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Meeting Into
the Crypt Umber
Hulks Stone
Heart Vampire
Beryn Keep Sand
Giant
City-Between-Places Beryn's
Farm Bog
Serpent Stronghold 2
Parties Dog
& Horn The
Cells
Escape! Calrhuvianne Souls Hawker
Bag Kin's
Tale Mayor
& Shopping Dhunok
Grael
Karubiat
Elesis Underground
Sun Lizardmen The
Boat Akkenophon Shurudien! Ghurzak!
To Karnak Dice Oracle Mogradjinn Battle The
Hilt Exit Strange
Allies Ghorak
Lan
Farigon Calrhuvianne2 Wraithking Columns Last
Column Galent Zeres-kai Eyrie
Elementals! Golem
Progress is safely made to the edge of the corridor where the party
first entered and then Morin scouts onwards to the entrance to the
inner garden. After a few moments, he returns silently with worrying
news: an ogre guarding the exit from inner garden to outer. He suggests
that Jarek and himself try to take the beast out quietly as its
back will be to them - Jarek airs his concern (if the ogre is near
others on the other side of the arch, it will be impossible to take
it out without them noticing) but agrees to try and the two set
off.
Scant moments later, Morin and Jarek return at pace from the inner
garden and wave the party to step back into the entrance corridor
our of sight; then both take up positions pressed against the side
of the corridor by the entrance archway to the garden where just
enough shadow should keep them from view. Most of the party are
not entirely aware of what has transpired but it is clear that plan
A has been dropped and they dutifully step out of direct sight.
After a little longer, Morin visibly stiffens and then hurries quietly
back with Jarek, his face full of steely resolve.
"OK, we have a number to deal with, but we may be offered some
advantage since two of them are heading down river to the Dragon
door. There is an ogre guarding the north wall, and someone hiding
in the corner near there. A third is nearby, and I reckon is wounded
or heavily fatigued. They have wolves, too. There may be more, but
if we can take this lot out swiftly and reasonably quietly, such
that those down by the river don't hear (there is some distance,
so we might have luck there), then we could turn the statues and
drop the portcullis. Alternatively one of us goes and does that
while the rest fight. This could trap those down by the river..."
He pauses, controlling his passions and looks to Balin, ""...and
that might just prove useful to us, 'cos one of them is Ghurzak,
my friend."
A number of hushed arguments ensue, Morin glancing down the corridor
every now and then (it is clear that Suva has been called via the
hawker Bags). The priest - to Morin's agitated sigh of relief -
returns safely from the moonlit area, moving as quietly as he can,
close to the walls. He is quickly briefed on the fact that Ghurzak
and a number of others are here. There is some evidence that they
have already been in battle and Ghurzak and a warrior have moved
through the Inner Garden and taken the boat towards the first 'dice
door' encountered. By now it's likely to have got there.
With Balin and Jiriki champing at the bit, it's all that can be
done to move quietly into the inner garden; Jarek heads south at
swifter pace as his destination, the statue on the south side of
the water, is the place that appears to be least inhabited by ogres,
werewolves and dire wolves!
Darius, Balin and Jiriki ready their weapons with resolve and prepare
to be the direct edge of attack, Suva and Dalrylshana bringing support
and Kin and Morin attempting to reach the other two statues with
celerity.
Morin leads the way north, checking as he goes but feeling the need
for haste to take the damnable werewolf out of the battle. The inner
garden is unoccupied and a quick glance - all that can be chanced,
if surprise is to be a weapon - into the outer garden reveals a
little more information: there are two ogres, one of whom is holding
a bloodied, limp, humanoid body. A female Drow elf sits on the grass,
quite happily relaxed, a small bandage about one arm. There are
2 Dire Wolves visible, sat near the elf. there could be more.
Glancing south, the party sees that Jarek is indicating the nursery
to be clear and that he should have no problem getting to the south
statue. He awaits the signal to move as there is a moment of pause;
it is given and with a last glance at each other in case of final
details, the party advance, driven forward by Suva's quiet prayer
to St Cuthbert for blessing in battle.
Jiriki, Darius and Balin head straight for the ogre, stifling any
desire to cry out in fury as Morin and Kin move initially northwards
and Dalrylshana and Suva wait a few necessary seconds for their
own chance to enter the outer garden. Suva notices with mild surprise
that Jax, following some quietly given comment from Darius, is hanging
about near him, tale wagging chirpily.
Within moments, the whole scenario is viewed more clearly: the ogre
begins to turn as it is approached but is slow-witted and lethargic
of movement and stands barely a chance as it finds itself outflanked
and surprised. With no weapon drawn, it is a matter of moments only
before the ogre is quickly slain and a second to reconsider tactics
is given amongst the noise.
