started retreating and trying to escape cleanly. We combined our skills and performed manoeuvres that would have easily worked in normal situations.
The assassin followed us relentlessly and caught up with us over and over again. He poisoned us, made us blinded and paralysed, and run after us like an unstoppable tide.
We felt despair and tiredness dragging us down as the combat went on.
If this did not stop soon, we would be dead.
And finally, at the very last moment, the city guards finally appeared. They had come after the shouts and even though city guards are not known for their speed going towards trouble, they eventually got there.
As soon as he saw them, the assassin smiled, blinked at us, turned round and left, letting us live... for the moment.
The situation was very serious. We realized that we could not stay any longer on the streets, as the third attack would probably not miss again and someone in the group would fall.
We assembled the group in the local temple under protection from the priest. As we prepared to sleep, the balance of the day was bad, very bad.
Tyrion and I were spent, the ship was still blocked and we were still under accusation. We did not know who was attacking us nor how strong the enemy was and we did not dare to got out on the street nor return to our quarters.
But worse of all, the group was not complete.
The elves, Mandin and the guards were still at the inn, unaware of the day's events.
We could not go there to warn them, we were under siege.
The rope was closing around our necks and we were starting to feel it tight. In a few hours we would be choking...
As we returned to the inn, we realized that the ambush had been prepared by people who knew of our whereabouts and that we were under vigilance. That very night we setup a strong guard so that we could rest peacefully.
The next day was almost disastrous.
As we woke up we decided to go on investigating and trying to prove our innocence. We knew already that everything that happened in this town was seen by prying eyes and sent as information to a certain house in the marketplace.
Adolfiel decided to use the same methods they were using on us on that very house and spent the day learning about it. What she found out that day proved invaluable and probably saved our lives.
The rest of the group went on investigating around town. Mandin, the elves and the guards were to stay at the inn waiting for the permission for the ship to leave port.
As we had feared, there were spies all around us.
At a certain given moment we split up, with the cleric going to the house of healing and the mage going to the library. Tyrion and me were to go to the marketplace to look for Adolfiel and get the latest information.
At that moment, the assassin hit.
He had been waiting for us to relax our vigilance, split up and find a weaker opponent that he could easily defeat. He made a mistake by attacking us and not the cleric or the mage, because we survived his attack...barely.
As soon as we started fighting him, we realized he was easily powerful enough as to kill us both. Whoever wanted us dead had come to the conclusion that sending weaklings against us would not work and had decided to pay real money for real might. Thus, this assassin and thus, Tyrion and I were outclassed.
The combat tested us both to the limit. We were resourceful and competent, tried to team up, protect the other and profit from being two on one, but it was not enough, not today.
Very soon we started retreating and trying to escape cleanly. We combined our skills and performed manoeuvres that would have easily worked in normal situations.
The assassin followed us relentlessly and caught up with us over and over again. He poisoned us, made us blinded and paralysed, and run after us like an unstoppable tide.
We felt despair and tiredness dragging us down as the combat went on.
If this did not stop soon, we would be dead.
And finally, at the very last moment, the city guards finally appeared. They had come after the shouts and even though city guards are not known for their speed going towards trouble, they eventually got there.
As soon as he saw them, the assassin smiled, blinked at us, turned round and left, letting us live... for the moment.
The situation was very serious. We realized that we could not stay any longer on the streets, as the third attack would probably not miss again and someone in the group would fall.
We assembled the group in the local temple under protection from the priest. As we prepared to sleep, the balance of the day was bad, very bad.
Tyrion and I were spent, the ship was still blocked and we were still under accusation. We did not know who was attacking us nor how strong the enemy was and we did not dare to got out on the street nor return to our quarters.
But worse of all, the group was not complete.
The elves, Mandin and the guards were still at the inn, unaware of the day's events.
We could not go there to warn them, we were under siege.
The rope was closing around our necks and we were starting to feel it tight. In a few hours we would be choking...
Session 17: Beggars can't be Choosers
The streets of Fort Eyrie are a hornet's nest - and somebody stirred it...
Halflings and more halflings
The group arrived to Fort Eyre without too much trouble. In the road we had the time to get to know each other better and to broadly set up our master plan for the future.
