Conquering the Barbarian Altanis: Session 145
Adventurers
| Character | Race | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tikatu | Human | Druid level 1 | A dirty little ma with dark and dirty skin, wearing loincloth with no back. “What will be, will be” is his favourite aphorism. |
| Kho Rimbo | Human | Magic-User level 1 | A knife throwing wizard extraordinaire. Covered in ritual knife scars. Cuts himself whilst casting. Prone to being sarcastic. |
| Ambros | Human | Cleric level 6 | Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time. |
| Ignaeus | Elf | fighter level 5 / Magic-User level 4 | A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge. |
| Dalkanarion | Human | Fighter level 5 | A youthful specimen in full strength, full of purpose, bluster, and eagerness to prove himself. |
Meadowlark 1st, Airday
“We must eliminate the ghouls. They are huge pain in the ass.”
Thus adventurers concocted a plan. First they abandoned Racoba's chamber, reasoning that there will be time to ransack the room once the threats have been eliminated. Next, they returned to the octagonal chamber next to the rank pool of foetid water where they assumed the ghouls are hiding. Lastly, they took a defensive position on top of stairs leading into the chamber.
And then they waited for the ghouls to come out of the water and charge straight into this carefully laid ambush. And waited. And waited. And waited. Hours went on and on. Tiredness set it. Attention wavered. The monsters did not come.
“Perhaps they can sense the presence of Father Ambros?”
A valid guess. The more obvious guess of “perhaps they can see us given there is a straight line from the pool to our position and we are bathed in light” was skipped. Ambros retreated further up, close to the chamber with two armed statues.
Alas, no monsters. After nearly two watches of waiting in “ambush” adventurers decided to call off the plan, retreat to the surface, and rest. They stepped back, two by two, with Dalkanarion leaving last, for he was the strongest and boldest of this crew.
Not even the keen elven ears of Ignaeus picked up on the sounds of water splashing. Dalkanarion's fighting instincts kicked in and he was not taken by surprise. Gripping the massive Oathkeeper and tensing his massive biceps, the warrior turned around to face the incoming ravenous ghoul horde. He ran forth, cutting them off before they could scale the stairs.
The mighty warrior swung his greatsword, dominating the corridor. He cut right through the first beast, obliterating it straight into the unlife. “Fall back and regroup! We fight them at the junction!” he commanded. Now fighting on the defensive, Dalkanarion parried and dodged attacks of three fearless ghouls that pressed on.
He barely felt the claws on his thigh. The nails did not hurt at all. But stiffness that set in was nearly instantaneous. The paladins spirits imbued in the Oathkeeper roared, denied. Other adventurers looked in horror as the mightiest of them fell down to the ground.
Ignaeus jumped forward, swinging and kicking at the ghoul horde. His ancient bloodline would protect him where human bloodline failed. The elf endured the claws and jaws of the undead, suffering in the process. Kho Rimbo ran in from the backline, vying to drag Dalkanarion out of melee before the beasts drag him into the abyss.
“Begone!” Ambros thundered, his golden gavel sending ghouls fleeing once more. The party picked up paralysed Dalkanarion and left the dungeon at once.
Meadowlark 2nd, Waterday
Having rested and recovered, Ambros healed those wounded, and then they returned to the underground complex. This time they ordered Marlon to keep all the squads above ground. There would be no more losses.
The party of five went straight for the wizard's chamber. Ambros was ready to blast any undead that would dare appear before them. Once in the chamber they cast Detect Magic and Find Traps. The scrolls still detected as magical. The north door frame still detected as trapped.
Adventurers collected the scrolls and left the dungeon. Then they disbanded the camp and returned to the Cedarwade Keep. Nobody noticed—or if they did, they did not care enough to share it—that Kho Rimbo was nowhere to be seen.
Dalkanarion was handed a letter from the queen. She gave him blanket permission to recruit up to twenty able bodied men from the lands south of Hara. Should anyone refuse to answer the call he can decide their fate as he pleases.
“Too little, too late. Yet another set-up.” The young swashbuckler shook his head, disillusioned with the whole affair.
Ambros was informed that Lord Kyle had sent a messenger twice, asking for his immediate counsel as soon as possible. “We rest and head out first thing in the morning.” the High Priest commanded. And so it was.
Meadowlark 3rd, Earthday
“Ambros! Dalkanarion! Ignaeus! Great to see you again! Pleased to see you again...” young Lord Kyle welcomed the men whom he has been paying to great sums of money to secure his lands. This, he was convinced, was the right thing to do give their promises to him. Having been updated on the latest developments, Kyle went straight for the matter he summoned Ambros for.
“Briaron of Ahyf visited me the other day. Skandik raiders have been pillaging, raping, and burning freely through his domain for several weeks now. He heard that I have capable men in my employ and thus came here to ask for help. I said I will speak to you!”
Dalkanarion was first to speak, rebuffing young Lord's request for help. “They should seek help from Hara. After all, it is to them whom they pay protection money.”
“And so do I, and yet I have come to hire you for they don't do anything but collect money. You know that yourself.”
But Dalkanarion was unmoved. He will not risk being spread out too thin for some villages and peasants. Ahyf and their lands are outside of his mandate. If people are happy with uncaring rulership who is he to fight for them? They should rise against their oppressor then and not expect others to save them. He also reminded Lord Kyle that he does not command them, but simply pay them.
Ambros, the actual leader of the holy army that Lord Kyle has been paying for, was equally unmoved by the plight. His frustration with the queen, temple, and merchants' nonsense was at a peak.
Adventurers returned to the Cedarwade Keep by the evening. Ambros organised a sermon for the fallen soldiers. Then he prepared to commune with Forseti, for he was eager to find the path forward.
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