The noise?
Of course! Across the river, Jarek has turned the statue and with
the three now out of alignment, even as Kin turns the second, there
is the sound of rumbling movement as the portcullis descends. It
does not sound a swift descent, however, so whether Ghurzak and
his companion are trapped or not is unknown as yet; Morin need not
move the final one though, it's apparent. Meanwhile, other details
have revealed themselves: from behind the northwestern statue, a
Drow woman, mage by garb, has got to her feet and is glancing about
somewhat worriedly but with concentration building. Two dire wolves
stand before her, growling and protective but advancing with taught,
powerful limbs and yellow, spittle-bubbling fangs as two more ogres
appear from the north to join the melee.
The first ogre lies dead, the limp humanoid body it was carrying
now quite clearly Fendriar.
Across the stream, for a second it looks as though Jarek is about
to leap across to quicker join the melee but then he stops and bellows
something about worgs, waving at the bank opposite him and the boat
returning, then draws his bow.
After a moment's pause as both parties react and consider their
actions, the full fury of battle is mercilessly unleashed. As honed
steel approaches violent fang, Kin is the first to strike with a
conjured magic that skirts unerringly through the air to strike
the Drow - without any noticeable effect. A second later, Kin himself
is struck by a blurred body hurtling through the air as if from
nowhere - a wolf, it seems to be, but shimmering as if only partly
there. It's impact is fully real, however, and Kin is staggered
but stays on his feet and reaches for his sword as the beast tries
to drag him over. He is unable to strike his foe, however but continues
to be struck.
Meanwhile, the warriors engage the dire wolves, Balin staring one
beast square in the eyes before striking at it ferociously - the
wolf snaps at only air but recovers quickly, tearing at the dwarf's
flesh.
Darius faces the other dire wolf and tears a huge chunk of fur from
the beast's body and almost entirely severs a leg with an almost
perfect strike with his keen sword. The beast howls in fury and
manages to sink its vengeance-seeking teeth, drawing blood but already
looking close to death.
Jiriki has moved north to try to get round to approach the Drow
but finds he must engage an ogre in his path - he relishes the challenge
and though he is smashed by a ferocious blow from the ogres enormous
club, he pays it back in kind with his greatsword and his foe, perhaps
not fully fit anyway, staggers backwards. Suva approaches it with
mace raised and righteous anger in his eyes; Jiriki steps aside
from the holy whirlwind to continue after the Drow and the ogre
is duly crushed by the priest's mace.
The second ogre fare's no better: sluggish and late to the battle,
the last ogre suddenly arches its back in pain and drops to one
knee. Morin, flaming dagger blazing and rapier dripping, grins at
his stricken foe and finishes his prone target before it can regain
its footing.
Dalrylshana, advancing forward as Kin embattles the shadow wolf
to her right, curses lightly as her spell seems to have no effect
upon the southward-moving Drow; the Drow mage herself has recovered
from her momentary surprise and weaves a spell from the air, surrounding
herself for 20 feet with impenetrable darkness. Dalrylshana contemplates
a second spell but Kin is in trouble against the unsuspected adversary
and she moves to his aid.
Across the river, Jarek has managed to release a couple of arrows
and badly injured one worg which is scrambling up the side of the
bank. The other two have already landed on the same side as Jarek
who has his sword drawn ready but alone.
Morin shouts ""Jiriki! aid Kin; Suva sort out the Drow"
and then sets off at full pelt to aid the outnumbered and isolated
Jarek who has backed himself against the statue to prevent being
outflanked by the worgs; his tactic works well enough and he strikes
hard at one of his foes but still the two fresh beasts can get at
him as the wounded one looks carefully for an opportunity.
In more immediate danger is Kin who moves quickly to escape his
dread foe, sure that he cannot harm it and blessing his magical
protection as the beast just fails to tear at his injured frame.
Jiriki has reacted to Morin's plea and is making his way to Kin's
aid, as is Dalrylshana, closer to him as she conjures forth a magical
badger to take on the shadow wolf! The wolf is blocked from its
pursuit, at least for the moment...
Meanwhile, the two Dire Wolves are finished off quickly by Balin
and Darius, although the dwarven warrior is bitten before his killing
blow is made. He stumbles but recovers as Darius glances around
to see who is needed most, just as Suva throws a small stone ahead
of him - blazing as it is with divine light, the region of darkness
is counteracted.
The Drow, however, is nowhere to be seen.
Until a second later when she suddenly becomes invisible, having
moved east 40 feet from her previous position; the reason for her
sudden visibility is the awful dull roar of an engulfing ball of
fire that erupts about Balin, encompassing Darius in its range.
The dwarf, blackened and smoking, drops to the floor and moves no
more.