The party seemed decided to go on searching for the missing slaves and searching for the pirate who took them away seemed the best way to do it.
Or intentions in Fort Eyre were to replenish our equipment, send Mandin, his guards and the three freed elves safely in their way and find some ship to take us north, at the very least to Marshport without passing through Poisson again.
This plan seemed sensible and not very difficult to accomplish. However, when there are halflings around, no plan works in a simple way.
The arrival to Poisson proved troublesome. We avoided paying the incredibly high "door taxes" for our cart by selling it to a local tradesman.
Up to that moment, our plans seemed to be progressing slowly but surely. We had good lodgings for the night, a passage in a big ship leaving the next day for Marshport and no problems of importance.
It did not last long.
Unfortunately, the guards did not like that we didn't bow to their corrupt ways and accused us of a crime that they themselves had committed.
The local captain, as good intentioned as he was, was also as thick as a brick and gullible as a sheep. He believed every word from the corrupt sergeant (we will have words, this sergeant and me) and ordered us not to leave the town.
He also ordered the ship to remain in port until things were more clear.
To make matters worse, the local criminal gang got wind of our interest for the pirate.
The clouds were gathering over our heads and we were not ready for the storm.
It took us some time to realize that this day's events would later spiral into combat, pain and death.
The party seemed decided to go on searching for the missing slaves and searching for the pirate who took them away seemed the best way to do it.
Or intentions in Fort Eyre were to replenish our equipment, send Mandin, his guards and the three freed elves safely in their way and find some ship to take us north, at the very least to Marshport without passing through Poisson again.
This plan seemed sensible and not very difficult to accomplish. However, when there are halflings around, no plan works in a simple way.
The arrival to Poisson proved troublesome. We avoided paying the incredibly high "door taxes" for our cart by selling it to a local tradesman.
Up to that moment, our plans seemed to be progressing slowly but surely. We had good lodgings for the night, a passage in a big ship leaving the next day for Marshport and no problems of importance.
It did not last long.
Unfortunately, the guards did not like that we didn't bow to their corrupt ways and accused us of a crime that they themselves had committed.
The local captain, as good intentioned as he was, was also as thick as a brick and gullible as a sheep. He believed every word from the corrupt sergeant (we will have words, this sergeant and me) and ordered us not to leave the town.
He also ordered the ship to remain in port until things were more clear.
To make matters worse, the local criminal gang got wind of our interest for the pirate.
The clouds were gathering over our heads and we were not ready for the storm.
It took us some time to realize that this day's events would later spiral into combat, pain and death.
Session 16: Dusk at Fort Eyrie
The party arrive at Fort Eyrie, but their investigations attract unwanted attention from both the guards and the local criminals...
Kruthiks, Magic and Ripping-Offs
Ill-prepared for the task at hand and with no clue of exactly what we were intended to accomplish, we entered the blood-reeking tunnels... We were soon assaulted by all sides by scary insectoid monstrosities, critters able to play the hit and hide game to almost perfection: the kruthiks.
As we proceeded further into the bowels of the earth, I pondered Sionas' words... what secret was he hiding from me? Could the caverns hide some powerful ley lines that would empower rituals conducted in the caverns? Was he summoning devils to his command, his red swollen eyes being a clue to his infernal interactions? Was it an area of wild magic, where no spell would work the same as usual? I decided to do some tests, out of the eyes of the spying guard that Sionas had sent to "protect" us... I started with silly cantrips and petty tricks but, soon, not seeing any effect to my spells, I decided Sionas had probably duped us, his demands not to use magic only some kind of twisted humour, and I decided to use any of the spells I had at my disposal.
And it was in due time, as in those caverns we almost found death at the claws and fangs of a Kruthik monstrosity, a gargantuan hive mother, surrounded by her horrific brood. The spy Sionas had sent with us died in that cavern, and we all could have perished, had we not used all our available resources in the difficult battle.
When, bloody and beaten, we exited the tunnels to tell Sionas of our success, the tricky wizard received us with anger and malice. He yelled at us, called us incompetents and told us that our use of magic had destroyed his experiments, a work of at least 30 years. He would not let the slaves free, even when we offered him more help to eradicate the Kruthik infestation and information on the wonders we had discovered during our travels.
