Conquering the Barbarian Altanis: Session 138
Adventurers
| Character | Race | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gomm | Human | Thief level 6 | Swarthy, good looking, dark-skinned thief. Sweet opium-like aroma is his fragrance of choice. |
| Ambros | Human | Cleric level 6 | Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time. |
| Ludd Nuck | Human | Fighter level 1 | A lad from the farm, still wet behind the ears and smelling of dung whom became an adventurer to impress a village lass who jilted him. |
| Drokh | Human | Monk level 1 | A tall, lean human monk with piercing eyes, weathered skin, and a warrior’s poise—calm and charismatic, he speaks with purpose and strikes with precision, wielding spear, bow, and blade. |
| Arete | Human | Cleric level 1 | Young cleric of Athena, seeking to establish himself and gain more knowledge. |
| Talik | Half-elf | Fighter level 1 / Magic-user level 1 | Young, impoverished and inexperienced fellow who took up adventuring for the money. |
| Dalkanarion | Human | Fighter level 5 | A youthful specimen in full strength, full of purpose, bluster, and eagerness to prove himself. |
Sweetrain 5th, Spiritday
Company led by Ambros, the High Priest of Forseti, and Dalkanarion, the Castellan of Cedarwade Keep, numbered seven adventurers—Gomm, Ludd Nuck, Drokh, Arete, and Talik—two lances of heavy horsemen led by knight Marlon val Brookwood, six lances of mounted crossbowmen led by Jace, two squads of heavy footmen, and fourteen thugs, now called Dalk's Devils. Ignaeus was left in charge of the keep.
The company returned to the plateau where the fugitive Wizard Klekless Racoba is supposedly hiding. Sted Jalen, an enterprising assassin, staked the place out two nights ago. He confirmed that descent into an underground complex is guarded when he was chased out by a dozen of armed thugs. Investigating the well did not go much better—he aborted the idea after hearing growls and grunts echoing from it.
The plan was simple. Mounted crossbowmen were to circle the plateau and watch guard. Dalk's Devils were to fix weighted net over the well. Then they were to fire-bomb anything that tries to come out. A lance of heavy horsemen was guarding them. Adventurers were to descend down the stairs. Two squads of heavy footmen were to follow on command.
This is how it went.
The party of eight descended. Dalkanarion, backed by Ludd Nuck and Drokh, went for south doors. Marlon and Gomm went for north doors. Arete went straight for the intricate painting in the alcove. He was intent of finding the peeping holes as described by Gomm and Sted Jalen. He wanted to stuff them to prevent anyone leaking a gas into the antechamber. Ambros and Talik remained on the stairs to have a good overview of the situation.
As Gomm heard a muffled cough behind north doors, so did the south doors swing open. Four rag-tag brigand armed with yellowed teeth, bad breath, and broadsword failed to surprise the adventurers. Oh what a mistake they had made. Drokh immediately drew first blood, Ludd killed another with spear through an eye, and then Dalkanarion massacred the rest with his massive Oathkeeper.
Grecian warrior stepped forth, bellowing out challenges and demands. Turning left, he could see a large chamber illuminated by torches in sconces and melted candles on the ground. A rabble of men fled in panic upon seeing such awesome display of power.
“There are four archers in the center of the room! They are aiming south!” Arete warned others. He had found the holes and peeked through them.
Dalkanarion ran down the stairs, took a glance to his right—thugs were still fleeing in panic—turned left, ran at the bowmen, and then hacked them to pieces. Limbs and guts flew all over the place. Having witnessed this Demigod of Athena in action, Arete was filled with religious fervour, and immediately charged four brigands to his left.
Marlon, Gomm, Arete, and Drokh took care of them in moments. They did not make a huge mess as Dalkanarion did. Talik carefully moved into the main chamber, his bow at the ready. Frenzied warrior now rushed south, giving chase to the fleeing brigands. He ran straight into a large, irregular chamber. A rabble of thirty men were arguing and pushing each other in total disarray. A man in chain shirt, backed by six or so larger guys, was slapping and insulting people. Dalkanarion's demand for surrender was drowned out by the mass. But better armoured man certainly heard him.
“Go fuck yourself!” was the brigand's response. Five archers fired at the blood and gore caked warrior. Two arrows landed true.
Talik arrived just in time to weave his magic, sending five of the men to deep slumber. Extra motivated Dalkanarion charged straight into the mass, massacring anyone on his path. Ludd Nuck followed his role model, stabbing with his spear left and right. Gomm and Talik shot at any clear target.
Limbs, heads, and blood splattered all over the chamber, soaking bedrolls, extinguishing candles, and painting small trunks with crimson red. Witnessing this carnage broke the surviving brigands' morale and they fled for their life in all the different directions. One ran right past Gomm and Talik, down the corridor to the east. A short scream, followed by silence, was heard. Two fled up the stairs to the west, beyond some obelisk, and into the darkness. Four fled down the south-east corridor. One froze in place and soiled himself.
“Corporal Nuck, dispose of these men. Tie up the leader.” But Ludd Nuck could not bring himself to execute sleeping men. So he tied them all up instead.
During the massacre in the south sleeping chamber, Arete and Drokh investigated the northern corridor. There a junction led to a dead end to the east, and doors to north and west. Nothing was heard from behind either. By the time Ambros returned with a squad of heavy footmen everything was done.
“Here, take my balls and darts.” Gomm handed over two web nuts and four darts recovered from the sunken jungle fort to Talik. Then he took a big gulp from a metal flask and disappeared before the half-elf had even answered.
Adventurers stood victorious, surrounded by corpses of their enemies. But will they find who they came for? Or will he find them first? Only one way to find out.
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Fun tidbit: cover, illustrated by 