Meanwhile, Jarek battles valiantly against the worgs - his defence
is sound and another of the beasts is sorely wounded but suddenly
he is struck and tripped; he keeps hold of his sword but will be
prone now. Morin speeds his approach, and leaves the ground gracefully,
leaping across the river to bring aid.
Suva moves towards the Drow, who inconveniently disappears whilst
Dalrylshana's badger hampers the shadow wolf without harming it;
Jiriki on the other hand brings the faith of Kord and mighty steel
in a perfect strike at the shimmering beast. His sword bursts into
flames along its length as it connects and the wolf sees that it
is outnumbered and turns to run for the northern exit and escape
as Dalrylshana looks around for the Drow witch.
At the western edge of the garden, a werewolf clambers onto the
northern bank of the river.
As the battle heats up, many swift decisions are needed and the
various members of the party shout encouragement, requests and orders.
Morin is torn by his conflicting drives but continues selflessly
with his original attempt to aid Jarek. The worg still carrying
an arrow in its hide has spotted his approach and looks to flee
with the odds now tipped but there is nowhere to go and it meets
its maker at the edge of Morin's flaming dagger. Jarek struggles
to his feet blocking claw and teeth but still taking some damage
as he strikes out at the worgs upon him, catching one across the
stomach and sending it howling to oblivion in arc of crimson.
These are not stupid beasts and the remaining worg, still quite
healthy, bolts towards the nursery; Morin and Jarek let it flee,
failing to strike it as it turns. A single worg is no real threat
and there are more important matters to attend to...
On the other side of the river Kin, whilst concerned for his own
ailing health, moves to Balin's aid to stabilise the fading dwarf
- Jiriki has also sprinted across and bids Kin save his healing
salve as Kord will grant the stricken warrior respite this day.
There's a curious lull for an eternal moment as conflict is halted
whilst the party await the reappearance of the Drow. To the west
of the room, the forgotten shadow wolf skulks back from the northern
exit towards Ghurzak who has stood his ground and is helping a sturdy
(but armour-less) warrior onto the bank as he surveys the situation.
Darius has started towards Jarek but realises as he approaches
that he is safe now after Morin's intervention and instead stands
his ground, warily following the movements of the werewolf, ready
at any moment for the Drow's reappearance. Dalrylshana and Suva
are more actively searching for the Drow - Suva has called upon
his god for protection and has his mace ready as Dalrylshana conjures
her own magics.
She gazes around her intently and then mutters, "There you
are you, witch.."
Just as she speaks and raises Shurudien's ring, the Drow appears,
unleashing her own magics but looking around in panic as her companions
do not rush to aid her. She is too near Suva to be calm and her
spell fails as her concentration falters, flames exploding above
the heads of the prone Jiriki, Kin and Balin before a sharp crack
in the air connects her to Dalrylshana by a ragged filament of electric
doom. She staggers and starts to recover but Suva bares down upon
her with an awesome fury, striking her across the face and shattering
her skull as it lolls atop her neck with recoil.
The Drow falls to the ground, dead and Suva wastes no time, wiping
fragments of skull from his mace and then rushing to Balin’s
aid and healing him back from the brink of death.
Staying at the river bank, the werewolf signals the shadow wolf
with a wave if his arm and the beast trots quickly towards him as
the warrior companion draws a large scimitar and stands in protective
posture, his back to the werewolf.
There is a pause in conflict as Suva drops himself into prayer,
Darius keeps his eyes on the remaining grouped foes, Balin gets
back to his feet and Dalrylshana edges forward to get within casting
range even as Morin leaps back across the river. Jarek has his bow
at the ready as Morin approaches Ghurzak calmly and simply says,
“Hello father”.
Suva almost speaks but then lowers his shocked face back into prayer
as Darius moves towards Morin to present a united front.
The werewolf replies, surprisingly well-mannered.
"Pleased to meet you. Perhaps I should have killed you all
when I first had the chance."
Adding nothing more, he touches Hahkht, the warrior beside him,
on the shoulder and simultaneously, he and the warrior utter a strange
word then each grab the fur of the shadow wolf as a shimmering blue
disc expands silently just behind them.
"I'll look forward to seeing you again, son," the werewolf
adds, looking directly at Morin, and then all three step backwards
through the disc and fade from view. Morin reacts with desperate
urgency as his face descends into a portrait of despair. Hurtling
forwards and diving at the last, the disc shrinks away back to nothingness
but not before Morin's body slips through the last vestiges of the
sapphire gateway.
The bottom of his boot is sheered away, the only thing to miss
the trip, and drops lightly to the ground.
As a stunned Darius, unable to react quickly enough to stop him,
looks on and then around at the party, it is clear that Morin and
the trio have disappeared.
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