We left Sionas' tower, intent on freeing the slaves using trickery, considering he would not free them otherwise. In the next days, the Halflings kept working in the tower, probably Sionas did not want to end abruptly his works at the tower, so that he would not angry them. We decided our best bet would be to make Sionas feel insecure by finding ways to make his position in Poisson uncomfortable.
So, while some in the group started spreading rumours that his treasure was false and running out, others tried to investigate further, but the only strange events were a couple of disappearances and some Halfling husbands cheating their wives: as days passed by it became clear that most Halflings, at least in Poisson, are cheaters by nature, and that their love of their Barrel of Ale god is lesser than their need to rip their visitors off. They overcharged us for everything: the food, the drinks, the rooms, the information they gave us...
We were desperate and clueless on how to proceed, when the slave that had helped us in the Kruthik lair, Leonardo, found us. He had been able to escape and had a plan: he would discredit the Wizard further and dupe the Mayor into calling Sionas for a meeting. With the wizard far away from the tower it would be easy enough to free the slaves. Tyrion then proposed using a cart to, disguised as merchants, enter the tower.
The plan seemed sound enough, so we gave it a try. Leonardo told the mayor that the wizard was running out of money, and convinced him to call for a meeting with Sionas.
In the morning, while the wizard rode to Poisson to meet the mayor, Tyrion, Leonardo and Vistra approached the tower disguised as merchants.
Unluckily for us, while approaching the tower, Leonardo was recognised by the guards at the entrance. It was not a big problem, as the guards were not in the mood for a fight, but Sionas had protected all doors magically and, unable to break them down easily, we aborted the attempt.
The plan had an unexpected effect, though, as Sionas grew paranoid. He decided that, as his works in the tower no longer had any sense, he would better leave before the Halflings realised that he was indeed running low on money. One day after a payday, and while the Halflings were paying attention to their Big Beer Barrel, Sionas packed his treasure and equipment and left the tower.
Part of the group had been monitoring the tower. When they saw the wizard leave, they waited some moments for him to get away, approached the tower and freed the slaves. The guards and Mandin decided to accompany us to Fort Eyrie, as they were now unemployed and would take Aygon's job offer.
As we proceeded further into the bowels of the earth, I pondered Sionas' words... what secret was he hiding from me? Could the caverns hide some powerful ley lines that would empower rituals conducted in the caverns? Was he summoning devils to his command, his red swollen eyes being a clue to his infernal interactions? Was it an area of wild magic, where no spell would work the same as usual? I decided to do some tests, out of the eyes of the spying guard that Sionas had sent to "protect" us... I started with silly cantrips and petty tricks but, soon, not seeing any effect to my spells, I decided Sionas had probably duped us, his demands not to use magic only some kind of twisted humour, and I decided to use any of the spells I had at my disposal.
And it was in due time, as in those caverns we almost found death at the claws and fangs of a Kruthik monstrosity, a gargantuan hive mother, surrounded by her horrific brood. The spy Sionas had sent with us died in that cavern, and we all could have perished, had we not used all our available resources in the difficult battle.
When, bloody and beaten, we exited the tunnels to tell Sionas of our success, the tricky wizard received us with anger and malice. He yelled at us, called us incompetents and told us that our use of magic had destroyed his experiments, a work of at least 30 years. He would not let the slaves free, even when we offered him more help to eradicate the Kruthik infestation and information on the wonders we had discovered during our travels.
We left Sionas' tower, intent on freeing the slaves using trickery, considering he would not free them otherwise. In the next days, the Halflings kept working in the tower, probably Sionas did not want to end abruptly his works at the tower, so that he would not angry them. We decided our best bet would be to make Sionas feel insecure by finding ways to make his position in Poisson uncomfortable.
So, while some in the group started spreading rumours that his treasure was false and running out, others tried to investigate further, but the only strange events were a couple of disappearances and some Halfling husbands cheating their wives: as days passed by it became clear that most Halflings, at least in Poisson, are cheaters by nature, and that their love of their Barrel of Ale god is lesser than their need to rip their visitors off. They overcharged us for everything: the food, the drinks, the rooms, the information they gave us...
We were desperate and clueless on how to proceed, when the slave that had helped us in the Kruthik lair, Leonardo, found us. He had been able to escape and had a plan: he would discredit the Wizard further and dupe the Mayor into calling Sionas for a meeting. With the wizard far away from the tower it would be easy enough to free the slaves. Tyrion then proposed using a cart to, disguised as merchants, enter the tower.
The plan seemed sound enough, so we gave it a try. Leonardo told the mayor that the wizard was running out of money, and convinced him to call for a meeting with Sionas.
In the morning, while the wizard rode to Poisson to meet the mayor, Tyrion, Leonardo and Vistra approached the tower disguised as merchants.
Unluckily for us, while approaching the tower, Leonardo was recognised by the guards at the entrance. It was not a big problem, as the guards were not in the mood for a fight, but Sionas had protected all doors magically and, unable to break them down easily, we aborted the attempt.
The plan had an unexpected effect, though, as Sionas grew paranoid. He decided that, as his works in the tower no longer had any sense, he would better leave before the Halflings realised that he was indeed running low on money. One day after a payday, and while the Halflings were paying attention to their Big Beer Barrel, Sionas packed his treasure and equipment and left the tower.
Part of the group had been monitoring the tower. When they saw the wizard leave, they waited some moments for him to get away, approached the tower and freed the slaves. The guards and Mandin decided to accompany us to Fort Eyrie, as they were now unemployed and would take Aygon's job offer.
Rescue success
Well,
it turned out that the wizard Sionas what not too happy with our performance. To be honest, I think that "not too happy" is an understatement, I would rather say that he was looking at us with murderous intent.
As we had to use magic to get rid of the insect queen ( or maybe because our own wizard had itching fingers... I understand myself), we destroyed what the wizard was looking for in the caves. Needless to say that he refused to free the slaves as agreed and we left, fearing that Sarielle's tongue would get us killed.
Of course, we couldn't let the slaves in this predicament and we planned to free them during a rescue attempt. We had some inside information when Leonardino escaped by himself and decided to act when Sionas would be in a meeting with the mayor. Disguised as workers, Leonardino and I came with a fake delivery of food with fake barrels to make the prisonners escape without the army of halfling workers noticing.
It went immediatly wrong as the guards saw throught Leonardino's disguise but thanks to our charisma and the belief in our just cause, we manage to convince them to let us in and discuss with their boss, Mandin. We were nearly discovered as the halflings made the barrel containing Vistra fall. Hopefully, I manage to cover the blunder and we went in.
It turned out that Mandin was being held inside the tower throught doors magically locked because of sionas' paranoia and with all the workers, it was not managable to break in unnoticed. we didn't know either what consequences could bring the breaking of a magically sealed door... my fear was a angry wizard teleporting right next to us.
Well, we decided to keep watch on the tower to wait for other oppotunities, especially as the worker's pay day was coming. We knew that the finances of the wizard were running low but we ignored to what extend. Desillusion came as the wizard paid the workers as scheduled... but no sooner that we feared we could never free the slaves, that we witnessed the wizard fleeing the tower under cover of the night. As we came checking, the guards were also packing with Mandin and told us that there were too much unrest with the halflings because of our stunts for the wizard to stay around.
We took the slaves with us and travelled with the guards to Fort Eyrie in order to find a boat to bring them home... and of course to put as many miles as we can between us and an angry mob of unemployed halfling looking for scpapegoats.
In the end, we did not heroically freed the slave through an epic fight against evil mages but considering the conditions, I am happy of the outcome of this adventure: slaves freed, no casualties for the innocents and all of us healthy enough too go on looking for the slavers.
To me, that was a full success.
it turned out that the wizard Sionas what not too happy with our performance. To be honest, I think that "not too happy" is an understatement, I would rather say that he was looking at us with murderous intent.
As we had to use magic to get rid of the insect queen ( or maybe because our own wizard had itching fingers... I understand myself), we destroyed what the wizard was looking for in the caves. Needless to say that he refused to free the slaves as agreed and we left, fearing that Sarielle's tongue would get us killed.
Of course, we couldn't let the slaves in this predicament and we planned to free them during a rescue attempt. We had some inside information when Leonardino escaped by himself and decided to act when Sionas would be in a meeting with the mayor. Disguised as workers, Leonardino and I came with a fake delivery of food with fake barrels to make the prisonners escape without the army of halfling workers noticing.
It went immediatly wrong as the guards saw throught Leonardino's disguise but thanks to our charisma and the belief in our just cause, we manage to convince them to let us in and discuss with their boss, Mandin. We were nearly discovered as the halflings made the barrel containing Vistra fall. Hopefully, I manage to cover the blunder and we went in.
It turned out that Mandin was being held inside the tower throught doors magically locked because of sionas' paranoia and with all the workers, it was not managable to break in unnoticed. we didn't know either what consequences could bring the breaking of a magically sealed door... my fear was a angry wizard teleporting right next to us.
Well, we decided to keep watch on the tower to wait for other oppotunities, especially as the worker's pay day was coming. We knew that the finances of the wizard were running low but we ignored to what extend. Desillusion came as the wizard paid the workers as scheduled... but no sooner that we feared we could never free the slaves, that we witnessed the wizard fleeing the tower under cover of the night. As we came checking, the guards were also packing with Mandin and told us that there were too much unrest with the halflings because of our stunts for the wizard to stay around.
We took the slaves with us and travelled with the guards to Fort Eyrie in order to find a boat to bring them home... and of course to put as many miles as we can between us and an angry mob of unemployed halfling looking for scpapegoats.
In the end, we did not heroically freed the slave through an epic fight against evil mages but considering the conditions, I am happy of the outcome of this adventure: slaves freed, no casualties for the innocents and all of us healthy enough too go on looking for the slavers.
To me, that was a full success.
When destiny looks at you
At that moment everything suddenly made sense, that was my destiny and my privilege. I would return to my family's name the honours it had always deserved. We would be respected again in Leavendale as we were in the past.
The gods had spoken by putting the whole village into danger and enslaving most of them. This is what happens when you embrace anarco-syndicalism and stop following the natural leaders.
During the first weeks after the attack, I had been too much in shock as to react. However, as time passed and the long hours of wait before the next work shift in the mines came, I came to the conclusion that I had been truly blessed. I had been trained all my life to perform a duty and until the day the slavers came, it seemed all my work, leadership and education were not needed or wanted.
But the occasion had arrived. Contrary to my father and his father, during my lifetime the whole village was in danger and needed its protector.
I would free all of them and bring them back to Leavendale so they could tell everyone what I had known all along, that anarco-syndicalism is wrong and that my family's rule is the best for them.
So when the adventurer's party showed up, it was not too surprising, the gods were merely giving me the starting push in my life's quest.
The first moments seemed encouraging, it seemed it would be easy enough to free the first slaves. Furthermore, it would be done by preforming a good deed that could also allow me to get to know better my helpers and see if they were worthy of coming along in my quest. I was unable to reach a proper conclusion, as it was not so clear.
They proved to be capable of winning a battle but seemed incapable of winning a war. Most of the Krucix died but almost all of us were nearly killed and we were unable to free the slaves. They needed a leader.
I was still captured, but the opportunity of having help outside the tower was too good to let pass. My relationship with Mandin and my family's famous diplomacy skills allowed me to set up a plan for a coordinated escape by sending the party a coded message.
However, the message was not well received and not well understood. They really needed a leader.
The plan was aborted and I had to think something else.
Mandin was growing uneasy. The mine seemed pointless, the halfling workers had an unquenchable thirst for easy money and could turn dangerous with a blink.
He agreed to let me go on one condition, that I would help him with my party if push came to shove with the Halflings.
And so I escaped, leaving behind three other Elves and vowing to come back.
Once I was able to contact the group of adventurers, I set in motion my new plan. The idea was to lure the wizard away from the tower so we could get in an rescue the prisioners. A simple negotiation with the Major provided the necessary time for a daring rescue.
The group's fighter suggested a classic Troy horse maneouver and I agreed on it. Well executed, the plan would be bold and fast, as good plans should.
However, the wizard had seen the intentions of our group and protected his site from any attack. We had to withdraw with a lot of information and no slaves.
Luckily, all our tactic defeats finally gave a strategic victory, as the wizard became more and more uneasy with his situation in Poisson. He felt the pressure of the group from the outside of his tower, but he had no enemy to fight, no target to aim at.
Pacience and prudence finally were our blessing. One night we saw from our vigilance posts the wizard pack and leave the tower.
We had been to him "like shadows in his dreams and had grown and grown inside his head until his will had given up".
Just like Son Tzo wrote in his "art of warfare against class 20 wizards" it should be done.
They needed a leader. And now they have one.
Without any violence, we simply entered the tower, freed the slaves and formed a new party with Mandin, the guards, the free elves the group of adventurers and me.
I pointed west and we all set off.
To Fort Eyre.
My quest had begun.
The gods had spoken by putting the whole village into danger and enslaving most of them. This is what happens when you embrace anarco-syndicalism and stop following the natural leaders.
During the first weeks after the attack, I had been too much in shock as to react. However, as time passed and the long hours of wait before the next work shift in the mines came, I came to the conclusion that I had been truly blessed. I had been trained all my life to perform a duty and until the day the slavers came, it seemed all my work, leadership and education were not needed or wanted.
But the occasion had arrived. Contrary to my father and his father, during my lifetime the whole village was in danger and needed its protector.
I would free all of them and bring them back to Leavendale so they could tell everyone what I had known all along, that anarco-syndicalism is wrong and that my family's rule is the best for them.
So when the adventurer's party showed up, it was not too surprising, the gods were merely giving me the starting push in my life's quest.
The first moments seemed encouraging, it seemed it would be easy enough to free the first slaves. Furthermore, it would be done by preforming a good deed that could also allow me to get to know better my helpers and see if they were worthy of coming along in my quest. I was unable to reach a proper conclusion, as it was not so clear.
They proved to be capable of winning a battle but seemed incapable of winning a war. Most of the Krucix died but almost all of us were nearly killed and we were unable to free the slaves. They needed a leader.
I was still captured, but the opportunity of having help outside the tower was too good to let pass. My relationship with Mandin and my family's famous diplomacy skills allowed me to set up a plan for a coordinated escape by sending the party a coded message.
However, the message was not well received and not well understood. They really needed a leader.
The plan was aborted and I had to think something else.
Mandin was growing uneasy. The mine seemed pointless, the halfling workers had an unquenchable thirst for easy money and could turn dangerous with a blink.
He agreed to let me go on one condition, that I would help him with my party if push came to shove with the Halflings.
And so I escaped, leaving behind three other Elves and vowing to come back.
Once I was able to contact the group of adventurers, I set in motion my new plan. The idea was to lure the wizard away from the tower so we could get in an rescue the prisioners. A simple negotiation with the Major provided the necessary time for a daring rescue.
The group's fighter suggested a classic Troy horse maneouver and I agreed on it. Well executed, the plan would be bold and fast, as good plans should.
However, the wizard had seen the intentions of our group and protected his site from any attack. We had to withdraw with a lot of information and no slaves.
Luckily, all our tactic defeats finally gave a strategic victory, as the wizard became more and more uneasy with his situation in Poisson. He felt the pressure of the group from the outside of his tower, but he had no enemy to fight, no target to aim at.
Pacience and prudence finally were our blessing. One night we saw from our vigilance posts the wizard pack and leave the tower.
We had been to him "like shadows in his dreams and had grown and grown inside his head until his will had given up".
Just like Son Tzo wrote in his "art of warfare against class 20 wizards" it should be done.
They needed a leader. And now they have one.
Without any violence, we simply entered the tower, freed the slaves and formed a new party with Mandin, the guards, the free elves the group of adventurers and me.
I pointed west and we all set off.
To Fort Eyre.
My quest had begun.
Session 15: Ins & Outs
As Sionaas is summoned to the Mayor's office, the group set their rescue operation in motion. As usual, however, things do not work out according to plan...
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